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Student Casework - Policies and Procedures
The Student Casework Team here at the University of Sunderland helps to ensure that students feel supported, are treated fairly and receive the best educational experience possible during their time here.
On the rare occasion that you as a student are unable to resolve an issue informally within your faculty, the Casework Team are available for students to raise their complaint to. Resolution is at the heart of what we want to achieve and our complaint process is independent and led by our central team.
Our team also deals with misconduct – both academic and non-academic – whilst we appreciate the vast majority of our students want to achieve, engage with university life and do their best, occasionally this is not the case. Our team are here to ensure that the University of Sunderland remains a safe and fair environment for our whole community.
Fitness to Practise is a measure built into our registered courses here at the University of Sunderland. The Casework Team have overall responsibility for the administration of this process and work alongside professionally registered colleagues to support students who may be referred into this process for a varying range of reasons.
If you have any queries, please contact studentcasework@sunderland.ac.uk.
Shared Principles and Requirements
From Academic year 24-25 we have introduced the new Shared Principles and Requirement Policy, the linked document includes the rules which are shared across the Student Complaints, Academic Appeals, Student General Misconduct policies, Academic Integrity Regulations and Fitness to Practise Procedure.
Student General Misconduct
‘Student General Misconduct’ refers to a student’s behaviour whilst enrolled at University beyond their academic performance or practice, where that behaviour is alleged or found to be unacceptable. Poor behaviour reflects on the individual as well as the University, the subject area and professional community students are part of. It also causes distress, discomfort and upset for others in the University community.
Student General Misconduct Policy
Student Complaints
The University is committed to providing high quality services. It welcomes the opportunity to correct mistakes and clarify misunderstandings and to respond positively and constructively on any occasion when you feel the need to express dissatisfaction with a particular service or other aspect of University provision. You will always receive a response to your complaint and, if your complaint is upheld, the University will, wherever possible, put things right. If a complaint is not upheld, you will be given reasons for the decision. This policy enables you to know clearly how, where and to whom complaints should be made and from whom you can get help and advice if you need it.
Academic Appeals
An academic appeal is a request from a student, that an academic decision made by an Assessment Board should be reconsidered. This can apply to all taught and research programmes (Assessment Board also means Postgraduate Research Degrees Subcommittee for research students).
Academic decisions include marks, classifications, progression and withdrawal decisions, including those made around academic misconduct. They do not include decisions on withdrawal for reasons of non-payment, non-compliance with visa regulations or attendance requirements, or on disciplinary grounds.
Students should appeal to their home faculty in the first instance, using the Faculty level appeal form, then a further appeal stage is available if they remain dissatisfied, this can be done by using the Formal level appeal form.
Academic Integrity
The University has a set of Student Academic Integrity Regulations which apply to the preparation and presentation of all assessed work, including all written and oral examinations, including those undertaken electronically and remotely, and other time-constrained assessments; coursework, essays or assignments, projects, dissertations, practical work, placement or field trip reports and the production of artefacts. Remember if you are feeling under pressure to meet a deadline there are options available to you. You can request an extension or submit extenuating circumstance.
Fitness to Practise
Fitness to Practise is a measure built into our registered courses here at the University of Sunderland, it applies to courses leading to professional registration once graduated. The University has a Fitness to Practise Procedure to provide a constructive framework to support students to develop their professionalism. The University aims to address any professional behaviour concerns early, offering an opportunity for students to reflect and be supported to develop the necessary professional and academic skills. There are a range of University services to provide support to students where appropriate. The majority of referrals made about students do not always result in formal fitness to practice sanctions, or the need to report information to professional bodies. The context for fitness to practise is supportive and developmental, with the aim of developing reflective professionals.
This procedure deals with current students’ health, conduct and/or competence, which may affect their fitness for professional practise.