South Carolina · Public University
South Carolina State University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Office of Justice and Accountability proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know SC State's specific process under SC State University Student Code of Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research).
If you just received notice
What to do right now at SC State
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and mark every deadline it contains on your calendar, at SC State, the appeal window is UNVERIFIED: needs human research, and missing a deadline forecloses your options.
- 2Do not respond substantively yet. Before you reply to the Office of Justice and Accountability, review SC State University Student Code of Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research) so you know the specific procedure that will be applied to your case.
- 3Exercise your right to an advisor. Under SC State University Student Code of Conduct, you have the right to have an advisor of choice present during testimony in a non-speaking support role, AdvocatED serves in this role and handles the response on your behalf where permitted.
- 4Request the full case file. You have the right to appeal the outcome, including the right to review the disciplinary file and the recording of the original hearing, reviewing everything the school has before you respond is critical to building an accurate defense.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your SC State meeting. We'll explain exactly how Office of Justice and Accountability will approach your case and what response gives you the strongest position.
Governing Policy
SC State University Student Code of Conduct · UNVERIFIED: needs human research
UNVERIFIED: needs human research
Evidence Standard
clear and convincing standard
Jurisdiction
Administers the SC State University Student Code of Conduct and determines and issues sanctions
Who Decides Your Case
Office of Justice and Accountability (OJA)
Hearings may be held either by a single administrator, who is the Director of Judicial Affairs or designee, or by the Judicial Board, a rotating three-member panel consisting of one faculty member, one staff member, and one student. A single administrator hearing requires the agreement of both the respondent and the complainant; otherwise the case is heard by the Judicial Board.
How a SC State Case Moves
1. How Cases Begin
Complaints for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct are made to the Director of Judicial Affairs, to whom the Vice President for Student Affairs has delegated authority to initiate proceedings. The Director reviews the allegations to determine whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated, and may dismiss a complaint, with a written response to the complainant, if the information provided is insufficient. After a charge is made, the accused student is notified through a 72-Hour Contact Reporting Form issued by University Police or by communication from the Division of Student Affairs.
2. The Hearing
The process begins with a Pre-Hearing Conference at which the Director of Judicial Affairs reviews the charges with the respondent and explains the judicial process. Within five business days after the conference, the respondent must notify the Director in writing whether they will plead responsible or not responsible and contest the charges at a hearing. If the respondent admits responsibility, the Director issues sanctions, generally within seven business days. If the respondent pleads not responsible, the case proceeds to a hearing before either a single administrator or the Judicial Board. Hearings are conducted privately and tape-recorded, and the University is not a court of law. The accused student receives written notice of the date, time, and location, must appear in person, may present relevant information, and must respond to questions from the Judicial Board or administrator; refusal to answer means a decision is made on the information presented. Witnesses to the incident and character witnesses are permitted, may attend only the portion in which they testify, and may be questioned only by the Board or administrator, with the accused and witnesses not addressing each other directly. During testimony the respondent may have an advisor of choice present in a non-speaking support role. If a notified student fails to appear, the hearing proceeds in their absence. At the conclusion, the single administrator or Judicial Board considers the information and recommends sanctions to the Director of Judicial Affairs, applying the clear and convincing standard.
3. Appeals
A student may appeal a disciplinary decision in a written statement to the Vice President for Student Affairs within three business days of receiving notification of the decision and sanctions. The appeal is a request for review of the record of the original hearing rather than a new hearing, and the imposed sanctions remain in effect during the appeal unless the Vice President decides to revoke them.
Deadline: UNVERIFIED: needs human research
Your Rights at a SC State Hearing
- ✓Right to written notice of the date, time, and location of the Judicial Board hearing
- ✓Right to appear in person and present any and all relevant information at the hearing
- ✓Right to have an advisor of choice present during testimony in a non-speaking support role
- ✓Right to a private, tape-recorded hearing and to review the tape recording in the presence of a designated official
- ✓Right to a fair and timely investigation process and to be advised in writing of all decisions made in relation to the complaint
- ✓Right to appeal the outcome, including the right to review the disciplinary file and the recording of the original hearing
Sanctions SC State Can Impose
Drawn directly from SC State University Student Code of Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research).
- 1.Disciplinary Probation: a status of at least three months during which the student may not represent the University or actively participate in University-recognized organizations, and during which further violations may bring additional sanctions
- 2.Suspension from the University for a specified period, such as one academic year or longer
- 3.Expulsion: permanent separation from the University with revocation of all student privileges and a notation on the permanent record (transcript)
- 4.Residence Hall Restriction or Suspension: revocation of the privilege to apply for or live in University housing, permanently or for a specified period
- 5.Restitution: monetary reimbursement for damage, destruction, or unauthorized use of University or others' property
- 6.Monetary Fine, Restriction from being within fifty feet of University buildings, and discretionary sanctions through the Sanction and Volunteer Program
What Makes SC State's Process Distinctive
Common Violations Referred at SC State
Title IX at SC State
Office of Equal Opportunity
Hayden Erwin serves as Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Investigator. Located in Ko W.G. Donma Administration Building, Room 212. Contact: 803-516-4549 or EqualOpportunity@scsu.edu
South Carolina State University is a historically Black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina
How AdvocatED Helps SC State Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
Hearing preparation for SC State University Student Code of Conduct cases, including plagiarism, cheating, and unauthorized AI use.
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Strategic coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Office of Justice and Accountability.
Learn more →Dismissal & Suspension Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through SC State's appellate process on the grounds that fit your case.
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating Office of Equal Opportunity investigations and hearings.
Learn more →SC State Resources & Guides
Related guides for SC State students
Topic-specific guides that cover the situations SC State students most commonly face.
Frequently Asked Questions: SC State Students
Who handles academic misconduct cases at SC State?
Office of Justice and Accountability (OJA) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at SC State. Hearings may be held either by a single administrator, who is the Director of Judicial Affairs or designee, or by the Judicial Board, a rotating three-member panel consisting of one faculty member, one staff member, and one student. A single administrator hearing requires the agreement of both the respondent and the complainant; otherwise the case is heard by the Judicial Board. Administers the SC State University Student Code of Conduct and determines and issues sanctions
What is the evidence standard at SC State?
SC State applies clear and convincing standard under SC State University Student Code of Conduct (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Office of Justice and Accountability 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 SC State conduct proceeding?
Under SC State University Student Code of Conduct, students facing a Office of Justice and Accountability proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of the date, time, and location of the Judicial Board hearing; appear in person and present any and all relevant information at the hearing; have an advisor of choice present during testimony in a non-speaking support role; a private, tape-recorded hearing and to review the tape recording in the presence of a designated official. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.
How is an academic misconduct case initiated at SC State?
Complaints for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct are made to the Director of Judicial Affairs, to whom the Vice President for Student Affairs has delegated authority to initiate proceedings. The Director reviews the allegations to determine whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated, and may dismiss a complaint, with a written response to the complainant, if the information provided is insufficient. After a charge is made, the accused student is notified through a 72-Hour Contact Reporting Form issued by University Police or by communication from the Division of Student Affairs.
What sanctions can SC State impose for academic misconduct?
Office of Justice and Accountability can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including disciplinary probation: a status of at least three months during which the student may not represent the university or actively participate in university-recognized organizations, suspension from the university for a specified period, expulsion: permanent separation from the university with revocation of all student privileges and a notation on the permanent record, 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 SC State, and what is the deadline?
The appeal deadline at SC State is UNVERIFIED: needs human research. A student may appeal a disciplinary decision in a written statement to the Vice President for Student Affairs within three business days of receiving notification of the decision and sanctions. The appeal is a request for review of the record of the original hearing rather than a new hearing, and the imposed sanctions remain in effect during the appeal unless the Vice President decides to revoke them. Appeal grounds typically include . 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 SC State hearing?
Yes. Under SC State University Student Code of Conduct, students have the right to have an advisor of choice present during testimony in a non-speaking support role. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate SC State's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at SC State the rules are set out in the governing policy.
Do I need a lawyer for a SC State Office of Justice and Accountability proceeding?
In most cases, no. SC State's proceedings follow university policy under SC State University Student Code of Conduct, not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands SC State'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 SC State handle Title IX cases?
SC State handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Office of Equal Opportunity. Hayden Erwin serves as Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Investigator. Located in Ko W.G. Donma Administration Building, Room 212. Contact: 803-516-4549 or EqualOpportunity@scsu.edu Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at SC State, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.
References and primary sources
The procedural details on this page come directly from SC State's own published policies and official university resources.
- https://scsu.edu/student-affairs/index.phpOffice of Justice and Accountability (OJA) information
- https://www.scsu.edu/accreditation_compliance/SCSU-T9-Policy_approved-10.6.21_-updated-6.26.23-OGC.pdfTitle IX Policy and coordinator information
- https://scsu.edu/equal_opportunity/index.phpOffice of Equal Opportunity and Title IX information
- https://scsu.edu/news/2025_hayden_erwin_title_ix_02_03_25.phpTitle IX Coordinator contact information
- https://scsu.edu/_resources/pdfs/Student-Code-of-Conduct-2024-2025-1.pdfStudent Code of Conduct 2024-2025: clear and convincing evidence standard, Judicial Board composition, initiation of charges, hearing process, appeal process, student rights, and sanctions
Facing a SC State Conduct Issue?
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