Student Discipline and Regulations

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 2019.

Commencement

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

Application

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

Preamble

The student community at a university overwhelmingly represents the youth of a nation. Their capacity and ability to play their roles effectively in diverse professional fields and businesses essentially depends on the quality of education imparted to them. Education has been recognized as the most dynamic catalyst to people’s professional, personal and moral development. Sheer professional education in a diversity of disciplines cannot cope with the social and moral challenges of societies, unless it is tempered with adequate moral grooming. Every university worth its name, therefore, puts due premium on developing in its student community the values of decent moral behaviour. KFUEIT firmly believes in and is committed to promoting the growth of ethically responsible students and future professionals in all disciplines by inculcating in them adherence to the highest standards of academic integrity and overall ethical conduct.

Part (A)– Code of Ethics and CONDUCT For Students

Student Discipline Regulations

The university endeavours to develop a sense of individual responsibility on the part of each member of its community and seeks to enhance active participation of all segments, faculty, students, administration, in maintaining such standards, towards fostering and sustaining an environment of honour and trust across the spectrum. While representing himself or herself as a member of KFUEIT community, the student will maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity. He/she will strive for these standards in his or her representations, academic pursuits, and respect for the property and individual rights of others. The student will uphold and actively follow the specific principles described in the Code.

The purpose of a code of ethics within an organization is to define acceptable standards and provide general principles of professional behaviour which should be followed by members of the organization in order to act in an appropriate moral way and to preclude misconduct. In other words, a code of conduct outlines for the members of an organization how to become true professionals by applying ethical concepts in everyday professional practice, thus enriching their respective assignments. Whereas without an institutional code of ethics, it remains impossible for an organization or institution to regulate the ethical conduct of its members across the spectrum. As a progressive and forwardlooking institution, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT), Pakistan ardently believes in nurturing in its students wholesome ethical discipline with a focus on inculcating in them the virtues of diligence, service, integrity, fairness, decency, respect, competence and excellence.

The KFUEIT Code of Ethics and Conduct for students flows from a set of values which include our core values as well as other universally accepted values. The KFUEIT core values embody our vision and mission. These core values permeate all our activities and form a benchmark to judge our efforts against. These core values are the qualities that we want to maximize in our students, faculty, officers and non-teaching staff. Furthermore, we believe that these core values will allow us to transform our society into an advance one. Our core values are based on our acronym so that they are easy to remember for us. Our core values are: K: Knowledge-able F: Faithful U: Useful E: Eco-friendly I: Innovative T: Tolerant A look at the shades of meaning conveyed by these core values will help us and others understand fully the impact that we intend these core values to have on our students, faculty, officers and nonteaching staff.

Knowledge-able: means well informed; learned; with great knowledge; well read; well educated; widely read; erudite; scholarly; cultured; cultivated; enlightened; aware. Faithful: means strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word; promises; vows; etc.; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant; reliable; trusted; or believed; adhering or true to fact; a standard; or an original; accurate.

Useful: means able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways; functional; practical; handy; neat; convenient; utilitarian; utility; helpful; applicable; serviceable; of use; of service; beneficial; advantageous; helpful; worthwhile; profitable; gainful; rewarding; productive; constructive; effective; efficacious; valuable; fruitful; of help; of assistance. Thus KFUEIT faculty, officers, body of students and the members of staff have an obligation to serve the cause of education in their respective spheres. They should seek to elevate the University to others above self-interest by drawing on their knowledge, values, and skills.

Eco-friendly: literally means earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment. This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. Innovative: means featuring new methods; advanced and original; introducing new ideas; original and creative in thinking; original; innovatory; innovational; new; novel; fresh; unconventional; unorthodox; unusual; unprecedented; avant-garde; experimental; inventive and ingenious. For those who want to become future Leaders.

Tolerant: means showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with; open-minded; forbearing; unprejudiced; unbiased; unbigoted; broad-minded; patient; magnanimous; sympathetic; understanding; charitable and lenient.

Furthermore, KFUEIT also subscribes to other universally accepted values such as social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values further aim to identify the ideals to which students as well as faculty, officers and non-teaching staff of the University should aspire.

Social Justice: In their respective spheres, every member of the university is responsible to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. They must have access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision-making at appropriate levels.

Dignity and Worth of the Person: It is incumbent on faculty, students and administrators to treat one another in a caring and respectful manner, deferring to individual differences, as well as cultural and ethnic diversity. They should be cognizant of their dual responsibility to the university and to the broader society.

Importance of Human Relationships: Relationships between and among people promote understanding and harmony, paving the way for creating and sustaining wholesome work environment. KFUEIT students as well as faculty, officers and non-teaching staff owe both to their own advantage and the larger interest of the university and society to strengthen relationships in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the collective well-being of individuals, families, the organization, and the civil society at large.

Integrity: It is expected of KFUEIT faculty, students, and administrators to be aware of the University’s mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards and demonstrate ethical behaviour consistent with them. They must act honestly and responsibly and promote ethical practices within the organizations with which they are associated.

Competence: KFUEIT students must continually seek to enhance their professional knowledge and skills. They should also aspire to contribute to the knowledge in their own ways and manners.

Discipline and Respect for Law: Discipline is a cardinal law of nature visible, among other things, in the orderly working of celestial bodies. Discipline is necessary in all walks of life, and forms the core of other virtues like punctuality, cleanliness and dress-code. If people do not observe discipline, the entire social fabric would crumble like a house of cards. All along physical discipline, far more important are the virtues of moral and intellectual discipline. Moral and intellectual disciplines show in the sublime traits of self-restraint, honesty, fortitude, forbearance, integrity and courage. No society or organization can function and prosper smoothly unless its members demonstrate a sense of sound discipline. Discipline is necessary for becoming good citizens and, more importantly, good human beings. Respect for law, which means not merely not doing something negative but actually doing something positive, is a manifest expression of discipline. In fact, discipline and respect for law are the distinguishing features of civilized societies across the globe. KFUEIT urges its entire community of members to observe in letter and spirit the University discipline. Respect for authority, strict observance of the rules and regulations of the University, as well as due respect to law of the land are expected all times in all situations.

While it is desirable that students should acquaint themselves with the KFUEIT Student Code of Ethics and Conduct in entirety to deepen their understanding, they are specifically required to study the code of conduct and internalize the guidelines provided therein. Significant violation or persistent deviation from this Code of Ethics and Conduct by a University student will constitute misconduct and will be a cause for disciplinary action. An appropriate mechanism built around appropriate procedures along with suitable corrective actions exists at the University to deal with such deviations and violations of the prescribed code of ethics and conduct.

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.

his 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.

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 programmes.
Student status lasts until an individual graduates, is dismissed, or is not in attendance for two (2) complete, consecutive semesters.
“Student” also includes registered student organizations.

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.

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.

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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 programme regulations as established by departmental committees and made available to students.

Violation of instructions/guidelines included in the University/institutional/students’ handbook etc.

Endangering Health or Safety

Endangering behaviour: 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 behaviour.
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 on the campus. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances, sexual solicitation, requests for sexual favours, 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.

Destruction of Property

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

Dangerous Weapons or Devices

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

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.

Theft or Unauthorized Use of Property

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

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.

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 prescription drugs.

Alcohol

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

Unauthorized Presence

Unauthorized entrance to or presence in or on university premises.

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.

Hazing

Doing, requiring, or encouraging any act, whether or not the act is voluntarily agreed upon, in 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.

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.
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.
Influencing another person to commit an abuse of a university student conduct system.

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.

Riotous Behaviour

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 behaviour in the context of a riot includes, but is not limited to:

Knowingly engaging in conduct designed to incite another to engage in riotous behaviour; 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

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.

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Part B – Enforcement of Student Code of Ethics and Condcut

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 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.

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 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.

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 of 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.

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.

Procedure For Disciplinary Hearing

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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Penality For Acts of Indiscipline

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 following:

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

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.

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 re-admit 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.

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.

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 willful 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.

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.

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.