Policy: AC02:Student Expulsion Policy

TITLE: STUDENT EXPULSION POLICY

The policy pertains to the requirements as prescribed under s. 3. (1), s. 20. (1), and s. 25. (1) of O. Reg. 415/06.”

Introduction

Generally, the RHI will try to resolve the issue without expelling the student. However, written warnings, probation, and suspension for failing students may occur prior to the final and most serious action. RHI will consider the integrity, safety, and well-being of its employees, students, clients, and other at-risk visitors first before determining if there will be a need for eviction. RHI will ensure that students are aware of its code of conduct, institutional goals, and attendance policies, as described in the Student Handbook Guidelines reviewed during orientation.

RHI reserves the right to implement a student disciplinary policy that is consistent with the laws, regulations, and policy directives enforced by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Academic Discipline

RHI will seek to enforce and uphold a discretionary (at RHI’s discretion) graduated discipline policy, meaning that some forms of student misconduct will not warrant an immediate expulsion. Forms of academic discipline other than immediate expulsion include but are not limited to:

  1. Reduction in grade or to zero (where appropriate)
  2. Verbal status
  3. Written or monitored status
  4. Probation status
  5. Suspension status;

Suspension or Expulsion Conditions:

The following outlines the conditions under which a student may be suspension or expulsion with the cause:

  1. Academic Dishonesty – Any expression, action or deed performed alone or with others with the intention to provide an unfair advantage to themselves or other students, including:
    • Unapproved collaboration
    • Cheating/ plagiarism
    • Alteration of records
    • Bribery
    • Dishonesty/misrepresentations
  2. Outstanding Fees – If a student has failed to pay overdue amounts owing to the institute within the specified scheduled time (3 months), the student may be at risk for expulsion after a written warning has been issued.
  3. Violation of Code of Conduct – Students will be required to adhere to the institute’s code of conduct. If the violations include physical harm to people or property, the institute may perform an expulsion of the misconducted student for failure to comply with institutional objectives. Students who are found addicted to drugs, alcohol, or carrying weapons will be subject to immediate expulsion.
  4. Significant Falsehoods or Omissions in Admissions Documentation – The RHI has a responsibility to ensure students meet the program’s registration requirements. Students who have exaggerated and misreported in their applications are subject to immediate expulsion. 
  5. Academic Failure – Students may be expelled from the program if they fail to achieve their program’s required academic achievements. At its discretion, the RHI may offer remedial compensatory teachings to a student before the expulsion. The institutional policies have provided a relevant description of the study program. For the detailed policy, refer to the AC13 Remediation Policy.
  6. Attendance Failure – As stated in the institutional policy, students who have not attained the required attendance dates are subject to expulsion. Students who are absent from class for more than two weeks or ten consecutive days without sufficient evidence will be automatically withdrawn from their program.
  7. Discrimination or Harassment –The RHI does not accept and allow discrimination or harassment of any staff, student, client, or visitor on school premises. Students engaging in discriminatory or harassing behaviour/actions that are race-related, sexual, or pertaining to sexual identity can be subject to immediate suspension or expulsion from the program depending on the severity of the behaviour and investigation results. The students deemed by the investigation to have engaged in severe harassing or discriminatory activities may be subject to expulsion at the Institute’s discretion, depending on the severity of the behaviour. Race-related harassment includes bothering, threatening, or maltreating someone because of their racial colour, ancestry, ethnic descent, birthplace, religious belief, citizenship, language, or culture. Sexual harassment includes bothering someone by doing or saying unwanted or unwelcomed topics, such as making offensive jokes, touching inappropriately, making sexual suggestions or requests, staring at or making unwanted comments about one’s body, displaying sexually offensive images, or being verbally abusive because of one’s gender. Sexual orientation or identity harassment includes mistreating someone because they are lesbian, gay, heterosexual, bisexual, or identify as having another sex. That could include making a hurtful comment, or action to an individual regarding their sexual orientation or displaying disrespectful signs, caricatures, cartoons or graffiti. In determining what constitutes discrimination or harassment, The RHI refers to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If g more specific information is required, stakeholders may refer to the relative codes posted on the provincial website (http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/code/index.shtml).
  8. Misuse of Property – Students who damage, steal, or otherwise misuse Robert Health Institute property may be expelled and required to make restitution.
  9. Endangerment of Staff or Students – RHI is committed to protecting all institutional employees, students, visitors, and external stakeholders from being jeopardized. Students may be subjected to discipline and if their action neglect or in any way impairs the safety of themselves or stakeholders they will be expelled. Before expulsion, depending on the severity and nature of the situation, RHI may take intermediate steps at its discretion, including:
    1. Verbal warning status,
    1. Written warning or monitored status,
    1. Probation status
    1. Expulsion
  10. Plagiarism – Violation of AAPS’s or instructor copyright.

Notification:

  1. Students may be subjected to expulsion for severe misconduct and receive written notification with hand-delivered or registered mail with a return receipt. The RHI is not responsible for non-delivery by registered mail if the student fails to provide accurate or valid contact or mailing address where the student prefers to receive the mail.
  2. The written notification contains a description of the reason for expulsion and the date it’s going to take effect.
  3. If the expelled students dispute the expulsion facts and wish to appeal, they must appeal the expulsion in writing within one week of the notification by following the Institute’s student complaint policy and procedure.
  4. Suppose a student’s expulsion has been upheld after following the institute’s student complaint policy and appeal procedure. In that case, the student may seek a further appeal through the complaint process with the Superintendent at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, on condition that the student is attending an accredited program approved by the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005. Once the student’s appeal is successful, they can be eventually reinstated as part of the internal institute’s appeal processes. The institute will then arrange for the student to make up the training time that they had missed since the date of expulsion specified in the written notification status.

Settlement of an Expelled Student’s Fees:

After the students have been expelled without seeking a further appeal through the complaint process with the Superintendent, their accounts’ settlement will be completed under the institute’s Fee Refund Policy within 3 months. The effective date of expulsion will be used as the final day of attendance in their study program.

Return of Property:

An expelled student is responsible for returning any institute property in their own possession within ten working days of the expulsion. The student will hold financially responsible for any property not returned in good condition or as outlined in the student contract.

Resources:

  1. AC01 RHI-Student complaint policy and procedure
  2. AC03 Academic Integrity Policy POLICY
  3. AC04-RHI Admission Policy and Procedure
  4. AC05 RHI-Attendance Policy
  5. AC07 RHI-Grade Appeals Policy and Procedur