Disciplinaries

If you have broken one or more of the University’s Regulations of Conduct a penalty may be imposed by a member of staff or a Committee of the University. A wide range of disciplinary measures can be taken, ranging from a fine to expulsion from the University. There is a right of appeal against all of these via University Procedures.

Appealing against decisions by individuals

  • You have the right of appeal to the Standing Disciplinary Committee;
  • You must let the Director of Student Services know you want to appeal no more than seven days after a disciplinary decision has been made against you;
  • You need to submit a written statement to the Committee;
  • The Committee can uphold a punishment, dismiss it or substitute it for a different one. Be aware that they can impose more serious punishments than the initial one;
  • You can also appeal to this Committee against decisions made by the Standing Committee on Academic Misconduct;
  • If you are asked to appear before the Committee you may take an advisor from the Students’ Union or a member of University staff along with you.

Appealing against decisions of the Standing Disciplinary Committee

  • Your written notice of your wish to appeal must reach the Director of Student Services within seven days of the Standing Disciplinary Committee’s decision;
  • You cannot appeal to this committee against a decision of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Warden or Standing Committee on Academic Misconduct.

Preparing Your Case

If you believe that you should not have been punished or that the punishment is too severe you will need to explain why and provide as much evidence as you can. The Students’ Union Advisors in RUSU can help you with preparing your case and may be able to come with you to any hearing.

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education is an independent body who look into complaints that have been through University procedures but have not had a satisfactory outcome for the student.

Contact the Advice Service

Services which operate within the Advice Service have separate sessions: see their individual pages for further info on how and when to access them.

Following the current situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19), RUSU staff have been asked to work for remotely for the foreseeable future. This includes the staff within the Advice Service.

As a result, the Advice Service is unable to offer face-to-face appointment or a drop-in service at the current time, but we are still able to offer advice to students.

If you would like some support from the Advice Service then please complete our Talk to us form. Alternatively, you can email the service on advice@rusu.co.uk

Please be assured that an Adviser will get in touch with you as soon as possible, and that we can still offer appointments via other methods (for example, via telephone, Skype or Microsoft Teams).