The University expects students to follow the Code of Conduct. (If you are accessing this link off campus, you will need to be connected to the VPN. Find out how to use the VPN here).
If you don’t, you may be invited to a Disciplinary Panel. The Students' Union Advice Centre can prepare you for your panel, attend it with you and proofread your statement.
There are two types of Disciplinaries:
Local Disciplinaries are for alleged minor or first cases. The University will investigate, then email you to ask whether you admit or deny the suspected offence. You may be invited to a meeting with a senior member of University staff. You’ll get at least 5 working days’ notice of the meeting.
Before the meeting, decide whether to admit or deny the offence, think about whether you have any mitigating circumstances such as illness or serious personal problems and prepare a statement to explain your side of things.
If the case is upheld, you may receive a warning, a penalty, or if it’s very serious, your case can be sent to a University Disciplinary Panel.
You can ask for the meeting to be rescheduled if you are not available. This usually happens once only.
University Level Disciplinaries are for serious or repeated cases. The University will investigate, and you will be emailed about the allegation. You might have a pre-disciplinary meeting. You’ll get at least 5 working days’ notice of this.
If the University investigator believes there is a case, you will be invited to a Student Disciplinary Panel. You will have at least 10 working days to prepare for the meeting.
Before the meeting, decide whether to admit or deny the offence, think about whether you have any mitigating circumstances such as illness or serious personal problems, prepare a statement to explain what happened and include any evidence to support your case. You must let the meeting organiser know in advance if witnesses or a supporter will be at the meeting with you.
If the allegation is upheld, you may receive a warning, a penalty, lose access to some University facilities, or be excluded from the University.
You can ask for the meeting to be rescheduled if you are not available.
If you disagree with the outcome of a Disciplinary Meeting
You can appeal the outcome in writing within 10 working days if you believe that
- Important new evidence was not considered
- The procedures were not followed correctly
- You were excluded permanently and the offence is not serious enough to lead to exclusion.
There is more information about the process here and here. (If you are accessing these links off campus, you will need to be connected to the VPN. Find out how to use the VPN here).
If a Disciplinary case is being investigated by the police the student will be suspended until the police investigation finishes.
If you are invited to a Disciplinary meeting, please contact Your Advice Service as soon as possible, and attach any paperwork you've been sent to the enquiry form.