The Advice Centre
Find us on Square 3
Disciplinary Matters
The Advice Centre has represented many students who are going through the student disciplinary process and as such we have vast experience in student disciplinary matters. We are “Confidential, Independent and Impartial” and we are not part of the University. We are here to help support and guide you through the process and to ensure that the University procedures are properly adhered to.
What to do if:
You have received a letter asking you to see the Proctor
(The Proctor is responsible for carrying out an investigation of any alleged breach of University regulations)
· Don’t panic! Come into the Advice Centre at your first opportunity or let us know about your letter by e-mailing suadvice@essex.ac.uk
· Make sure you bring the paperwork you have received with you, this will give times/dates of your meeting and a very brief outline of the allegations against you
· We will advise you of the process and what to expect from the meeting, we will also assist in helping you make a statement in preparation for the meeting and gathering witness statements or deciding whether you would like witnesses to attend the meeting.
· If you want somebody to attend the meeting with you, book an Advice Centre Assistant
· On the day of the meeting, come into the Advice Centre about 15 minutes before your meeting to ensure you allow plenty of time
· At the meeting be truthful and honest about what has happened and your interpretation of the situation
· Following discussion with the Proctor, he will decide whether or not an offence has been committed. If he believes it has, for minor offences, the Proctor has the authority to decide on a penalty in accordance with the University regulations. If he considers the offence to be serious, he may refer the case to the Discipline Officer who will make a decision about whether the case should go before a Disciplinary Committee
· After the meeting, you will receive a letter regarding the outcome of the meeting and what the next steps will be, if any.
What if I have to go before a Disciplinary Committee?
· Again, come into the Advice Centre as soon as possible or let us know by e-mailing suadvice@essex.ac.uk
· Let us have a copy of any paperwork you have received
· If you want somebody to attend the committee with you, book an Advice Centre Assistant
· to attend the committee with you
· Advise us truthfully of what your situation is. Remember that the Advice Centre is “Confidential, Independent and Impartial”. We are not part of the University and we are here to help support and guide you through the process and to ensure that the University procedures are properly adhered to. The more honest you are with us, the better our advice can be.
· We will spend time with you advising of what will happen at the Committee in order for you to be better prepared in what to expect and how best to prepare your case.
· On the day of the meeting, come into the Advice Centre about 15 minutes before your meeting to ensure you allow plenty of time
· We will take you to the Disciplinary Offence Committee and will sit with you throughout the Committee.
· After the meeting we will go through what has happened and wait with you until a decision is made.
· You will be offered the opportunity to come back to the Advice Centre to discuss what has happened. You are also encouraged to come into the Advice Centre where a penalty has been imposed to discuss the implications.
· In accordance with the regulations, some of the penalties which can be imposed include
· “Payment of a fine; payment of the whole or part of the cost of repair to or replacement of the property damaged or stolen …; payment of such contribution … towards the expenses of the Disciplinary proceedings; exclusion from the whole or any specified part of the University; expulsion; such other action”
Please note that all students who are found guilty of setting off a fire alarm will be fined a minimum of £500.
If you would like further information about the University’s disciplinary process please see the following web pages
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/offices/discipline/process.htm
Harassment
The University takes harassment very seriously. If you are being harassed, or are accused of Harassment, please come in and see us and we can advise of how to proceed and other services available within the University
For information about the University’s harassment policy please look
http://www.essex.ac.uk/eo/harassment/harassmentdefault.htm