The University of Huddersfield Students’ Regulations

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September 2006 edition

Section 7

The suspension and expulsion of Students from the University on Academic grounds

  1. Introduction
    1. Action to suspend or expel a student for an unsatisfactory standard of work or other academic reason can be taken either during an academic year or at the end of a year following the publication of examination results. The decision by an Assessment Board that a student has failed a year of a course does not constitute expulsion. Expulsion only occurs where a student is subsequently denied the opportunity to retrieve that failure.
  2. Decision to suspend or expel
    1. The power to suspend or expel a student on academic grounds rests with the Dean of School, though the decision may be delegated to the chair of a course or course committee, or a course tutor. A recommendation by an assessment board that a student should not be allowed to repeat a year of a course does not constitute a decision and cannot, therefore, be the subject of review under Assessment Regulation 7 of the University’s assessment regulations. It is for the Dean to decide whether or not to accept the recommendation.
    2. Where the decision is taken by a person other than the Dean the student concerned has the right to ask the Dean to change or confirm the decision. The Dean must respond to such a request.
  3. Appeal against a decision to suspend or expel
    1. A student has the right to appeal against a decision to suspend or expel taken by a Dean. Notice of appeal must be sent to the Head of Registry and, except for good reason, must be lodged within ten working days of the Dean’s decision. It must state the general grounds on which the decision is being contested.
    2. On receipt of an appeal the Head of Registry shall convene an Appeals Committee which shall comprise three members of the Senate, one of whom will be a student member. No member shall have been previously involved in the decision under dispute. The chair of the committee, who may not be a student member, shall be chosen by the members of the Committee and the Head of Registry or nominee shall act as secretary.
    3. An Appeals Committee shall normally meet within fifteen working days of the appeal being lodged. Its meetings shall be held in private and its proceedings, which it has the power to determine as appropriate to the case, shall be confidential.
    4. The student may, if he or she wishes, present his or her case to the committee in person and has the right to be accompanied by a friend, relative or a sabbatical officer of the Students Union. Representatives from the School will present their case in the presence of the student and supporter. Notification of the date of the Appeals Committee will be forwarded to the student at least five working days in advance of the meeting.
    5. An Appeals Committee shall have powers to disallow an appeal and in such cases its decision shall be final, with the following provisos:
      • the Senate may hear complaints against a Committee of improper conduct of the proceedings of an appeal hearing
      • a Committee shall be reconvened if, within three months of the publication of its decision, an appellant presents substantial new evidence which could not have been produced earlier
    6. In cases where an Appeals Committee believes that there is relevant new information which was not available to the Dean when the decision was taken it may request the Dean to review the decision in the light of such information. In these cases it shall not give directions as to the outcome of the review and the student will have the right of appeal against the new decision.
    7. In cases where no significant new information is produced an Appeals Committee has the right, if it sees fit, to over-rule the Dean’s decision.
    8. The decision of an Appeals Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members. In the event of a tied vote the decision shall be in favour of the student and the procedure laid down in either 3.6 or 3.7 shall be followed.
    9. An Appeals Committee shall submit a written report of its conclusions within ten working days to the student, to the Dean concerned, and to the Chair of the Senate. Its contents must not breach the confidentiality of the proceedings.