Terms of reference
The Council Committee of Appeal is the final internal appeal body at the University of Wollongong.
The Committee shall consider appeals:
- against findings made by the Student Conduct Committee in relation to general misconduct by a student; and,
- in relation to decisions taken by University officers with regard to the application of University Rules, policies and procedures (excluding the Coursework Student Academic Complaints Policy and the Higher Degree Research (HDR) Student Academic Complaints Policy); A Secretary to the Council Committee of Appeal shall be appointed by the Chief Operating Officer. The Secretary, who is not a member of the Committee, shall assist the Committee in whatever way the Chair of the Committee directs.
Appeals against findings made by the Student Conduct Committee
The Council Committee of Appeal shall consider cases referred to it by the Chief Operating Officer as a result of appeal by a student against a finding of the Student Conduct Committee in relation to general misconduct. The Council Committee of Appeal shall meet to consider the evidence of the case and interview the student and any other persons relevant to the case. The Committee shall conduct the interview in accordance with Student Conduct Rules and related procedures.
The Council Committee of Appeal shall determine whether the appeal is warranted and shall be upheld. If the Council Committee of Appeal determines that the appeal is not warranted, the decision of the Student Conduct Committee shall be upheld.
If the Council Committee of Appeal finds that misconduct has not occurred, the allegation will be dismissed and the outcome imposed by the Student Conduct Committee will be quashed. If the Council Committee of Appeal finds that misconduct has occurred but that a different outcome should be imposed, the allegation will be upheld and the Council Committee of Appeal will impose a new outcome.
Appeals in relations to decisions taken by University officers with regard to the application of University Rules, policies and procedures
The Council Committee of Appeal shall hear appeals from students on decisions taken by University officer(s) with regard to the application of University Rules, policies and procedures.
Such appeals may be referred to the Committee by the Chief Operating Officer in accordance with the provisions of relevant University Rules, policies and procedures.
The Committee shall not hear appeals from students on decisions taken by University officer(s) with regard to academic complaints that fall under the remit of the Coursework Student Academic Complaints Policy and the Higher Degree Research (HDR) Student Academic Complaints Policy. Such appeals are instead heard by the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
The Committee shall have power to determine whether the decision taken by the University officer(s) duly applied the approved University Rules and Procedures. The Committee is not empowered to decide the academic merits of a student's appeal.
Membership
The Committee of Appeal shall consist of:
- Deputy Chancellor (as Chair, ex officio);
- one external member of Council;
- one academic staff member of Council;
- one student member of Council.
Staff and student members of the Committee shall not be from the same faculty as the appellant.
Members of the Committee will be appointed when required by the Council in accordance with the membership provisions above. If a Council meeting is not imminent when an appeal matter arises, the Committee will be constituted by the Chancellor in accordance with the membership provisions.
Quorum
Quorum shall be three of the four members.