1.1 The University requires all students to observe the terms of these regulations. For the purposes of the regulations, the term 'student' encompasses all registered students of the University. This includes those in nominal registration, and those studying off-campus on work placements or field trips, in other institutions of higher education, or in any other such circumstances as may from time to time occur. It does not include those students registered in another institution for an award of the University, under accreditation, validation, franchise or other collaborative arrangements.

1.2 The essence of misconduct under the regulations is improper interference, in the broadest sense, with the proper functioning or activities of the University, or those who work or study in the University, or action which otherwise damages the institution. Section 1.3 below elaborates this general rubric, but not so as to derogate from its generality.

1.3 The following behaviour shall be treated as a breach of the regulations under 1.2, likely to result in disciplinary action being taken:

1.3.1 Behaviour which constitutes a breach of the criminal law.
1.3.2 Unauthorised use of, or damage to, University property.
1.3.3 Breach of the terms of the University's Codes of Practice on Free Speech, Harassment, Equal Opportunities and such other Codes as the Senate may from time to time designate.
1.3.4 Conduct which brings the University of Southampton into disrepute.
1.3.5 Improper interference with the smooth running and activities of the University.
1.3.6 Any action which constitutes a breach of the rules or regulations of the Library, the Students' Union, the Computing Service, or the Halls of Residence, and any other such Regulations as the University may from time to time approve. Such breaches shall be dealt with in the manner which those Regulations or rules may from time to time specify, or by action under these Regulations where the Chair of the Committee of Discipline considers that appropriate.

2. Procedures

2.1 All members of staff have the authority to check disorder or any breach of Regulations by students occurring in any part of the University.

2.2 The Senate shall, on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor, appoint a Chair of the Committee of Discipline, who shall serve for a term of three years, and shall be eligible for reappointment. A Deputy Chair from another faculty shall be appointed in the same way, and shall act for the Chair in cases involving a student from the Chair's own faculty.

2.3 The Vice-Chancellor shall delegate to the Chair of the Committee of Discipline ('the Chair') those powers ascribed to the office of Vice-Chancellor in the Statutes of the University (Section 5 (3)), and authority for disciplinary matters as described in Statutes (Section 34). The Chair shall report to the Vice-Chancellor on every use of those powers. In cases involving an offence which the Chair considers to be of a serious nature, where the penalty involves either suspension or expulsion, the Vice-Chancellor shall be consulted before a final decision is taken.

2.4 Breaches of the regulations requiring action beyond that described in 2.1 shall be reported to the relevant head of department who, after consulting the dean of the faculty, in the case of academic departments, shall, if thought necessary, report the case to the Chair. Alternatively, the head of department may deal with the matter through an informal reprimand. The Chair shall also have discretion to take suitable action on any cases of breaches of the Regulations which come directly to his or her notice.

2.5 Where a complaint of a breach of the Regulations has been made to the Chair, the Chair may rule that the complaint should not be the subject of further action under these Regulations.

2.6 If the Chair considers it to be appropriate, the Committee of Discipline will be convened to consider the case.

2.7 If, however, the facts of the case are not in dispute, and the nature of the offence makes it appropriate to be dealt with on the Chair's authority, the Chair may decide that the matter does not warrant reference to the Committee of Discipline. In such a case, the student will be informed accordingly in writing but will be informed, at the same time, of his/her right to ask nonetheless that the matter come before the Committee. If the student wishes to exercise this right, the Chair shall convene the Committee. Otherwise, the Chair may deal with the case and may, after due consideration, reprimand, fine, or exclude the student from any University class or from all of or any parts of the University for up to three months, and/or require the student to make appropriate restitution to the parties affected by his or her behaviour. All penalties imposed by the Chair under this Regulation shall be reported to the Vice-Chancellor, and to the Senate at its next meeting.

2.8 In its consideration of a case referred to it, the Committee of Discipline shall follow the procedure set out below:

2.8.1 The student shall be informed in writing in good time of the charge made against him/her, the time, date, and place of the meeting, and that he/she is required to be present, but that the Committee will reserve the right to proceed in his/her absence.
2.8.2 The student shall be informed of his/her right to submit written evidence, and to bring witnesses and an adviser to the hearing, and that both the student and the adviser may cross-examine witnesses at the hearing. The names of the adviser and any witnesses shall be notified to the secretary of the Committee in writing in advance of the meeting. The adviser may not be a legally-qualified person acting in a paid capacity.
2.8.3 The student shall be informed as soon as possible and in writing of the Committee's decision on the case; at the same time, the student shall be told that he/she has the right to appeal to Council against the decision.
2.8.4 Any member of the Committee of Discipline involved in making a charge or giving evidence shall be excluded from membership of the Committee for that particular case.

2.9 The Committee of Discipline has power to reprimand a student, to impose a fine, to exclude the student from the University, or a part or parts thereof, for a suitable period, to require the student to make an apology and restitution to parties affected by the offence, and to recommend to Senate the student's expulsion from the University. All penalties imposed by the Committee shall be reported to the Vice-Chancellor, and to the Senate at its next meeting. They will be notified to the student, the complainant, the relevant Dean and Head of Department, and the student's tutor.

3. The Students' Union

3.1 The Students' Union or a committee appointed by it for the purpose shall, subject to these regulations, have the power and duty of keeping order in the Students' Union buildings, under such rules as the Students' Union may make and the Senate and Council may approve. In the exercise of this power, the Students' Union may reprimand, fine or suspend from the use of those premises for a period not exceeding three months a student found by it to be guilty of misbehaviour. Any suspension of more than one calendar month shall be reported forthwith to the Chair by the President of the Students' Union.

4. Misconduct that is also a Criminal Offence

4.1 The following procedures apply where the alleged breach of these Regulations would also constitute an offence under the criminal law if proved in a court of law:

4.1.1 Where the offence under the criminal law is considered not to be serious, and a criminal prosecution to be unlikely, action under these Regulations may continue, but will normally be deferred pending any police investigation or prosecution.
4.1.2 In the case of all other offences under the criminal law, no action (other than suspension or exclusion pursuant to Section 5 below,) may be taken under these Regulations unless the matter has been reported to the police and either resulted in prosecution or a decision not to prosecute. The Chair may then recommend to the Vice-Chancellor whether disciplinary action under the Regulations should continue or be taken.
4.1.3 Where a finding of misbehaviour is made and the student has also been sentenced by a criminal court in respect of the same facts, the court's penalty shall be taken into consideration in determining the penalty under this Code.

5. Suspension and Exclusion Pending a Hearing

5.1 A student who is the subject of a complaint of misbehaviour or against whom a criminal charge is pending may be suspended or excluded by the Chair acting on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, pending the disciplinary hearing or the trial.

5.2 A full report shall be made to the Vice-Chancellor of any suspension or exclusion under this section.

5.3 Definition of Suspension and Exclusion. Suspension involves a total prohibition on attendance at or access to the University, and on any participation in University activities: it may be subject to qualification, such as permission to attend for the purposes of an examination. Exclusion involves selective restriction on attendance at or access to the University or prohibition on exercising the functions or duties of any office or committee membership in the University or Students' Union, the exact details to be specified in writing.

5.4 Suspension should only be used where exclusion from specified activities or facilities would be inadequate.

5.5 An order of suspension or exclusion may include a requirement that the student should have no contact of any kind with a named person or persons.

5.6 The power to suspend or exclude under this provision is to protect the members of the University community in general or a particular member or members, and the power shall only be used where the Chair is of the opinion that it is urgent and necessary to take such action. Written reasons for the decision shall be recorded and given to the student.

5.7 No student shall be suspended or excluded unless the opportunity has been given to make representations in person to the Chair. Where for any reason it appears to the Chair that it is not possible for the student to attend in person, written representations shall be acceptable.

5.8 In cases of great urgency, the Chair shall be empowered to suspend a student with immediate effect, provided that the opportunities described in paragraph 5.7 are given as quickly as possible, and the matter is reviewed within five days of the suspension.

5.9 A decision to suspend, or exclude from academic activities associated with the student's course of study (other than access to the Library), pending a hearing, shall be subject to review, at the request of the student, where it has continued for two weeks. Such a review will not involve a hearing or submissions made in person but the student shall be entitled to submit written representations. The review will be conducted by three members of the Council (including at least one academic and one lay member).

5.10 The Chair shall review the suspension or exclusion every four weeks in the light of any developments and of any representations made by the student or anyone else on his or her behalf.

5.11 This regulation applies to the following Departments/Schools: Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Research and Graduate School of Education, Social Work Studies. In cases where allegations are made against a student which call into question their fitness to be in contact with members of the public in a professional context, they may be suspended from their programme of study, or the professional or clinical elements of it, on the authority of the relevant Head of School/Department or their designated Deputy. The Head of School/Department will report such suspension within one working day to the Dean, the Chair of the Committee of Discipline, and the Academic Registrar. The normal provisions in these regulations for students to make representations, and for their suspension to be reviewed, shall apply. [amended 20/03/02]

6. Recording of Offences

6.1 Records of offences under these Regulations which have resulted in action by the head of department, the Chair or the Committee of Discipline shall be kept on student files.

7. Fines

7.1 Fines shall be levied within broad guidelines which shall be reviewed from time to time and approved by the Vice-Chancellor.

Discipline in Halls of Residence and other Residential Accommodation

8. The Warden of a Hall of Residence is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for discipline in that Hall and may reprimand, fine or terminate the residence of any student found guilty of breaking the Hall regulations. The Accommodation Officer has similar powers in regard to the residential accommodation under his/her control. In cases dealt with by fine or reprimand the decision of the Warden or the Accommodation Officer shall be final. In cases involving termination of residence, the student may, if he/she feels aggrieved, send an appeal in writing to the Academic Registrar within seven days of notification of such termination, stating the grounds of the appeal and the reasons for disagreement with the decision of the Warden or the Accommodation Officer. The Academic Registrar will then arrange for the matter to be considered by an ad hoc committee consisting of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Chairman) and an equal number of staff and members of the Students' Union.

9. The Chair of the Committee of Discipline may take action under the Regulations for Discipline in any case of serious misbehaviour by a student living in other residential accommodation which is brought to his attention.