Complaints & Discipline
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 and the Housekeeper, 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.
Disciplinary Code
Click here to view the college's Disciplinary Code.
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.
Students may also hav good reason to make complaints. Many of these, which often concern minor irritations and anti-social behaviour, are best resolved informally. If this does not work you can take the matter to the Dean of Students, or the UCS Committee or 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 to 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: http://www.oiahe.org.uk/