University of Denver Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

DU uses a fully educational and restorative model, branding all sanctions as 'Outcomes' and explicitly framing the SRR process as a learning and growth experience rather than a purely punitive one

Restorative Justice Conferences (RJCs) are offered as an alternate case resolution format, involving facilitated dialogue among the respondent, impacted parties, and community members

Support Persons (including attorneys) may attend but are strictly prohibited from presenting information or submitting documents on the student's behalf; only the student may submit materials

Individual academic units may create more stringent professional standards than the Honor Code, but cannot lessen Honor Code standards, and any such additions must be published officially and provided to SRR

A student alleged to have engaged in academic dishonesty may be prevented from dropping a course, and the Registrar may reinstate a previously dropped course without notifying the student

The SRR process may proceed concurrently with or after criminal or civil proceedings; the University is not required to postpone its process

Medical Amnesty provisions protect students who seek emergency assistance for alcohol or drug situations from a reportable Honor Code violation for those specific acts

Who handles academic misconduct cases at DU?

Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at DU. The Chancellor and the Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor grant authority to the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities to resolve alleged violations of the Honor Code. The Director of SRR may delegate authority as necessary to maintain efficiency or address conflicts of interest. A Case Resolution Body is any person, persons, or groups authorized by the Director of SRR to make an outcome determination. SRR addresses potential violations of the Honor Code and/or University policies by all University of Denver students, including undergraduate and graduate students. Student conduct is governed at all times during enrollment, including off-campus conduct where it implicates University policies.

What is the evidence standard at DU?

DU applies Preponderance of the Evidence under Honor Code Student Rights & Responsibilities Community Standards and Procedures (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities 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 DU conduct proceeding?

Under Honor Code Student Rights & Responsibilities Community Standards and Procedures, students facing a Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of the allegation, the alleged policy violations, and information about reviewing the initiating report; have a Support Person of their choosing present (including a parent, legal guardian, family member, or attorney), though the Support Person may not present information or submit documents on the student's behalf; submit relevant information and evidence directly to SRR; a Case Resolution Meeting before an outcome is assigned in non-minor cases. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at DU?

The SRR process begins with a report submitted to the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities, which reviews the information to determine if any potential policy violations occurred. If a potential violation is identified, SRR assigns alleged policy violations, investigates the incident, assesses findings, assigns status and educational outcomes, and resolves the incident. For academic integrity matters, SRR also works with DU faculty and academic units to uphold Academic Integrity policies.

What sanctions can DU impose for academic misconduct?

Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including advisory letter: notification that conduct was inconsistent with university expectations; no immediate effect on student status; not routinely reported for transfer or graduate school purposes, written warning: notification that conduct was inconsistent with university expectations; no immediate effect on student status, probation: student must avoid further violations for a specified period to remain enrolled; student is not in good standing, 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 DU, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at DU is Appeals must be submitted within a specified number of Business Days of Proper Written Notification (exact number of business days UNVERIFIED: needs human research from current Honor Code). The Director of SRR or designee may grant a reasonable extension of up to two additional Business Days upon request.. A student may appeal the decision of the Case Resolution Body to an Appellate Officer. The appeal is reviewed based on specific appeal criteria. The Appellate Officer reviews the appeal submission and the case file. The Appellate Officer's decision is considered final with no further appeals. For Title IX and Discrimination and Harassment matters, the appeals process is set forth in the applicable EOIX procedure rather than the standard SRR appeal process. Appeal grounds typically include the existence of procedural errors so substantial that they greatly impacted the findings, responsibility determination, and/or the outcome, unverified: needs human research (additional grounds listed in the honor code text were cut off in available sources; full list should be verified against the current honor code). 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 DU hearing?

Yes. Under Honor Code Student Rights & Responsibilities Community Standards and Procedures, students have the right to have a support person of their choosing present (including a parent, legal guardian, family member, or attorney), though the support person may not present information or submit documents on the student's behalf. AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate DU's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at DU the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a DU Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities proceeding?

In most cases, no. DU's proceedings follow university policy under Honor Code Student Rights & Responsibilities Community Standards and Procedures, not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands DU'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 DU handle Title IX cases?

DU handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (also referred to as Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX / CREO). The Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (CREO) serves DU by fostering equal opportunity, equity, and anti-discrimination, facilitating compliance with Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, Section 504, and other applicable laws. It oversees compliance with non-discrimination policies regarding sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and marital status. The current AVC for Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator is Michael D. Todd. The office is located at Driscoll Center South, Suite 30, 2050 E. Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80208, reachable at TitleIX@du.edu. When a student is alleged to have violated the Discrimination and Harassment Policy, SRR forwards the report to EOIX for evaluation, investigation, and findings under the applicable EOIX procedures; the Outcome Council then assigns status and educational outcomes, and the EOIX procedure's own appeals process applies. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at DU, 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 DU?

At DU, the most frequently cited violations include: academic integrity violations: plagiarism (representing another's work or ideas as one's own), cheating, unauthorized collaboration, fabrication of data or results; alcohol violations: unauthorized possession or use by persons under 21, unauthorized distribution, intoxication causing disruption; drug violations: unauthorized possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances; harassment and discrimination: violations of the university's discrimination and harassment policy (forwarded to eoix for investigation). 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 DU conduct case?

At DU, the most consequential deadlines are: Academic grievance or appeal of program termination or dismissal: must be filed within 45 calendar days of the term following the student's last term as an active student; Appeals committee recommendation to Dean: must be provided within 30 calendar days of the dean's office receiving the written appeal request; SRR appeal submission deadline: within a specified number of Business Days of Proper Written Notification (exact day count UNVERIFIED: needs human research from current Honor Code); a reasonable extension of up to 2 additional Business Days may be granted by the Director of SRR. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.