Student Code of Conduct

Understand the Student Code of Conduct

Responsibilities Statement

The Responsibilities Statement aligns with UC's Student Code of Conduct. It hightlights the partnership between UC and students to provide a safe learning, living and working environment. 

As a UC student it is your responsibility: 

To be self-motivated and actively contribute to personal learning

• to complete course work to the best of your ability
• to honestly engage in your course work
• to understand that academic dishonesty including plagiarism and cheating has serious consequences

To respect the rights of others in your community

People at UC actively contribute towards making their community a better place. Uncontrolled and inconsiderate parties, fires, vandalism, theft, damage to your own or neighbouring properties and broken glass on the roadside are both illegal and a safety hazard. Activities that negatively impact on your community are not acceptable. 

To contribute to a safe and healthy learning environment

You have a responsibility to not be involved in harassment, bullying, racism, abuse, discrimination or violence in any form (this includes inappropriate gestures or comments, whether face-to-face or online). You are responsible for your own health and safety on campus, and you have responsibilites towards those around you as well, including: 

• complying with the University's health and safety requirements
• taking care that your words or actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of any other people

Any activity that jeopardises others' wellbeing or safety, or encourages law-breaking, is taken seriously. 

If you experience or witness any harassment, bullying, racism, abuse, discrimination or violence, we encourage you to seek support and/or report it if you comfortable to do so. 

Expectations

Students are expected to

Each student at UC has a set of responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Be fully acquainted and compliant with the published regulations and policies of the University (eg, the Campus Drug and Alcohol Policy and Harassment Policy) and comply with New Zealand law.
2. Provide information to the University that is accurate and not misleading.
3. Behave in a manner that does not bring the University into disrepute.
4. Respect the rights and property of others both on and off campus.
5. Ensure their own health and safety and that of those around them.
6. Seek to positively engage with the University and the wider community.
7. Actively contribute to their learning by attending classes, meeting their obligations and course requirements. 

Students can expect UC to

• treat people in a respectful and equitable manner
• provide a high quality learning environment, facilities and services including libraries, online resources and IT services
• have policies and regulations that are accessible
• manage personal information appropriately
• take grievances and breaches of discipline seriously and equitably, and follow a clear and transparent process
• provide students with timely, regular and constructive feedback on their academic process
• ensure reasonable access to services that support student learning and their wellbeing
• meet the requirements set out under The Education (Pastoral Code of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

How to raise a concern

We want our students to feel welcome and safe at UC and encourage you to seek support about anything that may be troubling you. Find out how to raise a concern, complaint, or grievance, or contact the Student Care team or UCSA for advice about your options and University processes.

Available support

Complaints through UC

We want you to feel safe and confident to speak up and to be heard. There are both formal and informal ways to do this.

For information on the formal complaints process, please see: raise a concern

For information on informal anonymous reporting, please see: reporting an issue

Complaints through the NZQA

The New Zealand government has a particular set of expectations and standards in place for universities, which are outlined in The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. If you are at any stage unhappy with a university process or decision, it is important for you follow University processes and talk with the Student Care team or UCSA first. If, after following those processes, you are still unhappy, you can pursue an external complaint through NZQA.

Useful links

• UC disciplinary processes
• Academic misconduct regulations
• Behavioural misconduct regulations
• Sexual harassment and sexual assault