Student Rights & Responsibilities

The importance of confidentiality student academic and disciplinary records is recognized and will be protected in accordance with legislative and policy obligations. To ensure procedural fairness while a formal complaint is underway, the Complainant, the Respondent and others who may have knowledge of the matter, including support person(s), must maintain confidentiality in accordance with this Policy and refrain from public statements that may jeopardize the proper handling of the matter. Confidentiality obligations do not prevent a person from seeking counselling, treatment, support services, or from speaking to friends and family.

The University will make available an impartial process to hear allegations of misconduct raised under this policy. Every student who is alleged to have committed a non-academic offence has a right to know the case against them, and to present a  response. In particular, every student has a right:

• to be informed in writing of the nature of the allegation or charge;
• to be treated with procedural fairness and natural justice;
• to refuse to answer questions in a hearing or official meeting related to the misconduct process, with the understanding that with this refusal an adverse inference may be drawn; and
• to know, respond and seek clarification of evidence presented.

Students are individually responsible for their actions whether acting individually or in a group. Students are considered by the University to have an obligation to make legal and responsible decisions concerning their conduct and to model and convey the University’s expectations of conduct to their guests. Ultimately, students are responsible for the behaviour of their guests.

In the exercise of its authority and responsibility, the University treats students as free to organize their own personal lives, behaviours and associations subject to:

• Compliance with University policies and regulations, municipal bylaws, and provincial and federal legislation, including the Criminal Code of Canada;
• The peaceful and safe enjoyment of University property, Residence and facilities, and the conduct of University operations; and
• The freedom of members of the University community to participate reasonably in the University and its activities.

Students have the right to have a support person present during inquiries or hearings arising from this policy. Students bear the full obligation of finding, arranging for and ensuring the presence of the support person at such inquiries or hearings. A support person may not advocate or act for, or speak on behalf of a student.

No student shall:

• engage in disruptive conduct affecting any activity or service of the University, including its teaching, learning, work, and living environment or its members.

No student shall:

• use any facility, equipment, material or service contrary to express instruction or without proper authority;
• obtain any University equipment, material or service by fraudulent means or by providing false information;
• make, alter, use, receive or possess University supplies without proper authority; (University supplies include but are not limited to equipment, keys, records, permits, letterhead, digital products, stationery and envelopes);
• enter into or remain in any private University property without proper authority or remain in any property when asked to leave by an officer of the University; or;
• knowingly invite or admit a guest who has been trespassed or restricted from the area or facility.

No student shall:

• misappropriate, destroy or otherwise damage University property;
• misappropriate, destroy or otherwise damage any property not the person’s own on University property; or
• deface any building or property of the University.

No student shall:

• remove books, equipment or other library material from the University libraries without proper authorization;
• mutilate or deface library books or material;
• purposefully misplace library books or material or in any way deprive others of access to library resources;
• abuse or misuse Carleton University network, technology, or credentials. This includes but is not limited to Carleton University email, learning management, and communication systems and the information and accounts contained within;
• abuse any University computer or computer related facility, network, or software, access, alter or remove computer files or software without proper authorization, purposefully misplace, or deprive others of access to such computer resources;
• use computer equipment to download, distribute or send illegal, offensive, discriminatory, and/or harassing material; or
• misuse or utilze bookable space for purposes, which are not academic in nature without the permission of library staff.

No student shall:

• fail to comply with University policies, procedures, regulations and directions;
• fail to comply with directions of University officials acting in the legitimate performance of their duties; or
• fail to comply with applicable law, including federal, provincial laws and regulations as may be in force from time to time.

No student shall:

• fail to identify themselves to University officials. This includes representatives of Campus Safety Services, exam proctors, or others where such information is relevant to the legitimate pursuit of their duties.

No student shall:

• obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of university property;
• obstruct, interrupt or interfere with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of university property; or
• engage in behaviour that is contrary to the reasonable expectations of the university community or interferes with the proper functioning of the University.

No student shall:

• threaten harm or incite hate to any member of the University community;
• physically abuse, threaten or cause any other member of the University community to reasonably fear physical abuse or for their safety; or
• create a condition which endangers or threatens the safety, personal information, or privacy of themselves or others.

No student shall, on University property or off-campus, individually or with a group, or in connection with a demonstration including picketing or a rally:

• use words which threaten violence or physical or verbal abuse to any group or individual;
• use words in a situation of clear and imminent danger which incites, or is intended to incite, others to behaviour which (would) result(s) in misconduct as outlined in this section.

No student shall:

• engage in vexatious comment or conduct that is known to be or ought to have been known to be unwelcome, abusive, demeaning, threatening, or intimidating.

No student shall:

• possess, distribute or use false identification or altered identification;
• possess, produce, distribute, alter or use falsified official university, medical, or employment documentation; or
• possess, utilize, produce, alter any official Carleton University branding, including but not limited to the university crest, logo, flag, coat of arms.

No student shall:

• knowingly bring a false or vexatious charge against any member of the University community; or
• knowingly falsify an incident report.

No student shall:

• be intoxicated and disorderly in public on University property;
• be in possession of, furnish to anyone, or consume, illegal drugs or controlled substances;
• be in possession of, or consume alcoholic beverages, except when properly in attendance at a licensed campus pub or event, or as permitted under the Residence Standards and Agreement and/or the University Alcohol and Cannabis Policy;
• be in possession of or consume alcohol anywhere on University property if under the age of 19 (nineteen) years;
• furnish alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 19 (nineteen);
• consume, possess, attempt to purchase, purchase or distribute cannabis under the age of 19 (nineteen);
• consume cannabis on University property;
• sell cannabis, other than through the Ontario cannabis retailer;
• distribute cannabis that is sold, or that is intended to be sold, other than through the Ontario cannabis retailer;
• purchase cannabis from anywhere other than a licensed Ontario cannabis retailer;
• cultivate, propagate, or harvest, or offer to cultivate, propagate or harvest cannabis on University property; or
• otherwise violate the University Alcohol and Cannabis Policy or the Residence Standards and Agreement.

NOTE: Intoxication will not diminish responsibility for one’s involvement in a violation of the Students Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

No student shall:

• engage in activity that endangers or could reasonably be seen to endanger the mental or physical health, safety or well-being of a student, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization.

No student shall:

• possess University property or the property of any member of the University community without the permission of the rightful owner;
• engage in theft of University property; or
• use, possess, or distribute firearms, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on University property.

No student shall:

• falsify, distort, or otherwise misrepresent information at any point in the application of this Policy;
• disrupt or interfere with the orderly conduct of a student non-academic misconduct hearing;
• attempt to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of the student non-academic misconduct process;
• attempt to influence the impartiality of a member of the Carleton University Resolution Board (CURB) prior to, and/or during the student non-academic misconduct process;
• harass (verbally or physically) and/or intimidate or attempt to intimidate a member of CURB prior to, during, and/or after a student non-academic misconduct process; or
• influence or attempt to influence another person to abuse the Carleton University Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy or knowingly violate conditions of confidentiality imposed by the Director, Manager, or the CURB.

No student shall:

• engage in activities that are prohibited under any of the University’s Policies.

No student shall:

• distribute, sell or otherwise profit from copyrighted materials that are protected legally in Canada.

While there is typically nothing required of you prior to the meeting, the steps below can help you to be more prepared:

1. Review the meeting notice sent to you (via your Carleton email) to gain a better understanding of the purpose of the meeting.
2. Review information on the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy to ensure you understand your obligations and any alleged violations.
3. Reflect on the incident and prepare any statements or discussion points you would like to raise during the meeting. If you feel as if you have breached the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy, please come prepared with possible resolutions.
4. Contact the University Ombuds Services for support in understanding University processes and student advocacy.

The Office of Student Affairs focuses on an educational and restorative approach to incidents on campus. The meeting is an opportunity to express what has occurred from your own perspective and to work with a staff member to come to an appropriate resolution.

If the meeting date you were provided does not permit you to participate, please respond to the meeting invitation at least two working days in advance to advise us on why you are unable to attend and to request a new meeting date.

Failure to attend a scheduled meeting without providing adequate notice will result in you waiving the ability to participate in the process. The staff member administrating your case will render a decision based on all information available to them at the time, and without the benefit of your input. This is called a decision in absentia and will be binding. Once this decision is made, you will be notified of the outcome and rationale for the decision via an email to your Carleton email account.  There is still an opportunity to appeal a decision in absentia following the procedures outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) Policy. The Office of Student Affairs is committed to the principals of due process and procedural fairness. This means that in most cases, if you attend your meeting, you are entitled to the opportunity to discuss the incident that occurred with the staff member administrating your case to provide additional information and perspective. As much as possible the Office of Student Affairs strives to involve students in the process of deciding how best to repair the harm caused by an incident.

Yes, Carleton University can take necessary and appropriate action in cases in which a student is accused of serious conduct on or off-campus, or through social or other electronic media.

The Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy applies to the conduct of students while on Carleton University premises as well as off-campus in certain circumstances such as when acting as delegates or designated representatives of  Carleton University, attending a University sanctioned event off-campus, and when at their place of work while on a University co-op placement. This policy also applies to exchange students studying at Carleton University. Further, this policy applies to students who are enrolled in classes and who engage in prohibited, abusive and/or inappropriate behaviour on the internet that may impact the Carleton community.

Unless provided written third-party consent by a student, the Office of Student Affairs is bound by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), R.S.O. 1990 and typically only shares information regarding student conduct proceedings with those who need it for work purposes. If you are under the age of 18 we reserve the right to share information with your parent or guardian. If there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, the Office of Student Affairs may contact the appropriate professionals (such as campus safety), and/or your emergency contacts as identified on your Carleton Account. Student conduct records are not attached to academic records or transcripts.

Students may appeal outcome decisions made by the Manager, Student Conduct & Harm Reduction to the Carleton University Resolution Board (CURB) by writing to the Associate Vice President Student Affairs, AVP(SA) within 10 calendar days of the original decision..

For more information on Appeals please consult the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy and the Carleton University Resolution Board (CURB) terms of Reference page.

Yes, students may elect to bring a support person with them to a student conduct meeting. Importantly, the support person may not submit arguments or otherwise advocate on the student’s behalf and is there as a support only. There are generally no restrictions on who can serve as a support person however, they will be privy to all details related to the incident being discussed. The Ombuds person is able to serve as a support person for students attending a student conduct meeting subject to availability.

The Office of Student Affairs emphasizes an educational and restorative approach wherever possible. The majority of cases referred to Student Affairs are resolved without significant impacts to an individual’s ability to continue their studies at Carleton. Should your studies be impacted by the outcome of the Student Affairs process, all options available to you for appeal or further support will be explored with you at the conclusion of the process.