Graduate Student Legal Aid provides peer-to-peer advocacy to inform and support graduate students facing university disciplinary processes. Whether you are navigating charges from the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) or involved in a case managed by the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM), we are here to help.
We understand that dealing with university allegations can be incredibly stressful. Our goal is to provide the clear information and objective advice you need to make fully informed decisions.
The basics
- Consultations via phone or Zoom. It's easy to connect with an Advocate. If you request a Zoom appointment, we will send you the link a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
- Confidentiality: Your discussions with the Advocate and other staff are protected by attorney/client privilege. We will not discuss your case with your parents, friends, spouses, or the University of Maryland without your written consent.
- Conflict of Interest: In most cases, we cannot advise one student directly against another student in a university charge as that results in a conflict of interest*; however, we can meet with all of the involved parties so that everyone receives the same information.
- Additional support: We know navigating this process can be incredibly tough, and you don't have to carry the stress alone. If you need a safe, supportive, and completely non-judgmental space to process your emotions, the team at the UMD Counseling Center is here for you. They are accustomed to helping students facing or filing charges.
* Grad Legal Aid is funded by the graduate student activities fee. As such, all registered graduate students are potential clients of our office. In the event that more than one student is involved in a case and other students' interests are not completely aligned, we will not represent any of the students due to the conflict of these interests. In other words, we will not represent one student if representation could potentially have an adverse effect on another student.
Cases involving the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM)
Advocates can:
- Serve as an advisor or support person at any stage of your case.
- Take detailed notes for you during interviews and investigations.
- Help review and draft any documents required throughout the process.
- Provide guidance and assistance during all required meetings and hearings.
Cases involving University Charges from the Office of Student Conduct (OSC)
First step
Educate yourself and review: You’ve been charged by the Office of Student Conduct. Now what?
The process in detail
Regardless of whether you are charged with a violation of the Code of Conduct or Code of Academic Integrity, you will go through some combination of the steps below. This following list provides a brief and general description of what to expect at each step and how your Advocate can assist you.
- Notification of Charges - You will be notified of your charges by OSC via email. Along with these notifications you will be provided with a date and time for your preliminary interview. If you meet with us at this stage, we can help you understand your charges, the evidence against you, and what to expect and how to prepare for your preliminary interview.
- Preliminary Interview with OSC - In this meeting, a member of OSC will meet with you to discuss the evidence against you and ask you questions about the circumstances surrounding the violation you have been charged with. If you meet with us prior to your PI, we will help you prepare a narrative that you will present at the PI.
- Notification of Informal Resolution Agreement (IRA) - After your PI, you may receive an Informal Resolution Agreement (IRA) from OSC. This IRA will outline whether they have found you responsible for the charges brought against you, the sanctions you have been offered, and your options as far as accepting or contesting those sanctions. Schedule an appointment with your Advocate to review this document and your options to determine what next steps will be best for you.
- Disciplinary Conference, Disciplinary Conference Board, or Honor Review - If you do not agree to the IRA and decide to contest the sanctions it assigns, you will proceed to either a Disciplinary Conference, Disciplinary Conference Board, or Honor Review. You may do so either to plead not responsible and try to get your charges dropped, or to plead responsible and request lesser sanctions. If you ask for our assistance in this process, we will help you prepare your narrative and other documents for the conference/hearing. If we mutually agree on formal representation in this process, we will attend the conference/hearing with you and speak on your behalf.
- Notification of Sanctions - Following your conference/hearing, you will receive a decision via email on your sanctions if you were found responsible. At this point, your options are to accept and complete the assigned sanctions or, depending on the sanction, the decision may be appealed in limited circumstances. Your Advocate can discuss the decision handed down by the board and help you determine if you have grounds for an appeal.
- Appeal of Sanction Decision - There are very specific grounds for appealing the decision of the board. If you choose to pursue an appeal on one of these grounds, your Advocate can help you complete the appeal process. Your advocate will collaborate with you to construct your appeal and submit it to OSC on your behalf. If you choose to move forward with an appeal without formal representation, an Advocate can still provide you with general advice on completing this process.
- Completion of Sanctions - Whether you accept your IRA, take the sanctions assigned during your conference/hearing, or receive new sanctions through the appeal process, you can reach out to us for assistance.
Want to meet with an Advocate?
Click on the Request Assistance button below and complete the request form.