Disciplinary Committee

Function of the Disciplinary Committee (DC)

The primary role of the Disciplinary Committee is to implement the provisions of the Codes of Conduct, both for the academic & Non-academic student code of conduct.
This role shall include:

  • Collecting the facts of all complaints arising under the Codes of conduct;
  • Determining whether a complaint has merit;
  • Facilitating an amicable resolution to a complaint where possible
  • Conducting all disciplinary hearings
  • Making a decision on a complaint after the completion of the disciplinary proceedings; and consulting with legal counsel in situations where external bodies such as the Courts or the Police are involved.

Membership of the Disciplinary Committee

Head of College
Principal of College
Nursing coordinator
Administrator

Proceedings of the Disciplinary Committee

The Committee shall consider cases referred to it by the Conduct Officer, the Director of Student Life, the Head of College or any other director wishing to forward a substantiated claim that is non-academic in nature. On receipt of a complaint, the Chairman and principal of the Disciplinary Committee shall convene a meeting of the Committee and the matter should be addressed in a Disciplinary Hearing within 30 days from receipt of the complaint.

The Principal shall send to the student required to appear before the Committee a written summons setting out the alleged offence complained of.

Provided the student has been properly summoned, if s/he fails to attend the hearing, the Committee may proceed in her/his absence.

The Committee may postpone the hearing of the case at the request of the student for genuine reasons, such as medical reasons or emergency family issues, but should not postpone it for more than two (2) occasions at the request of the student. The committee shall respond to the request of the student for postponement within a reasonable time.

The Committee may decide to fix the case for hearing peremptorily if it finds evidence of malingering and may thus proceed in the absence of the student.

The student against whom the complaint is made may bring to the Committee a witness/a person to represent him/her and shall inform the Secretary of her/his intention to do so at least (3) working days (except for Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays) before the date appointed for the hearing.

When the Committee meets to consider the case it may have before it statements in writing from:

a. The complainant;

b. The student against whom the complaint is made;

c. Any witness the complainant or the student wishes to present.

These statements shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Committee not less than three (3) working days (except for Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays) before the date appointed for the hearing. The Committee may require the complainant, the student against whom the complaint is made and the witnesses for both parties to give evidence before it. The Committee may also require the presentation of such further evidence, as it deems appropriate.

The Secretary shall inform the student, in writing, of the decision of the Committee within 1 working week of the Disciplinary Hearing.

A student may appeal against a Disciplinary Committee decision to the Head of College.

Proceeding Of The Appeals Committee

We ideally do not want issues to get escalated to external bodies but students have the right to refer to local authorities.

The appellant may bring to the Committee a person to represent her/him and shall inform the Secretary of her/his intention to do so at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date appointed for the meeting.

When the Committee meets to consider the appeal, it shall have before it all documents which were before the Discipline Committee at the original hearing. It shall also have the power to hear any witness (es) who gave evidence at the original hearing. It may also require further evidence as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall then proceed by way of a rehearing. It shall allow such cross-examination by either party as it deems relevant.

The Committee may set aside or confirm the findings of the Discipline Committee or substitute such other recommendation or penalty as it considers Appropriate. The decision of the Appeal Committee is final. A selected member from the Committee shall send the final decision in written form and via email within 24 hours to the student in question.