Miami Dade College Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the United States by enrollment, operating eight campuses across Miami-Dade County, which means conduct procedures are administered at the campus level by each campus's Student Dean's Office.

Academic dishonesty cases are handled through a completely separate procedural track (Procedure 4035 / Academic Hearing Committee) from general Code of Conduct violations (Procedure 4030 / Campus Disciplinary Committee), allowing faculty-initiated processes for academic integrity violations.

A student ombudsman (designated as the Assistant Dean of Student Services or designee at each campus) serves as the initial point of contact for students with concerns, complaints, or issues related to College processes, and has authority to investigate issues and arrange meetings among involved parties (Procedure 4032).

Students who have Level I or II academic dishonesty sanctions recommended or imposed may not avoid penalty by withdrawing from the course or the College; students who have withdrawn while in process must be reinstated (Procedure 4035).

Sexual violence and misconduct cases are separated from the general conduct track and are handled by the Office of EOP/ADA/Title IX or designee and the Dean of Students under MDC Policy I-20, with simultaneous written notification to both complainant and respondent of the outcome (Procedure 4030, Section D).

MDC uses Turnitin for plagiarism detection in courses and requires faculty to reference Procedure 4035 in course syllabi.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Miami Dade?

Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty) (CDC / AHC) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Miami Dade. For general conduct violations, a Campus Disciplinary Committee composed of students hears the case; a designated Student Dean presides and may serve as sole decision-maker if the respondent waives the committee. For academic dishonesty cases under Procedure 4035, a Hearing Officer coordinates the Academic Hearing Committee (AHC) hearing, presides, and rules on admissibility of evidence; the Hearing Officer abstains from voting except to break a tie. The Campus Disciplinary Committee (Procedure 4030) has jurisdiction over all general Code of Conduct violations at any MDC campus. The Academic Hearing Committee (Procedure 4035) has jurisdiction over academic dishonesty charges including cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and submission of previously submitted work. Sexual violence and misconduct cases are handled separately by the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA/Title IX (EOP/ADA/Title IX) and the Dean of Students under MDC Policy I-20.

What is the evidence standard at Miami Dade?

Miami Dade applies Preponderance of the evidence. MDC bears the burden of proving the student's responsibility by a preponderance of the evidence under Procedure 4030, Section L. Formal rules of evidence do not apply; the Hearing Officer may exclude evidence deemed irrelevant, immaterial, repetitious, incompetent, or untrustworthy. under MDC Manual of Procedures: Procedure 4025 (Student Code of Conduct), Procedure 4030 (Student Disciplinary Procedures), and Procedure 4035 (Addressing Academic Dishonesty); also MDC Manual of Procedures Procedure 4009 (Student Rights and Responsibilities) (Procedure 4025 (Student Code of Conduct), Procedure 4030 (Student Disciplinary Procedures for Violations of the Code of Conduct), Procedure 4035 (Procedure Addressing Academic Dishonesty)). Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty) uses this standard when determining whether a student is responsible for an alleged violation. The evidence standard is critical because it determines how strong the evidence must be before a finding of responsibility can be made.

What rights do I have during a Miami Dade conduct proceeding?

Under MDC Manual of Procedures: Procedure 4025 (Student Code of Conduct), Procedure 4030 (Student Disciplinary Procedures), and Procedure 4035 (Addressing Academic Dishonesty); also MDC Manual of Procedures Procedure 4009 (Student Rights and Responsibilities), students facing a Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty) proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to be informed in writing (Notice of Charge) of the specific violations alleged, including a listing of known witnesses, at least ten (10) business days before the Campus Disciplinary Committee hearing (Procedure 4030); enter a plea of responsible or not responsible within three (3) business days of receiving the Notice of Charge (Procedure 4030); Right not to be compelled to testify against oneself (Procedure 4030); the presumption that no violation occurred; MDC bears the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence (Procedure 4030). Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Miami Dade?

For academic dishonesty (Procedure 4035), a faculty member who suspects a violation notifies the Department Chairperson or equivalent academic administrator, who confirms the student has been informed of the Students' Rights and Responsibilities. A Notice of charge is sent to the student; if the student does not return the Notice, a plea of 'not guilty' is entered and a hearing before the Academic Hearing Committee is scheduled. For general conduct violations (Procedure 4030), the Student Dean's Office conducts a thorough investigation; a Notice of Charge is mailed and/or emailed to the respondent at least ten (10) business days before the Campus Disciplinary Committee convenes, and lists known witnesses. The respondent must enter a plea of responsible or not responsible within three (3) business days after receiving the Notice of Charge.

What sanctions can Miami Dade impose for academic misconduct?

Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty) can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including community service: mandatory campus community service hours as designated by the student dean or campus disciplinary committee, restriction or revocation of privileges: temporary or permanent loss of privileges including use of certain college facilities or parking, restitution: reimbursement for damage to or misappropriation of property of mdc or other persons, and more serious outcomes including suspension and expulsion. The specific sanction depends on the facts, the student's prior record, and any mitigating factors presented during the proceeding. Sanction-phase advocacy is often as important as the responsibility phase, since even a first finding can carry long-term consequences on transcripts and graduate school applications.

How do I appeal a decision at Miami Dade, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Miami Dade is No later than ten (10) business days after issuance of the findings, per Procedure 4030. Procedure 4035 appeal deadline: UNVERIFIED: needs human research (the full text of the Procedure 4035 appeal deadline section was not fully captured in search results).. Under Procedure 4030 (general conduct), a student found responsible who has been sanctioned by the Student Dean may appeal on the basis of the severity of the penalty and/or violation of the student's rights as contained in the procedures. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Student Dean's Office. Under Procedure 4035 (academic dishonesty), the student may appeal the AHC decision in writing; the appeal must describe the specific violations upon which it is based and/or state why the sanction is perceived as too severe. The Campus President (or designee) issues a final decision, and the student is notified by certified mail. Appeal grounds typically include severity of the penalty imposed (procedure 4030), violation of the student's procedural rights as contained in the disciplinary procedures (procedure 4030), specific procedural violations upon which the appeal is based (procedure 4035), among others. Appeals that succeed are usually the ones that ground each argument in the record and the specific policy language, not emotional or general objections.

Can I bring an advisor to my Miami Dade hearing?

Yes. Under MDC Manual of Procedures: Procedure 4025 (Student Code of Conduct), Procedure 4030 (Student Disciplinary Procedures), and Procedure 4035 (Addressing Academic Dishonesty); also MDC Manual of Procedures Procedure 4009 (Student Rights and Responsibilities), students have the right to have a non-participating advisor or advocate present at hearings; the advisor's name and address must be provided to the student dean's office no later than three (3) business days before the hearing (procedure 4030). AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate Miami Dade's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at Miami Dade the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a Miami Dade Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty) proceeding?

In most cases, no. Miami Dade's proceedings follow university policy under MDC Manual of Procedures: Procedure 4025 (Student Code of Conduct), Procedure 4030 (Student Disciplinary Procedures), and Procedure 4035 (Addressing Academic Dishonesty); also MDC Manual of Procedures Procedure 4009 (Student Rights and Responsibilities), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Miami Dade's specific procedures, the evidence standard, and how sanctions are assessed. An education advocate typically provides stronger, more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney because the body of law here is university policy, not criminal or civil procedure. AdvocatED brings deep, specialized expertise in these exact processes at a fraction of a law firm's cost.

How does Miami Dade handle Title IX cases?

Miami Dade handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs / ADA Coordinator / Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is Cindy Lau Evans, Director of Equal Opportunity Programs / ADA Coordinator / Title IX Coordinator, reachable at (305) 237-2577 (Voice) or 711 (Relay Service), located at 11011 SW 104 St., Room 1102-01, Miami, FL 33176; email CRCTitleIXADA@mdc.edu. Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct complaints are filed with this office. Allegations of sexual violence/misconduct are addressed through a separate investigation handled by the Office of EOP/ADA/Title IX or designee and the Dean of Students under MDC Policy I-20: Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking, consistent with federal Title IX requirements. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Miami Dade, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at Miami Dade?

At Miami Dade, the most frequently cited violations include: cheating on examinations, including unauthorized sharing of information (procedure 4025 / procedure 4035); plagiarism: taking and claiming as one's own the ideas, writings, or work of another (procedure 4025 / procedure 4035); unauthorized collaboration: collaborating with others in work to be submitted, if contrary to the stated rules of the course (procedure 4025 / procedure 4035); submitting work previously presented in another course without instructor permission (procedure 4025 / procedure 4035). Knowing which violation is alleged is the foundation of an effective defense, because the response strategy differs substantially based on whether the case involves plagiarism, AI use, exam cheating, collaboration, or a procedural technicality.

What are the key deadlines in a Miami Dade conduct case?

At Miami Dade, the most consequential deadlines are: Notice of Charge for general conduct violations must be sent at least ten (10) business days before the Campus Disciplinary Committee hearing (Procedure 4030); Respondent must enter a plea of responsible or not responsible within three (3) business days of receiving the Notice of Charge; failure to do so results in entry of a plea by the investigator and scheduling of a hearing date (Procedure 4030); Respondent must provide the name and address of their advisor/advocate to the Student Dean's Office no later than three (3) business days before a hearing (Procedure 4030). Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Campus Disciplinary Committee (general conduct) / Academic Hearing Committee (academic dishonesty), document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.