1 Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to set appropriate standards of behaviour expected of students
and ensure that all students who may be subject to disciplinary procedures are dealt with in a
fair and equitable manner.

2 Scope
The procedure shall apply to all students enrolled on a programme of study or participating in
a related activity at the Institute of Quality Systems.

3 Responsibility
3.1.1 Administrator shall be responsible for minuting hearings and been the conciliator on
informal means to resolve minor offences.
3.1.2 Assistant Principal – shall be the chair for disciplinary hearings.
3.1.3 Student Representative – shall be part of the disciplinary proceedings where necessary.

4 Definition of Terms
4.1.1 Suspension – it involves the prohibition of attendance on college premises or any
participation in college activities including participation in any assessment during
suspension period.
4.1.2 Minor Misconduct: Includes indiscipline issues in minor offences section and any other
offences of persistent disruptive behaviour, behaviour that causes a disturbance or
nuisance to others, behaviour which impacts on lower level health and safety.
4.1.3 4.3. Serious Misconduct: Includes misconducts in serious offences section or persistent
of minor offences after having been dealt with several times after the third occurrence.

5 Procedure
5.1 Stage 1 – Informal Recorded Action on Minor Offences:
5.1.1 Any member of staff or any other student can raise a concern regarding a student.
5.1.2 The concerned staff or student or any other third party shall report the matter to the
Administrator who shall call upon the parties and have them discuss their concerns with
the concerned student.
5.1.3 In the discussion they shall explain why their behaviour is inappropriate/unacceptable
and need for reform.
5.1.4 The Administrator shall document the discussion and provide the parties with a record
of the discussion.
5.1.5 If the student fails to reform after having been given a chance, a meeting will be
arranged between the student and any other senior member of the organisation and
where possible a student representative shall be present.
5.1.6 Following this meeting an informal action plan will be agreed and a written record of
it made.
5.1.7 If there is still no improvement in behaviour then a formal verbal warning will be issued
and shall be signed by any senior member of the academic of staff.
5.2 Stage 2 – Formal Investigation:
5.2.1 Following continuing or persistent poor behaviour, or alleged gross misconduct, a
thorough disciplinary investigation will be conducted by the Assistant Principal or any
staff delegated by the Principal designate.
5.2.2 This involves interviewing and gaining information from staff and students who were
involved in or witnessed the alleged misconduct and/or those involved in any previous
Stages.
5.2.3 Where there is no case to answer the student shall be offered personal interventions
(e.g. internal or external support/counselling).
5.2.4 If the allegations are substantiated the matter shall be referred to a disciplinary hearing.

5.3 Suspension Procedure:

5.3.1 In cases where the alleged misconduct is serious and/or may put other staff, students or
other persons at risk, suspension may need to be considered while the case is being
investigated.
5.3.2 In such cases, the student will receive written notification of the reason for the
suspension with a copy being sent to parents/carers for students under 18.
5.3.3 The suspension is not a punishment, but is sometimes necessary to allow a fair and
thorough investigation to take place.
5.3.4 If two or more students are involved in the alleged offence and if suspension is
considered, then normally all students will be suspended.
5.3.5 The period of suspension will be kept to a minimum, but will be no longer than four
weeks (unless awaiting notification of the outcome of criminal proceedings).
5.3.6 The student will receive a written notification of the reason/s for the suspension with
details of the Disciplinary Process.
5.3.7 A copy will be sent, under separate cover, to parents/carers for students under 18.

5.4 Stage 3 - Disciplinary Hearing

5.4.1 If the student is under 18 years of age, his/her parents/guardian and/or employer should
be invited to the hearing.
5.4.2 Higher Education students may also request Student Union representation where
necessary. It must be made clear to all students undergoing this stage of the process that
the Disciplinary Hearing could result in their permanent exclusion from College.
5.4.3 The hearing will be chaired by an Assistant Principal or any staff delegated by the
Principal Officer from outside the study area.
5.4.4 The hearing will take place within 7 working days of the formal investigation being
concluded. The student will be informed in writing of the allegation and action being
taken.
5.4.5 The Chair will convene a meeting with other 2 members of academic staff and the
administrator who shall be the minute secretary or any other person delegated by the
Administrator.
5.4.6 Full minutes of the meeting will be taken and should distributed to all present wherever
possible within 5 working days of the hearing.
5.4.7 The outcome of disciplinary hearing will be communicated to relevant staff by the
Chair.
5.4.8 The hearing will take into consideration the following:
a) The seriousness of the situation.
b) The needs of other students.
c) The needs of staff.
d) The needs of the student concerned.

5.5 Disciplinary Hearing Outcomes

5.5.1 The outcome of the hearing shall be in line with penalty section on the respective
clauses of the offences.
5.5.2 Where information is of a confidential nature, the record will simply state ‘Disciplinary
Hearing’ and further details held by the Chair.
 6 MISCONDUCT OFFENCES

Minor Misconduct
Para Offence Penalties
First Offence Second Offence Third Offence and
any incidence there
after
1.1 Physical Abuse (pushing and shoving) Documented Documented Suspension for a
reprimand reprimand and written month
apology to aggrieved
person
1.2 Violent, indecent, disorderly, Documented Documented Suspension for a
threatening or offensive behaviour reprimand reprimand and written month
and language whilst onCollege apology to aggrieved
premises or while engaged in any person
College activity.
1.3 Sexual harassment (making Documented Documented Suspension for a
unwelcome remarks of a sexual reprimand reprimand and written semester/term
nature) apology to aggrieved
person
Major Misconduct
2.1 Physical Abuse (punching, slapping, Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
kicking, pulling hair, biting, fighting) a month college
2.2 breach of the College’s policies in Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
relation to the acceptable use of a month college
Information Communication
Technology; such as abusive or
offensive emails, including the use of
another person’s email; using College
computer resources to download
material of a pornographic nature
from the internet, or in any other way
to transmit or retrieve material of
this kind
2.3 fraud, deceit, deception or Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
dishonesty in relation to the College a month college
or its staff or in connection with
holding any office in the College, or
in relation to being a student of the
College
2.4 Academic cheating, including Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
plagiarism, forgery, impersonation a month college
 and any other form of cheating in
assessments or examinations
2.5 Acts of disturbance which threaten Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
the rights and privacy of any a month college
staff/students, whilst on College
premises, engaged in College
activity.
2.6 Theft or damage, especially Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
malicious or negligent damage, to a month college
College property, or theft or damage
to property of the College
community on College premises or
on other premises used by the
College. This can include damage to
or other interference with
computers or software system
administration or supplies belonging
to the College
2.7 Unauthorised use or alteration of Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
College documents or stationery; or a month college
fabrication of documents or
stationery purporting to be College
documents or stationery; or
impersonation of College staff, or
other persons associated with the
College. This includes misuse or
unauthorised use of the College
name or logo
2.8 Committing a criminal offence on Suspension for Suspension for term Expulsion from
College premises or while involved in a month college
College activities, or other conduct
likely to bring the College into
disrepute