Honor Code Appeal Information

The policies for appealing:

1. Honor Code Violation Decisions

2. Honor Code Violation Sanctions

are found in Sections IX. and X. of the Honor Code as seen below.

IX. APPEAL OF DECISION

A. If the accused believes that the decision of the Honor Council was arbitrary and capricious, he or she may appeal the decision in writing to the Office of the Provost within five business days of the date he or she receives notice of the decision of the Honor Council. To ensure processing and tracking of an appeal, students are required to use the Appeal of Decision Form when submitting an appeal so that all necessary elements for the appeal are included. 

B. The Provost’s designee shall review the record of the hearing and the evidence supporting the appeal. The Provost’s designee shall determine whether the Honor Council acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner in reaching its decision. The Provost’s designee may consult with the Office of General Counsel, the Division of Student Life, or any other department prior to reaching his or her decision. 

C. If the Provost’s designee finds that the decision of the Honor Council was arbitrary and capricious, he or she shall reverse the decision. Otherwise, the Provost’s designee shall affirm the decision of the Honor Council. 

D. If the accused desires to appeal the decision of the Provost’s designee, he or she is allowed one appeal of the decision within the Office of the Provost. That appeal must be submitted within five business days of receipt of the decision. The appeal will be reviewed by an individual within the Office of the Provost who is at the Vice Provost or higher level. That person must be someone other than the Provost’s designee who made the initial decision that is being appealed. That individual shall review the record of the hearing, confer with anyone who has evidence related to the case, and, based upon this review, decide to affirm or reverse the decision. The decision of the Provost or Vice Provost following such an appeal is final.

To ensure receipt and processing of the appeal letter, students are required to use the Appeal of Decision Form when submitting a decision appeal so that all necessary elements for the appeal are included. A request for appeal must be submitted within 5 business days of receipt of a decision letter. Students who do not submit appeals within 5 business days waive their opportunity to appeal.

X. APPEAL OF SANCTIONS

If the student is dissatisfied with the sanction(s) imposed by the Provost’s designee, he or she is allowed to appeal the sanction within the Office of the Provost. That appeal must be submitted within five business days of receipt of the decision from the Provost’s designee. To ensure processing and tracking of an appeal, students are required to use the Appeal of Sanction Form when submitting an appeal of the sanction so that all necessary elements for the appeal are included. The appeal will be reviewed by an individual within the Office of the Provost who is at the Vice Provost or higher level. That person must be someone other than the Provost’s designee who imposed the sanction that is being appealed. That individual shall review the record of the hearing and may confer with anyone who has evidence related to the case, and, based upon this review, decide one of the following:

A. Allow the sanction(s) to stand. 

B. Modify the sanction(s) or impose a different sanction(s). 

C. Suspend the sanction(s). 

The decision of the Provost or Vice Provost as to the appropriateness of the sanction(s) is final.

To ensure receipt and processing of the appeal letter, students are required to use the Appeal of Sanction Form when submitting a sanctions appeal so that all necessary elements for the appeal are included. A request for appeal must be submitted within 5 business days of receipt of a sanction letter. Students who do not submit appeals within 5 business days waive their opportunity to appeal.