Investigation and Adjudication Procedure
4.1. Investigation procedure
Where the case has been referred to the investigation stage it will be allocated to an investigator.
If the Reporting Person is a student (or we have consented to a third-party report), we will normally invite them to meet with the Investigator to discuss their report, provide further information and confirm whether we can disclose details of their report to the Reported Person. If the Reporting Person is not a student, then we may contact them for further information but will not normally arrange a meeting.
Reported students will be informed in writing about the allegation and how their behaviour may have breached the code of conduct and be invited to a meeting and are expected to attend. The meeting is to discuss the report, give the reported student an opportunity to provide their account of events, provide any evidence relating to the allegation, answer questions that the investigator has, and discuss any context that may be relevant, such as mitigating circumstances.
Where a group report has been received, the University will ensure that the situation of each student is considered, and each student will be asked to attend individual meetings.
Normally five working days' notice of the meeting will be given, and the Reported Student will be notified of the allegation and what evidence there is. If the matter is urgent and must be expedited, we reserve the right to schedule a meeting in less than five working days and the reason will be explained.
The assigned investigator may contact other services and individuals as part of the investigation process.
Please refer to sections 2.5 regarding support during the meeting.
4.2 Outcomes and Sanctions
The investigator will report to the Associate Director of Student, Policy Casework and Compliance, or nominee.
In reviewing the case, the nature of the incident, impact, evidence, mitigating factors, previous reports and repetition of behaviour will be considered and one or more of the following decisions will be made:
- There is no evidence of misconduct and therefore no further action is required.
- There is evidence of misconduct, and this can be resolved by issuing one or more of the following
- advisory information
- no contact arrangement (see section 3.7)
- referral to support services.
- The case should be referred to the Fitness to Practise Operational Group for consideration under the Student Fitness to Practise Regulation.
- Misconduct has occurred and one or more of the following sanctions should be given:
- A Formal written warning, advising of the likely consequences of future misconduct.
- A requirement to pay reasonable costs in respect of any identified and quantified damages and/or losses suffered by the University and/or third parties because of the student’s actions.
- Withdrawal (temporary or permanent) of specified services.
- Exclusion (temporary or permanent) from specified areas of the University e.g. from a University Sports team, and/or prohibited from participating in/representing Sheffield Hallam at University Sporting events.
- Requirement to complete individual training, education, support, and/or restorative approaches to improve awareness of behaviours and their impact.
- Write a letter of apology.
- Behavioural contract.
Where it is deemed that misconduct has occurred and further consideration is needed regarding the student’s future at the university, the case should be referred to a Conduct Panel.
The Reported Student will be notified of the outcome of the investigation by email.
The Reporting person will be notified as set out in section 2.8.
