The purpose of the student conduct system is to promote honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability within the university community and to provide a fair and effective mechanism for resolving situations in which a student (or organization) is alleged to have violated the standards or policies of the university.

All reports of student behavior should be submitted to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Any alleged violation of university policy is within the scope of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Staff within the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will determine the most appropriate means by which to handle a report. Resolutions may include an Administrative Conference, Adaptable Resolution, Administrative Hearing or Conduct Board Hearing. The administrators, faculty, and staff who are part of the conduct process receive regular training to support their participation. 

The student conduct system is an educational process and is separate and distinct from a court of law. As such, the student conduct system operates under principles of fairness and uses a preponderance of evidence standard.  The student disciplinary process outlined does not create contractual rights. 

Organization

  • The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is designated to oversee the conduct system for undergraduate students for allegations of academic and non-academic misconduct matters under the Duke Community Standard, excluding misconduct alleged under Duke's Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct (PPDHRM). The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) is the designated office to oversee the process and procedures for all Title IX, sexual misconduct, and gender-based harassment allegations under the PPDHRM.
  • When the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards receives reports alleging sexual misconduct, a Dean of Students representative will contact the complainant to outline support options and inform the complainant about their option to contact the Office of Institutional Equity for more informations on the OIE procedures to review, evaluate, investigate, and resolve allegations under the PPDHRM.
  • Hearing officers are designated by the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards (OSCCS) to resolve disciplinary matters through informal or formal disciplinary resolution.
  • The Conduct Board (CB) is designated to resolve formal disciplinary matters that involve complicated circumstances, serious infractions of university policy, and/or repeated misconduct. The CB is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. Consideration shall be given to the appointment of a board reflective of the population of the university community.
  • The Appellate Board considers appeals of students/organizations found responsible and sanctioned through a panel hearing of the Conduct Board, and/or complainants in harassment-related cases. The Vice President/Vice Provost for Student Affairs appoints  the chair and other members of the Appellate Board, consisting of faculty, staff, and students.
  • Community Board Members (CBM) are also available to assist and advice students/student organizations through the conduct process. CMB members,  include students, staff, and faculty members who have been trained and are familiar with the conduct system. Students may request  advisement by sending an email to conduct@duke.edu. 

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 prior to graduation. In certain circumstances, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may not be able to resolve all pending conduct matters prior to a student's graduation date. In addition to this, any pending investigation or conduct process may continue regardless of a student’s completion status.
  • 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 (also referred to as the respondent) may also be a cohesive unit of the university, such as a living group, athletic team, or other recognized organization.
  • 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 a group- 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.
  • The Office for Institutional Equity (Smith Warehouse, Bay 8, 919-684-8222) receives reports and handles complaints alleging Title IX sexual misconduct for students, staff, faculty, and all other non-Duke students, as well as complaints alleging discrimination and harassment by any member of the Duke community (including students), under the Duke Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct (PPDHRM).

Outside the Scope

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (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: 

  1.  Landlord-tenant issues or other off-campus housing disputes, unless directly related to conduct that violates university policies; 
  1. Civil or financial disputes between students or with third parties (e.g., unpaid debts, contracts, personal loans); 
  1. Employment-related issues involving student workers or graduate/professional students acting in employee roles, which may fall under Human Resources or relevant academic units; 
  1. 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); 
  1. Disability accommodation disputes, which are addressed by the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO); 
  1.  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. 

Frequently Asked Questions

This section is designed to help you identify resources available to give you more information about what happens next, your rights under the university's disciplinary process, and other information available to make you best prepared to respond to an inquiry of your alleged behavior. Please note that there is no assumption that you are responsible for any allegation made against you; rather, the presumption is that there is no violation of university policy unless you accept responsibility for the allegation and/or the threshold for a finding of responsibility of a violation is met ("preponderance of the evidence")..

Preparing for your Administrative Hearing

If you are contacted for an administrative conference or hearing, you will be invited to meet one-on-one with a university staff member that serves as a Hearing Officer regarding your alleged involvement in the reported behavior. The University staff member is interested in hearing your perspective on what  allegedly happened and will discuss with you how the matter might be resolved. For more information, please click the Administrative Hearing link.

Preparing for your Conduct Board Hearing

You may have received a letter stating that the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is launching an in inquiry into your role in (a) possible violation(s) of university policy. The letter outlines the situation in question, the date it occurred, and the applicable university policy that pertains to this incident. For more information, review the Conduct Board page.

Resources

Support. A student may seek advice from anyone he/she wishes. If a student has been charged criminally, we recommend that the student seek professional legal advice. The North Carolina State Bar has resources to help find an appropriate licensed attorney.

For students participating in the university's conduct process, it is strongly encouraged to utilize the support of a Conduct Board Member (CBM) for advisement. Conduct board members, comprised of trained students, staff, and faculty, are specifically equipped to assist students during the hearing s process. Experience indicates that students/students organizations who seek guidance from a CBM are generally better prepared for their upcoming hearings. 

Additionally, a student/student organization may bring a member of the university community—such as a current student, staff member, or faculty member—with them to a Conduct Board hearing. However, it's important to note that the university community member does not have a speaking role during a conduct board hearing; their presence is meant to provide emotional support for the respondent. 

Possible Outcomes. What can happen to you if you are found responsible for a policy violation? Learn about outcomes.

Disciplinary Records. Become familiar with how violations of university policy are recorded and kept on file here.

There are a number of steps you can take as an instructor to cultivate and sustain a climate of academic integrity in your course.

Let students know the extent to which collaboration is permitted and the degree to which resources may be used in completing assignments. 

A good rule of thumb is that students will interpret more liberally than you intend in deciphering what acceptable rules for collaboration and outside resource use are.  Therefore, be as granular as you can-- perhaps with explicit examples from your course-- for acceptable parameters. Also, be explicit about what happens in terms of grading if a student is academically dishonest in your class-- will the student fail the assignment at issue?  Fail the course? 

Tips to Promote Academic Integrity in the Classroom UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR: 

On the Written Syllabus

  • Include the text of the Academic Dishonesty Policies
  • Set expectations for academic integrity in all aspects of the course
  • Provide specific guidelines for collaboration, including artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Note standards for use of data, electronic translators, etc, specific to your discipline

In the Classroom

  • Be a role model (cite sources in lectures, etc.)
  • Highlight issues of academic integrity through ongoing discussion
  • Require students to write and sign a pledge on all assignments that their work was completed honestly
  • Instruct about proper research techniques, including note-taking strategies and citation methods
  • Inform students of such resources as the Writing Studio, Academic Resource Center Learning Consultations, reference texts, websites, etc.
  • Thank students for their honesty in taking an exam as you pass it out.  Research suggests that "priming" students in this regard reduces instances of dishonesty.
  • Have students put all electronic devices (including watches) in their bag off to the side of the room/their desk during an exam.  While most classrooms have a clock, it is a good idea to periodically announce (or write visibly) the time and how much time is left for the exam.
  • Give different versions of an exam (even as simple as reordering questions) to reduce opportunities for looking on another's test during the exam.
  • If you give students an opportunity to submit a request for a re-grade, scan the exams prior to returning them-- and better yet, tell students that you do so.  This not only reduces student temptation to change answers, but also makes it easy to identify should it occur.

Should you encounter potential academic dishonesty in undergraduate courses, please complete this form. The OSCCS will be in touch with you within three business days to discuss the allegation and advise on next steps.

It is imperative that faculty/instructors follow through on each and every possible instance of academic dishonesty encountered? Yes! Why?

  • To ensure consistency of response across departments
  • To protect faculty/instructors by ensuring due process
  • To verify that a student has no prior incidents
  • To identify resources for students who may need assistance.  Academically dishonest behavior may indicate an (additional) signal that a student has other underlying issues motivating the behavior.
  • As a gauge for evaluating the academic integrity climate on campus. 

Read more about our policies regarding Academic Dishonesty. For more information about the Faculty-Student Resolution (FSR), a one-time adaptable resolution process, for eligible undergraduate students regarding cases of academic dishonesty, please read the Faculty Student Resolution Page.

Welcome to our graduate and professional students!

Do you wish to report student misconduct? You may do so by completing an incident report. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will  follow-up with your affiliated  graduate/professional  school and determine the most appropriate means of resolution.  

Are you serving as an instructor or teaching assistant? Encounter academic dishonesty? Call us at 919-684-6938 or email us to discuss how to address it.

Welcome to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards! If you are navigating to this page, chances are are you are surprised your student’s Duke experience would include an interaction with our office. This part of our website is designed to help answer some of the questions you may have about our disciplinary process and give you information that can help you best support your student.

First and foremost, we recognize that our students (like all of us) make mistakes.  Our process is intended to be an opportunity for students to recognize and learn from their mistakes. Sometimes this involves the consumption of alcohol. Other times it may involve a rash decision made at a late hour while writing a term paper. The competitive environment at Duke, in which students want to excel both academically and personally (i.e., be socially accepted and liked by their peers) can sometimes lead to decisions and behaviors that students later regret. Through our conduct process, we hope to help students learn where they could have made different decisions and offer them strategies for making better choices should they face a given situation again.

The expectations (or policies) we have in place for our students flow from the philosophy of the Duke Community Standard, which is the university's honor code. As you know from your own experience, actions carry consequences. This is no different at Duke. When students are found responsible for violating a university policy, they may face a set of outcomes. This may include community service, disciplinary probation, reflection papers, and, sometimes, separation from Duke, either for a period of time (suspension) or permanently (expulsion). These are not consequences that we take lightly. We believe our process and  outcomes play an important role in a student's education at Duke -- not just  in the Duke community, but in preparing them for life beyond Duke. 

We encourage students to talk with their parents when they find themselves in  situations that may involve a violation of a university policy. We do not notify parents about investigations or findings except in situations where  students under the age of 21  are involved in alcohol, drugs, or hazing related disciplinary violations and/or when a student's health or safety has been/is at risk (including when a student is granted "amnesty"). We may require students to inform their parents about what happened and  ask their parents to follow up with us with a phone call. Parents may also be contacted by Trinity College or the Pratt School of Engineering if a student is suspended as a result of a disciplinary violation.  

Students are often fearful or embarrassed to talk with their parents/legal guardian about their situation because of the reaction they think they will receive. While you may understandably be concerned about what may have happened, you will want to show support to your student. Listen to their perspective. Encourage them to accept responsibility for the role they played in a situation. Let them know that you still stand behind them.

Sometimes parents initial reaction is that their student could not have possibly engaged in the behavior of which they are accused. Or that the behavior was unintentional and therefore, simply a mistake. We strive for a fair and thorough process  to determine the extent to which a student was involved in a situation. Intent or lack thereof is not considered in a determination of responsibility, but it is an important determination of the outcome. as is accepting responsibility for their behavior. We have high expectations for our students, and this includes seeking appropriate help when facing a difficult decision (for example, not turning in a paper and seeking an extension from an instructor versus making the decision to cut and paste from a source on the Internet). 

Parents frequently have questions about how disciplinary action may affect their child's future. So what if your student faces disciplinary action, including separation from the university? How does this impact  a student’s record or chances of gaining admission into a graduate/professional program? Please feel free to explore our pages to learn more. 

What role can parents play in support of their student? Sometimes your best role, and the most growth-enabling for your student is one you’ve played many times as a parent  is to support them while they work with university  staff to resolve the situation at hand. We are happy to address questions or concerns you may have, but we encourage you to speak with your student to exchange information firsthand. Feel free to contact us contact us at 919-684-6938. 

The university hopes that students will discuss their lives at Duke with  their parents. Please do not be offended if they do not, as we also know there are times they want to deal with situations on their own, particularly those that are not of the most serious in nature. This, too, is part of their growth and development in taking responsibility for their lives and actions.  Students are prohibited from sharing their Duke login information.  

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99, is a federal law that guides the release of students’ education records, of which disciplinary records are a part. In the K-12 system, you received significant information because as their parent, you were considered the owner of their education records. As a result,  the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will not disclose information about a student without consent from the  student. Duke University adheres to a policy of compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This act (1) permits students to inspect their education records, (2) limits disclosure to others of personally-identifiable information from education records without students' prior written consent, and (3) provides students the opportunity to seek correction of their education records where appropriate.  You can find out more about Duke’s obligations pursuant to FERPA here:  https://registrar.duke.edu/student-records-resources/ferpa.  For additional information about FERPA, see www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html. 

Current or former students may be asked to report on their disciplinary history as part of an application process.  Most often this occurs in the admissions process for transferring to another institution; seeking admission to law school, medical school, and some MBA programs; and, when applying to work for the federal government or sensitive industries.  You may be required to give Duke University permission to release your disciplinary record as part of your application.  

If you are applying for admission to a state bar and that state has an online form for Duke to complete, send the request to complete to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Authorization to Release Form. 

If you do not have a form that has as part of it a signed release giving Duke permission to release this information; and, you no longer have access to your Duke email account from which you can email your request, you must complete this Authorization to Release Form.

Note that disciplinary records are maintained by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and kept in accordance with FERPA. Individual disciplinary records are kept on file until a student graduates or three years from the date of the student’s matriculation (whichever occurs first), except in cases resulting in suspension or expulsion, in which disciplinary records are kept indefinitely.

We will respond to the questions asked on the form.  If you need a generic letter describing your disciplinary history, please complete the Authorization to Release Form. If we no longer have any information on file for a student, we will send a letter stating that we are unable to confirm or deny that the (former) student/alumnus has a record.

Our intent with these letters is not to prevent students/alumni from achieving whatever goals they may have. We will place any incidents noted on the disciplinary record in context and describe the university response. If students had an isolated incident during their time at Duke, with no further disciplinary actions, we will note that.

It is critically important for students/alumni to be honest in sharing information about their disciplinary history. Perhaps the worst thing one can do is minimize or even lie about an incident in which one was involved. Often, a student's forthrightness about an incident, and an explanation of what the student has learned from the incident, can be a plus factor for a student.

The letter below is sent with Dean's Certification forms. It details the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards policy for reporting students' disciplinary histories.

Duke Undergraduate Disciplinary Record Reporting Policy

Have questions? Feel free to contact us at 919-684-6938.