Covid-19 disciplinary sanctions for students

We are committed to keeping you informed and educated on the measures and behaviours required to keep individuals and the wider community safe. We will keep in contact in the following ways:
• Student Email
• Social Media
• Covid 19 FAQs on the MyUni website
• Physical signage on campus
• Digital signage on campus

If you see someone who is behaving inappropriately and contrary to guidance, you should raise concerns directly with them in an open, constructive, and polite manner. Please remember that some people are exempt from the guidelines. On campus Residential Services, your Faculty Office, Campus Life and Campus Security teams are there to help keep you safe- you can raise any concerns with them [for further information please see the below section titled ‘How can I raise any concern’).

If anyone wilfully or repeatedly breaches the expectations set out in:
• The Covid 19 Supplemental Student Charter and/or
• Welsh Government requirements and/or
• Swansea University requirements

around Covid-19 health and safety restrictions, they are putting our community at risk and may be subject to sanctions in line with the University’s Disciplinary Procedure and/or Residential Services Residence Regulations.

Outlined below are some examples of incidents and the types of sanctions/penalties likely to be imposed.  Please note these apply to incidents that occur both on and off campus and Residential Services may take additional action in line with the Residential Services Residences Regulations where an incident occurs within campus accommodation.  Also please note the below are examples only, and each case will be considered on a case by case basis. 

The entire community is empowered to make an initial challenge to behaviours that are acting against the expectations set out within the Covid-19 Supplemental Student Charter and any Welsh Government and Swansea University requirements around Covid-19 health and safety.

If you see someone who is behaving inappropriately and contrary to guidance, you should raise concerns directly with them in an open, constructive, and polite manner. Please remember that some people are exempt from the guidelines.

If a member of the community receives a positive response to their request to comply, no further action is required.

If a negative reaction is received the incident may be escalated to First Offence.

On campus the Residential Services, your Faculty Office, Campus Life and Campus Security Teams are there to help keep you safe- you can raise concerns with them.

If a student behaves inappropriately and contrary to the expectations set out in the Covid-19 Supplemental Student Charter and/or Welsh Government or University requirements around Covid-19 health and safety, they may be subject to a First Offence sanction.

Examples of First Offences include a student’s failure to comply with a reasonable request in relation to a Covid-19 incident, such as a failure to comply with a request to maintain social distancing.

The Residential Services Team and Campus Security can impose an informal verbal warning for First Offences, a log of which will be maintained.

Should the first offence be deemed of a significantly serious nature or there is a further incident where the student behaves contrary to Welsh Government or University requirements around Covid-19 health and safety, then disciplinary action may be immediately taken at a higher level in this framework.

Two or more incidents of offending or a significant offence is likely to be referred to Academic Services in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedures.

Examples of such offences include:

• Inviting or allowing guests in your residential accommodation which is in self-isolation.
• Going into other student’s residential accommodation which is in self-isolation.
• Inviting or allowing guests into your residential accommodation contrary to Welsh Government requirements (e.g. lockdown restrictions).
• Going into other students’ residential accommodation contrary to Welsh Government requirements (e.g. lockdown restrictions).
• Attendance at any social event/gathering where such social events/gatherings are precluded by Welsh Government restrictions.
• Single (one-off) incident listed above which causes or is likely to cause reputational damage to the University.
• Providing false or misleading information to the University following a reasonable request in relation to a Covid-19 incident.
• Incidents which have resulted in the police imposing a Fixed Penalty Notice, a Fine or a Caution related to a breach of Covid-19 laws or restrictions.

Such cases are likely to be referred to the Student Disciplinary Officer and the types of sanctions that may be applied are contained within Appendix 3 of the University’s Disciplinary procedure and include:

• A formal written warning
• A requirement to sign a behavioural contract
• A requirement to undertake unpaid services for the University, Students’ Union or community to a maximum of 28 hours

In addition, dependent upon the nature of the incident, a risk assessment may be undertaken in accordance with Appendix 2 of the University’s Disciplinary Procedure and this could result in a student’s full or partial suspension from study and exclusion from University premises pending the outcome of the disciplinary procedure. Such interim suspension could have serious implications on a student’s studies.

Serious offences are likely to be referred to a Disciplinary Committee of Enquiry and sanctions applied by the Committee are likely to have serious implications on a student’s studies.

Examples of Serious Offences include:
• Failure to self-isolate when required to do so by the University or the NHS Test and Trace Service.
• Non-compliance with travel restrictions, including self-isolation for quarantine, as per Welsh Government guidance.
• Coughs or spits directed at another individual (or threats to do so).
• Incidents relating to a breach of Covid-19 laws or restrictions which result in a Criminal Court conviction against the student.
• Further incident following a previous penalty having been imposed under the University Disciplinary Procedure for an incident contrary to Welsh Government or University requirements around Covid-19 health and safety.

The types of sanctions that may be applied by a Disciplinary Committee of Enquiry are contained within Appendix 3 of the University’s Disciplinary Procedure and range from a Formal Written Warning through to a student’s expulsion (i.e. withdrawal) from the University.

In addition, dependent upon the nature of the incident, a risk assessment may be undertaken in accordance with Appendix 2 of the University’s Disciplinary Procedure and this could result in a student’s full or partial suspension from study and exclusion from University premises pending the outcome of the disciplinary procedure.

If students / staff have concerns related to a student’s failure to follow Covid-19 related guidance they can contact:

• If related to accommodation - Residential Services
• If related to learning or teaching sessions - the relevant Faculty Office
• Any other campus environs – Campus Security or Campus Life

We expect that it will be possible to deal with most issues with a reminder to follow guidance.