Student Conduct

Student Affairs

For Parents

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

Student Conduct is responsible for the administration of the Code of Student Conduct and providing a fair and educational student conduct process for students and student organizations. Student Conduct educates the Auburn University community about student’s rights, responsibilities, and expectations. Dean’s Certification requests are also processed and completed by Student Conduct.

Any Auburn University faculty member, staff member, and/or a student may make a complaint/charge against an enrolled Auburn University student for a violation(s) of the Code.

If after viewing the Code of Student Conduct, an Auburn University student, faculty, or staff member believes a violation of the code has occurred he/she must submit a complaint to Student Conduct. The complaint must be submitted to conduct@auburn.edu, online at aub.ie/studentconductreport, or delivered in person to Student Conduct in Suite 1206 of the Melton Student Center as soon as possible after the event takes place, but no later than 30 working days after detection of the alleged violation. In the event the complaint is made more than 30 working days after the detection of the alleged violation, the Senior Vice President or his/her designee, upon a showing of good cause by the charging party, may allow the charge to proceed in his or her discretion.

The most common Code violations relate to underage consumption and/or possession of an alcoholic beverage or public intoxication.

The best role you can play if your student is charged with a Code of Student Conduct violation is to be a support person for your student and encourage him/her to take an active role in resolving the conduct issue. Student Conduct views parents as “partners” in addressing violations of the Code. However, Student Conduct encourages students that are alleged to have violated the Code to take the lead in addressing and/or resolving the conduct related issue. Student Conduct must have your student’s written permission to discuss his/her case with a parent/guardian. The waiver/release form can be located on the first floor of the Melton Student Center in Suite 1206 or online at Student Waiver and Information Release Form.

Yes, a student may utilize one advisor of his/her choosing. An advisor may only counsel the charged/charging party student in the preparation and presentation of their case. The advisor may be present at the hearing, but cannot speak on behalf of the student. Student Conduct must have written permission from the student to discuss his/her case with any advisor, attorney, and/or parent/guardian. The waiver/release form can be located on the first floor of the Melton Student Center in Suite 1206 or online at Student Waiver and Information Release Form.

An attorney is not required; however students are permitted to use an advisor of his/her choosing, which may include an attorney.

No, Auburn University does not denote Code violations on academic transcripts. However suspension and expulsion records will be attached to a student’s transcript. For more detailed information regarding suspensions and expulsions see Section XI. Student Records of the Code of Student Conduct.

Please note that suspensions and expulsions are attached to the official academic records of the student.

A written report regarding conduct violations will be filed in Student Conduct for seven years after which they are destroyed. This information is considered confidential. Access to these records will be limited as indicated by applicable law and university policy as outlined in the Student Policy eHandbook.

Yes. The student conduct process is educational in nature and operates separately from any court system. The purpose of the student conduct process is to determine if a Code violation occurred. The role of the student conduct process is not to determine if criminal and/or civil law was violated.

As detailed in the Code, determinations made or sanctions imposed under the Code shall not be subject to change because criminal charges arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of University rules were dismissed, reduced, or resolved in favor or against the criminal law defendant (student).

The staff Student Conduct can answer general questions about the conduct process at Auburn University and can be reached by phone at 334-844-1305 or via email at conduct@auburn.edu. However, in order to address specific questions about your student’s conduct case, Student Conduct must obtain your student’s written permission to do so. This form is available on the first floor of the Melton Student Center in Suite 1206 or online at Student Waiver and Information Release Form. This is a requirement of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) [20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99] is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.” The eligible student has the right to have access to his or her education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, the right to have control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the records (except in certain circumstances specified in the FERPA regulations, some of which are discussed below), and the right to file a complaint with the Department.

The term “education records” is defined as those records that contain information directly related to a student and which are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.

Student disciplinary records are considered educational records by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Educational records are not released without written authorization by the student.

  • The right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of their request
  • The right to request an amendment to their education records
  • The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their education records
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures to comply with FERPA

For more specific information about FERPA, please contact: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education (1-800-872-5327).

When students under the age of 21 are found responsible either for an alcohol or drug violation of the Code of Student Conduct, Student Conduct will notify parents/guardians in writing. The letter will contain information regarding the violation of the code that occurred. Additional information will not be shared unless the student completes a waiver/release form. The waiver/release form can be located on the first floor of the Melton Student Center in Suite 1206 or online at Student Waiver and Information Release Form. If after speaking with your student, you have questions concerning the incident, you can contact Student Conduct at (334) 844-1305 or via email at conduct@auburn.edu.

Last modified: December 13, 2023