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UCI Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Section 1

Frequently Asked Questions - Support Person/Advisor

 What is the role of the support person/advisor?

A support person/advisor's role in the process is to advise and consult the student. Because the campus academic integrity and student conduct process is not a court of law, the support person/advisor is not acting in a legal capacity.

In the meeting and hearing, the support person/advisor is allowed to:

  • Assist the student in clarifying their response to questions
  • Consult with the student during the meetings

A support person/advisor is not allowed to:

  • Speak on the student’s behalf
  • Object in any manner to questions asked or discussions raised during the Administrative Meeting or hearing 
  • “Cross-examine” or question witnesses in a hearing
  • Interrupt the hearing proceedings

If a student chooses to have a support person/advisor, the student shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses for the retention of services provided. Support persons/advisors are cautioned that their participation in the conduct process in a manner that inhibits the student’s direct interaction with the adjudicating staff member or hearing board, may be detrimental to the student’s case and may result in the support person/advisor’s exclusion from the review.

How do I access information about my student’s case, so that I may better assist them?
A support person/advisor may receive information directly from the student. The support person/advisor role in the academic integrity and student conduct process is purely advisory, all communication usually occurs between the student and the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct. However, if it is necessary for a support person/advisor to communicate directly with the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct, the student must complete and sign the FERPA waiver.  In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the University cannot contact or share information about the student’s record without the student’s written permission. 


Who do I talk to if I have questions about the case?
A support person/advisor may contact staff in the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct via phone at (949) 824-1479 or conduct@uci.edu to address general questions regarding the process.


What is the role of the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct staff?
Staff members in the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct serve in multiple roles.  They are responsible for reviewing all incident reports, deciding on appropriate charges and conduct process, supporting the Academic Integrity Review Board and Student Conduct Review Board hearings, and administering disciplinary conferences or hearing boards. They are also responsible for guiding a student through the academic integrity and student conduct process, providing information about policies and procdures, possible outcomes, and the student’s rights and responsibilities. 

What can an attorney do?
The campus academic integrity and student conduct process is not a court of law, therefore an attorney is not acting in a legal capacity; rather, the attorney acts as a support person/advisor. The attorney may be present at the administrative meeting, or hearing, by permission of the student. The attorney cannot speak on the student’s behalf. It is not the role of the attorney to “win” the case for the student. Rather, the attorney may lend support to the responding student in developing their response, attending the conduct proceedings, and if necessary, assisting the student with an appeal.

In the meeting and hearing, the attorney is allowed to:

  • Assist the student in clarifying their response to questions
  • Consult with the student during the meetings

An attorney is not allowed to:

  • Speak on the student’s behalf
  • Object in any manner to questions asked or discussions raised during the Administrative Meeting or hearing 
  • “Cross-examine” or question witnesses in a hearing
  • Interrupt the hearing proceedings

If a student chooses to have an attorney as a support person/advisor, the student shall pay all fees, costs, and expenses for the retention of an attorney. Support persons/advisors are cautioned that their participation in the conduct process in a manner that inhibits the student’s direct interaction with the adjudicating staff member or hearing board, may be detrimental to the student’s case and may result in the support person/advisor’s exclusion from the review.


What if the student is facing criminal charges? 


The Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct is obligated to move forward with all conduct matters. The academic integrity and student conduct process is an administrative, education-based process that is independent of the criminal justice system. The University is not required to defer to the timeline of the criminal courts and will not typically grant requests made on this basis. Please remember that the University is not attempting to determine if a student committed a crime; rather, the University is attempting to determine whether or not the UC Irvine Code of Student Conduct or Academic Integrity Policy has been violated.

In order to protect the safety and well-being of the UC Irvine community and to preserve the integrity of the University, all members of the community, and their visitors, are subject to the University rules, regulations, and policies. When the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct charges a student, the student is not being charged with violating a law or committing a crime; rather, they are being accused of violating a university student conduct code or academic integrity policy. The academic integrity and student conduct process is an administrative, education-based process that is independent of the criminal justice system.

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