Standards of Conduct
Duke University expects and will require of all its students cooperation in developing and maintaining high standards of scholarship and conduct.
Students are expected to meet academic requirements and financial obligations, as specified elsewhere in this site and in the Bulletin, in order to remain in good standing. Certain nonacademic rules and regulations must also be observed. Failure to meet these requirements may result in summary dismissal by the appropriate officer of the university.
The university wishes to emphasize its policy that all students are subject to the rules and regulations of the university currently in effect or which, from time to time, are put into effect by the appropriate authorities of the university. Students, in accepting admission, indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by these rules and regulations and acknowledge the right of the university to take such disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion, as may be deemed appropriate for failure to abide by such rules and regulations or for conduct deemed unsatisfactory or detrimental to the university.
Duke University, as a community of scholars, strongly relies upon the standard of academic integrity. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty represent a corruption of this integrity and, as such, cannot be tolerated. Ignorance of what constitutes academic dishonesty is no excuse for actions which violate the integrity of the community. In a community which builds on the notion of academic integrity, the threat of academic dishonesty represents an intolerable risk. Students unsure about the university definition of plagiarism may wish to consult the Bulletin of Duke University: Information and Regulations (especially the chapter on "Academic Honesty'').
Student Grievance Procedures
It is the responsibility of the director of graduate studies to inform each graduate student of the appropriate channels of appeal. In normal circumstances, the director of graduate studies is the first to hear a complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily at this level, the student may address, in turn, the department chair, the associate dean of the Graduate School, the dean of the Graduate School, the provost, who shall be the final avenue of appeal.