Ohio State University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

COAM is a dedicated, Senate-constituted body for academic misconduct, Ohio State does not route academic integrity cases through the general Student Conduct office, which is unusual among large public research universities

Both graduate and undergraduate students sit on COAM alongside faculty, giving peers representation in academic misconduct adjudication

Faculty are required to refer suspected academic misconduct to COAM rather than resolving it unilaterally, centralizing adjudication and creating consistency across colleges

Non-academic conduct is handled by the Office of Student Life Student Conduct under the Code of Student Conduct, creating two distinct tracks

Moritz College of Law and the College of Medicine maintain their own additional professional conduct processes

Moritz College of Law

Moritz College of Law Code of Student Responsibility

Law students are subject to an additional professional conduct code enforced within the law school.

Ohio State College of Medicine

College of Medicine professional standards process

Medical students face academic standing and professionalism review through the College of Medicine in addition to any university-level misconduct review.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at OSU?

Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at OSU. COAM is a standing committee of the University Senate. Its members are drawn from across the academic community: faculty appointed by the University Senate, graduate students appointed by the Council of Graduate Students, and undergraduate students appointed by Undergraduate Student Government. COAM is distinct from the Office of Student Life Student Conduct, which handles non-academic conduct matters. All reported cases of alleged academic misconduct by Ohio State students, including violation of course rules, plagiarism, falsification or fabrication of data, and unauthorized alteration of grades. Non-academic conduct violations are handled separately under the Code of Student Conduct by Student Life.

What is the evidence standard at OSU?

OSU applies The Code of Student Conduct specifies an evidence standard for COAM proceedings; students should confirm the current standard in the most recent version of Rule 3335-23-12 under Ohio State Code of Student Conduct (Chapter 3335-23 of the University Rules) (Rule 3335-23-15 governs COAM; related rules include 3335-23-04 (prohibited conduct), 3335-23-05 (initiation and investigation), 3335-23-07 (filing of complaint and initiation of charges), 3335-23-12 (hearing procedures), 3335-23-17 (general guidelines for sanctions), and 3335-23-18 (appellate process)). Committee on Academic Misconduct 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 OSU conduct proceeding?

Under Ohio State Code of Student Conduct (Chapter 3335-23 of the University Rules), students facing a Committee on Academic Misconduct proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to receive written notice of charges and the specific alleged violation; review the evidence gathered during investigation; present a defense, including evidence and witnesses; be accompanied by an advisor during the hearing. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at OSU?

Faculty who suspect academic misconduct refer the matter to the Committee on Academic Misconduct rather than resolving it informally, Ohio State's structure centralizes academic misconduct adjudication in COAM. Case initiation and investigation are governed by Rule 3335-23-05 and the filing of charges by Rule 3335-23-07.

What sanctions can OSU impose for academic misconduct?

Committee on Academic Misconduct can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including failing grade on the assignment or in the course, disciplinary reprimand, disciplinary probation, 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.

Can I appeal a decision at OSU?

Yes. Appeals of COAM decisions are governed by Rule 3335-23-18 (Appellate process). The appellate path and specific grounds are defined in that rule; students are responsible for meeting the deadline identified in their outcome letter. Appeal grounds typically include procedural error that affected the outcome, new information not available at the time of the hearing, the sanction is disproportionate to the conduct found. The specific appeal deadline is set out in the outcome letter, and it is usually short, often 5 to 10 business days from the date of the decision.

Can I bring an advisor to my OSU hearing?

Yes. Under Ohio State Code of Student Conduct (Chapter 3335-23 of the University Rules), students have the right to be accompanied by an advisor during the hearing. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate OSU's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at OSU the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a OSU Committee on Academic Misconduct proceeding?

In most cases, no. OSU's proceedings follow university policy under Ohio State Code of Student Conduct (Chapter 3335-23 of the University Rules), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands OSU'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 OSU handle Title IX cases?

OSU handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the OSU Office of Institutional Equity. Title IX and civil rights complaints are handled through the Office of Institutional Equity rather than COAM or the general Student Conduct office. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at OSU, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

Does OSU's Moritz College of Law have a separate conduct process?

Yes. Moritz College of Law at OSU is handled through Moritz College of Law Code of Student Responsibility, which is distinct from the general university conduct process. Law students are subject to an additional professional conduct code enforced within the law school. This matters because professional school findings carry licensure implications, and the remediation and appeal pathways are different from the undergraduate process.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at OSU?

At OSU, the most frequently cited violations include: violation of course rules, including unauthorized collaboration and use of prohibited materials; submitting plagiarized work; falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in conducting or reporting laboratory or research results; alteration of grades in an effort to change earned credit or a grade. 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 OSU conduct case?

At OSU, the most consequential deadlines are: Students must meet the deadline in their charge letter to respond and, if contesting, to request a hearing; Appeal deadlines are set in the outcome letter under Rule 3335-23-18; Regional campus decisions are subject to the regular appellate procedures specified in the Code. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Committee on Academic Misconduct, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.