Student Disciplinaries

Behaviour towards others

• Violent, threatening, aggressive or abusive behaviour
• Offensive language or behaviour
• Harassment, intimidation or bullying
• Inappropriate behaviour online or on social media

Disruption

• Disrupting teaching, learning, assessments or University activities
• Interfering with University services or events
• Behaviour that affects the safety or wellbeing of others

Dishonesty or misuse

• Fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
• Falsifying records or documents
• Misuse of University property, systems or services
• Failure to follow University rules, regulations, policies or conditions

Safety or criminal matters

• Behaviour that may cause injury or put others at risk
• Damage to property
• Behaviour that may also be a criminal offence
• Conduct concerns while on placement or involved in University activity

This is not a full list. The University will consider the nature of the concern and which procedure should be used.

If the concern relates to academic misconduct, Fitness to Practise, Support to Study, or another University procedure, the case may be referred to that procedure instead.

You can contact the Students' Union Advice Service before a meeting, while the case is being investigated, after receiving an outcome, or when considering an appeal.

The Advice Service can help you:

• Understand the disciplinary procedure
• Review the allegation and evidence
• Prepare a written response
• Prepare for a meeting, interview or hearing
• Understand possible outcomes and sanctions
• Consider whether you may have grounds to appeal

You can contact us through the enquiry form here.

• Informal resolution: Some concerns may be dealt with through discussion, advice or guidance. You may be advised about expected behaviour, warned informally, or signposted to support.
• Initial assessment: The University reviews the report and decides what should happen next. The case may be dismissed, referred to another procedure, resolved informally, investigated further, or moved to Stage 1, Stage 2 or Stage 3.
• Risk assessment: In serious, complex or sensitive cases, the University may consider whether temporary measures are needed.
• Investigation: An investigation may take place where the facts are disputed or more information is needed.
• Stage 1: Usually used for minor misconduct or cases where there are mitigating factors.
• Stage 2: Used where the concern could lead to a sanction up to and including a final written warning.
• Stage 3: Used for serious cases where the outcome could include suspension, withdrawal or expulsion.

In some cases, the University may put temporary measures in place while the case is being considered.

These measures do not mean that the concern has been proven. They are used to protect safety, wellbeing and academic integrity while the process is ongoing.

• Undertaking of good conduct: You may be asked to agree to follow certain conditions while the case is considered.
• No contact arrangements: You may be told not to contact another student or member of staff, directly or indirectly, including online.
• Restrictions on spaces or activities: You may be restricted from certain buildings, facilities, clubs, societies, roles or activities.
• Accommodation changes: You may be moved to alternative University accommodation where this is possible.
• Restrictions on learning activities: You may be asked to engage with learning online, through recordings, or with specific conditions.
• Partial suspension: You may be restricted from some University premises or activities while still being allowed to study in another way.
• Full suspension: You may be temporarily prevented from entering University premises or taking part in University activities. This may include withdrawal of network access.

If interim measures are put in place, they should be reviewed regularly. A review should usually take place every 4 weeks, or sooner if there are developments in the case.

An investigation may be carried out in serious, complex or sensitive cases, or where more information is needed.

An Investigating Officer may:

• Speak to you
• Speak to other students, staff or witnesses
• Review documents, messages, screenshots or other evidence
• Prepare an investigation report

You will have the opportunity to explain your version of events and respond to the evidence.

Stage 1 is usually used where the concern is minor or where there are mitigating factors.

What happens

• You may be invited to an informal meeting with a senior member of staff.
• You will be told what the concern is and you will have the opportunity to respond.
• You should also be told about expected standards of behaviour and support services.

Possible outcomes

• The case is dismissed
• Informal advice and guidance is given
• A pre-regulatory warning is issued
• You may be asked to sign an undertaking of good conduct

An undertaking of good conduct may include conditions, such as having no contact with another student or completing a reflection on the impact of your behaviour.

If you do not attend the Stage 1 meeting without a good reason, or you decline to sign an undertaking of good conduct, the University may issue a warning in your absence or refer the case to Stage 2.

Stage 2 is used where the allegation, if proven, could lead to a sanction up to and including a final written warning.

What you should receive

• Notice of the date, time and place of the interview, normally at least 2 working days beforehand
• Details of the allegation
• Copies of supporting evidence
• Information about the possible outcomes

The disciplinary interview will normally be with the Dean of School. A member of the Student Casework Team will usually attend to advise on the process and take notes.

At the interview, you can respond to the allegation, explain your case and provide relevant evidence.

If you do not attend without a good reason, the interview may go ahead without you.

Possible outcomes

• Case dismissed: The Dean decides there are no grounds for concern.
• Sanction applied: The Dean may apply a sanction up to and including a final written warning.
• Further investigation: More information is needed before a decision can be made.
• Interim measures recommended: Temporary measures may be considered while the case is ongoing.
• Referral to Stage 3: The case may be referred to a disciplinary hearing if it is serious enough.

Stage 3 is used for serious cases where the outcome could include suspension, withdrawal or expulsion.

The case will be considered by a Disciplinary Committee. The Committee will normally include a Chair, a senior member of staff and a student member, usually an elected officer of the Students' Union.

What you should receive

• Notice of the hearing at least 5 working days beforehand
• Details of the allegation
• The investigation report and supporting evidence
• Information about possible outcomes
• A deadline for submitting your written statement and evidence

What happens at the hearing

• Introductions: The Chair explains the purpose of the hearing and the process.
• University case: The University presents the allegation and evidence.
• Your response: You can respond to the allegation, explain your case and provide evidence.
• Questions: You, the University and the Committee may ask questions.
• Mitigation: If the allegation is found proven, you can explain any personal circumstances or context you want the Committee to consider when deciding the outcome.
• Decision: The Committee decides whether the allegation is proven using the balance of probabilities.

If you do not attend without a good reason, the hearing may go ahead without you.

You should normally be told the decision and reasons at the end of the hearing. You should also receive the written outcome within 5 working days.

Mitigating factors may be considered when deciding the level of sanction. The University should normally start with the lowest suitable sanction and only move to a higher sanction if needed.

• Apology: You may be required to apologise verbally or in writing to anyone affected.
• Pre-regulatory warning: You may receive advice about future behaviour and the consequences of further misconduct.
• Undertaking of good conduct: You may need to sign an agreement about your future behaviour.
• Written reprimand: A written reprimand will normally stay on your record for up to 12 months.
• Final written warning: A final written warning will normally stay on your record for the rest of your studies.
• Paying costs: You may need to pay costs for damage or losses caused by your actions.
• Restrictions: You may be restricted from certain services, spaces, activities or communications for a set period.
• Accommodation action: You may be required to leave University-owned accommodation.
• Support, mediation or restorative action: You may be required to engage with support, mediation, restorative justice, an educational programme or reflective work.
• Referral to another procedure: The matter may be referred to Fitness to Practise, Support to Study, Academic Misconduct or another University procedure.
• Suspension: You may be suspended from the University for a set period and may need to meet conditions before returning.
• Withdrawal: You may be withdrawn from the University and may need to meet conditions before being considered for readmission.
• Expulsion: You may be permanently expelled from the University.

A Dean of School can apply sanctions up to and including referral to another University procedure after a Stage 2 disciplinary interview.

A Disciplinary Committee can apply any of the sanctions after a Stage 3 disciplinary hearing.

If interim measures are imposed or misconduct is found, a record will normally be made on your student record. Findings with sanctions may be considered if there are future misconduct concerns.

You may be able to appeal a Stage 2 or Stage 3 disciplinary decision.

You can appeal the decision that the allegation was proven, the sanction, or both. This does not usually apply where the decision was based on a criminal conviction or where you admitted the misconduct in writing.

You must normally submit your appeal in writing to StudentCasework@lancashire.ac.uk within 10 working days of the date of the outcome letter.

Appeal grounds

• New evidence or circumstances: There is relevant new information that you could not reasonably have provided when the original decision was made.
• Procedural unfairness: There was an irregularity or unfairness in the procedure, and this affected the outcome.
• Manifestly unreasonable decision: The decision or outcome did not reasonably fit the evidence provided.

Your appeal should explain:

• What decision you are appealing
• Which appeal ground you are using
• Why you believe the ground applies
• What outcome you are asking for
• Any new evidence you want considered

• Appeal declined: The original decision stays in place and you will be told the reasons.
• Appeal upheld: The Appeal Panel may decide a new outcome or sanction.
• Case sent back: The case may be sent back for reconsideration by a different decision-maker or panel.
• Appeal hearing: An appeal hearing may be arranged if the facts or evidence are complex or disputed.

If an appeal hearing is arranged, you should normally receive 5 working days' notice. The appeal hearing is usually a review of the original decision rather than a full rehearing of the case.

• If you have completed the University's internal appeal process and are still unhappy with the outcome, you may be able to ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, known as the OIA, to review your case.
• You must normally submit your OIA complaint within 12 months of the date on your Completion of Procedures letter.

• The University aims to deal with disciplinary cases in a timely way.
• Cases should normally be resolved within 90 calendar days from the report being received by the Student Casework Team.
• Some cases may take longer, for example where the police or another third party is involved.
• If there is a delay, the University should explain why and keep you updated.