It will depend on the school in question. At some schools, a accused student will have to appear before a disciplinary panel to address allegations of academic misconduct. At schools where that may be a possibility, it will also depend on the resolution method overall. Some cases can be resolved at an earlier stage where there could be an agreement between the student, the school as to the appropriate outcome, be it finding and or sanction. In such an instance, there would not be the need for a panel.
If a student or, say, the dispute a finding or an allegation or a proposed sanction, then in such a school, that may be the case where the student has to address the matter at a disciplinary panel. It will depend on the specific college or university in question as to whether or not the student would actually have to appear before a disciplinary panel. Some schools, they don't even have that option at all and the case would be resolved otherwise.
It becomes more nuanced yet as to whether the school is a public school or a private school in terms of what the appropriate level of due process would be before a school makes such a determination. An experienced attorney advisor can help you navigate the process regardless of what that process may be and would have the knowledge and expertise to be able to best navigate and to protect the student's rights and interests through the process. They should be involved as early as possible when accused of academic misconduct.
