Regulations for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity

Regulations described in this section apply to all students. Specific regulations for undergraduate or postgraduate students are found in the respective sections.

(A) Student Conduct
(B) Academic Integrity
(C) Annex: Rules for Conduct of Examinations

 

(A) Student Conduct

1.

The University expects good conduct from students.

   
2.

The University may take disciplinary action against a student who violates rules and regulations for good conduct, or the instructions of authorized persons and bodies responsible for ensuring good conduct, or where a student commits any misconduct including, but not limited to:

i. Defamation, assault or sexual harassment against the person of any member of the University
ii. Discrimination against other members of the University, including racial, ethnic or gender discrimination
iii. Theft, fraud or misapplication of University funds or property of any kind
iv. Willful damage to or defacement of the property of the University or the property of other members of the University
v. Falsification or misuse of University documents or records, including breaches of the privacy of other members of the University community
   
3.

Complaints against a student for misconduct should be referred to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students will review the circumstances of the case and consult as appropriate with the student’s academic advisers. The student will be informed and provided with an opportunity to respond to the accusation and present any relevant evidence.

   
4.

Where the Dean of Students is satisfied that there has been misconduct, the Dean may impose sanctions as follows:

i. A verbal or written reprimand that will be held in the student’s record until graduation
ii. University community service
iii. Requirement that the student makes good any damage to property
iv. Withdrawal or suspension of academic or other University privileges, benefits, rights or facilities, except the right to continue with the student’s academic studies
   
Student Appeals
5.

A student who denies the charge of misconduct or who believes that sanctions imposed by the Dean of Students are inappropriate may appeal the decision to the Provost. The appeal must be made in writing within fourteen days of the student’s receiving the decision of the Dean, stating the grounds for the appeal and including any evidence or documentation not previously submitted.

   
6.

The Provost will review the case or refer the case to colleagues for review. The student will be given an opportunity to explain the grounds for the appeal and to present any relevant evidence. Students asked to attend a meeting with the Provost or colleagues to whom the case has been referred may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.

   
7. The decision of the Provost is final.
   
Student Disciplinary Committee
8. In serious cases, or where the Dean of Students determines that the University’s interests will be best served, the Dean may refer the case to the Student Disciplinary Committee.
   
9. The Student Disciplinary Committee will review the complaint and may invite the student to attend a meeting of the Committee. Students appearing before the Committee may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.
   
10.

Where the Committee finds a student guilty of misconduct, it may impose sanctions as follows:

i. A verbal or written reprimand that will be held in the student’s record until graduation
ii. University community service
iii. Requirement that the student makes good any damage to property
iv. Withdrawal or suspension of academic or other University privileges, benefits, rights or facilities
v. Suspension from the University for a set period
vi. Expulsion from the University
   
11. The Committee may report the misconduct of a student to the Senate. Where there is good cause, on the resolutions of both the Council and the Senate the student may be deprived of a degree or an award of the University.
   
Student Appeals
12. The student may submit an appeal against the decision of the Student Disciplinary Committee to the President. The appeal must be made in writing within fourteen days of the student’s receiving the Committee’s decision, stating the grounds for the appeal and including any evidence or documentation not previously submitted. Normally appeals will be considered only on the basis of procedural irregularities or new evidence.
   
13. The President will review the case or refer the case to colleagues for review. The student will be given an opportunity to explain the grounds for the appeal and to present any relevant evidence. Students asked to attend a meeting with the President or colleagues to whom the case has been referred may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.
   
14. The decision of the President is final.

(B) Academic Integrity

1.

Students are required to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Breaches of these standards of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:

Cheating: conduct designed to mislead those responsible for making a judgment on a student’s academic performance or standing, including:

i. Unauthorized conveyance or receipt of examination or test questions
ii. The giving, receiving or utilizing of unauthorized information or assistance in completing an assignment, test or examination
iii. Breaches of the regulations for examinations set out in the Annex
iv. Impersonating another student or allowing oneself to be impersonated by another student in participating in a test or examination
v. Submission of academic work containing purported statements of fact or references to sources that have been fabricated
vi. Presenting for credit work that has already been accepted for credit in another course

Plagiarism: the presentation of work which originates from other sources, including the work of other students, as the student’s own work, without appropriate attribution to the source.

   
Procedures in Cases of Academic Dishonesty
2. Where an instructor detects plagiarism or other irregularities in the submission of assignments or other student work for credit the case should be reported to the Head responsible for the course.
   
3.

Where a student’s supervisor or other member of the University community has reasonable grounds to suspect that a research proposal, components of a thesis or other submitted work contributing to earning an award of the University has been plagiarized, the case should be reported to the Head, except for research postgraduate students, whose cases should be referred to the relevant Dean.

   
4. Where the invigilator of an examination or test believes that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty the student should be asked to stop writing and leave the examination/test venue. If the student denies the charge of academic dishonesty, the invigilator should draw a line on the examination/test script to indicate the point when an academic dishonesty is found and allow the student to complete the examination/test. The invigilator should complete a Report on Student Academic Misconduct indicating the circumstances of the case and forward the Report to the Head of the department responsible for the course.
   
5. The Head will review cases of academic dishonesty, or may refer the case to colleagues for review.
   
6. The student accused of academic dishonesty should be informed of the circumstances of the case and provided with an opportunity to respond to the accusation and to present any relevant evidence.
   
7. Where the Head is satisfied that the student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the Head may impose appropriate sanctions.
   
8. The student should be informed of the right to appeal the decision of the Head and may be referred to the Student Affairs Office (SAO) for assistance.
   
Sanctions
9. Where a student is confirmed to have committed an act of academic dishonesty, a note will be made in the student’s record. This note will be removed on graduation, provided that the student does not commit more than one offense.
   
10. Where a student is confirmed to have committed a second act of academic dishonesty, the student will be dismissed from the University and the notation in the official transcript indicating academic dishonesty will not be removed.
   
11.

In cases of academic dishonesty the Heads of academic departments may impose additional sanctions:

i. A verbal or written reprimand that will be held in the student’s record until graduation
ii. A make-up assignment or test/examination
iii. A requirement to resubmit work contributing to an award
iv. A reduced grade for a component of the course assessment or a reduced grade for the course, including a failed grade
   
Student Appeals
12. A student who denies the charge of academic dishonesty or who believes that the sanctions imposed are not appropriate may appeal the decision to the Provost. The appeal must be made in writing within fourteen days of the student’s receiving the decision, stating the grounds for the appeal and including any evidence or documentation not previously submitted.
   
13. The Provost will review the case or refer the case to colleagues for review. The Provost will give students an opportunity to respond to the accusation and to present any relevant evidence. Students asked to attend a meeting with the Provost or colleagues to whom the case has been referred may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.
   
14. The decision of the Provost is final.
   
Referral of Cases of Academic Dishonesty to the Provost and the Student Disciplinary Committee
15.

The Head should refer a case of academic dishonesty to the Provost via the School Dean/Director IPO, where:

i. The case involves students who are not enrolled on the course or program under the Head
ii. The case involves possible conflicts of interest for the Head
iii. The case involves persons who are not members of the University community
iv. The sanctions available to the Head are not considered appropriate
   
16. Where the case involves students who are not enrolled on a course or program under the Head to whom the case has been reported, the Provost will refer the case to the Dean/Director IPO responsible for the student’s program of studies. The Dean/Director IPO will review the circumstances and may impose the sanctions available to a Head.
   
17. Where the case involves possible conflicts of interest for the Head, the Provost will refer the case to the Dean/Director IPO responsible for the student’s program of studies.
   
18. Where the case involves persons who are not members of the University community, the Provost will consider follow-up with the relevant authorities.
   
19. If the Provost determines that additional sanctions may be called for, or the University’s interests will be best served, the Provost will refer the case to the Student Disciplinary Committee.
   
20. The Student Disciplinary Committee will review the circumstances of the case and may invite the student to attend a meeting of the Committee. Students appearing before the Committee may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.
   
21.

Where the Committee confirms that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty, taking into account any sanctions imposed by the Head of the department responsible for the course, the Committee may impose additional sanctions as follows:

i. A verbal or written reprimand that will be held in the student’s record until graduation
ii. University community service
iii. Withdrawal of eligibility for scholarships and other academic benefits and awards
iv. Cancellation of academic awards or credits already earned
v. Ineligibility for honors on graduation
vi. Suspension from the University for a set period
vii. Expulsion from the University
   
22. The Committee may report the academic dishonesty of a student to the Senate. Where there is good cause, on the resolutions of both the Council and the Senate the student may be deprived of a degree or an award of the University.
   
Student Appeals
23. Where a case of academic dishonesty has been referred to the Student Disciplinary Committee, students may appeal against the decision to the President. The appeal must be made in writing within fourteen days of the student’s receiving the Committee’s decision, stating the grounds for the appeal and including any evidence or documentation not previously submitted. Normally appeals will be considered only on the basis of procedural irregularities or new evidence.
   
24. The President will review the case or refer the case to colleagues for review. The student will be given an opportunity to explain the grounds for the appeal and to present any relevant evidence. Students asked to attend a meeting with the President or colleagues to whom the case has been referred may be accompanied by a member of their family or a member of the University community.
   
25. The decision of the President is final.

Regulations for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity: Annex
(C) Rules for the Conduct of Examinations*

1. Only students enrolled in the course and who are able to present their student identity cards (or in exceptional circumstances their HKID cards) are allowed to sit for a course examination.
   
2. In the first 30 minutes of the examination, examinees are permitted to leave the venue only in exceptional circumstances. After the first 30 minutes, examinees are permitted to join the examination only in exceptional circumstances. Late comers will not be given extra time for the examination.
   
3. Except for items explicitly permitted for the examination, all books, bags, papers, mobile phones and communication devices etc. must be placed so that they cannot be accessed.
   
4. No conversation is allowed during the examination, unless specifically permitted by the invigilator. Any questions must be addressed to an invigilator.
   
5. Examinees should write only on their answer books or on any supplementary sheets provided for the purpose. All answer books, examination papers and supplementary sheets must be handed in at the end of the examination. Examinees are permitted to remove printed or written materials from the examination room only with the permission of the examiner.
   
6. Examinees may leave the venue to visit the washroom or for any other reason only with the permission of an invigilator and must be accompanied by an invigilator. Examinees may not take away papers, mobile phones or other items.
   
7. Examinees are not allowed to leave the examination room during the last fifteen minutes of the examination and must remain seated until the invigilator has collected all examination answer books and examination papers.
   
8. Invigilators are authorized to expel students from the examination, if they discover cheating or repeated misconduct.

[* These Rules are not intended to apply to the examination of theses, final year projects, or other similar assessments.]

(Information as of July 2012)