Spelman College Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Spelman is a historically Black women's liberal arts college, meaning all students subject to the conduct process are women; policies and pronouns in official documents reflect this (the student is referred to as 'she/her').

Spelman is a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC); when a Spelman student is accused of misconduct on an AUC member campus, Spelman will address the behaviors and conduct through its own process.

AI-related academic misconduct cases have risen significantly according to a 2026 institutional job posting describing strain on hearing capacity.

Mandatory annual Title IX online training (Spelman Respect and Safety Training) is required for all enrolled students within the first 30 days of the academic year, with a September 30 deadline.

Sorority chapters have internal conduct processes that do not supersede official College action; chapters found responsible may be sanctioned through the Community Standards Review Board.

Students who violate the academic integrity policy while cross-registered at another AUC institution have appeal procedures that rest with that home institution, not Spelman.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Spelman?

Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters); Community Standards Review Board (student conduct matters) (AIC / CSRB) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Spelman. Academic Integrity Committee: chaired by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or designee, comprised of one faculty representative from each academic division plus two additional faculty or staff members appointed by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Community Standards Review Board: composition details not fully published in retrieved sources. The Office of Undergraduate Studies adjudicates all academic integrity violations. The Dean of Students Office, supported by the Community Standards Review Board, adjudicates social/behavioral Code of Conduct violations. Housing and Residence Life staff adjudicate Community Standards violations in the residence halls, referring egregious or repeat cases to the Assistant Dean of Students.

What is the evidence standard at Spelman?

Spelman applies Preponderance of the evidence (confirmed for Title IX proceedings; the specific standard stated in the Academic Integrity Policy and general Code of Conduct documents was not extractable from retrieved sources and should be verified against the full policy text) under Spelman College Academic Integrity Policy (academic matters); Spelman College Community Standards and Code of Conduct (behavioral matters); Spelman College Student Handbook (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters); Community Standards Review Board (student conduct matters) 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 Spelman conduct proceeding?

Under Spelman College Academic Integrity Policy (academic matters); Spelman College Community Standards and Code of Conduct (behavioral matters); Spelman College Student Handbook, students facing a Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters); Community Standards Review Board (student conduct matters) proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to Written notice of the allegation including description of specific acts, date, time, and authorized sanctions; Pre-hearing meeting with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies to clarify procedures and charges; Opportunity to present evidence and matters refuting the charge at the hearing; bring an advisor of the student's choice to the hearing (advisor has no official hearing voice). Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Spelman?

For academic integrity cases, the course professor files a 'Report of Academic Misconduct' form with all supporting evidence. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies then notifies the student in writing of the allegation, including a description of the specific acts, date and time of occurrence, and authorized sanctions. The student is asked to schedule a pre-hearing meeting with the Dean to clarify procedures and charges, and must acknowledge in writing that the process has been explained. For behavioral Code of Conduct cases, reports are submitted to the Dean of Students Office; the College uses the student's College-assigned email as the primary means of communicating about alleged violations.

What sanctions can Spelman impose for academic misconduct?

Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters); Community Standards Review Board (student conduct matters) can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including letter of reprimand, first violation: grade of 'f' in the course in which the offense occurred, second violation: grade of 'f' in the course plus suspension from the college for the following semester, 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 Spelman, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Spelman is 10 working days from the date of initial written notification of the Academic Integrity Committee's decision (academic integrity matters). A student wishing to appeal an Academic Integrity Committee decision must file the appeal with the Office of Undergraduate Studies within 10 working days of the initial notification. If no appeal is filed within that period, the Committee's decision stands. Appeals are heard by the Academic Integrity Appeals Committee, which may uphold or reduce the original sanctions. In no case will a more severe sanction be imposed on appeal. Appeal grounds are: (1) substantial new evidence not available at the original hearing that has a direct bearing on the case, or (2) sufficient good cause, defined as an infringement on the student's rights due to irregularities in the way the Academic Integrity Committee originally conducted the hearing. For Code of Conduct matters, the Student Handbook states students have the right to be advised of the appropriate appeal process; specific Code of Conduct appeal deadlines and body are not fully detailed in retrieved sources. Appeal grounds typically include substantial new evidence: evidence not available at the original hearing that has a direct bearing on the case, sufficient good cause: an infringement on the student's rights because of irregularities in the way the academic integrity committee originally conducted the hearing. 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 Spelman hearing?

Yes. Under Spelman College Academic Integrity Policy (academic matters); Spelman College Community Standards and Code of Conduct (behavioral matters); Spelman College Student Handbook, students have the right to bring an advisor of the student's choice to the hearing (advisor has no official hearing voice). AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate Spelman's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at Spelman the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a Spelman Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters) proceeding?

In most cases, no. Spelman's proceedings follow university policy under Spelman College Academic Integrity Policy (academic matters); Spelman College Community Standards and Code of Conduct (behavioral matters); Spelman College Student Handbook, not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Spelman'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 Spelman handle Title IX cases?

Spelman handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Title IX and Compliance Office. Located at Milligan 2305 on campus. The office focuses on preventive education, effective response, and assessment around sex discrimination including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It also assists the Enterprise Risk Management Committee with institutional compliance. The Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Title IX Coordinators receive reports of sex and gender-based discrimination or harassment. Decision-makers are trained on the preponderance of the evidence standard. All enrolled students must complete mandatory annual Title IX training (Spelman Respect and Safety Training) within 30 days of the start of the academic year (deadline: September 30). The office offers customized training, bystander intervention programs, and has partnered with Vector Solutions for online health programming. Most faculty, staff, and administrators are mandatory reporters; Resident Assistants and Building Monitors are also mandatory reporters while acting in their employment capacity. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Spelman, 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 Spelman?

At Spelman, the most frequently cited violations include: cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, material, or study aids in examinations or other academic work; plagiarism: representing the ideas or words of another as one's own; fabrication and falsification of data or evidence; unauthorized use of another person's signature on academic documents. 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 Spelman conduct case?

At Spelman, the most consequential deadlines are: Academic integrity appeal: must be filed within 10 working days of initial written notification of the Committee's decision; Academic Integrity Committee decision issued: within one week of the hearing; Mandatory Title IX training: within 30 days of the start of the academic year (September 30 deadline). Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Academic Integrity Committee (academic matters); Community Standards Review Board (student conduct matters), document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.