Students: to understand what counts as misconduct, the processes involved and the potential consequences.

Staff: to follow the proper process for student misconduct cases.

Misconduct is unsatisfactory or unacceptable conduct or behaviour. The rule provides a detailed list of examples, including:

• Unacceptable personal behaviour such as intimidating, harassing, abusing or threatening others
• Damaging, destroying, stealing, removing, or wrongly taking the University’s or someone else’s property
• Misusing University facilities or resources
• Breaching our policies, including academic integrity or research integrity breaches, privacy breaches or cybersecurity breaches
• Failing to follow reasonable and lawful directions given:
  • by a staff member or affiliate
  • under University rules, policies, or procedures.

Attempting to engage in misconduct is also considered misconduct.

Reporting

Any person can make a written report to the Registrar about alleged misconduct.

Initial review

The Registrar (or their nominee) checks the report to see if an investigation is needed.

Notice

If there is going to be an investigation, the student receives written notice:

• explaining the allegations and possible penalties
• with an invitation to a preliminary meeting.

The student must reply to this notice.

Preliminary meeting

At this meeting, the allegations and penalties are explained, and the student is invited to respond.

Students can bring a support person or representative.

Investigation

If the student does not admit to the misconduct, the Registrar conducts or arranges for a formal investigation.

Students can respond in writing and in person, and can have a support person present at any meetings.

Report

The investigator draws conclusions and provides a report to the Registrar, and the University decides the outcome.

The rule provides detailed information about possible penalties, which may include:

• Cancelling or deferring the award of a course
• Expulsion from the University, from an award course, or from non-award study
• Exclusion from using our lands or facilities
• Suspension from an award course or from using our facilities or resources
• A fine, a warning, or compulsory education or training.

Yes. An appeal must be lodged in writing with the Student Affairs Unit within 20 working days of the notice of the decision.