The University has processes for lots of different things. Student discipline is one of those, but you'll find ones that similar. Commonly these processes relate to some form of casework i.e. an issue has arisen or a request has been made by a student, and the University must apply the most appropriate policy.
Elsewhere on the website, you'll find information of academic appeals, student complaints, interruptions and mitigating circumstances. These are all where students are asking the University to look at a request they're making.
Student discipline is different in that it Is the University raising a concern with a student. This may include some form of enquiry or invite to a panel meeting. This page will highlight two other similar processes where the University needs to raise a concern with a student - professionalism/fitness to practice and support to study.
The University may become aware that a student’s health is interfering with their ability to study and engage at the University. Sometimes this can manifest itself as a potential behavioural issue. Where the University identifies that the overriding concern in a case relates to a support issue, then it may consider a case under the Policy on Supporting Health, Fitness and Return to Study. Unlike discipline, this process does not lead to penalties being applied to a student, but it can lead to requirements focussed on support being put in place.
If a student is on a Programme leading to registration with a professional body, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or nursing, then they’ll be subject to the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health's Fitness to Practice Procedure. This Procedure is focussed on looking a student’s professionalism, welfare and patient safety, amongst other things, rather than misconduct alone, though issues may be closely related and may be relevant to both.
Students who study on the PGCE Programme in the School of Environment, Education and Development i.e. who are studying to become teachers, may also be subject professionalism expectations. This Programme has its own Professional Suitability Procedure.
The University will look to apply the most relevant process to the concern that has arisen. Something may, for example, be looked at as a disciplinary matter, such as academic malpractice, and then move to the Fitness to Practice Procedure or Professional Suitability Procedure to see if this affects a student’s professionalism.
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