Standards of Conduct
The University of Texas at Austin holds our students to a high standard grounded in our Code of Conduct and Student Honor Code. Students are expected to abide by all state and federal laws, statutes, and all regulations of the University of Texas System. The Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities, Chapter 11 provides detailed descriptions of conduct and academic integrity standards.
However, please note that this is not a complete list of University conduct rules or policies. In fact, many campus departments, including the University Housing and Dining and Parking and Transportation Services, have instituted administrative rules specific to their areas. For more information on conduct rules for individual departments, please contact those offices directly.
Code of Conduct
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.
Honor Code
Affirmation
I pledge, as a member of the University of Texas community, to do my work honestly, respectfully, and through the intentional pursuit of learning and scholarship.
Elaboration
- I pledge to be honest about what I create and to acknowledge what I use that belongs to others.
- I pledge to value the process of learning in addition to the outcome, while celebrating and learning from mistakes.
- This code encompasses all of the academic and scholarly endeavors of the University community.
Student Conduct Process
As authorized by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, the Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for the administration of student discipline, which is implemented by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity routinely receives reports of alleged violations of university rules from campus offices (e.g., University of Texas Police Department, University Housing and Dining, Information Technology Services, Parking and Transportation Services, etc.) as well as faculty and students.
Please refer to this flowchart (pdf) for further details.
Request an Appeal
Accused students and student organizations may be eligible to appeal the finding of responsibility or the outcomes assigned based on that finding.
Role of an Advisor
Any student suspected of violating the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities and any complainant in a Track C case has the right to an advisor to accompany them to meetings or hearings with Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students (Student Conduct).
What to Expect
This pdf explains what to expect in a meeting with Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
Privacy and Records
We are committed to protecting students' privacy to the greatest extent under the law. Information received by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and shared with a student will be handled in accordance with the regulations established by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Steps in the Process
Step 1: Referral
When our team receives a referral regarding an alleged violation, a conduct administrator will send out a letter to notify a student of a scheduled meeting. In most cases this initial letter will include the date, time, and location of the incident, and the alleged Institutional Rule violations. Before meeting with a member of our team, a student may request to meet with the Student Ombuds for support and a brief overview of the conduct process.
Step 2: Meeting
During the initial meeting with a member of our team, the student will have the opportunity to:
- Review their rights and responsibilities as it relates to the conduct process.
- Respond to the allegations.
- Inspect and review the information provided to Student Conduct.
- Provide relevant documentation related to the incident and allegations.
- Have an advisor present.
Step 3: Resolution
After the meeting, if the student conduct administrator has determined that the preponderance of the evidence does suggest that a violation occurred, a student will be presented with an administrative disposition that lists their three resolution options:
- For the first option, the student accepts responsibility for the violation and the outcomes determined by the student conduct administrator.
- For the second option, the student accepts responsibility for the violation but reserves the right to appeal only the outcomes, as listed in Institutional Rules Section 11-802.
- And finally, the student can elect not to sign the administrative disposition and request a hearing, only for eligible cases.