Academic supporting standard act of clemency (6)
I believe the answer is:
pardon
'act of clemency' is the definition.
'pardon' can be an answer for 'clemency' (I've seen this in another clue). I'm not sure about the 'act of' bit.
'academic supporting standard' is the wordplay.
'academic' becomes 'don' (type of academic - especially at Oxbridge).
'supporting' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, some letters go below others).
'standard' becomes 'par' (standard of play in golf).
'don' put after 'par' is 'PARDON'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pardon that I've seen before include "Excuse or absolve" , "What was that you said" , "Grant forgiveness" , "Forgive or remit" , "Forgive; come again?" .)