UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

DGSOM operates a two-track system: school-level professionalism and academic standing proceedings through the APC and CASPP, running in parallel with or in addition to university-level UCLA Office of Student Conduct proceedings.

CASPP is a standing subcommittee of the Faculty Executive Committee and promulgates standards evaluated from matriculation through graduation; it reviews academic performance, professionalism, and technical standards.

Professionalism Concern Reporting (PCR) forms escalate in severity with each occurrence, potentially leading to changes in the student's MSPE, which is the document sent to residency programs nationwide.

For degrees issued by DGSOM, authority to revoke degrees rests specifically with the DGSOM Dean of Students, not the general UCLA Dean of Students.

The Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code, effective January 1, 2026, replaced the 2021 Code; it eliminates routine use of a Student Conduct Committee panel except in contested Suspension or Dismissal cases, extends the appeal window from five to ten days for most appeals, and introduces a 90-business-day review target.

Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence on assignments is explicitly treated as academic misconduct under both the Interim 2026 Code and DGSOM policy.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at UCLA Geffen?

Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion (CASPP) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at UCLA Geffen. 12 voting faculty members including a chair, appointed by the Faculty Executive Committee with input from the Dean, Vice Dean for Education, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs for staggered three-year terms. At least six members must be from the Academic Senate and four from the Health Sciences Clinical Professor series. A quorum is seven voting members; decisions require a majority. The Vice Dean for Education may serve as a non-voting ex officio member. CASPP makes final determinations on all questions of formal academic and professional standing for MD students, including changes in standing resulting from violations of the DGSOM Honor Code, Professionalism Policy, or UCLA Student Conduct Code. Academic Performance Committees (APCs) organized by curricular year feed recommendations upward to CASPP. University-level conduct violations are concurrently handled by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct under the Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code.

What is the evidence standard at UCLA Geffen?

UCLA Geffen applies Preponderance of the evidence: the University must prove it is more likely than not that the student committed the alleged misconduct. This standard applies in Student Conduct Reviews and Student Conduct Hearings under the Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code. under Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code (university-wide); DGSOM Medical Student Professionalism Policy and Honor Code (school-level); DGSOM Medical Student Handbook and Policy Manual (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion 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 UCLA Geffen conduct proceeding?

Under Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code (university-wide); DGSOM Medical Student Professionalism Policy and Honor Code (school-level); DGSOM Medical Student Handbook and Policy Manual, students facing a Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to notice of allegations via official UCLA email account; inspect all documents relevant to the case in the possession of the Office of Student Conduct, redacted as required by law and policy; select an Advisor of choice, or to request a university-provided Advisor, who may attend all meetings and proceedings but may not speak on the student's behalf; bring one Support Person (distinct from the Advisor) to proceedings. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at UCLA Geffen?

At the school level, a Professionalism Concern Reporting (PCR) form is filed by a faculty member, course chair, assistant dean, or other supervising individual when a lapse in professional or academic conduct is identified. The form is followed by a meeting between the student and the reporting individual. Depending on severity, the matter escalates from the course chair or assistant dean to the Academic Performance Committee (APC) and, for severe or egregious violations, to CASPP. At the university level, the UCLA Office of Student Conduct receives referrals; a student has five days after notice to contact the Office of Student Conduct. Referrals to the Office of Student Conduct must be made within one year of discovery of the alleged conduct. Reports of discrimination are referred to the Discrimination Prevention Office (DPO); reports of sexual harassment or sexual violence are referred to the Title IX Office.

What sanctions can UCLA Geffen impose for academic misconduct?

Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including warning, disciplinary probation, deferred suspension, 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 UCLA Geffen, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at UCLA Geffen is School-level appeal to CASPP: 30 days from receipt of the APC action. University-level (Interim 2026 Code): 5 days to indicate appeal intent after Administrative Resolution; additional 5 days to submit written appeal to Dean of Students; 10 days to submit post-hearing appeal to the VCSA.. Two parallel appeal tracks exist. School-level: Requests to reconsider APC actions must be submitted in writing to CASPP within 30 days of receipt of the action. An appeal must cite the basis for reconsideration with sufficient detail. Mere disagreement with the APC determination is not sufficient cause. New evidence may not be presented unless the student proves it was unavailable during APC deliberations. University-level (Interim 2026 Code): For Administrative Resolutions not including Suspension or Dismissal, the student has five days to indicate intent to appeal to the Dean of Students, then an additional five days to submit the written appeal. For Suspension or Dismissal cases, the student first has five days to contest responsibility in writing; after a hearing, a post-hearing appeal goes to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) within 10 days. The VCSA's decision is final. Sanctions of Suspension or Dismissal are deferred pending the appeal. Appeal grounds typically include the proposed sanction is disproportionate to the severity of the violation., procedural error that materially affected the finding or sanction., new information or relevant facts that were not available and could not have been known at the time of the review or hearing., 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 UCLA Geffen hearing?

Yes. Under Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code (university-wide); DGSOM Medical Student Professionalism Policy and Honor Code (school-level); DGSOM Medical Student Handbook and Policy Manual, students have the right to select an advisor of choice, or to request a university-provided advisor, who may attend all meetings and proceedings but may not speak on the student's behalf. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate UCLA Geffen's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at UCLA Geffen the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a UCLA Geffen Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion proceeding?

In most cases, no. UCLA Geffen's proceedings follow university policy under Interim 2026 UCLA Student Conduct Code (university-wide); DGSOM Medical Student Professionalism Policy and Honor Code (school-level); DGSOM Medical Student Handbook and Policy Manual, not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands UCLA Geffen'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 UCLA Geffen handle Title IX cases?

UCLA Geffen handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the UCLA Title IX Office (a unit within the UCLA Civil Rights Office, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion). The Title IX Office is located at 2255 Murphy Hall and can be reached at titleix@equity.ucla.edu or (310) 206-3417. The Title IX Director is Mohammed Cato. The office handles reports of sexual harassment, sexual violence, gender discrimination, and related prohibited conduct for all UCLA community members, including DGSOM students. DGSOM policy expressly states that reports of sexual harassment or sexual violence must be reported to the Title IX Office. Title IX matters are handled under a separate procedural track from the UCLA Student Conduct Code. Confidential support is available through the CARE: Advocacy Office for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Misconduct at (310) 206-2465. Annual Title IX SHAPE training is mandatory for all students. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at UCLA Geffen, 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 UCLA Geffen?

At UCLA Geffen, the most frequently cited violations include: academic dishonesty: cheating, fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism (including unauthorized use of ai tools without proper attribution); violations of the dgsom professionalism policy including failure to fulfill course or clerkship responsibilities; research misconduct (may be referred to ucla policy 993 and the research integrity officer for externally funded research); disruptive conduct: obstructing the learning environment, interfering with other students' ability to learn, or creating a hostile work or learning environment. 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 UCLA Geffen conduct case?

At UCLA Geffen, the most consequential deadlines are: Student must contact Office of Student Conduct within 5 days of receiving Notice of Allegations; Referral to Office of Student Conduct must occur within 1 year of discovery of the alleged conduct; Student Conduct Review targets completion within 90 business days of issuing Notice of Allegations. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Committee on Academic Standing, Progress, and Promotion, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.