The Sanford School Code of Professional Conduct
This document describes the Sanford School Code of Professional Conduct. This code of conduct applies to all students enrolled in a Master’s degree-granting program at the Sanford School of Public Policy. The goal of the Sanford School Code of Professional Conduct is to cultivate a community of trust and respect by establishing clear norms and expectations to govern student conduct.
Undergraduate students enrolled in the PPS major or undergraduates who take Sanford courses are subject to the policies and procedures of the Duke Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards; PhD students are subject to the policies and rules of the Duke Graduate School; and faculty and staff are governed by separate documents and not subject to the information below.
The Duke Community Standard
All Duke students are expected to adhere to the Duke Community Standard. The Duke Community Standard reads:
Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service and to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability. Citizens of this community commit to reflect upon and uphold these principles in all academic and nonacademic endeavors, and to protect and promote a culture of integrity.
To uphold the Duke Community Standard:
- I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors;
- I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors; and
- I will act if the Standard is compromised.
Application of the Professional Code of Conduct to the Sanford School
Respect and Dignity for Others
Students must treat other Sanford community members (including students, staff, and faculty) with respect and dignity. Students may not harass, discriminate, or otherwise create conditions that adversely affect other’s well-being. This expectation applies to student conduct wherever it occurs (e.g., on or off campus, in person, through social media or other online platforms).
Academic Integrity
Students enrolled in a Sanford Master’s program are expected to demonstrate academic integrity. Unless otherwise specified by an instructor, all individual work must be conducted independently and represent the student’s original thought. Students must not plagiarize, steal, or cheat on any assignment, project, exam, or other course activity. Students may not present collaborative work as their own unless such collaborative work is sanctioned by the course. Direct, unattributed use of text, images, or other content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), unless otherwise sanctioned by an instructor, is considered plagiarism.
Suspected Violations of Academic Integrity
Instructors who suspect a student of a violation of academic integrity should first discuss the incident with the student.
If the student admits to the violation, then the instructor has the discretion to address the matter to address the matter consistent with the policies and procedures established in the course syllabus and in this Code. While the instructor has discretion to impose sanctions as they see, the Sanford School recommends that, for a first offense, a student be given a failing grade on the assignment or exam. For any subsequent offenses, the student can be recommended for expulsion from the program.
If the student denies the violation, or an agreement between the student and the instructor cannot be reached, then the student should reach out to the appropriate director of graduate students (DGS). The DGS will then meet with the student and instructor, review any relevant evidence, and determine whether an academic violation has occurred. If the DGS determines that an academic violation has occurred, the DGS will determine an appropriate sanction in consultation with the instructor. If the DGS determines that an academic violation has not occurred, then the matter will be closed.
If the student disagrees with the DGS’s decision, the student can appeal the decision to the Sanford School Conduct Board within ten business days according to the procedures outlined below. If the student decides not to appeal, then the DGS’s decision stands and the matter will be closed.
Harassment and Discrimination
Duke’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct, overseen by the Duke Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), establishes campus-wide prohibitions on harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and other forms.
Students who have experienced harassment and/or discrimination may report their concerns to the office of the Sanford Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The Associate Dean, in consultation with the student, will then determine the appropriate course of action, which may include discussion with the persons involved in the incident or referral to OIE. Please note that the Associate Dean of DEI, as well as all other faculty and staff members, must report incidents of harassment and discrimination to the OIE.
If the student is not comfortable reporting to the Associate Dean of DEI, the student has the option to discuss the matter with the appropriate program director or report the incident directly to OIE.
Nonacademic Violations
The second tenet of the Duke Community Standard is I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors. Sanford graduate students are expected to conduct themselves with honor and integrity outside the classroom as well. This extends to internship and job searches by adhering to the Career Services Standard of Professional Conduct, to Sanford community events, and to interactions with other students, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, employers, and other stakeholders. Students should also respect Sanford’s property and the property of others. A community of professional students acts ethically and accords dignity and respect to all people and all things.
Suspected Nonacademic Violations of the Professional Code of Conduct
Resolution of alleged nonacademic violations of the Sanford Code of Professional Conduct generally follows the same procedure as that for academic violations. However, in place of the initial interaction with a faculty member, a member of the Sanford community who feels the code has been violated may approach the alleged perpetrator in an effort to work out the situation to mutual satisfaction. This could include the return of or clean-up of property, an apology, or other action.
If the alleged violation cannot be resolved by the parties involved, the next step is to involve the program DGS, who will adjudicate the alleged violation in the same manner as academic violations of the code. If the violation involves students from two programs, then the DGS from both programs will jointly adjudicate the violation.
Conduct outside of the Sanford School
Graduate students are also generally expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Code of Professional conduct while they are enrolled in Sanford degree programs, even if they are not physically present at the Sanford School. In the event that a student’s conduct involves another jurisdiction or entity (e.g., another school or department), the student will be subject to any rules or consequences imposed by that entity as well as those rules or consequences imposed by the Sanford School. In the event that a student’s conduct involves a jurisdiction whose authority exceeds that of the Sanford School (e.g., Duke University, the City of Durham, or state or federal laws), the Sanford School will cede adjudication of the student’s conduct to that entity.
The Sanford School Conduct Board
The Sanford School Conduct Board is a standing committee that will be convened in instances of alleged academic or nonacademic misconduct.
The Conduct Board
The Conduct Board shall sit with four members: (a) Two students actively enrolled in a Sanford Master’s program, and (b) two members of the faculty appointed by the Dean of the Sanford School. The Conduct Board will be constituted in August of each academic year and will last for one calendar year.
Each Sanford Master’s program DGS may nominate one student to serve on the Board. Programs can choose not to submit any nominations. Student representatives will serve on a rotating, case-by-case basis, with the stipulation that the student representatives cannot come from the same program as the student(s) involved in the hearing (e.g., an MPP student cannot be a student representative for a hearing involving an MPP student).
The board chair will be one of the two faculty members, and will be appointed by the Dean. The Board shall be supported by the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Student Affairs who will assemble, prepare, and maintain the record of proceedings, including the board’s findings, in confidential files.
After the official request for a hearing has been received, the chair must convene the Board within a reasonable period of time. During this time, it is the responsibility of the chair to fully inform the Conduct Board members concerning the case and to provide copies of the relevant documents and records to the Board and all parties to the proceeding.
Conflict of Interest
The accused party has the right to challenge any member of the Conduct Board if they believe the member has a significant conflict of interest. The remaining Board members will adjudicate such challenges by majority vote (e.g., 2-1 or 3-0). If the Board decides to excuse one or more of its members due to a conflict of interest, the Dean shall name replacement member(s) for that case only. If any member of the Board believes they have a conflict of interest that might preclude a fair and impartial decision with respect to the accused, that Board member shall recuse themselves from the case, and the Dean shall appoint a replacement for that case only.
Hearing Procedures
The accused party has the right to be present at the hearing and to choose an advisor to assist them in the hearing process. The advisor must be a current Duke student, a Duke faculty member, or another Duke employee. The role of the advisor is to assist and support the student through the hearing. The advisor may not address the hearing panel or any witness during the hearing.
The hearing shall be closed to the public. All proceedings shall be confidential. The hearing of any case shall begin with a reading of the allegations by the chair in the presence of the accused. The Conduct Board may call or question any witness with information relevant to the case. The accused shall have the right to offer written and oral testimony, cross-examine any witnesses called by the Board, and call and question additional witnesses.
After consideration of all the evidence, the accused will be excused, and the Conduct Board will discuss the case and vote on whether the allegations are supported by clear and convincing information that the accused violated the Code of Professional Conduct. A majority vote (e.g., 3-1 or 4-0) will determine the finding. If the Board finds that the allegation of misconduct has been substantiated, the Conduct Board will then recommend a penalty, again determined by majority. If the Board cannot reach consensus, no sanctions will be applied.
In reaching its decision(s), the Conduct Board shall consider only the documents and records provided by the chair, documents submitted at the hearing, and any testimony of the accused and other witnesses at the hearing.
Sanctions
The Conduct Board shall have the power to impose the following penalties, or any combination thereof:
Expulsion: dismissal from the university with recommendation never to readmit
Suspension: dismissal from the university and from participation in all university activities for a specified period of time, during which the substantiation of any other Honor Code violation may result in more serious disciplinary action
Restitution: payment for all or a portion of property damage caused during the commission of an offense. Restitution may be imposed alone or in addition to any other penalties
Appropriate apology
Disciplinary probation
Other actions deemed appropriate
The Conduct Board chair shall prepare a written statement of the findings for the DGS of the student’s program. The DGS shall review and implement the Conduct Board’s findings (pending appeal, if applicable).
While the hearing is ongoing, the defendant’s status shall not be changed, nor the right to be on campus or to attend classes suspended. In rare cases, the Board may impose an interim suspension on students who demonstrate by their conduct that their presence on campus constitutes an immediate threat to the Duke community or its property.
Appeals
After the Board has reached their conclusion, either party (the plaintiff or the defendant) may appeal the Board’s decision. Likewise, In a case where a majority vote is not reached, either party may appeal the decision to the Dean. All appeals shall be made in writing directly to the Dean
Appeals shall be initiated in writing within one week of the date that a student receives notice of the decision by the Conduct Board. The Dean may conduct an independent review of the student’s case or may choose to appoint an Appeals Committee to review it. The Appeals Committee will not include anyone who served on the Conduct Board that considered the appellant’s case.
The Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Student Affairs shall supply the Dean and/or the Appeals Committee with the record of proceedings, documents, and any records related to the case. If appointed, the Appeals Committee will ultimately make their recommendation to the Dean, who will determine the final outcome. The Dean may approve the Appeals Committee’s findings, disapprove them, or modify them in whole or in part. The Dean’s decision is final and may not be appealed.
Authority and Revision of Sanford Code of Professional Conduct
This revision of the Sanford Code of Professional Conduct was reviewed and approved by the dean and faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy, effective July 1, 2025. The code may be amended at any time with due notice or publication by consent of the Executive Committee of the Sanford School, in consultation with student representatives. Questions and problems not answered or anticipated by the foregoing may be resolved by use of other existing institutions or by amendment. The dean retains final authority for addressing all student misconduct, including conduct not covered in this code and referral of matters for resolution in the civil or criminal justice systems.