Policies and Procedures Student Discipline Student Discipline Policy | Gold Coast Learning Centre
Scope
This policy is designed to provide guidelines for the management of student discipline at GCLC.
Responsibility
GCLCs VET administrator and Manager, are responsible for the control and implementation of this policy and procedure.
Policy
Academic and General Misconduct
GCLC will be vigilant in the management of student misconduct. For the purposes of this policy, a breach of conduct is defined as either academic or general misconduct.
Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Any other conduct by which a student seeks to gain for themselves, or any other person, any academic advantage or advancement to which they, or that other person, is not entitled.
Academic Misconduct is dealt with under the Plagiarism and Cheating Policy and Procedure. Please refer to this document for further information.
General Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- persistent disruptive behaviour
- behaviour which is lewd or obscene
- taking photographs or filming other participants or staff without their permission (including posting on Facebook and other social media without permission)
- use of mobile telephones and iPods during classroom or workshop activities behaviour that constitutes discrimination, victimisation or harassment
- attending GCLC’s premises under the influence of alcohol and/or non-prescription drugs o consuming alcohol or non-prescription drugs at GCLC’s premises
- smoking on GCLC’s premises outside designated smoking areas
- verbal abuse
- physical assault on a member of GCLC, fellow students or members of the public
- any behaviour that causes a person on or in the immediate vicinity of GCLC’s premises to hold reasonable fears for their safety or physical or psychological wellbeing
- any behaviour that causes a person on or in the immediate vicinity of GCLC premises to feel intimidated, threatened or in fear of being attacked
- abuse and misuse of tools and equipment
- wilful or malicious damage or destruction of facilities, equipment, materials or property on GCLC premises, regardless whether it is GCLC property or private property
- theft of property on GCLC premises, regardless whether it is GCLC property or private property
- carrying, using or being in possession of a prescribed or regulated weapon or dangerous article
- wilfully activating fire or security alarms
- engaging in behaviour, or failing to follow instructions, which results in themselves or other persons being put at risk of harm
- failing to follow the reasonable direction or instruction of GCLC staff or other person in supervision
- failing to follow road traffic laws when on, or leaving GCLC premises
- encouraging, persuading or inciting another person to engage in improper or inappropriate conduct
- failing to comply with GCLC policies and procedures Students witnessing breaches of conduct are encouraged to report these to a GCLC representative.
Student Discipline
GCLC will treat all breaches of conduct seriously. GCLC will conduct a fair and equitable investigation, which will give the student the right to be heard. The Manager or VET administrator will determine whether the allegation has been substantiated and apply an appropriate level of action or penalty.
Appeal
The student has the right to appeal the outcome of an academic or general misconduct decision.
Student Discipline Procedure
Academic and General Misconduct
Where an allegation of a breach of conduct has been raised, GCLC will investigate and decide upon the appropriate action or penalty through the following process.
Student Discipline
Investigation and determination of penalty
- An allegation of a breach of conduct is to be notified as soon as possible by a staff member or student to the relevant GCLC Manager or VET Administrator. The Manager will notify the student named in the allegation of the breach of conduct.
- The Manager will conduct an investigation of the reported breach of conduct, which will include an opportunity for the student to be heard. The student shall have the right to be accompanied by a support person at any face-to-face interview, but the support person will not act as an advocate. Where the student is a minor, their parent or guardian noted on file will be advised of the allegation, and invited to attend an interview with the student.
- On considering all the relevant information, the Manager will determine whether the allegation has been substantiated, and if so, the penalty to be imposed. The penalty may include:
- Official written warning
- In the case of academic misconduct, the student may be required to:
- Re-complete and resubmit the relevant assessment tasks
- Complete an alternate assessment
- Submit further evidence to support the assessment
- Restitution – requiring the student to pay an amount to cover the cost of repairing any damage cause by the student to property and/or facilities.
- Suspension from training and/or from GCLC premises for such a period and on such terms and conditions as is thought fit.
- Discontinuation of enrolment.
- Such other penalty as the Manager thinks fit.
In the case of plagiarism, please refer to the GCLC Plagiarism and Cheating Policy and Procedure.
Immediate removal from training
Notwithstanding anything in this procedure:
- If the student is disrupting a class, or is behaving in such a way as to pose a risk of injury to themselves or any other person, or a risk of damage to property, a Trainer/Teacher may immediately remove them from class for that day;
- Where the Manager or VET administrator believes that a student is behaving in such a way as to pose a risk of injury to themselves or any other person, or at risk of damaging property, the Manager may immediately suspend the student’s enrolment. Where this occurs, the Manager must within five (5) working days of the suspension advise the student in writing of the suspension, including reasons for the decision. Investigation and, if applicable, determination of a penalty, will then take place in accordance with Part 1 of this Procedure. This determination must be made within twenty-one (21) days of the date of suspension.
Notification to relevant parties
The student will be notified in writing of the penalty imposed within five (5) working days of the decision being made, and, if they are a minor, a copy provided to their parent/guardian. A copy of the Student Complaints and Appeals Policy will also be forwarded to the Student (and parent/guardian, if applicable).
Where the student’s breach of conduct constitutes a criminal offence, the police or other relevant authority may be notified and a copy of all documentation and other records pertaining to the breach will be provided to them.
Appeal
Appeals of decisions made under this policy shall be in accordance with the GCLC Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedure.