The Conduct Process: A Brief Overview
Student Conduct and Integrity strives to balance the goal of upholding our standards of academic integrity and responsible conduct with the need to protect the welfare and reputation of our UC Davis community. When possible, Student Conduct and Integrity uses informal procedures to resolve disciplinary matters, emphasizing education, personal growth and the development of ethical behavior. When formal fact-finding procedures are necessary, the system is designed to provide a timely, fair, and impartial hearing and resolution of the matter. A student may have an advisor with them at any stage in the informal or formal process.
This is an overview of the Student Conduct Investigation and Resolution Framework in Appendix H.
When a student conduct report is submitted, the report is subject to a preliminary review by a Student Conduct and Integrity staff member before any action is taken. After the preliminary review, there are several different routes the process might follow:
- First, if the report doesn’t have enough information to indicate that a policy violation occurred, or if the conduct reported does not violate the Interim UC Davis Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline, then the case is dismissed.
- For cases where there does appear to be a violation of the policy, Student Conduct and Integrity may choose to resolve the matter through an advisory notice, which is a non-disciplinary warning, or an alternative resolution, which is an agreement with the student.
- In most cases, the standard conduct process is an administrative resolution pathway. The student meets with a Student Conduct Specialist to discuss the allegations. The specialist then makes a determination of whether a violation occurred and there are several outcomes.
- The resolution is final if the student accepts or does not respond by the deadline.
- In cases not involving suspension or dismissal, the student can appeal on three grounds (according to Appendix H, section F.3.b.i.): new information, procedural error or disproportionate sanctions. The appeal decision is final.
- In cases involving suspension or dismissal, the student can appeal the sanctions. The appeal decision is final.
- In cases involving suspension or dismissal, the student can contest the determination and proceed to a formal hearing. The student can appeal the hearing decision on three grounds (according to Appendix H, section F.4.d): new information, procedural error or disproportionate sanctions. The appeal decision is final.