Potential penalties for student misconduct

The following list of concerning behaviours might occur either in the physical/built environment or the social media/online environment. The list is not exhaustive and the University may initiate student disciplinary proceedings in response to student behaviours in addition to those listed here. Similarly, the potential outcome penalties and sanctions listed here are neither exhaustive nor are they limited to the examples provided.

A note about these guidelines:

• Offences: Multiple or repeated incidents of misconduct may be viewed more seriously than a single offence and previous findings may be considered when determining any sanction or penalty that the conduct might attract. That notwithstanding, whether or not the inappropriate behaviour has been called out previously, or whether the student has been previously alerted to the University’s expectations in relation to their conduct, also plays a part in determining an appropriate penalty.
• Behaviours: It is important to note that the same types of unacceptable behaviour that breach the Student Conduct Policy may be treated differently depending on the seriousness and the circumstances of the offence, eg an unwanted touch on a shoulder compared to an unwanted touch on another part of the body, and the nature and purpose of the activity being undertaken when the contact occurred.
• Examples of potential penalties are illustrative only. For example, in some cases, behaviour that may normally, or initially, be considered minor may on investigation be more serious. Thus, it would attract a more serious sanction or penalty. Conversely, there may be instances when behaviour that might appear to be very serious may on further investigation turn out not to be as it initially appeared, and therefore it may attract a less harsh penalty.

Offences	Behaviours	Potential Outcomes
Maliciously or unduly causing reputational damage to the University	Behaviour that has damaged or could have damaged the reputation of the University or a Faculty or School of the University	Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology
	Behaviour that has caused serious damage or could have caused serious damage to the reputation of the University	Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions
Making vexatious or unjustified demands on university resources	Improper interference with the activities of the University (including academic, administrative, sporting and social) on University premises or elsewhere Improper interference with the functions, duties or activities of any student or employee of the University or any authorised visitor to the University Disingenuous engagement with a university process, e.g. where a process is initiated by a student for reasons other than those for which the process exists.	Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology
	Engaging in acts (or failing to act), submitting or producing documents and/or statements intended to deceive the University Disrupting the activities of the University (including teaching, administration, sporting and social events) on University premises or elsewhere Disrupting the functions, duties or activities of any member of the University community or any authorised visitor to the University	Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions
Causing a risk to health and safety	An act or failure to act that caused or could have caused a health and safety concern on University premises (for example, smoking cigarettes on campus)	Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology
	An act or failure to act that caused or could have caused serious harm on University premises or during University activities (for example, disabling electronic locks on doors or possessing and/or supplying illicit substances)	Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Matter reported to Victoria Police
Unauthorised possession or use of University property or unauthorised publication or use of University communications	Misuse of University property (e.g. misuse of computers, laboratory equipment, sports equipment) Misuse of University communications (e.g. misuse of emails sent by University)	Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology Matter reported to Victoria Police
	Unauthorised entry or unauthorised use of University premises Unauthorised possession of property belonging to the University or belonging to a member of the University community without permission	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Matter reported to Victoria Police
Damage to property	Causing minor damage to University property or the property of students or employees of the University or visitors to the University	Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology
	Causing significant damage to University property or the property of members of the University community or visitors to the University	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Make good the damage caused at the student’s expense Matter reported to Victoria Police
Disrespectful, abusive or threatening language or behaviour	Use of inappropriate language Repeatedly contacting another person (by phone, email, text or on social networking sites) against the wishes of the other person	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology Matter reported to Victoria Police
	Harrasment Threats to hurt another person Disrespectful, abusive and/or discriminatory comments relating to a person’s sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender-related identity (including appearance, mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics), religion or belief, race, pregnancy/maternity, marriage/civil partnership, disability or age Acting in an intimidating and hostile manner Repeatedly following another person without good reason	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Matter reported to Victoria Police
Fraud	Submission of fraudulent or forged documents to the University: for academic advantage or advancement to which the person is not entitled (academic misconduct) in circumstances for which academic advantage is not the primary outcome (general misconduct)	Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions
Sexual misconduct	Engaging in a sexual act without consent Attempting to engage in a sexual act without consent Sexual harassment Sharing private sexual materials of another person without the consent of the other person Touching inappropriately through clothes without consent Inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person Making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature Use of inappropriate language	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant awareness-raising and/or rehabilitative workshop or training program Specialist review of behavioural, medical or other issues, to be undertaken after compulsory completion of activities designed to address any identified issues Provision of a written apology where appropriate Matter reported to Victoria Police
Physical aggression	Pushing Shoving	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Formal reprimand and/or caution Compulsory completion of a relevant workshop or training program Provision of a written apology
	Punching Kicking Slapping Pulling hair Biting	Immediate suspension Expulsion from the University Enrolment termination Enrolment suspension Enrolment restrictions and/or conditions Matter reported to Victoria Police

Please refer to the Student Charter and the Student Conduct Policy for more information on appropriate student behaviour at The University of Melbourne.