The student conduct process applies to all students and students' organizations affiliated with the University and is intended to address alleged violations of University policies in a fair and consistent manner. The following provisions define the scope of the University’s authority, specifying who may be subject to the conduct process, when and where jurisdiction applies, and the procedures for cases involving student organizations, joint degree programs, and inter-institutional academic arrangements. These provisions ensure appropriate management of conduct matters, regardless of enrollment status, location of alleged misconduct, or academic affiliation. 

Within the Scope 

  • The University may respond to any complaint of behavior that occurred within a student’s career, from application to graduation and will endeavor to resolve all pending conduct matters in a timely manner. 
  • In certain circumstances, OSCCS may not be able to resolve pending matters before a student’s graduation date and an ongoing investigation or process may proceed regardless of a student's completion status or fulfillment of academic requirements prior to graduation. 
  • In addition to this, any pending investigation or conduct process may continue regardless of a student’s completion status or a student’s fulfillment of academic obligations prior to a student’s graduation date. 
  • Any student is subject to disciplinary action if they have allegedly violated a University policy. 
  • This includes students who have matriculated to, are currently enrolled in, are on leave from, or have been readmitted (following a dismissal) to programs of the University. 
  • The accused (known here as the “respondent”) may also be a cohesive unit of the University, such as a living group, athletic team, or other recognized or unrecognized student organization members. 
  • The University reserves the right to respond to any report of alleged misconduct on or off campus. 
  • Student organization leaders most directly responsible may be held accountable for acting as an accomplice through action or negligence to the commission of prohibited acts at an organization-identified event 

In cases of alleged policy violations by a student enrolled in a joint degree program or interdisciplinary coursework within Duke, each school or unit (the home unit and the host unit) may have a stake in the adjudication. Thus, an ad hoc process shall be developed, and an ad hoc panel may be formed with representatives from both institutions/units to handle the case. The outcomes may be different for each school or unit. 

For students doing inter-institutional coursework at other institutions, whether domestic or international, or for visiting students enrolled in classes at Duke, the home and the host institutions should confer and decide the process to be followed, which may include combined or separate elements. The outcomes may be different for each institution. 

Outside the Scope

The OSCCS at Duke University addresses alleged violations of University policy by undergraduate students and student organizations. However, certain matters fall outside the jurisdiction of this office. 

These include, but are not limited to: 

  • Landlord-tenant issues or other off-campus housing disputes, unless directly related to conduct that violates University policies; 
  • Civil or financial disputes between students or with third parties (e.g., unpaid debts, contracts, personal loans); 
  • Employment-related issues involving student workers or graduate/professional students acting in employee roles, which may fall under Human Resources or relevant academic units; 
  • Title IX-related allegations, including sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, which are governed by federal regulations and adjudicated through Duke’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct (PPDHRM); 
  • Disability accommodation disputes, which are addressed by the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO); 
  • Matters involving Duke staff, faculty, or affiliates acting outside their student capacity which may be addressed through Human Resources, the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE), or other appropriate offices.