Virginia · Private University
University of Richmond Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense
Facing a Honor Councils proceeding? AdvocatED advisors know Richmond's specific process, not generic advice, but guidance built around how your institution actually works.
⏱ Richmond's appeal windows are short and narrow: an Honor appeal is due within five business days and a conduct appeal by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day, and both are limited to genuinely new evidence. Note too that a typical first Honor violation places you on probation, where a second violation typically brings expulsion, so a first case matters. Read your notice and act immediately.
If you just received notice
What to do right now at Richmond
- 1Note the exact date on your notice letter and calendar every deadline it lists. Richmond's response and appeal windows are short, and missing one forecloses your options.
- 2Do not respond substantively yet. Before you reply to the Honor Councils, read The Honor Code and Standards of Student Conduct so you know the specific procedure that applies to your case.
- 3Preserve everything related to the allegation: emails, drafts, timestamps, citations, and messages with classmates. This evidence often decides the case.
- 4Confirm your right to an advisor. Most schools, including University of Richmond, allow you to bring an advisor to a Honor Councils proceeding. AdvocatED can serve in that role.
- 5Contact AdvocatED for a free case review before your Richmond meeting. We will explain how the Honor Councils approaches cases like yours and what response gives you the strongest position.
University of Richmond's Academic Integrity & Conduct Process
The University of Richmond handles academic integrity through student-run Honor Councils (the Richmond College and Westhampton College Honor Councils), which use the higher clear-and-convincing standard. Non-academic conduct is handled by the Division of Student Development, with a Conduct Officer or a Student Conduct Board (the student-run University of Richmond Student Conduct Council or the staff University Hearing Board) applying a preponderance standard. Every Honor outcome is reviewed and certified by a College Dean. The School of Law runs a fully separate honor system.
This specific institutional knowledge is what separates AdvocatED from generic advisors. We provide guidance tailored to how Richmond's actual process works, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Things to Know About Richmond's Honor Councils
- →Academic integrity is handled by student-run Honor Councils, which use the higher clear-and-convincing evidence standard, and a full-board finding requires no more than one dissenting vote of the six voting members
- →Non-academic conduct is handled by the Division of Student Development through a Conduct Officer or a Student Conduct Board, using the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard
- →The Honor system is presumptively a two-strike structure: a typical first violation brings honor probation, a grade sanction, and a file notation, while a violation while on honor probation typically brings expulsion; a suspension requires a three-quarters vote of both Chairs and both College Deans
- →In an Honor proceeding an attorney may not attend any hearing or meeting, including an appeal; your in-room support is a peer Liaison, so preparation beforehand is essential
- →Appeals are narrow: an Honor appeal (five business days) and a non-academic appeal (by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day) are each limited to genuinely new evidence, and no finding is final until certified by a College Dean
- →Richmond's coordinate-college structure (Richmond College and Westhampton College) runs through the whole system, and the School of Law has a separate honor code with a beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard
How AdvocatED Helps Richmond Students
Academic Misconduct Defense
The Honor Code and Standards of Student Conduct violations, plagiarism, cheating, AI use, collaboration issues
Learn more →Conduct Hearing Preparation
Coaching and preparation for presenting your case before Honor Councils
Learn more →Academic Dismissal Appeals
Building a compelling appeal through Richmond's appeals process
Learn more →Title IX Defense
Navigating University of Richmond's Title IX investigation and hearing procedures
Learn more →Law School Honor Code
University of Richmond School of Law Honor Code
Learn more →Richmond Resources & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions: Richmond Students
Who decides academic integrity cases at the University of Richmond?
Academic integrity is handled by the student-run Honor Councils, the combined Richmond College and Westhampton College Honor Councils, which date to 1933. Student officers investigate and present the case, and a full board of six voting student members determines responsibility and sanctions; if you accept responsibility, an expedited hearing before the Chair and two members sets sanctions (but waives appeal). Every finding and sanction is reviewed and certified by the appropriate College Dean before it becomes final.
What is the standard of proof at Richmond?
It differs by system. Academic Honor cases use the higher clear-and-convincing evidence standard, defined as producing a firm belief or conviction, and a full-board finding of responsibility requires no more than one dissenting vote among the six voting members. Non-academic conduct uses the lower preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. The School of Law uses an even higher beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard. Knowing which applies is important to how the case should be approached.
Is Richmond's Honor system really two strikes?
In practice, largely yes. A typical first Honor violation brings honor probation through graduation, an official notation in your academic file, and a faculty-set grade sanction, and it is treated as an educational process. A violation while you are on honor probation typically brings expulsion. A first-offense suspension for a compounded or egregious case requires a three-quarters vote of both Chairs and both College Deans. Because the second strike is so severe, handling a first case carefully matters a great deal.
Can I bring an attorney to a Richmond Honor hearing?
No. In undergraduate Honor proceedings you may consult an attorney, but the attorney cannot attend any hearing or meeting, including an appeal; your in-room support is a peer Liaison assigned to assist you. In non-academic conduct hearings an attorney may be retained but not present during interviews or hearings. Because you effectively present your own case, thorough preparation is essential, which is where an education advocate is most useful.
How do I appeal a Richmond decision, and what is the deadline?
Both appeal routes are narrow and time-limited. An Honor appeal must be filed with the College Dean and the Chair within five business days, and the only ground is new evidence that was not available at the time of the hearing; you must show it meets that criterion by clear and convincing evidence. A non-academic conduct appeal is due by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day, and it too is limited to new evidence that would change the outcome and was not reasonably available. Title IX appeals follow a separate, broader set of grounds.
Do I need a lawyer for a University of Richmond conduct case?
For most undergraduate cases, no, and an attorney cannot attend Honor hearings at all. What helps most is someone who understands the student-run Honor Councils, the clear-and-convincing standard, the two-strike structure, and the narrow, five-day, new-evidence-only appeals. An education advocate typically provides more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney, at a fraction of the cost. Law-school honor cases carry their own high, bar-relevant stakes, and AdvocatED can help you understand exactly what applies and prepare your response and appeal.
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