Responsible officer: Vice-Chancellor

Designated officer: Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Council approval: C04/44, 5 October 2004

Last amended: C07/5, 20 March 2007

Related documents:

• Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy
• Code of Conduct
• Discrimination and Harassment Policy
• Electronic Mail Policy
• Land, Traffic and Parking Rules

Overview

This Policy is made in recognition of the principle that the basis for dealings among members of the University should be one of mutual respect and is part of the process by which the University encourages adherence to such principle in the context of student behaviour.

Policy

1. Introduction

1.1 The University encourages students to behave in a way that:

1.1.1 allows reasonable freedom to others to pursue their studies, researches, duties and other lawful activities in the University and on its sites, and to participate in the life of the University and

1.1.2 recognises that the pursuit of academic excellence is a key aim of the University and that proper procedures are essential in achieving that aim and

1.1.3 promotes the proper use of University facilities and information and the property of other persons on its sites

1.2 The objects of this Policy are to:

1.2.1 promote the principle of mutual respect by informing students of behaviour which the University considers appropriate and

1.2.2 discourage behaviour which the University considers inappropriate and

1.2.3 implement fair and just procedures for dealing with possible cases of misconduct and

1.2.4 provide for the imposition and enforcement of penalties for proven misconduct

2. Definitions

In this Policy, except in so far as the context or subject matter otherwise indicates or requires:

Act means the University of the Sunshine Coast Act 1998, as amended.

Confidential information means sensitive information about the business, commercial or financial affairs of the University or personal affairs of a person associated with the University; and whereby disclosure could have an adverse effect on the University such as an action for breach of confidence, or could reasonably be expected to prejudice the future supply of such information, unless its disclosure is in the public interest.

Dean means the Dean responsible for the relevant course or program of study and includes a person acting for the time being in such position.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor means the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University and includes a person acting for the time being in such position.

Member of staff means a member of the staff having an employment contract with the University.

Misconduct has the meaning given by section 4 of this Policy.

Student means a person enrolled in the University.

University premises includes buildings, grounds, vehicles and marine craft which are under the control and management of the University and which are used for, or in connection with, the purposes of the University.

Vice-Chancellor means the Vice-Chancellor of the University and includes a person acting for the time being in such position.

3. References in this Policy to the giving of a notice or other document to a person are references to its being:

3.1 either served on such person or

3.2 forwarded by receipted email to the person's last email address known to the University or

3.3 posted to such person by registered post addressed to the last address known to the University as the person's place of residence

and references to the date on which notice is given will be the date on which notice is served on the student, or the date of receipt of the email, or 3 business days after the notice is posted to the student, whichever first occurs.

4. Meaning of misconduct

4.1 In this Policy misconduct means conduct on the part of a student which unreasonably:

4.1.1 impairs the freedom of other persons to pursue their studies, research, duties or lawful activities in, or to participate in the life of, the University

4.1.2 disrupts the due processes of the University or

4.1.3 causes damage to University property or

4.1.4 is otherwise detrimental to the proper order or good conduct of the University or is adverse to its academic standing or reputation

4.2 Without limiting the generality of subsection 4.1, a student is guilty of misconduct if the student:

4.2.1 wilfully disrupts or obstructs any teaching or research activity, examination, official meeting, ceremony or other proceeding of the University

4.2.2 wilfully obstructs or attempts to obstruct or deter a member of the staff of the University in the performance of that member's duties

4.2.3 wilfully interferes with the freedom of movement within the University of any staff, student, guest or visitor

4.2.4 wilfully interferes with the freedom of speech within the University of any staff or student or of any speaker with a legitimate invitation to speak

4.2.5 wilfully, recklessly or negligently engages in conduct which results in or involves injury to any person or loss or destruction of, damage to or interference with any premises, facility or property

4.2.6 enters a part of the University premises:

4.2.6.1 to which entry is prohibited
4.2.6.2 to which entry is permitted only with authority or
4.2.6.3 remains on a part of the University premises referred to in subsection 4.2.6.1 or 4.2.6.2 without authority, where the student knows, or ought reasonably to know, that entry to that area is prohibited or is permitted only with authority, as the case may be

4.2.7 unlawfully assaults, or attempts to assault, a person on University premises

4.2.8 wilfully damages or wrongfully deals with property of the University or property of a person on University premises

4.2.9 cheats, acts dishonestly or unfairly or assists another person to cheat or act dishonestly or unfairly, or attempts to do so, at or in connection with an examination, test, assignment, dissertation, thesis or other means of academic assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University

4.2.10 in an attempt to gain academic credit, plagiarises the work of another

4.2.11 without lawful authority, obtains access to or alters or attempts to gain access to or to alter, a document or record kept by the University, whether kept in hard copy, electronic or other form

4.2.12 knowingly makes a false representation with respect to a matter which relates to the student as a student;

4.2.13 without lawful authority discloses to a person information relating to the University or its affairs which is of a confidential nature and which the student knows, or ought reasonably to know, to be confidential

4.2.14 fails to comply with a reasonable direction given by a member of staff of the University who has, prior to giving the direction, identified himself or herself to the student as a member of staff

4.2.15 fails to disclose his or her name and address or to produce evidence of identity when required to do so by a member of staff as per subsection 4.2.14 who reasonably requires the information for the performance of their duties including:

4.2.15.1 making, in the course of duty, an enquiry or investigation to which the identity of the student is relevant or
4.2.15.2 needing to know the student's identity to report the alleged misconduct to another member of staff
4.2.16 contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of a Statute, Rule or Policy of the University
4.2.17 fails to comply with or observe a requirement, suspension or exclusion imposed on the student under this Policy, or a penalty (other than a fine) imposed under a Statute or Rule of the University.

4.3 For the purposes of subsection 4.2.10, a person plagiarises the work of another if that person presents the thoughts or words of the other as being his or her own. The word for word reproduction of a written passage of more than insignificant length, or the paraphrasing of such a passage, is evidence of plagiarism unless the source of the material is acknowledged in the work.

5. Misconduct dealt with summarily

5.1 Where misconduct is committed by a student in, or in connection with, an activity held within the University, (including a teaching or research activity, examination, official meeting, ceremony or other proceeding) the person with responsibility for that activity (whether or not that person is a member of staff of the University) may exclude the student from the activity being conducted for the duration of that activity.

5.2 A member of staff of the University with responsibility for the operation or management of a facility of the University, including the library and the university's information technology facilities, may exclude a student from access to or use of that facility for a period not exceeding 7 days for misconduct arising out of the use of that facility by the student.

5.3 Where a staff member identifies a student as having plagiarised the work of another, and that student has attempted to obtain academic credit for that work, the staff member must report the plagiarism in writing to the Dean who may do one or more of the following:

5.3.1 reprimand the student

5.3.2 set additional academic work for assessment

5.3.3 cause a Fail grade to be awarded to any work associated with the plagiarism

5.3.4 cause a Fail grade to be awarded for the course in which the plagiarism was attempted or

5.3.5 exclude the student from the course in which the plagiarism was attempted

5.4 A member of staff who excludes or disciplines a student under subsection 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 must, as soon as possible, notify the student:

5.4.1 of the period and reason for the interim exclusion

5.4.2 of details of the alleged misconduct

5.4.3 of the opportunity for the student to answer the allegations

5.4.4 that the alleged misconduct will be reported to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor

5.4.5 of the opportunity for the student to request of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor an enquiry about the alleged misconduct under section 6

and provide the Deputy Vice-Chancellor with a copy of the notice

6. Misconduct dealt with by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor

6.1 Enquiry

6.1.1 Where misconduct is known by a member of staff or a student, or is suspected by a member of staff or a student, on reasonable grounds, to have been committed by a student on University premises:

6.1.1.1 the member of staff (if not the Deputy Vice-Chancellor) or the student must report the misconduct in writing to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor who must make such enquiries into the alleged misconduct as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor thinks necessary or
6.1.1.2 if the Deputy Vice-Chancellor is aware of known or reasonably suspected misconduct the Deputy Vice-Chancellor must make such enquiries into the alleged misconduct as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor thinks necessary.

6.2 Appointment of Committee

6.2.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor may (or where requested to do so by the student alleged to have committed the misconduct, must) within 21 days appoint a committee consisting of at least 3 members to assist in enquiries under subsection 6.1 and may appoint one or more other appropriately qualified persons to assist such committee in its enquiries.

6.2.2 At least one of the members of the committee referred to in subsection 6.2.1 must be a student.

6.2.3 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor must advise the student in writing of the appointment of the committee and that the student is not entitled to representation by a person with legal qualifications before the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or the committee.

6.3 Opportunity to respond

6.3.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, or the committee appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor under section 6.2.1 as part of the enquiries conducted under subsection 6.1, will send a notice to the student either by hand delivery or registered mail to the student's last known place of address according to the record of the University.

6.3.2 The notice will be in writing and signed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or the Chairperson of the committee and will:

6.3.2.1 describe the nature of the allegation and
6.3.2.2 state that the student alleged to have committed the misconduct has an opportunity to explain the conduct in person or in writing and
6.3.2.3 state that the student alleged to have committed the misconduct may be accompanied by a representative subject to subsection 6.2.3 and
6.3.2.4 state that the student alleged to have committed the misconduct may either in person or by his or her representative, call and examine witnesses, and to cross-examine other witnesses and
6.3.2.5 state that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or the committee may interview any other person that may be able to assist with the enquiries and
6.3.2.6 state that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or the committee may submit, call for and / or examine such documents, correspondence, written statements and other papers that are reasonably relevant to the alleged misconduct and
6.3.2.7 state that the student alleged to have committed the misconduct has the opportunity to respond to any information gathered as part of enquiries conducted under subsection 6.1.

7. Suspension

7.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor may, if the Deputy Vice-Chancellor deems it necessary for the management and good government of the University, suspend the student alleged to have committed the misconduct for one or more periods of up to 6 weeks during the conduct of an enquiry, or until the completion of the enquiry, whichever is the earlier.

8. Action

8.1 At the conclusion of the enquiries under subsection 6.1, with or without the assistance of a committee and on the basis of the findings, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor must take one or more of the courses of action listed in section 11.

8.2 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor must, within 7 days of taking action under subsection 8.1 in respect of a student, notify that student in writing of the decision and the reasons for taking that action.

8.3 Where any action is taken under subsection 8.1 the Deputy Vice-Chancellor must report in writing to the Council at its next meeting detailing the reported misconduct, the enquiries made, the findings following investigation and the course or courses of action taken.

9. Student disciplinary appeals

9.1 Appeals Committee

9.1.1 A student affected by a decision of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor may appeal to the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee against that decision or the severity of the disciplinary action taken or both the decision and the severity of the disciplinary action taken.

9.1.2 An appeal from a student under subsection 9.1.1 must be in writing, state the grounds for the appeal and be lodged with the Vice-Chancellor within 14 days after the student receives notification of that decision.

9.2 Appointment of Appeals Committee

9.2.1 The Council must appoint a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee to take office from 1 July each year. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor cannot be a member of the committee.

9.2.2 A Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must consist of:

9.2.2.1 a Chairperson, who may or may not be a member of the Council and
9.2.2.2 a student of the University and
9.2.2.3 a member of the Council, not being an official member

and the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must be entitled to obtain suitably qualified professional assistance if it considers such assistance appropriate.

9.2.3 All members of the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee are required to disclose any conflict of interest, either real or perceived, for any matter the subject of an appeal. The member under such conflict must not participate in the appeal as a member of the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee.

9.2.4 The Council may appoint one or more substitute member to take the place of any person excluded from participation under subsection 9.2.3 or to fill a casual vacancy.

9.2.5 The Chairperson and members of the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must continue in office until the appointment of the next Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee, except that a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must continue in office to conclude the hearing of any appeal and to give its decision notwithstanding the appointment of a new Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee.

9.2.6 The Vice-Chancellor will appoint a person to act as secretary to the Appeals Committee.

9.3 Conduct of Appeal

9.3.1 An appeal must be by way of a re-hearing.

9.4 Appeal Procedure

9.4.1 A Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must commence hearing an appeal not later than 28 days after the date on which the student lodges written notice of appeal.

9.4.2 The secretary to the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must give each of the parties to the appeal not less than 7 days notice of the date, time and place of the hearing and the notice given to the student must notify him or her of the provisions of section 10.

9.4.3 The decisions of the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must be determined by a simple majority of votes of members.

9.4.4 Where, after the hearing of an appeal has begun, a member of a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee is unable to be present for the duration of the hearing, the Chairperson must advise the Council and a new Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee will be constituted.

9.4.5 Where a new Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee is appointed under subsection 9.4.4 it must commence hearing the appeal no later than 28 days after the date on which it is appointed and must give each of the parties to the appeal not less than 7 days notice of the date, time and place of the hearing.

9.4.6 The powers of a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee on an appeal are, as may be appropriate to the nature of the appeal, to:

9.4.6.1 confirm or set aside a finding of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and / or
9.4.6.2 confirm or set aside or vary a penalty imposed or recommended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor

9.4.7 The Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must give written notice of its decision in respect of an appeal to the parties to the appeal within 7 days of that decision.

9.4.8 If the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee has ruled that, or confirmed a course of action that, a recommendation be forwarded to the Council that a student be expelled from the University, all rights and privileges of that student (as such) must be suspended until the Council gives effect to the recommendation or determines not to do so.

10. Representation

10.1 The procedure of a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee, including the order in which evidence may be called and the order in which addresses should be heard, must be at the discretion of the Committee.

10.2 A student will be entitled to be represented before a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee by a member of staff or by a student but will not be entitled to be represented by a person with legal qualifications.

10.3 The University will be entitled to be represented before a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee by a member of staff of the University.

10.4 During a hearing by a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee:

10.4.1 the student will be entitled:

10.4.1.1 subject to subsection 10.6, to be present with his or her representative throughout the hearing, except when the Chairperson and members wish to confer privately among themselves or to consider their decision and
10.4.1.2 either in person or by his or her representative to call and examine witnesses, to cross-examine other witnesses and to address the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee and
10.4.1.3 to submit, to call for and / or to examine documents, correspondence, written statements and other papers relevant to the appeal.

10.4.2 the University's representative may:

10.4.2.1 call and examine witnesses, cross-examine other witnesses and address the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee and
10.4.2.2 submit, call for and / or examine documents, correspondence, written statements and other papers relevant to the appeal

10.5 Hearings of a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee will be in private.

10.6 A Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee must have full authority to keep order at its hearings and may order the removal for unruly conduct of any person (including the student in respect of whom the hearing is taking place or the student's representative).

10.7 If a student fails to appear at a hearing of which notice has been given in accordance with this Policy a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee may, at its discretion, proceed with the hearing in the student's absence or may adjourn the hearing.

11. Courses of action

11.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee may, in relation to any student alleged to have committed misconduct, take any one or more of the following courses of action:

11.1.1 where the allegation of misconduct is not supported by the evidence, dismiss the allegation
11.1.2 take no further action
11.1.3 caution the student
11.1.4 reprimand the student
11.1.5 require the student to attend counselling sessions for a specified period
11.1.6 require the student to undertake University service for a period not exceeding 100 hours
11.1.7 require the student to make restitution to the University or to a person for property lost, damaged or destroyed due, in whole or in part, to the conduct of the student
11.1.8 suspend the student from any or all academic activities for no longer than 12 months
11.1.9 exclude the student from the use of any or all University facilities, including the library, for no longer than 13 weeks subject to subsection 11.1.8
11.1.10 exclude the student from University premises or a specified part or parts of University premises for no longer than 13 weeks subject to subsection 11.1.8
11.1.11 direct the student not to bring personal items onto University premises for no longer than 13 weeks subject to subsection 11.1.8
11.1.12 where the misconduct arose in connection with the assessment of the student in a course, reduce the assessment of performance of the student and substitute a lower grade
11.1.13 where the misconduct arose in connection with the assessment of the student in a course, cancel the assessment of the student and substitute a Fail grade
11.1.14 recommend to the Council that a degree or other award be withheld from the student
11.1.15 recommend to the Vice-Chancellor that the case be referred to the University's legal representatives for legal action
11.1.16 recommend to the Council that the student be expelled from the University
11.1.17 impose any combination of the above courses of action

11.2 Any course of action taken must be proportionate and relevant to the alleged misconduct.

11.3 A student who fails to comply with a requirement imposed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee under section 11.1 will be deemed to be no longer an enrolled student in the University.

12. Expulsion from the University

12.1 A student who has been expelled from the University must not be re-enrolled as a student except with the permission of the Council.