UCSD Title IX Lawyer: UC San Diego Disciplinary Defense

If you are looking for a UCSD Title IX lawyer after hearing from the campus Title IX office, this page explains what is specific to UC San Diego. This page is for UC San Diego students accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment (called respondents), and for their parents. It is based on official UC San Diego websites captured October 3, 2026. The full systemwide process is on our UC Title IX lawyer page.

UC San Diego Offices That Handle These Cases

OPHD, the Title IX Office

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD) is in Pepper Canyon Hall. Its About page says “OPHD is also the Title IX Office at UC San Diego.” The Written Notice of Reporting Options (September 2025) says OPHD receives reports of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and discrimination, and conducts the administrative fact-finding investigation and non-investigation processes. The campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Response site lists OPHD as nonconfidential. The Written Notice also says disciplinary officials must be free of conflict of interest or bias for either party.

SAGE, the Student Conduct Office

The Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education (SAGE) was the Office of Student Conduct until September 2023, according to the campus code. Some pages still use the old name. The Sexual Violence Prevention & Response site also lists SAGE as nonconfidential.

How the Campus Code and the UC SVSH Framework Fit Together

The campus code is the Student Conduct Procedures, PPM 160-10, effective 01/01/2026. Section D, paragraph 1 says reports about students are submitted or referred to SAGE for review. Paragraph 7 says reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment are referred to OPHD. Paragraph 8 says these allegations are handled under the UC SVSH Policy and PACAOS Appendix E or F, not the ordinary conduct track. Appendix E or F is also used for other conduct violations alleged in connection with them.

Section A, paragraph 3.d says that when conduct may fall under both the code and the SVSH Policy, SAGE consults with OPHD to decide jurisdiction and the resolution pathway. For other reports, the code has SAGE make a preliminary assessment of whether the report falls within its procedures. For off-campus conduct, Section A.1 says the code is not regularly applied off campus except for official University-Supported Activities, with some exceptions, and for SVSH matters the authority to extend off-campus jurisdiction rests with OPHD’s Title IX Officer.

How a UC San Diego Matter Starts

Anyone can report to OPHD online, by email, by phone or voicemail, or in person. The Make a Report page says to file as soon as possible after an incident. It sets no filing deadline, but it says a lack of evidence or a long delay can limit what actions are possible. Responsible Employees who learn of possible sexual violence or sexual harassment must contact OPHD as soon as possible.

The OPHD students page says OPHD can help resolve a matter informally or do a formal investigation. In an investigation, OPHD interviews the parties and witnesses, evaluates the evidence, and issues a written report with its finding. The report goes to the administrator responsible for deciding action, which can be a Student Conduct Officer. The Written Notice says both the complainant and the respondent are notified of the investigation. It says the investigator meets with each separately and that this usually takes up to 90 business days. The UC SVSH Policy sets a typical 60 to 90 business days from the notice of charges, extendable for good cause.

UC San Diego Documents and Their Dates

• Interim UC SVSH Policy, effective January 2026 (listed on the OPHD students page).
• PACAOS Appendix E and Appendix F, the student adjudication frameworks (listed on the OPHD students page).
• Written Notice of Reporting Options, Rights & Resources for UC San Diego Students, updated September 2025.
• Student Conduct Procedures, PPM 160-10, effective 01/01/2026 (it supersedes the 06/03/2025 version).

Older versions of some campus documents are still posted, including pages linked from the OPHD students page. The campus code says cases noticed before January 1, 2026 follow the procedures in place at the time of notice. Your notice date and the documents your notice names are the place to start in working out which version applies.

Related pages: our California Title IX defense attorney guide and the Title IX investigation guide.

UC San Diego Procedures and Timelines

Interim suspension

PPM 160-10, Section H, says the SAGE Director or designee can impose interim actions. The SAGE FAQ says an interim suspension normally bars attending classes, entering University facilities and joining University-Supported Activities, except hearings. The interim suspension hearing decides whether your presence is reasonably likely to lead to harm or disruption, not whether you violated policy. You may bring one advisor, who may not actively participate. A support person is not allowed at that hearing. The code says the hearing officer’s written decision generally comes within five business days.

Holds, transcripts and records

Section D, paragraph 10 says SAGE will typically place a temporary transcript hold where suspension or dismissal is possible. The SAGE FAQ says a hold cannot be appealed, but a temporary lift can be requested through the contact in the hold notice. Held students may take part in Commencement but are not awarded a degree until the process ends. For dismissals, the code’s records retention rules mention “transcript notations, where applicable” and a 50 year record retention period. Under Section D, paragraph 11, SAGE emails you the reason for any hold and how to request its removal. For suspensions, the code says they normally take effect the quarter after they become final, unless the incident involves harm to self or others, threats of violence, or other circumstances warranting an immediate suspension.

No-contact orders

The Written Notice says a respondent may ask SAGE for a no-contact order. SAGE decides whether to issue it and notifies the parties by email. The Written Notice says a no contact order issued as an interim measure may be unilateral or mutual.

Contest and appeal

SAGE’s appeals page states a 20 business day window to contest the preliminary determination, counted from the Notice of Findings and Preliminary Determination. If a suspension or dismissal is proposed, you are presumed to contest unless you notify the Hearing Coordinator in writing that you do not. Either party may appeal the proportionality of sanctions within 10 business days of being notified. After a hearing, either party may also appeal the hearing officer’s policy decision. The Chancellor’s designee or the Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs decides appeals, normally within 10 business days, and the decision is final.

Support for Respondents at UC San Diego

After a respondent receives a Notice of Investigation, SAGE connects them with a Respondent Support Advisor. The advisor explains rights and the process, can accompany you to meetings if you want, and refers you to counseling, legal services, housing and course changes. The SAGE respondent page says these staff “are not legally required to maintain confidentiality,” though they generally ask for signed consent before sharing identifying information.

The campus Sexual Violence Prevention & Response site lists these confidential resources for respondents:

• Student Legal Services gives confidential advice and attorney referrals. Its website says it “does not provide ongoing representation to students.”
• Counseling and Psychological Services offers confidential counseling for registered students.
• The Office of the Ombuds offers confidential, neutral, informal dispute resolution.

CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center is a confidential advocate for survivors. It is a complainant resource, not a respondent service. Its materials say, “Contacting CARE does not constitute a report to the University.”

The UC process in brief

In outline, the UC process runs like this. If the matter goes to investigation, the Title IX Officer consults Student Conduct and then gives both parties written notice of the charges, and the investigation normally finishes within 60 to 90 business days of that notice, with both sides reviewing the evidence before the report is final. The investigator then issues findings with a preliminary determination, and each party has 20 business days to respond: a party may contest it under Appendix E (a respondent facing proposed suspension or dismissal is presumed to contest unless they accept in writing and waive a hearing), and under Appendix F a hearing takes place unless both parties accept in writing. Contested cases go before a single hearing officer, and Student Conduct decides any sanction, which can be suspension or dismissal from the University of California. A party appealing after a hearing has 10 business days from the notice of the determination and any sanctions; if there was no hearing, the only appeal is to Student Conduct, within 10 business days of its notice that the preliminary determination is final, and only on the ground that the sanction is disproportionate. Each step is explained on our UC Title IX lawyer page.

Official UC San Diego Title IX Resources

• Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD)
• UC San Diego: Information for Respondents
• SAGE: Student Conduct Procedures
• OPHD: Policies and Procedures for Students
• UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH)

Last verified: October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About UC San Diego Title IX Cases

Who at UC San Diego will contact me?

The Written Notice says both the complainant and the respondent are notified of the investigation, and SAGE connects respondents with a Respondent Support Advisor afterward. The SAGE FAQ says official correspondence goes to your UC San Diego student email, and you are responsible for checking it regularly. Check your spam folder too.

Is the Title IX office confidential?

No. The Sexual Violence Prevention & Response site lists OPHD and SAGE as nonconfidential. The confidential resources listed for respondents are Student Legal Services, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Office of the Ombuds.

Where can I get support as a respondent?

Start with the Respondent Support Advisor that SAGE assigns after a Notice of Investigation. Campus resources also include Student Legal Services for legal advice and referrals. Support staff are not legally confidential, so use the confidential resources for private conversations.

Can a lawyer be my advisor?

Under the UC frameworks, an advisor can be any person who is not otherwise a party or a witness, including an attorney. Under Appendix E the advisor may not speak for you, and under Appendix F the advisor speaks only to ask your questions at the hearing. The campus code also says “Students may engage attorneys for legal advice and/or assistance as an Advisor.”

What happens if I am placed on interim suspension?

You will normally be barred from classes, University facilities and University-Supported Activities, except hearings. You can ask for an interim suspension hearing, where you may share your perspective and propose witnesses. The hearing officer can uphold, modify or overturn the suspension. Housing and on-campus employment effects depend on the decision, per the SAGE FAQ.

Will this go on my transcript?

For SVSH cases, Appendix E and Appendix F say the posting of sanctions on academic transcripts follows PACAOS Section 106.00 of the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline. Separately, SAGE typically places a temporary transcript hold while a case that could lead to suspension or dismissal is pending, and the SAGE FAQ says a transcript hold prevents transcript production and award of degree.

How long do I have to appeal?

SAGE says either party may appeal the proportionality of sanctions within 10 business days of being notified of them, whether or not a hearing occurred, and after a hearing either party may also appeal the hearing officer’s decision. Under the UC frameworks, an appeal after a hearing is due within 10 business days following the notice of the hearing officer’s determination and any sanctions. Separately, the window to contest a preliminary determination is 20 business days. Check the dates in your own notice letters.