Student Code of Conduct

Upon admission into Metropolitan University (MU), a student accepts the mission of the University and is subjected to the following principles:
1.1 All human beings are endowed by their Creator with certain rights and no student, faculty or staff of the University may infringe upon the rights of fellow members of MU.

1.2 The goal of MU is advancement of knowledge, which cannot occur without a safe and comfortable learning environment. Every individual who is working at and attending MU is responsible for the creation and maintenance of such an environment.

1.3 The University learning environment must conform to the situation of having mutual trust and respect to each other unless they violate Principles 1.1 and 1.2 (mentioned above). MU believes that learning in a democratic society takes place through the free exchange of ideas.

The Metropolitan University Students’ Code of Conduct has been formulated with the goal of upholding the stated mission. It is the responsibility of the University to make this Code of Conduct available to all members of the University so that all the steps and procedures are clear to everyone and in case of violations the opposite action can be taken place by the Disciplinary Committee without any mystification. Violations of the Code of conduct shall invoke disciplinary process as outlined in this document. Actions will be commensurate with the seriousness of the offence and it may include suspension or in extreme cases, expulsion from the University. Repeated offences justify increasingly severe actions.

Withdrawal by the Vice Chancellor of the University of the student’s privilege of registration, class attendance, use of University facilities, and participation in University activities and events. Disciplinary expulsion is recorded in the student’s transcript.

Restitution requires a student to pay for the damages of the University property. Restitution shall be charged to any student who, alone or in group, is consciously engaged in unauthorized use of the University property and causing damage of the institutional property. Restitution may be imposed separately or in addition to other sanction(s).

Such a sanction requires that the student leaves campus immediately. It may be imposed upon a student by the Head of the Department or the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee, if the above mentioned authorities find reasonable grounds to believe that the student is an immediate threat to the safety of a person or of property of the University.

Being an academic institution, the University is committed to the open expression and constructive debate of alternative views, theory and data. It recognises and respects all peaceful and non-obstructive forms of dissent, whether of individual or of collective, that are within the University regulations and which do not interfere with the regular and essential operation of the University. Disruption, in this context, has been defined as an action or combination of actions by an individual or a group that unreasonably interferes with, hinders, obstructs or prevents the smooth and regular functions and operations of Metropolitan University. The concerned authority reserves the right to restrain or prohibit the activities which are identified as disruptive.

The University aims at upholding and strives to maintain an environment that is tolerant and respectful towards others’ opinions and beliefs irrespective of gender, race, religion, class, political affiliation, caste, status or position in the University or the community at large.

To this end in view, intolerance refers to an attitude wherein individual shows contempt to another individual or groups.

As stated in the policy statement on free expression, the expression of diverse views and opinions is encouraged and any attempt to hinder such expression will be considered an act of disruption by the Authority of the University.

Metropolitan University is committed to the safety and well-being of all its members. Metropolitan university also strives to maintain an environment that is free from violence.

The University will not tolerate any acts of physical violence such as beating, punching, kicking, or any kind of exasperating physical contact with anyone in the university. The University also inhibits such sort of behaviour of any member of its community.

Metropolitan University desires to achieve a public environment as close to being smoke free as practicable. Achieving this goal will require the willingness, understanding, and patience of all members of the campus community working together. As a general rule, preferential consideration shall be given to nonsmokers, if it is clear that they are being forced to smoke involuntarily.

It is the responsibility of all members of the campus community to observe provisions of these guides and those who choose to smoke may do so in “Smoking Permitted” areas.
The following guidelines are designed to achieve this goal:

(a) Smoking is prohibited in all indoor Locations of the University.
(b) Any other area designated as “non-smoking” by the University.

Acts of Academic Dishonesty

Acts of Academic Dishonesty
1. Plagiarism: Representing the work of others as one’s own work.
2. Preparing the work for others that is to be used by the other as his/her own work.
3. Cheating.
4. Using scientific or educational data without proper acknowledgement & declaring the work to be the result of one’s own research & experiment.
5. Knowingly furnishing false information to a University official about academic matters.

(Acts of Social or Personal Misconduct)

1. Physical abuse.
2. Direct threat of violence, either verbal or written.
3. Intimidation, either verbal or written.
4. Participation in any activity to disrupt any function of the University by force or violence.
5. Reckless behaviour representing a danger to any person(s).
6. Intentional obstruction or interference with any person’s right to attend or participate in any University function.
7. Causing fear and apprehension using misrepresentation, misinformation, force or coercion to solicit support, signatures or participation in activities of a subversive nature or detrimental to the normal functioning of the University.
8. Any conduct, expression or Language considered improper in interacting with faulty members, University official and staff.

1. Arson.

2. Willful or malicious damage or destruction of property.

3. Reckless behaviour causing damage to property.

1. Firearms.
2. Explosive(s) device(s) such as bombs, cocktails and the like.
3. Fireworks except as and when authorised by a designated University official.
4. Knives, clubs or any instruments used with the intention to inflict harm/injury.

1. Disobedience, interference, resistance or failure to comply
2. Trespassing or other forms of unauthorised presence.

1. Furnishing false information to the University with the intent to deceive.
2. Forgery, alteration or misuse of the University documents, records and identification cards.
3. Forgery or issuing a bad cheque with intent to defraud.

1. Misappropriation or conversion of University fund, supplies, equipments, labour, materials, space and facilities.
2. Possessing, storing, stealing or transferring University property.
3. Aiding or abetting to the theft of the University property.

Tampering with elevators, security devices such as doors and Locks, University equipment such as computers and electronics and/or other University equipment.

1. Manufacture.
2. Sale or delivery.
3. Unauthorized possession and/or use.

Disorderly actions, lewd activities including indecent or unaddressed remarks that demonstrate obscene conduct and indecency.

Behavior on or off campus that affects the University Image
3.2.14 Other Violations:
Violation of the policies of the University.

Disciplinary Process

Any violation of Code of Conduct, as stated in this document, is a case for initiating necessary disciplinary actions.

The judicial system is subject to the authority of the Vice-Chancellor of the University as s/he deems appropriate, except that the Disciplinary Committee shall have the authority to approve disciplinary and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor for necessary sanctions.

The following offences may warrant immediate expulsion of the student on recommendation from the Chairperson without the need to call for a committee meeting:

1. Physical abuse (clause 3.2.1.1)
2. Any conduct, expression or language considered improper in interacting with faculty members, University official and staff (clause 3.2.4)
3. Arson (clause 3.2.5.1)
4. Willful or malicious damage or destruction of property (clause 3.2.5.2)
5. Forgery, alteration or misuse of University documents, records & identification cards (clause 3.2.8.2)
6. Misappropriation or conversion of University fund, supplies, equipment, labour, materials, space and facilities (clause 3.2.9.1)
7. Possession, stealing or transporting of University property. ( clause 3.2.9.2)

1. Plagiarism (clause 3.1.1)
2. Willing falsification of educational data (clause 3.1.4)
3. Knowingly furnishing false information on academic matters (clause 3.1.5)
A student who wishes to appeal against such decisions must submit a written request for an appeal within 5 days of notification of the sanction. 4.3 All other violations shall be subjected to hearing by the Disciplinary Committee. In case of an observed violation of the Code, rules and regulations, the matter shall be reported to the Chairperson of the Committee.

The Committee shall inform the student about the charges against him/her in writing sufficiently in advance of the hearing to afford a reasonable opportunity to prepare a defense.

The hearing shall be conducted in a manner that is professional and just and shall not be restricted unduly by rules of procedure or evidence. Evidence not directly related to the matter at hand will not be considered. The focus of inquiry in Disciplinary proceedings will be on the innocence or guilt of the person (s) accused of violating the Code of Conduct.

The hearing will be private unless the student charged requests that it be open to members of the University committee.

The hearing will be private unless the student requests that is to be open to members of the University Committee. Such request may be overruled by the Chairperson in agreement with the Committee if an open hearing would have an adverse impact on any witness; would disclose personal, psychological or medical information of a sensitive nature; or would otherwise jeopardize the privacy or welfare of any witness or accused student.

On behalf of the University, the charges and evidence may be presented by the Chairperson or a person designated by the Chairperson.

The Chairperson and/or any other member of the Committee shall have the right to question any witness (es) that are admitted to the hearing. The testimony of unknown or unidentified witnesses will not be admissible.

Imposition of Sanctions shall not be based solely upon the failure of the person charged to answer the charges. In the event of the failure or refusal of the accused person to appear at the hearing, the evidence in support of the charges shall be presented to and considered by the committee.

A written report of the original hearing will be made consisting of

1. The notice of charges and other documents;
2. A summary of the evidence presented;
3. The findings; and
4. The sanction (s) recommended.
The report constitutes the official record of the hearing.
5. Disciplinary Sanctions Violations
5.1. Academic Dishonesty:
The faculty member shall have initial jurisdiction over academic cases-

a. In such cases, the matter can be handled through an informal hearing between the student and the faculty member to adjudicate the cases with either of the following two sanctions, should the student accept responsibility for the violation:
b. A failing grade (F) may be assigned for the work in connection with which the violation occurred.
c. A failing grade (F) may be assigned for the course in which the violation occurred.

Should the faculty member so desire, s/he can refer the case to the Departmental chair who can then adjudicate the case with either of the above two sanctions.

In any case where the student does not accept responsibility for the violation, and /or social misconduct is also involved in addition to the incident (s) of academic dishonesty, the Department Chair shall refer the case to the Disciplinary Committee based on a written complaint made by the faculty to the member.

Faculty members may also make the written complaint directly to the Chairperson of the Committee.

In addition to the above sanctions, any one or more of the following sanction (s), mentioned under clause 5.2. below can be imposed on the student following hearing by the Disciplinary Committee.

Violation of Regulations

The range of official sanction that may be recommended by the Disciplinary Committee for violation of regulations (both academic) and social. shall, comprise of the following disciplinary sanctions:

Disciplinary warning is a notice to the student that his/her conduct was questionable and that future breaches of conduct will be treated more severely. The warning may be issued verbally or written but shall become a matter of record in the student’s file.

Disciplinary probation drops off a student from a good disciplinary standing. The status of disciplinary probation is assigned for a specific period of time. Though the student will be allowed to continue with courses at the University, disciplinary probation status may affect qualification for some awards, prizes, or student’s financial aid. Violations of the conditions of the Disciplinary Committee shall become a matter of record in the student’s file.

Loss of privilege is the withdrawal of a privilege, (prohibition of the use of service or participation in an activity for a specific period of time consistent with the offence committed and the rehabilitation of the student). Loss of privilege may be imposed separately or in addition to any other sanction(s).
Disciplinary suspension is an action excludes the student from registration, class attendance, participation in the University events and activities and use of University facilities for a specific period of time. In such cases, if the student is currently attending courses, s/he will be allowed to finish the term without prejudice. Disciplinary suspension will then start from the following term for the stipulated period of time. If the student has voluntarily refrained from registering for the term during which the Disciplinary Committee holds its hearing, that term will not be counted within the stipulated period of disciplinary suspension. Disciplinary suspension will become a matter of record in the student’s file.

Disciplinary expulsion is the permanent wits of the University. The officer enforcing the rule must notify the Disciplinary Committee in writing by the next working day for subsequent action. Any summarily suspended student who returns to campus during the period of interim suspension shall be subjected to disciplinary norm and s/he will be required to stay off University campus till an official hearing is conducted by the Disciplinary Committee. The hearing normally shall be held within 5 (five) working days of the notice of suspension.

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