Disciplinary Commission of UCM

About the UCM Disciplinary Commission

The UCM Disciplinary Commission for Students (hereinafter referred to as the "DK") is a body of academic self-government of UCM within the meaning of Section 7(2)(d) of the Higher Education Act. The DK hears disciplinary offences of UCM students enrolled at UCM. It submits a proposal for the imposition of disciplinary measures to the Rector. The DK has fourteen members, seven of whom are from the staff part of the UCM academic community and seven of whom are from the student part of the UCM academic community. Each UCM faculty/institute is represented on both parts of the UCM DK. The UCM Vice-Rector for Education shall be the Chairperson of the UCM DK.

The DC shall initiate disciplinary proceedings on a proposal submitted by the Rector. Disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated by the delivery of the proposal to initiate disciplinary proceedings to the Chairperson of the DK.

Any UCM employee, student or any other person who has become aware of the student's actions which may be in the nature of a disciplinary offence may initiate disciplinary proceedings by submitting them to the Rector.

The complaint for disciplinary proceedings shall normally be made in writing, although it may also be made by e-mail. As a rule, the complaint or proposal for disciplinary proceedings must include:

1. a precise description of the student's conduct that is considered a disciplinary offence, identifying the relevant provisions of the regulations that have been violated, including the time and place where the disciplinary offence was committed;
2. the evidence on which the application is based;
3. a statement of the reasons why the conduct constitutes a disciplinary offence;
4. the name of the student who committed the disciplinary offence.

Proceedings on a disciplinary offence before the Disciplinary Board Commission shall be oral and public, in the presence of the student who has committed the disciplinary offence; if the student fails to appear at the meeting of the Disciplinary Board Commission without a written apology, the Disciplinary Board Commission may proceed without his/her presence. The Chairperson of the DK may invite other persons to attend the meeting as necessary.

Disciplinary measures

Disciplinary measures are imposed by the Rector on the proposal of the DK. The Rector may not impose a more severe disciplinary measure than that proposed by the Disciplinary Board Commission. If the offence is minor and it can be assumed that the hearing of the offence by the DK alone will lead to a remedy, the Rector may decide not to impose a disciplinary measure or to impose a more lenient disciplinary measure than that proposed by the DK. The Rector shall decide on the imposition of a disciplinary measure on the basis of the DK's proposal within 30 days of the DK's proposal being submitted for a decision.

The Rector may impose any of the following disciplinary measures for a disciplinary offence:

1. reprimand,
2. conditional exclusion from studies, specifying the time limit and the conditions under which the conditional exclusion from studies will be lifted,
3. expulsion from studies.

A reprimand may be imposed on a student for a minor disciplinary offense or a disciplinary offense committed negligently.

Suspension from studies shall specify the length and conditions under which the suspension shall be lifted. The severity of the disciplinary offence shall be taken into account when imposing it. The length of the suspension shall be between two months and one year. If a student commits a further disciplinary offence, even of a less serious nature, before the expiry of the period, he or she may be expelled from studies.

The decision to impose a disciplinary measure shall simultaneously include the revocation of the decision to impose a conditional exclusion from studies. The length of the conditional exclusion shall begin on the day following the date on which the decision imposing the disciplinary measure becomes final. If the student has complied with the conditions of the suspension decision throughout the probationary period and has proved his or her worth, the Rector shall lift the suspension by decision. If the student has not complied with the conditions, the Rector shall issue a decision revoking the conditional exclusion and at the same time deciding on expulsion from studies. If the Rector does not make a decision within 30 days of the expiry of the probationary period, the student shall be deemed to have proved his or her validity and the conditional exclusion shall be lifted.

Exclusion from studies may be imposed on a student if:

1. the student intentionally committed a serious disciplinary offence,
2. the student has repeatedly committed a disciplinary offence,
3. the student has been finally convicted of a deliberate criminal offence,
4. the student committed a further disciplinary offence during the period of suspension.

In imposing a disciplinary measure, the nature and seriousness of the disciplinary offence, the circumstances under which the disciplinary offence occurred, the degree of culpability, the consequences of the disciplinary offence, as well as the student's previous behaviour shall be taken into account.