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UCI Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct

Frequently Asked Questions

Section 1

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a student do after receiving a Notification Letter?

A student will receive a Notification Letter with information on how to schedule their meeting. They should contact the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct or, if specified, the Student Conduct Officer assigned their case to schedule this meeting.

What will be discussed in the student's meeting with the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct?

The purpose of the Administrative Meeting is to discuss the alleged policy violations, provide the student with the opportunity to tell their side of the story, review the report, and ask questions about the student conduct process.

My student was charged criminally. Why go through the Student Conduct Process too?

All members of the UCI community, and their visitors, are subject to the University Policy and Procedures. When the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct notifies a student, the student is not being charged with violating a law or committing a crime; rather, they are being notified of allegedly violating a university policy. The student conduct process is an administrative, education-based process that is independent of the criminal justice system.

Can I be present during my student’s Administrative Meeting?

Students are allowed to have an advisor present during the student conduct process. An advisor can be a parent, friend, attorney, etc. If your student wants you to be an advisor in any portion of the process, you, the advisor, may act as a consultant for the student, but may not speak on behalf of the student. Under the discretion of the student conduct officer, other parties, including advisors, may be excluded from participating in any part of the process, especially if the advisor is being disruptive.

How can I best support my student in this process?

If your student was involved in an incident, the best way to assist is to be supportive of your student while holding them accountable for their decisions, if they were involved in the alleged incident. It is not helpful to intervene or take over for your student. Rather, talk to your student about good decision-making. If necessary, help them identify resources for additional support, both on and off campus. Lastly, communicate the expectation that your student resolve the issue in an appropriate and timely manner. Resolution may include, but is not limited to setting appointments, attending meetings, or completing sanctions.

If my student is found responsible for having violated policy, what is the range of sanctions a student can be given?

Sanctions are imposed only if a student has been found responsible for a violation of University policy. The primary goals of sanctions are to protect the safety of the University community, to educate students about the effects of their actions, and to provide opportunities for students to learn new behaviors. Sanctions are designed to reflect the individual student and the impact of the violation(s) on the community. The potential range of 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, no contact provisions, suspension or dismissal.

What if a student is not responsible?

If the information provided demonstrates, based on the preponderance of the evidence, that the student is not in violation of policy, no further action will be taken at that point.

At what point, or under what circumstances, will I be notified of my student's conduct?

In accordance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the University cannot contact a parent or share information about a student's conduct record unless the student chooses waive this right to privacy. To waive this right to privacy, a student may choose to complete and submit an Authorization to Release Information Form.

Can the campus proceedings be delayed until the conclusion of the criminal process?

The Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct is obligated to move forward with all disciplinary matters as soon as it has collected sufficient information to do so. The University is not required to defer to the timeline of the criminal process and will not typically grant requests made on this basis. The role of the University is to determine whether or not a student violated a university policy.

My student’s charges were dropped by the District Attorney; will they also be dropped by UCI?

No. The student conduct process is separate from the criminal court process. Your student’s conduct case will be processed regardless of what happens with their criminal proceedings.

What if my student chooses not to participate in the process?

The process will continue whether or not the student chooses to participate, and a decision will be reached based on the information available to the Student Conduct Officer.

How long is a record kept?

Academic Integrity:
Academic Integrity records are confidential and, in most cases, are maintained for seven (7) years from the date that the incident was reported, unless the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct determines in any particular case that there is a good reason to extend the period of retention. Minor (refers to anything below a suspension) and non-recurring infractions will be expunged upon reward of degree. 

Student Conduct:
Student Conduct records are confidential and, in most cases, are maintained for five (5) years from the date that the incident was reported. At the end of five years, records concerning most cases are purged. Cases resulting in an outcome of dismissal or revocation of degree are maintained for fifty (50) years. 

Review of these common questions does not substitute for reading and understanding the Student Code of Conduct or 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 ConductAcademic Integrity Policy, and Academic Integrity Procedures for more details.