University Calendar for Postgraduate Students 2012/13 - Queen's ...

Conduct Regulations 65
v. That of the Director of the Institute of Theology to
students registered for any course in the Institute and
to cases concerned with the premises, equipment or
property of the Institute or the Theological Colleges.
vi. That of the Director of Queen’s Sport to cases
concerned with students using or occupying the
premises, equipment or property of the Physical
Education Centre.
vii. That of the Director of the Students’ Union to student
members of the Students’ Union and to cases
concerned with their behaviour within the Students’
Union and the premises, equipment or property of
the Students’ Union. Also included are any premises
within the University where Students’ Union events are
organised, University playing fields, and breaches of
the Conduct Regulations committed in the course of
Rag Day activities.
viii. That of the Director of Accommodation and Hospitality
to students living in University residences and the
premises, equipment or property in these residences.
ix. That of a member of staff in charge of a field trip to
students on the trip.
Advice on the Conduct Regulations is available from
Academic Affairs and the Legal Services Manager.
equivalent for professional courses), will be considered as
sufficient to discharge the University’s obligation to give due
notice.
Annual Summary Report
2.12 An annual summary report of the cases dealt with
by Disciplinary Officers, Committee of Discipline and the
Discipline Appeals Committee will be prepared in August/
September by the Director of Academic and Student Affairs,
to be considered by Academic Council.
The Board of Visitors
2.13 If a student feels aggrieved by the process or outcome
of the disciplinary procedure he/she may appeal to the
Board of Visitors. The Board of Visitors shall normally
investigate complaints only when the internal complaints
procedures have been exhausted. Information on the Board
of Visitors can be obtained from the University’s website
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/AcademicStudentAffairs/
AcademicAffairs and in Section XIII: Further Information.
Right to Be Accompanied
2.8 A student facing a charge of misconduct has the right
to be accompanied at any stage in the proceedings by a
registered student of the University (which shall include a
Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer), a member of staff of the
University, or University Chaplaincy. No legal representation
will be permitted. At all stages of the process, the University
will ensure students are notified of their right to be
accompanied.
Confidentiality
2.9 The University will take all reasonable steps to limit the
disclosure of information as is consistent with conducting
an investigation and the provisions of the Human Rights
Act 1998, the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, and any other relevant legislation. All
staff who become involved in the Disciplinary Procedures
are required to respect the integrity of the process and
the confidentiality of information arising from it. Where
statements have been made, the student complained about
will normally be provided with these. Those persons who
have made the statements shall be aware that the student
shall be given this information.
Communication
2.10 All correspondence concerning proceedings under
these regulations will be sent to the student at the last term
time address notified by the student to the University and to
their University email address. In addition, correspondence
may also be sent to the student’s last home address.
2.11 Students are responsible for maintaining the accuracy
of their personal details, including their addresses, either on
the World Wide Web or by informing the Student Services
and Systems in writing. Mail or messages sent at any time
to a student’s postal address, or during teaching periods to
a student’s email address (normally semester weeks 1-12, or
3. Definition of Misconduct
3.1 Misconduct under these regulations is deemed to be
improper interference, in the broadest sense, with the proper
functioning or activities of the University, or those who work
or study in the University; or behaviour which brings, or may
bring, the University into disrepute. This applies whether or
not the misconduct takes place on University property. The
Conduct Regulations are in place to protect the well-being
of the students, staff, wider community and the reputation
of the University. Some of the most common examples of
misconduct and guidance on standard penalties for those
offences are listed in Annex 1.
3.2 Subject to paragraph 3.3, these regulations, if invoked,
will take precedence over all other University Codes and
Regulations without prejudice to paragraph 3.13 below.
3.3 In cases where either the Disciplinary or Fitness to
Practise Regulations may be invoked, the University Officer
with whom a complaint has been lodged shall liaise with
the appropriate School and any other Officer as required. In
consultation with Academic Affairs they shall decide which
set of regulations should apply. However, the decision to
invoke one set of regulations does not preclude a later
decision to transfer a case to another set of regulations,
if the circumstances or details of the case, after further
investigation, deem it to be more appropriate.
In those circumstances where behaviour arising from a
diagnosed or suspected mental illness and/or physical or
behavioural difficulties constitutes a breach of the Conduct
Regulations, the Disciplinary Procedures will normally be a
last resort, and will be applied only if reasonable adjustments,
medical and counselling interventions have failed to address
satisfactorily the problem behaviour, or have been refused by
the student.
3.4 The regulations apply to misconduct occurring in any
place to which a student is permitted access by virtue
of his/her status as a student which may bring the name
of University into disrepute. For example, visits to other