Complaints
and Discipline
- The Dean of Students
- Bursar
- The Court of Discipline
- The "Visitor"
(a) Discipline
A community such as a
College can only function successfully if its members - Students,
Fellows and Staff - behave with respect and consideration for each
other. Rules made by the Council (for example on music, guests,
or the treatment of rooms) are mainly intended either to comply
with health and safety regulations or to avoid undue disturbance
to others. One of the responsibilities of the College staff, in
particular the Head Porter, the Housekeeper, and (with
regard to graduate housing) the Graduate Property Manager,
is to draw students' attention to breaches of the rules, and –where
breaches are serious or persistent – to report the incident
to the Dean of Students for possible disciplinary action.
(b) Complaints
If reasonable attempts
by the Dean of Students to resolve the matter fail, or if the behaviour
persists, then Council regulations lay down that the Dean of Students
may issue warnings, or impose fines, or require a student to live
out of College, or refer the matter to the College's Court of
Discipline, which consists of both Fellows and students. A student
may also appeal to the Court of Discipline against a decision by
the Dean of Students.
Please note: The
College Council has a detailed code covering matters of minor anti-social
behaviour and more serious complaints.
Most complaints, concerning
minor irritations and anti-social behaviour, are best resolved informally.
If this does not work, you can take the matter to the UCS Committee
or the relevant UCS representative. Complaints which raise issues
of general concern may be taken - via the UCS or MCR Committee -
to the Liaison Committee. The more formal channels of complaint
should be used when the matter cannot be resolved informally, or
when the offence is serious.
Complaints about facilities
(eg catering, computers, rooms) should be referred to the relevant
Head of Department or College Officer, as indicated in the respective
sections of this Handbook.
Complaints about members
of staff should in the first instance- and if the complaint
is minor - be taken to the relevant Head of Department. If this
fails to produce a resolution, or if the matter is serious, complaints
should be made to the Bursar.
Complaints about Fellows
should be referred to the Senior Tutor.
If any complaint by you
or against you looks as if it may become serious, you should discuss
the situation with your Tutor.
If you have been unable
to resolve a complaint to your satisfaction via the College's own
internal complaints procedures, you have a right to apply to the
Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.
This official body will conduct an independent review without any
charge of the Student. For details of the OIA Student Complaints
Scheme, including the remit of the scheme and the time limits for
application, please see the website: www.oiahe.org.uk.
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