Student Conduct & Discipline Regulations

Part A – Code of ethics and conduct for students

1. Short Title:

These regulations shall be called the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology (KFUEIT), Rahim Yar Khan Regulations for Student Conduct and Discipline 2017.

2. Commencement:

These regulations shall come into force at once on approval of the Syndicate.

3. Application:

These regulations govern the conduct and discipline of students of the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering & Information Technology (KFUEIT), Rahim Yar Khan.

4. Jurisdiction:

This code applies to the on-campus conduct of all registered students, including the individuals using university academic resources. The code also applies to the off-campus conduct of students in direct connection with:

• Academic course requirements or any credit bearing experiences, such as internships, field trips, study abroad, or student teaching;
• Any activity supporting pursuit of a degree, such as research at another institution or a professional practice assignment;
• Any activity sponsored, conducted, or authorized by the university or by registered student organizations;
• Any activity that causes substantial destruction of property belonging to the university or members of the university community, or causes or threatens serious harm to the safety or security of members of the university community;
• Any activity in which a police report has been filed, a summons or indictment issued, or an arrest has occurred for a crime of violence.

This code governs all campuses of the University. However, students attending at regional campuses, centres, or institutes are advised to consult their local resources for additional information or rules pertaining to those locations.

The University reserves the right to administer the code and proceed with the hearing process even if the student withdraws from the university, is no longer enrolled in classes, or subsequently fails to meet the definition of a student while a disciplinary matter is pending. Students continue to be subject to city, state laws while at the University, and violations of those laws may also constitute violations of the code. In such instances, the University may proceed with university disciplinary action under the code independently of any criminal proceeding involving the same conduct and may impose sanctions for violation of the code even if such criminal proceeding is not yet resolved or is resolved in the student's favour.

5. Definitions:

• “University premises” includes all lands, buildings, facilities, and resources owned, leased, managed, or operated by the University.
• “Student” includes an individual who has paid an acceptance fee, registered for classes, or otherwise entered into any other contractual relationship with the University to take instruction, conduct research or undertake project.
• It further includes persons who are eligible to receive any of the rights and privileges afforded a person who is enrolled at the university, including, but not limited to, those individuals admitted to the University and attending orientation programs.
• Student status lasts until an individual graduate, is dismissed, or is not in attendance for two (2) complete, consecutive semesters.
• “Student” also includes registered student organizations.

6. Prohibited Conduct:

Any student found to have engaged, or attempted to engage, in any of the following conduct while within the University’s jurisdiction, will be subject to disciplinary action by the University. Any student who abandons an attempt or prevents the prohibited conduct from occurring under circumstances that demonstrate a complete and voluntary renunciation of the prohibited conduct will not be subject to disciplinary action by the University.

I. Academic Misconduct:

Any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the University or subvert the educational process. Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Violation of course rules as contained in the course syllabus or other information provided to the student;
• Knowingly providing or receiving information during tests/ examinations; or the possession and/or use of unauthorized materials during those examinations (including mobile phones or written material);
• Knowingly providing or using unauthorized assistance in the laboratory, on field work, in studies or on a course assignment;
• Submitting plagiarized work for an academic requirement. Plagiarism is the representation of another’s work or ideas as one’s own; it includes the unacknowledged word-for-word use and/or paraphrasing of another person’s work, and/or the inappropriate unacknowledged use of another person's ideas;
• Submitting substantially the same work to satisfy requirements for one course or academic requirement that has been submitted in satisfaction of requirements for another course or academic requirement without permission of the instructor of the course for which the work is being submitted or supervising authority for the academic requirement;
• Falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in creating or reporting laboratory results, research results, and/or any other assignments;
• Serving as, or enlisting the assistance of, a substitute for a student in any graded assignments;
• Alteration of grades or marks by the student in an effort to change the earned grade or credit;
• Alteration of academically related University forms or records, or unauthorized use of those forms or records;
• Engaging in activities that unfairly place other students at a disadvantage, such as taking, hiding or altering resource material, or manipulating a grading system; and
• Violation of program regulations as established by departmental committees and made available to students.
• Violation of instructions/guidelines included in the University/institutional/students' handbook etc.

II. Endangering Health or Safety:

• Endangering behavior: Taking or threatening action that endangers the safety, physical or mental health, or life of any person, or creates a reasonable fear of such action. Relationship violence or intimate partner abuse may constitute endangering behavior.
• Stalking: Engaging in a pattern of unwanted conduct directed at another person that threatens or endangers the safety, physical or mental health, or life or property of that person, or creates a reasonable fear of such a threat or action.
• Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment of fellow students and other people of the campus. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
• Indecent exposure: Defined as the exposure of the private or intimate parts of the body in a lewd manner in public or in private premises when the accused may be readily observed.

III. Destruction of Property:

Actual or threatened damage to or destruction of university property or property of others, whether done intentionally or with reckless disregard.

IV. Dangerous Weapons or Devices

Storage or possession of dangerous weapons, devices, or substances including, but not limited to, firearms, ammunition, or fireworks.

V. Dishonest Conduct:

Dishonest conduct, including, but not limited to: knowingly reporting a false emergency; knowingly making false accusation of misconduct; misuse or falsification of university or related documents by actions such as forgery, alteration, or improper transfer; submission of information known by the submitter to be false to a university official.

VI. Theft or Unauthorized Use of Property:

Theft, or the unauthorized use or possession of university property, services, resources, or the property of others.

VII. Failure to Comply with University or Civil Authority:

Failure to comply with legitimate directives of authorized university officials, law enforcement or emergency personnel, identified as such, in the performance of their duties, including failure to identify oneself when so requested; or violation of the terms of a disciplinary sanction.

VIII. Drugs:

Use, production, distribution, sale, or possession of drugs in a manner prohibited under law. This includes, but is not limited to, the misuse of prescribed drugs.

IX. Alcohol:

Use, production, distribution, sale, or possession of alcohol in any manner.

X. Unauthorized Presence:

Unauthorized entrance to or presence in or on university premises.

XI. Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct:

Disorderly or disruptive conduct that unreasonably interferes with university activities or with the legitimate activities of any member of the university community.

XII.Hazing:

Doing, requiring, or encouraging any act, whether or not the act is voluntarily agreed upon, conjunction with initiation or continued membership or participation in any group that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm or humiliation. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, use of alcohol, creation of excessive fatigue, and paddling, punching or kicking in any form.

XIII. Abuse of Student Conduct System:

Abuse of any university student conduct system, including but not limited to:

• Failure to obey the summons or directives of a student conduct body or university official;
• Falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before a student conduct body;
• Disruption or interference with the orderly process of a student conduct proceedings;
• Disruption or interference with the orderly process of a student conduct proceedings;
• Knowingly instituting of a student conduct proceeding without cause;
• Discouraging an individual's proper participation in, or use of, a university student conduct system;
• Influencing the impartiality of a member of a student conduct body prior to, and/or during the course of a student conduct proceeding;
• Harassment and/or intimidation of a member of a student conduct body prior to, during, and/or after a student conduct proceeding;
• Failure to comply with one or more sanctions imposed under the code of student conduct; and
• Influencing another person to commit an abuse of a university student conduct system.

XIV. Violation of University Rules:

Violation of other published university regulations, guidelines, policies, or rules, or violations of federal, state, or local law. These university regulations, guidelines, policies, or rules include, but are not limited to, those which prohibit the misuse of computing resources, sexual harassment, rules for student groups or organizations, and residence hall rules and regulations.

XV. Riotous Behavior:

Participation in a disturbance with the purpose to commit or incite any action that presents a clear and present danger to others, causes physical harm to others, or damages property. Proscribed behavior in the context of a riot includes, but is not limited to:

• Knowingly engaging in conduct designed to incite another to engage in riotous behavior, and;
• Actual or threatened damage to or destruction of university property or property of others, whether done intentionally or with reckless disregard; and
• Failing to comply with a directive to disperse by university officials, law enforcement, or emergency personnel; and
• Intimidating, impeding, hindering or obstructing a university official, law enforcement, or emergency personnel in the performance of their duties.
• Political, sectarian or ethnic activism in the form of gatherings, demonstrations, walks or riots on university premises

XVI. Recording of Images without Knowledge:

Using electronic or other means to make a video or photographic record of any person in a location where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy without the person's prior knowledge, when such a recording is likely to cause injury, distress, or damage to reputation. This includes, but is not limited to, taking video or photographic images in shower/locker rooms, residence hall rooms, and restrooms. The storing, sharing, and/or distributing of such unauthorized records by any means is also prohibited.

Part B – Enforcement of student code of ethics and conduct

1. Authority to Check for Acts of Indiscipline:

All faculty members, administrative staff, support staff and students will be expected to monitor the observance of this code of conduct and report any such disregard or violations to relevant University authorities for taking appropriate action/remedial measures. Matters of indiscipline would be referred to the University authorities, which are authorized to check indiscipline matters and decide as per University rules, regulations and policy.

Parents of those students who disobey authority and violate the code of conduct will be informed. Students may be held accountable for the acts of misconduct of their guests while on University premises or at University-sponsored activities. Students who are charged with violations of this Code of Conduct are subject to disciplinary action as per University rules/regulations/Statutes.

Every member of the Faculty shall have the power to check any disorderly or improper conduct of, or any breach of the regulations, by students in any part of the University or outside when the visit is sponsored or organized by it. Misconduct in a classroom when a student is under the charge of a teacher shall not be allowed and a punitive action such as a fine, removal from the classroom or a punishment of greater magnitude may be imposed as decided by the authority so empowered.

2. Student Discipline Committee:

The Vice Chancellor may constitute, and revise from time to time, a Student Discipline Committee. The Student Discipline Committee is to act as an inquiry committee to investigate reported cases of violation of discipline and

The Vice Chancellor may constitute, and revise from time to time, a Student Discipline Committee. The Student Discipline Committee is to act as an inquiry committee to investigate reported cases of violation of discipline and

code of conduct by students of the University and make its recommendations in accordance with University rules and regulations. In cases referred to the Student Discipline Committee, after due inquiry, it will recommend the

punishment according to the gravity of the case after giving full opportunity to the defaulter to give his/her point of view before recommending the punishment.

3. Procedure in Case of Breach of Discipline:

A teacher, a staff member or officer in whose presence or in relation to whom an act of indiscipline has been committed or who gets to know about such an act, may deal with the case himself/herself, or if in his/her view the case is one which can be more appropriately dealt by another authority or which warrants a penalty of greater magnitude than he/she is competent to impose, shall refer the case to the President Student Discipline Committee.

4. Case Referrals:

All cases of serious breach of discipline will be referred to the Student Discipline Committee for investigation. A case should be submitted as soon as possible after the alleged violation takes place, preferably within 24 hours of the violation. Those referring cases are normally expected to serve as complainant and to present relevant evidence in disciplinary hearings before the Student Discipline Committee.

5. Procedure for Disciplinary Hearing:

• a)A disciplinary hearing is a formal process conducted by the University Student Discipline Committee. This formal process is designed to gather and consider relevant information regarding the alleged violation(s) of the Student Code of Ethics & Conduct and to determine and recommend a punishment. Every effort will be made to expedite proceedings pursuant to allegations within a reasonable period.
• b)When a case against a student is referred to the Student Discipline Committee, it may, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty, if it deems fit, suspend the student from the classes till the finalization of the case.
• c)The Discipline Committee shall submit its report to the HOD in four parts i.e. Summary of the Case, Proceedings, Findings and Recommendations. The report shall attempt to document, as much as possible, the matters relevant to the case and the inquiry as conducted by the Discipline Committee.
• d)If the Awarding Authority for the punishment recommended by the Discipline Committee is the Dean/VC, the HOD shall forward the report to the Dean with his/her recommendations. If the case involves students from more than one department then all of the HODs concerned shall make their recommendations.
• e)If the Discipline Committee recommends Rustication/Expulsion of the student or any other major punishment, the Dean shall forward the report to the Vice Chancellor with his/her recommendations. In all cases where penalties are awarded by the President Student Discipline Committee/HOD/Dean, the report shall be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor for information.

Punishment or Penalty for Acts of Indiscipline:

a) Punishment or penalty for acts of indiscipline shall be according to the gravity of the case and may be any one or more of the followings:

Minor Punishments

• Warning in writing: Notice to the offender, verbally or in writing, that continuation or repetition of prohibited conduct may result in further disciplinary action.
• Probation: Probation for a specific period.
• Fine: Fine which may amount up to Rs. 10,000.
• Hostel Suspension/Permanent Removal: Expulsion from the hostel for a specified period, or permanent removal from the residence hall.
• Withholding of certificate: Withholding of a certificate of good moral character.
• Removal of privileges: Deprivation from the privileges enjoyed by the students.
• F Grade: Award of “F” grade in a paper or course.

Minor Punishments

• Fine: Fine which may amount up to Rs. 25,000/-
• Exam Result: Cancellation of examination result.
• Rustication: Rustication from the University for a specific period.
• Degree: Non-conferment of degree/transcript.
• Expulsion: Expulsion from the University.

Other Punishments

• Other sanctions or a combination of above mentioned punishments as deemed appropriate may also be prescribed.

b) A student guilty of an act of indiscipline shall be liable to the penalties specified in the table below or promulgated through written orders/notifications with the indicated Awarding and Appellate Authorities:

7. Appeals:

• An appeal against the penalty may be filed by the student with the Appellate Authority within 30 days of announcement of the punishment. No appeal by a student shall be entertained unless it is presented within 30 days from the date of communication of the decision, provided that the Vice Chancellor may, for valid reasons, extend this period.
• No appeal shall lie against the decision of an authority imposing a penalty other than rustication or expulsion except on the grounds that such authority imposed a penalty which it was not competent to impose.
• An appeal on the grounds that an authority imposed a penalty which it was not competent to impose, shall lie with the body or person of higher authority than the one who imposed the penalty.

8. Rustication:

• Rustication may be awarded up to a maximum of 3 years. The penalty when imposed on a student shall always mean a minimum loss of one semester as far as his/her appearance in the examinations is concerned. The actual period of absence from the University will, however, depend upon the time of the academic year when the penalty is imposed.
• The student under rustication will have the option of rejoining the University at the beginning of the semester/academic year after the completion of rustication period, provided suitable courses are available in the regular semester’s list of courses being offered. It shall be obligatory on the part of the University to readmit the student if he/she wishes to rejoin.
• No fee shall be charged from a rusticated student for the time period during which his/her name remained struck off the rolls. However, the previously deposited fee will not be refunded.
• No student shall be rusticated from the University unless he/she has been allowed a reasonable chance of defence against the accusations.

9. Expulsion:

• The Dean of the Faculty shall report the name of the student who has been found guilty of an offence warranting expulsion to the Vice Chancellor stating the reasons for the proposed action, who will then have the authority to sanction expulsion after allowing reasonable chance to the student to defend himself/herself against the expulsion.
• The name of the expelled student will immediately be removed from the University rolls, and fee for remaining month(s) of the semester will not be refunded.
• A student expelled from the University will not be re-admitted to any of the University’s constituent or affiliated units.
• Cases of expulsion will be registered in University records and announced to all constituent and affiliated units.

10. Compensation for Loss:

The Dean of the Faculty, or any teacher or officer to whom he may delegate the powers, may instruct a student to pay compensation for any loss or damage to property belonging to the University, public authority, a fellow student or an employee of the University, caused by a wilful act or gross negligence of the student. If the student does not pay such compensation within a specified period, the Dean of the Faculty will proceed against the student in the manner as prescribed in these regulations.

11. Interpretation:

If any question arises regarding the interpretation of these regulations the matter shall be deliberated by the academic administration consisting of Head of the Department, Controller of Examinations, Registrar, Deans and Vice Chancellor and their decision thereon shall be final. In all cases where the regulations are silent, the decision of the Vice Chancellor shall be final.

12. Removal of Difficulties:

If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions of these Regulations, the Vice Chancellor in individual cases may make such decision, not inconsistent with the spirit of these Regulations, as may appear to necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty, provided that such a decision is not ultra vires of the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Act 2014.

CREDITS: This Code of Ethics & Conduct borrows heavily from the Code of Ethics of National University of Sciences & Technology, Pakistan which in turn is based on a number of other documents that are cited therein.