At Nova Southeastern University, one missed meeting can cost a student the right to appeal. Under NSU’s Student Handbook, a student who fails to schedule or appear for a scheduled conference waives the right to appeal the decision, and the university can go forward without them. That rule sits inside a process run through the Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility, with academic violations handled through the student’s own college or center.
NSU publishes a new Student Handbook each year, and individual colleges publish their own handbooks too. The version in effect when a case arises controls; this overview follows the 2025–26 materials. Because NSU is a private university, Florida’s statewide student-rights statute for public universities, explained in our post on what rights students have in Florida university conduct cases, doesn’t govern NSU’s process; NSU’s own handbook does.
Academic Cases Run Through the Student’s College
NSU’s handbook states that violations of academic standards are handled through the student’s academic college or center. That’s why the details, including who serves as the discipline officer, can differ between, for example, an undergraduate program and a professional program like osteopathic medicine or nursing.
The handbook covers a range of academic violations, including facilitating academic dishonesty, which applies to helping someone else cheat. Many cases today start with an AI detection score, which is worth understanding before responding; see Can AI Detection Tools Misidentify Your Work?.
The Conference With the Discipline Officer
After notice of the charges, the student must schedule a proceeding with the designated discipline officer. The proceeding is for discussing the alleged violation of the Code. If the student doesn’t respond to the request to schedule, NSU’s handbook states that the university may continue its disciplinary process in the student’s absence, and a student who fails to schedule or appear waives the right to appeal.
What Sanctions Can NSU Impose?
If a student is found in violation, the discipline officer decides the sanction. NSU’s options include a disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, and final disciplinary probation, along with more serious outcomes.
Final disciplinary probation is especially significant. According to NSU, it lasts for the rest of the student’s career at NSU, can be reviewed no sooner than two regular semesters after it’s imposed, and any further violation results in a minimum of suspension.
Transcript Notations
NSU’s handbook states that the academic transcript may include information about a student’s behavior, misconduct, or academic performance. It also states that students who are permitted to withdraw from NSU with pending disciplinary allegations may see a notation on the transcript. For more on how findings travel, see does academic misconduct show up on your transcript.
Appealing an NSU Decision
An appeal must be submitted in writing to NSU’s vice president for Student Affairs, or a designee, within the short period the handbook sets. According to NSU, the appeal must specify the particular substantive or procedural basis for it, and general dissatisfaction with the decision isn’t a valid ground. Appeals are heard by designated appeal officers. For more on building an appeal, see appealing an academic misconduct decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles academic misconduct at Nova Southeastern?
The student’s academic college or center, under NSU’s Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility.
What happens if I don’t schedule my NSU conference?
NSU’s handbook states the university may proceed without the student, and a student who fails to schedule or appear waives the right to appeal.
What is final disciplinary probation at NSU?
A sanction that lasts for the rest of the student’s NSU career, under which any further violation results in a minimum of suspension.
Can withdrawing from NSU end a pending case?
Not cleanly. NSU’s handbook states that students permitted to withdraw with pending allegations may receive a transcript notation.
Representation in NSU Academic Misconduct Cases
Richard Asselta is a Florida student defense attorney and he represents students in academic misconduct cases at Florida universities, including Nova Southeastern. He helps NSU students respond to the notice of charges, prepare for the conference with the discipline officer, organize their evidence, and build any written appeal. Call 855-338-5299 or learn more about Richard Asselta.