Student Disciplinary Procedure – Frequently Asked Questions

This is additional guidance to the Student Disciplinary Procedure and does not supersede it.

  1. I have been suspended from the University pending a hearing because of alleged

misconduct and believe this to be an unfair measure. What does it mean and what should I do?

Suspension is a measure rarely taken and only if there are grave concerns regarding alleged misconduct. You should be advised if you are wholly or partly prohibited from entering University premises. If the restriction is entirely forbidden from entering University premises, this involves attendance at lectures and use of all other on site University facilities such as the library and IT suites. The only exception would be to attend subsequent hearing or to receive advice and support from the Students’ Union. In the case of the latter you will need to advise those concerned, e.g. the member of staff leading on your case and Security, of your reason for being on campus.

Suspension pending a hearing is a neutral act in the context of the eventual determination of whether an allegation is found to be proven or not. Any decision to suspend is subject to reviewon receipt of evidence of significantly altered circumstances. The review does not involve a hearing but you are entitled to make written representations to staff within the Governance Services Unit. The review is carried out by the Vice-Chancellor or another member of the University Management Team.

A student suspended from the University may also lose access to University online facilities, including email, the VLE (Blackboard) and library resources.

  1. I have been invited to a preliminary hearing under the Student Disciplinary Procedure and am unsure what it is all about. What does it mean and what should I do?

In the first instance the purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether or not there has been a breach of the Student Disciplinary Procedure. The Head of School or Director of Professional and Administrative Services will have been informed of an alleged breach by a member of staff . The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to determine whether or not there is a case to answer. You are entitled to be given brief reasons prior to the meeting concerning why you have been called to give an account of your alleged actions. You are also entitled to be accompanied to the meeting by a representative of your own choice and he / she may speak on your behalf. If there is a case to answer you will be invited to a Summary Hearing with the Head of School or Director of Professional and Administrative Services. However, if the breach is deemed to be extremely serious, you will have to appear before the University Disciplinary Panel instead.

  1. I have had the preliminary interview but having read the procedure realise that I must wait a minimum of 10 working days or a maximum of 20 days before the next hearing. Is there any way the process can be speeded up?

Yes, there is a period of between 10 and 20 working days between the preliminary interview and a Summary Hearing to permit students to prepare themselves adequately for the next stage in the process. However, if you agree in writing that you would like the Summary Hearing to take place earlier than the period indicated in the procedure then this is not problematic. This, however, will not be true in the case where an alleged breach is deemed to be extremely serious and has been referred to the University Disciplinary Panel as the Panel considers cases form across the University and involves members from different schools as well as the Students’ Union it cannot be called at extremely short notice.

  1. I have been called to a Summary Hearing. What is likely to happen?

At this stage it has already been determined that there is a case to answer on alleged misconduct. You should have received a letter advising of the date and time of the hearing and the detailed nature of the allegation. You or your representative will have the opportunity to refute any allegation. If found guilty any penalty applied may be mitigated if you have agreed to have the matter dealt with on a summary basis and if guilt is admitted at the earliest opportunity. The finding of guilt or otherwise is determined on the balance of probabilities.

The penalties applied if found guilty are:

  • a written undertaking from you for future good conduct
  • a First Written Warning which will be removed from your record and disregarded for disciplinary purposes after 12 months
  • a Final Written Warning which will be removed from your record and disregarded for disciplinary purposes after 24 months
  • a fine of up to a maximum of £500 (subject to review)
  • unpaid services to the University community to a maximum of 40 hours
  • suspension for a fixed period of time up to a maximum of 3 months

If you do not agree to the case being considered at a Summary Hearing it will be referred to a Student Disciplinary Panel.

  1. I have been called to a meeting of the University Student Disciplinary Panel. What is likely to happen?

This will only happen if the alleged misconduct is deemed to be extremely serious and the matter has been referred by the Head of School / Director of Professional and Administrative Services for consideration. The Student Disciplinary Panel comprises two academic members of staff (one who serves as Chair) and a representative of the Students’ Union. A member of staff from the Governance Services Unit acts as Secretary to the meeting but does not take part in the deliberative process.

The Head of School / Director of Professional and Administrative Services will speak to the alleged breach in the Student Disciplinary Procedure whilst you / your representative will be able to speak in your defence. As in the case of a Summary Hearing the outcome is decided on the balance of probabilities. The penalties available to the Student Disciplinary Panel include those available to a Summary Hearing, plus:

  • suspension from the University for a fixed period of time, from 3 months up to a maximum of 12 moths
  • a recommendation to Senate that an award already made, at any time during your candidature, of a qualification or academic credit, be withdrawn
  • expulsion from the University for a period of at least 10 years

For serious cases of academic misconduct referred to a Student Disciplinary Panel via the Academic Misconduct Procedure, the Panel also has recourse to the full range of academic penalties within that Procedure.

  1. Can I appeal against a finding of guilt or a penalty applied?

Yes, you may appeal, but must only do so on one or more of the following grounds:

  • the emergence of new and relevant evidence which was not available to the original hearing or process of consideration for good and reasonable cause;
  • that there was an irregularity in the original hearing or process of consideration which has materially disadvantaged the student;
  • that evidence is available to show that the outcome reached at an earlier stage was manifestly unreasonable. In this context, unreasonable shall be taken to mean perverse, i.e. that the outcome was not a possible conclusion which a similar hearing or process of consideration might have reached.

However, the University Secretary may reject an appeal if, in his / her view, it is not made on one of the allowable grounds. If the matter was considered in the first place at a Summary Hearing, the Student Disciplinary Committee hears the appeal. If first considered by the Student Disciplinary Panel, the Student Disciplinary Appeals Committee hears the appeal.

  1. Who can I speak to for more advice about an appeal?

Individual advice to students is available from the Students’ UnionAdvice Centre (Telephone 0161 351 5400 or . For more information on support available via the Students’ Union visit

General information to students on the operation of the Student Disciplinary Procedure is available from the Student Life Directorate (Telephone 0161 295 0023) or e-mail

The Governance Services Unit can be contacted for advice on the operation of the procedure. In the first instance please email .

  1. If I am still not satisfied with the outcome what can I do?

Under the Higher Education Act 2004 the University subscribes to the independent scheme for the review of student complaints. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome you may be able to apply for a review of your case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) providing that the complaint you take to the OIA is eligible under its Rules. Should you decide to make a complaint to the OIA, your OIA Complaint Form must be received by the OIA within three months of the date of formal letter form the University.

The OIA’s leaflet,An Introduction to the OIA for Studentscan be downloaded from

and a link to the OIA Complaint Form

is available on page 8. Alternatively, you can telephone or write to the OIA for a form.

Guidance on submitting a complaint to the OIA and the OIA Complaint Form can also be found on the OIA’s website You may also wish to seek advice from the Students’ Union about taking your complaint to the OIA. The point of contact within the HEI for dealing with matters that have been referred to the OIA is Mr Mark Rollinson, Head of Governance Services Unit and University Secretary.

Please note that the OIA will normally only review issues that have been dealt with through the University’s internal procedures.

February2015 GSU