GEORGIAN COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Academic and Student Services
Procedure #1-111
Effective Date: 80.09.01
Addendum Date: 82.01.14

SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION POLICY AND PROCEDURE

POLICY:
To provide adequate counselling prior to placing a student on probation, suspension or expulsion.

PURPOSE:
The faculty and administration of Georgian College desire that post-secondary students should progress with a high level of academic attainment. Because the ideal is not always fulfilled, it may be necessary to counsel, place on probation, suspend or expel a student for inadequate performance and unacceptable actions.

SCOPE:
Full-time and part-time post-secondary students.

RATIONALE:
To provide a procedure by which students interrupting or abusing the academic functions of the college may be counselled, placed on probation, suspended from classes or expelled from the college.

PROBATION:
Probation is a suitable period of time to allow the faculty and academic officers (co-ordinators, chairmen, principals) to assess the performance of a student. The nature of the probation and the length of the probation should be given to the student in writing and a copy filed with the College Registrar. The faculty and appropriate academic officers may place a student on probation.

SUSPENSION:
Suspension will be for a limited time, usually a single class or a series of classes, but will not exceed one week.

Faculty members and the appropriate academic officer (co-ordinator, chairman, principal, program supervisor, director, as appropriate) will be authorized to suspend a student for a limited time. (See section on Assigned Clinics, for exceptions, below.)

EXPULSION:
On receipt of a recommendation for expulsion, the Campus Principal will review the case with a committee appointed by the College President, before final action is taken. This will be accomplished within one week of the recommendation and the student may be suspended from classes during this time.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS:
A student who appears to be failing academically will be counselled by faculty members and/or academic officers concerning the consequence of failure. This counselling will take place within one week after any set of marks or evaluation of progress is available.

Because the college operates on subject promotion, a failing student will be informed that he/she may not be permitted to enroll in courses for which prerequisites are published.

The student will be informed of the maximum length of time allowed to complete the program (1979/81 Calendar, Page 28). During the counselling sessions, voluntary withdrawal may be suggested, particularly when a student is failing a considerable number of courses prescribed.

ATTENDANCE:
When a student’s attendance is consistently poor (excluding documented illness or approved absences), faculty members or academic officers will counsel the student. This counselling will take into account the attitude of the student, commitment to the academic process and the possibility of failure in the courses or program.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR:
Inappropriate language or actions which interfere with the teaching function of faculty or the learning opportunities of other students will be considered disruptive behaviour.

A student who engages in disruptive behaviour will be counselled by faculty and/or an academic officer. If a student is placed on probation or suspended, notification will be sent forward to the Campus Principal.

If necessary, a recommendation for expulsion will be sent to the Campus Principal.

EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT:
Continuing academic failure or consistently poor attendance will be interpreted as lack of educational commitment.

If, after counselling by faculty and/or an academic officer, a student continues to show lack of educational commitment, notification of probation or suspension will be sent forward to the Campus Principal. If necessary, a recommendation for expulsion will be sent to the campus Principal.

*STUDENTS IN ASSIGNED CLINICS:
For a student in an assigned clinic, performance in a safe manner, according to the objectives of the program, must be continuously assessed.

a) When a student is unprepared for an assigned clinic, the faculty members may suspend the student until specific assigned tasks are completed. Appropriate academic officers will be notified and the situation fully documented.

b)When a student in an assigned clinic is acting in a manner which jeopardizes the safety of the client, the situation will be assessed quickly. The faculty members will notify academic officers and the chairman will call together an appropriate committee to review the situation. The committee may suspend the student, if the performance can be improved by additional assignments, or recommend expulsion, if it is deemed that the student cannot meet program objectives. If a student is placed on probation or suspended, notification will be sent forward to the Campus Principal. If necessary, a recommendation for expulsion will be sent forward to the Campus Principal.

*This section might also apply to programs having field placement or co-operative education placement, where appropriate.

FIELD PLACEMENT OR CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION WORK TERM:

If a student does not successfully complete a field placement or a co-operative education work term, he/she must request permission to repeat the requirements, as set out in the academic calendar.

RIGHTS OF CLINICAL AGENCIES:

Clinical agencies have the right to request suspension or expulsion of any student who may be acting in an unsafe manner which is potentially dangerous to the client, or is contrary to the regulations of the agency.

Clinical agencies have the right, after consultation with the Campus Principal and academic officers, to refuse use of the facilities to any student for justifiable cause.

CONDITION OF HEALTH RELATED TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:

Students will be required to undergo a medical assessment.

DOCUMENTATION RE COUNSELLING, PROBATION, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION:

Adequate records will be maintained by academic officers and the College Registrar will be advised in writing of any student placed on probation, expelled or suspended.

APPEAL.

A student has the right to the regular formal appeal procedures, as indicated in the College Calendar — the College Registrar will explain the appeals procedure.

A student has the right to the regular formal appeal procedures, as indicated in the College Calendar — the College Registrar will explain the appeals procedure.

COUNSELLING, PROBATION, SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION ADDENDUM JANUARY 14, 1982

As Georgian College is committed to our students’ need for counselling services to assist in their academic life, therefore, on each campus where there exists a designated counsellor, the enactment of this policy is modified to include the following:

If, after previous candid discussion between the faculty member and student, it becomes necessary to place a student on probation, suspension or expulsion, the counsellor be involved. The action will be:

1. The faculty member, according to divisional policy, will consult with the student counsellor before taking action.

2. The person contemplating the action is to advise the student to consult with the counsellor.

3. The counsellor is to meet with the student and a report is to be submitted within one week from the time action is recommended by the faculty member. Probation, suspension or expulsion will not be finalized until this report is submitted from the student counsellor to the appropriate authority as outlined in the policy.

4. In extenuating or serious circumstances, a division may take immediate action. In these circumstances a subsequent meeting involving the counsellor and the division will occur, followed by action as outlined in the policy. Final action will be determined within one week.