Disciplinary Letter

Hi guys so I’m looking for advice about a letter I’m writing to my school’s disciplinary committee because I was caught cheating in my exams and this letter can determine if I get a warning letter, suspension or even expulsion. And before any self righteous people come to the comments telling me how I deserve the worst punishment because I shouldn’t have cheated in the first place just know I already regret doing it and now is not the time to tell me what I should have done then. So this is the letter  

I acknowledge receipt of notice to appear before the University Examination Disciplinary Committee on Thursday, 10th July 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

I am writing to formally address the incident that occurred during the Software Project Management examination, where I was found in possession of my mobile phone. I acknowledge this was in direct violation of the university’s examination rules and regulations.

I would like to clarify the circumstances surrounding this. Prior to the exam, I was using my phone to study, and once the lecturer arrived, I placed it in my bag. During the exam, an alarm I had set earlier went off. In an attempt to silence it quickly and avoid disruption, I reached into my bag to turn it off, a split-second decision that I now deeply regret. It was at that moment that the lecturer noticed and confiscated the phone.

I understand the lecturer later took a photo of the phone screen, which showed an open ChatGPT page. While I recognize how this may appear, I want to clarify that the page had remained open from earlier study use. I had no intention of accessing it during the exam, and my only reason for retrieving the phone was to silence the alarm. I fully recognize that having the phone at all during the exam still goes against the rules, and I respectfully ask that the committee consider this context.

I understand that academic integrity is a core value of this institution, and I failed to uphold it in that moment. This experience has been deeply eye-opening for me. I have reflected on the gravity of my actions and how much I’ve let down the university and myself.

I am not writing this letter to excuse what happened, but to ask for your understanding and mercy. This mistake does not reflect the student I aspire to be. I humbly request the opportunity to continue with my studies and demonstrate that I can grow from this and do better.

I respectfully leave this matter in the hands of the committee, trusting that my remorse and willingness to grow will be taken into account. While I accept the consequences of my actions, I remain hopeful that I may be granted the opportunity to continue with my studies and prove myself moving forward.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 So what do you guys think? Is it formal enough and is there anything I can change