Student Discipline

Responsibility: USask Governance Office
Authorization: University Council
Approval Date: Jan 1, 2012
Amended: Dec 21, 2017

To provide a learning, working and living environment that is supportive of scholarship and fair in treatment of all of its members, and to establish a process for addressing and hearing allegations of violations by students of the university’s expectations for academic and non-academic conduct.

The University of Saskatchewan Act, 1995 (“the Act”) provides Council with the responsibility for student discipline in matters of academic dishonesty, which is referred to throughout this document as “academic misconduct.”  All hearing boards, whether at the college or university level, are expected to carry out their responsibilities in accordance with approved council regulations and processes.  The Council delegates oversight of college-level hearing boards to the respective deans, and oversight of university-level hearing boards to the governance committee of Council.

The Act gives the Senate responsibility to make by-laws respecting the discipline of students for any reason other than academic dishonesty. A Senate hearing board has the authority to decide whether a student has violated the Standard of Student Conduct and to impose sanctions for such violations.  Senate’s Standard of Student Conduct in Non-Academic Matters and Procedures for Resolution of Complaints and Appeals address the principles and procedures applicable to complaints about non-academic misconduct.  

In addition, Section 79 of the Act authorizes the President of the University to suspend a student immediately when, in the opinion of the President the suspension is necessary to avoid disruption to any aspect of the activities of the university or any unit of the university; to protect the interests of other students, faculty members or employees of the university or members of the Board or the Senate, or to protect the property of the university.

• Freedom of Expression: The University of Saskatchewan is committed to free speech as a fundamental right. Students have the right to express their views and to test and challenge ideas, provided they do so within the law and in a peaceful and non-threatening manner that does not disrupt the welfare and proper functioning of the university. The university encourages civic participation and open debate on issues of local, national and international importance. One person’s strongly held view does not take precedence over another’s right to hold and express the opposite opinion in a lawful manner.
  
  
• Mutual Respect and Diversity: The University of Saskatchewan values diversity and is committed to promoting a culture of mutual respect and inclusiveness on campus. The university will uphold the rights and freedoms of all members of the university community to work and study free from discrimination and harassment, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation or sexual identity, gender identification, disability, religion or nationality.
  
  
• A Commitment to Non-violence: The University of Saskatchewan values peace and non-violence. Physical or psychological assaults of any kind or threats of violence or harm will not be tolerated.
  
  
• A Commitment to Justice and Fairness: All rules, regulations and procedures regarding student conduct must embody the principles of procedural fairness. Processes will be pursued fairly, responsibly and in a timely manner. Wherever appropriate, the university will attempt to resolve complaints through informal processes before invoking formal processes, and wherever possible, sanctions will be educational rather than punitive and will be applied in accordance with the severity of the offence and/or whether it is a first or subsequent offence.
  
  
• Security and Safety: The university will act to safeguard the security and safety of all members of the university community. When situations arise in which disagreement or conflict becomes a security concern, the university will invoke appropriate processes to assess the risk to, and protect the safety and well-being of community members. Those found in violation of university policies or the law will be subject to the appropriate sanctions, which may extend to immediate removal from university property and contact with law enforcement authorities if required. The university will endeavour to provide appropriate support to those who are affected by acts of violence.
  
  
• Integrity: Honesty and integrity are expected of every student in class participation, examinations, assignments, research, practica and other academic work. Students must complete their academic work independently unless specifically instructed otherwise. The degree of permitted collaboration with or assistance from others should be specified by the instructor.  The university also will not tolerate student misconduct in non-academic interactions where this misconduct disrupts any activities of the university or harms the interests of members of the university community.

This policy applies to all students who are registered or in attendance at the University of Saskatchewan in a program under the oversight of Council.  More complete explanations of the scope of academic and non-academic disciplinary procedures are outlined in the respective procedures.

It is acknowledged that while similar expectations govern all members of the university community, including faculty and staff, these expectations and their associated procedures are dealt with under various of the university’s other formal policies (such as Council’s Guidelines for Academic Conduct, University Learning Charter, the Policy on Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and the Responsible Conduct of Research Policy) as well as by provincial labour legislation, employment contracts and collective agreements.

Wherever possible and appropriate, every effort should be made by instructors, university officials and/or student associations to resolve minor violations of expectations for student conduct through informal means.  If, however, it appears that formal measures are warranted, complaints and allegations of misconduct will be handled through the regulations and procedures referenced below.

• The Regulations on Student Academic Misconduct and associated procedures outline the process for informal resolutions and formal hearings.
• The Standard of Student Conduct in Non-Academic Matters and Procedures for Resolution of Complaints and Appeals addresses the expectations of the university community for student conduct, and procedures for discipline of students for any reason other than academic misconduct.

Related Forms

• Informal Resolution of Academic Misconduct form