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UCI Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct

Frequently Asked Questions

Section 1

Frequently Asked Questions


How do I report a violation of policy?

You can report violations to a variety of campus offices such as:

Are Registered Campus Organizations held to the same Conduct Code? 

Yes. All Registered Campus Organizations are expected to follow the policies outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Why did I receive a letter from the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct?
The letter you received might indicate that the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct received a report regarding an incident involving possible violations of the Code of Conduct, and a Student Conduct Officer requests an opportunity to discuss this incident and allegations of policy violation with you.

What happens during the Administrative Meeting? 
The Administrative Meeting is an opportunity to give you (as an official representative for the Registered Campus Organization) an opportunity to respond to the allegations, and if found responsible, to be advised of the possibility of sanctions. At the Administrative Meeting, the appointed Student Conduct Officer will:

  1. Inform you of the specific allegations made against the Registered Campus Organization
  2. Indicate the applicable University policy(ies) or campus regulations alleged to have been violated
  3. Share information regarding the related incident
  4. Make a reasonable effort, as permissible under federal and state law, to comply with your requests for access of documents relevant to the case
  5. Give you, the Registered Campus Organization, the opportunity to respond to the charges and review evidence of the alleged violation(s)

At the conclusion of the Administrative Meeting(s), the appointed Student Conduct Officer may conclude that no violation has occurred and therefore, that no further action is warranted. If, however, the appointed Student Conduct Officer determines that a policy violation has occurred based on the preponderance of the evidence, sanctions will be imposed.

What if my Registered Campus Organizations is not familiar with the policy that we are accused of violating? 
Ignorance of the policy(ies) does not excuse violation of said policy. Every student is responsible for knowing the rules and regulations of the University, found in the University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students. 

Do I have to attend my administrative meeting? 
No, but it is in the best interest of your Registered Campus Organizations for the official representatives to attend. If you choose not to attend, the Registered Campus Organization's case will be adjudicated without your input and if the group is found responsible, sanctions may be imposed.

Do I need to hire an attorney?
Registered Campus Organizations are allowed to have an advisor present at their meeting. An advisor may include parents, friends, attorney, etc. The Registered Campus Organization is not required to have an attorney present at your meeting or hearing; in fact, most Registered Campus Organizations do not. If you decide that you would like to have an advisor present, the advisor may act as a consultant for the student, and may not speak on behalf of the organization. If a Registered Campus Organization chooses to have an attorney as an advisor, the Registered Campus Organization shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses for the retention of an attorney. Under the discretion of the Student Conduct Officer, other parties, including advisors, if any, may be excluded from participating in the meeting, especially if being disruptive in the meeting.

I am a member of a Registered Campus Organization; can I be brought up on charges too?
Yes. Disciplinary action against the Registered Campus Organization is independent of those actions against the individual. For some cases, disciplinary action can, and will, be taken against individual students for activities involving the organization.

How does the adjudicating Student Conduct Officer decide if the Registered Campus Organization violated the Code of Student Conduct?
The “Preponderance of Evidence” is the standard used to determine if a Registered Campus Organization is responsible for the allegations of policy violations. A Registered Campus Organization is not responsible for violating the Code of Student Conduct unless evidence suggests that it is was more than 50% likely that a policy was violated. Another way of stating it, "Is it more likely than not that a policy was violated?"

Is my Registered Campus Organization going to be dismissed from the University?
Not necessarily. Sanctions depend on various things such as the severity of the offense, whether the Registered Campus Organization takes responsibility for their actions, prior sanctions received by the Registered Student Organization, level of intent etc. Suspension and/or revocation of recognition is not used often.

What is the range of sanctions a Registered Campus Organization can be given?
Sanctions are imposed only if a Registered Campus Organization has been found responsible for a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. The primary goals of sanctions are to protect the safety of the University community, to educate Registered Campus Organizations about the inappropriateness of their misconduct, and to provide opportunities for Registered Campus Organizations to learn new behaviors. Sanctions are designed to reflect the individual Registered Campus Organization and the impact of the violation(s) on the community. Possible sanctions include: written warning, disciplinary probation, restitution, restriction from areas of campus, attending classes or workshops, educational projects, community service, relocation or removal from housing in accordance with the housing contract, removal from specific courses or activities, suspension or revocation of recognition by the University.

What if we don’t agree with our sanctions? Can we appeal?
After receiving written notice of the sanction(s) to be imposed, the Registered Campus Organization may appeal the decision to the Dean of Students (for sanctions of Warning, Probation, or Restitution) only if all of the following requirements are met: (a) the appeal is in writing, (b) the appeal is expressly based upon one or more of the grounds specified below, and (c) the appeal is received by the Dean of Students by the stated deadline. The deadline shall not be more than seven (7) business days from the issuance of the letter. Grounds for appeal:

  1. There is new evidence, which could not be adduced at the time of the investigative conference, which is likely to change the result
  2. There was a violation of due process
  3. The sanction imposed was too harsh given the finding of fact


What is a Formal Hearing?
In cases of Suspension or Revocation of Registration, Registered Campus Organizations have the right to a hearing in front of a Student Conduct Review Board. If the Registered Campus Organization chooses this option, the Authorized Signers will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the hearing. A representative from the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct will advise you in regards to the process.

Review of these common questions does not substitute for reading and understanding the Student Code of Conduct and/or PACAOS. This list is meant to answer questions students, Registered Campus Organization, advisors, and parents often have about the student conduct process at UC Irvine. Please refer to the Code of Conduct for more details.