(1) Introduction

An academic appeal is a request from a Durham University student for formal review of an academic decision affecting that student.¹

(2) Scope

An academic appeal investigation has a limited scope. Effectively the investigation amounts to a check as to whether the decision appealed was reached: 

 

(a) in accordance with correct University procedures; and

 

(b) in the light of relevant information.

 

Matters of academic judgement cannot be appealed. The University defines “academic judgement” as the professional and scholarly knowledge and expertise which members of Durham University staff and the external examiners draw upon in reaching an academic decision.

 

Academic judgement therefore includes, but is not restricted to, decisions about the severity of impact of mitigating circumstances on academic performance, decisions about the academic standard attained by students, marks and grades to be awarded for individual pieces of work or modules, and degrees and degree classifications to be awarded, or not.

 

In view of its limited scope, there are two primary circumstances in which an academic appeal may be appropriate:

 

(a) that there might have been a serious error in the way in which the original decision was made;

 

(b) that there exists or existed circumstances affecting the student’s performance of which, for good reason, the Board of Examiners or Committee or University Officer might not have been aware when the original decision was made.

(3) Possible Remedies  

If the appeal is upheld it will normally be sent back for reconsideration by the body that made the original decision. This does not necessarily mean that the original decision will be reversed or altered. Normally marks for work will only be changed if there was an error in recording or processing them.

(4) Principles 

The University’s Academic Appeal Regulations are based on the following principles:

 

(a) that staff and students are expected to act fairly and reasonably;

 

(b) that, where a complaint is shown to be frivolous, vexatious or motivated by malice, it will not be investigated and disciplinary action may be taken against the student in accordance with the “Code of Practice on Student Behaviour in Appeals and Complaints.”;

 

(c) that staff must not investigate cases in which any potential conflict of interest might arise. Where practicable, senior staff should avoid becoming involved in the early stages of an academic appeal because it may compromise their ability to be involved at a later stage;

 

(d) that students must abide by University General Regulations and Student Codes of Practice published and available on the University’s web site;

 

(e) that the University will treat academic appeals seriously and will deal with them without disadvantage or recrimination unless misconduct by the student is uncovered in the course of investigating the academic appeal.;

 

(f) that staff and students will be expected to comply with deadlines. Time limits for appeals will be extended only in exceptional circumstances, such as when the student did not receive timely notification of the decision for reasons outside his or her control;

 

(g) that, before submitting a formal appeal, students should attempt to resolve the matter informally where feasible. Where the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the informal approach, they should submit a formal appeal, using the relevant academic appeal proforma. The relevant forms and information about sources of support are available on the University’s web site via www.durham.ac.uk/academicsupport.office/appeals;

 

(h) that the University expects students (as the person best able to communicate any issues of dissatisfaction or adverse effects) to raise academic appeals with the University and will only accept academic appeals raised by third parties on a student’s behalf in exceptional cases. In any meeting with University staff under this policy, students have the right to be accompanied by a current member of the University community or a Students’ Union representative.

 

(i) that complete confidentiality cannot be always guaranteed if effective action is to be taken on an academic appeal. Therefore students are asked to sign a disclaimer on the University’s appeal proformas authorising the investigating authority to consult others and share information on a need to know basis. Staff dealing with appeals must, however, ensure that information disclosed by the student appealing is only disclosed to third parties on a need to know basis. Normally no information is disclosed to anyone outside the University, including the student’s parents, without the express permission of the student;

 

(j) that students seeking help in using this procedure should seek advice from any of the following on a confidential basis:

 

• the appropriate College Student Support Office;

• appropriate academic staff (as set out in the Departmental handbook);

• the Academic Support Office;

• the Students' Union (advocacy as well as procedural support).

Where complete confidentiality is requested by a student, this might limit the extent to which an academic appeal can be investigated. Authoritative advice on the appeals regulations or complaints procedure is contained in the regulations. The Academic Support Office may be contacted for advice on the appeals process. To ensure that an independent investigation is undertaken, the Officer investigating the appeal or complaint should not be asked for advice in advance of the notification of the decision;

 

(k) that, where an academic appeal is upheld, the remedy will be implemented within a reasonable timescale;

 

(l) that in addition to the Academic Appeals regulations the University has established the following other procedures for students to use if they consider they have personally been discriminated against or unjustly treated:

• the Student Complaints (University and Services) for complaints about academic departments, Colleges, Societies and University services and by postgraduate students for complaints about supervision, teaching or assessment prior to the final examination;
• the Student Complaints (Individuals and Behaviour) for complaints relating to harassment or bullying by other students;
•  the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy (for allegations of sexual violence between fellow students or by a student against a member of staff);
• the Code of Practice for Durham Students Union and the Code of Practice for Common Rooms;
• the Code of Practice on Freedom of Expression;
• the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) Policy (to report financial or procedural malpractice in good faith);

(m) that in cases where a student raises matters informally or formally which may apply to the academic appeal procedure and another procedure simultaneously, the University will write to the student to inform them of the appropriate process, processes or order of processes which will be used for consideration of the matters they raised. Students are not permitted to initiate more than one formal procedure simultaneously for the same or related matters.

 

(n) that Academic Appeals are monitored by the University annually because they provide important evidence about how effectively the University’s student procedures have operated in practice. The University Senate therefore receives an annual report containing an anonymised analysis of formal complaints and appeals including a breakdown by gender, age, ethnicity and disability based on information supplied at registration. Where appropriate the report will contain recommendations for improving practice in the University.

(5) Decisions That Can Be Appealed

 Students may use these regulations to appeal against the following decisions:

 

(a) a confirmed decision of a Board of Examiners or the Examiners of a higher degree.

 

(b) a decision of a University Committee or a University officer on any academic matter affecting the student appealing (eg a decision regarding Academic Progress).

(6) Grounds for Appeal

The grounds for appeal are limited to:

 

(a) that you were adversely affected by illness or other relevant factors, of which you were previously unaware or which for a good cause you were unable to disclose to the Examiners or other decision-making body or Officer

 

AND/OR

 

(b) that you have evidence that parts of the relevant documented procedure were not applied correctly or your marks were not calculated correctly and this procedural defect was significant enough to have materially affected the decision, making it unsound

 

AND/OR

 

(c) that the Board of Examiners or other decision making body or Officer took a decision which was not reasonable in all the circumstances.

(7) Formal Appeal Stage 1: Faculty Appeal²

(a) A student must appeal within 21 days of the date of the notification of the decision to be appealed⁴, by completing a University Faculty Appeals pro forma⁵, which should be sent to the relevant Faculty Office (in the case of an undergraduate appeal) or to the Academic Support Office (in the case of a postgraduate appeal).

 

(b) The student must state the grounds for appeal, giving detailed reasons to support his or her case.

 

(c) The Head or a Deputy to the Head of the relevant Faculty⁶ shall be responsible for considering the appeal.

 

(d) Where he or she considers it appropriate, the Head of Faculty or deputy to the Head of Faculty⁶ may treat an appeal as if it were an application for a concession.

 

(e) Within 42 days of the University Faculty Appeals pro forma being received, the Head of Faculty or deputy to the Head of Faculty⁶ shall:

 

(i) consult the following and receive written information from those consulted:

 

(A) the Designated Officer and the Head of the Student’s Department if the appeal is about a decision under General Regulation V (Academic Progress)

 

(B) the Chair of the Board of Examiners if the appeal is about an Examination Board decision

 

(C) or the internal examiner or Internal Adviser to examiners if the appeal from a postgraduate research degree student);

 

(D) or the Chair of the Committee if the appeal is about a committee decision.

 

(E) in all applicable cases: the Head of the student’s College.

 

(ii) may consult other members of University staff if he or she deems it appropriate in particular cases

 

(iii) produce a brief report on the case setting out his/her decision on the case

 

(iv) notify the outcome of the appeal to the student, the Head of Department or School, the student’s Supervisor or Course Director (if the student is a postgraduate), the Academic Support Office, and the Head of the student’s College and provide the student with a copy of his/her Faculty Appeal file containing the documentation considered.

 

(f) The Faculty Appeal will have one of the following outcomes:

 

(i) if the Head of Faculty or a deputy to the Head of Faculty has concluded that the appeal is allowed, that it shall either:

 

(A) be forwarded to the Secretary to Senate Academic Appeals Committee for the Chair/Deputy Chair of the Senate Academic Appeals Committee, for consideration under Regulation 8(c)

 

Or

 

(B) be referred back to the original decision-making body for reconsideration.

 

Or

 

(C) be treated as an application for a concession, in which case the appeal process may be concluded without an appeal investigation taking place.

 

Or

 

(ii) the Head of Faculty or deputy to the Head of Faculty concludes that the appeal is dismissed as unjustified.

 

(g) If the student is dissatisfied with the decision to dismiss the appeal, or the decision reached by the original body on reconsidering the case, or the concession offered, he or she may appeal to Senate Academic Appeals Committee within 14 days of notification of the decision in question.

(8) Formal Appeal Stage 2: Appeals to the Senate Academic Appeals Committee²

(a) An appeal to the Senate Academic Appeals Committee (SAAC) must be made within 14 days of the date of the notification of the Faculty Appeal decision, using a University Senate Academic Appeals Committee proforma, available on the web at www.durham.ac.uk/academicsupport.office/appeals/ or via the Academic Support Office, or via the student’s College or Department.

 

(b) The grounds for appeal are either:

 

(i) that you (the appellant) have evidence that parts of the relevant documented procedure were not applied correctly at the Faculty Appeal stage and this procedural defect was significant enough to have materially affected the decision, making it unsound;

 

Or

 

(ii) that there is substantial and relevant new information that was previously unknown to you, or which for a valid reason you were unable to disclose at the Faculty appeals stage and that the information is significant enough to have materially affected the Faculty Appeal decision, making it unsound.

 

(c) Within 28 days of the University SAAC pro forma being received by the Secretary to Senate Academic Appeals Committee, it shall be

 

(i) copied to the student’s Department and College for information

 

(ii) considered by the SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair, in consultation with the Head or deputy to the Head of a Faculty other than the Faculty to which the student belongs (HF/DHF) , and in the light of the documentation considered at the Faculty appeal stage.

 

(d) If the SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair is ineligible or unavailable to act in respect of an individual case, the Vice-Chancellor and Warden, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor 7 Provost or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall designate a senior member of the University to serve as SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair for that particular case.

 

(e) The SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair and the Head of Faculty or deputy to the Head of Faculty may consult as they deem appropriate.

 

(f) If the appeal is disallowed, the Secretary to Senate Academic Appeals Committee shall inform the student of the decision in writing, and enclose a copy of the student’s SAAC file and provide a completion of procedures letter. The student shall also be told that he/she may take the matter to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIAHE) in accordance with their procedures.

 

(g) If the OIAHE rules that the appeal should be considered by the SAAC, the Committee must meet in accordance with these procedures, chaired by a senior member of University staff, normally a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, who has not been previously consulted about or involved in the matter.

 

(h) If SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair and HF/DHF allow the appeal it shall be forwarded to the SAAC for an oral hearing, unless in view of the particular circumstances of the case, the Chair/Deputy Chair considers that appropriate action might be taken to deal with the situation.

 

(i) If the SAAC Chair/Deputy Chair and HF/DHF consider the alternative action has not dealt with the situation in an appropriate way, the appeal will then be forwarded to the SAAC for an oral hearing and the student will be notified of this decision in writing.

 

(j) If the Chair/Deputy Chair and HF/DHF believe that the alternative action has dealt with the situation appropriately the appeal will have concluded. The University will issue a Completion of Procedures letter advising the student that if he or she remains dissatisfied it is possible to complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator in accordance with their procedures.

 

(k) When the "appropriate action" taken by the Chair/Deputy Chair is to refer the appeal back to a Board of Examiners, the HF/DHF shall attend the meeting of the Board of Examiners in an advisory capacity.

 

(l) A guideline for complaints to the OIAHE⁷ will be issued with the University’s Completion of Procedure letters.

(9) Meetings of the SAAC

(a) A meeting of the SAAC is normally held within 28 days of the decision that the appeal be considered by the Committee and the student shall receive at least two weeks' notice of the meeting.

 

(b) With the exception of the Chair/Deputy Chair of the Committee, any member of the SAAC who has already been involved in the matter shall not sit on the Committee.

 

(c) At the hearing the student shall have the right to:

 

(i) present his/her case in person, accompanied either by a member of staff of his/her choice (if willing) or by another registered Durham student of his/her choice (if willing) or by a member of staff from the Durham Students' Union (if willing);

 

(ii) nominate a proxy, who should be a member of the University community, to attend and present the case on the student’s behalf (if willing), if the student is unable for a valid reason to attend in person. The meeting may proceed in the absence of the student or proxy provided that the Chair/Deputy Chair of the Committee considers it reasonable to do so.

 

(d) The Committee shall have the power to call and seek evidence from whomsoever it judges appropriate.

 

(e) Normally, those attending the Committee would include, as appropriate, the Head of the student’s College and the Head of the student’s Department, the Chair of the relevant Board of Examiners, or, in the case of a postgraduate research student, the relevant internal examiner or supervisor or adviser.

 

(f) A member of the University attending may be accompanied by a member of staff of his/her choice (if willing).

 

(g) At the hearing the student or his or her proxy shall be the first to speak to the SAAC. Anyone who is present to accompany one of the participants in the appeal may speak to the Committee only with the permission of the Chair//Deputy Chair.

 

(h) All members of the SAAC considering the appeal, the appellant, or his or her proxy and those having the right to attend, shall receive papers relevant to the case.

 

Note: The Committee shall not itself reach an independent academic judgement on the quality of academic work in any cases of appeal against decisions of examiners, but may request the appointment of fresh or additional examiners if a further opinion on the quality of a particular piece of work or works is deemed necessary.

 

(i) Having considered the evidence and taken such advice as may be appropriate, the SAAC shall issue a written judgement, normally within 10 days.

 

(j) If the SAAC decides to allow an appeal, it shall refer the matter back to an appropriate body within the University for further consideration and action.

 

(k) The University will issue a Completion of Procedure letter notifying the student of SAAC’s and hence the University’s final decision on their case and of the right to complain to the OIAHE in accordance with their procedures.

 

(l) The SAAC shall submit a report to Senate if an important point of principle is to be determined, or in individual cases as the SAAC judges appropriate.

 

 

¹ These procedures do not apply to:

 

(a) MB BS Phase 1 appellants who are appealing against a decision of the Student Health and Conduct Committee of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. In such cases, the appeals regulations of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne will apply.

 

(b) Appeals against results obtained at another Institution (eg Erasmus programme) that count towards a University of Durham degree. [Appeals about the translation of the other Institution’s marks or grades into University of Durham terms should be made through the University of Durham appeals systems.]

 

(i) Any student appellant wishing to appeal against the grades awarded by the other institution shall pursue this through the appeals procedure of that Institution.

 

(ii) Any such appeals must have been made to the other institution. The Chair of the Board of Examiners for the programme on which the student is registered should be informed in writing by 31 October in the final year of study (or such earlier time as may be specified in the procedures of the other Institution) that such an appeal has been initiated.

 

(iii) The other Institution shall retain the examination papers and notes of oral examinations of Durham students until three months after the date on which they are expected to graduate in Durham.

 

² The University reserves the right to stay the academic appeals process pending completion of legal or other proceedings which may be relevant to the appeal.

 

⁴ or 21 days from the date of dispatch from the University of documentation requested under the terms of the Data Protection Act. Any such Subject Access request must be made within 14 days of the date of notification of the decision to be appealed against. [The University will send the subject access documentation via a recorded delivery service.]

 

⁵ The University Appeals Proformas are available on the web via www.durham.ac.uk/academicsupport.office/appeals.

 

⁶ Or other senior member of the Faculty nominated by the Head of Faculty or deputy to the Head of Faculty.

 

⁷ The Guideline is available on the web via www.oiahe.org.uk

 

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General Regulation VIII - Examinations and Assessment

(1) Principles and Scope

(a) Registered students of the University agree to be subject to the University examinations and assessment regulations, rules and processes. These regulations, rules and processes apply to all University examinations and assessments irrespective of their location.

 

(b) The University will determine the appropriate assessment methods to be completed by students. Assessment methods for a module or programme apply to all students undertaking that module or programme, unless an approved concession has been granted to vary the assessment or exempt the student from it.

 

(c) Students must not engage in any practice to gain unfair academic advantage or breach any assessment rules. If, in the view of an examiner, invigilator or the University Examination Officer a student has potentially committed an assessment irregularity, plagiarised, falsified results or engaged in behaviour that may prejudice the performance of other candidates or the integrity of the assessment, this will be treated as misconduct and will be subject to General Regulation IV – Discipline and may result in expulsion.

(2) Definitions and Terms

(a) Assessment is used by the University to measure student performance against the intended learning outcomes for the module and programme. Assessment methods used by the university include;

 

• oral assessment and presentation
• practical skills assessment
• written assessment, including essay, dissertation, portfolio, report etc
• written examination.

(b) The University Examinations Officer is the person responsible for the administrative arrangements involved in the examination and assessment process of the University, or their representative. 

 

(c) A University Examination Invigilator is the person responsible for administering an examination at a venue on behalf of the University Examinations Officer, and for ensuring students adhere to the University examination rules.

 

(d) An examiner is the person or persons responsible for setting and/or marking the assessed work.

 

(e) Boards of Examiners are responsible, on behalf of and to Senate, for all academic aspects of the examination and assessment process for the modules and programmes for which they are responsible.

 

(f) Plagiarism is the copying or paraphrasing of other people's work or ideas without full acknowledgment, which amounts to the presentation of someone else’s work or ideas as one's own. Plagiarism will be penalised. It includes the following:

 

(i) Collusion, which occurs when students work together in an unauthorised way to develop a submission for an assessment where such input is not permitted. Collusion does not depend on a fee being paid for the work.

 

(ii) Contract Cheating, which occurs when a student submits work for assessment where they have used one or more of a range of services provided by a third party. The third party contract with the student can include payment or other favours, but this is not always the case. 'Services' may include essays or other types of assignments, conducting research, impersonation in exams and other forms of unfair assistance for completing assessed work. 'Third parties' include web-based companies or auction sites (essay mills), sharing websites (including essay banks), or an individual such as a lecturer, colleague, friend or relative. This applies in any case where the third party makes a contribution to the work of the student, such that there is reasonable doubt as to whose work the assessment represents.

 

(iii) Multiple submission, which is defined as inappropriate submission of the same or substantially the same work of one's own for summative assessment in connection with an academic award.

 

(g) A concession is an exception, granted by the University, to permit a student to be exempt from or to vary the University rules and processes for assessment. The granting of a concession of any type is subject to the processes outlined in the Learning and Teaching Handbook and Core Regulations.

(3) Examinations

(a) The University examination rules and procedures are detailed in the Learning and Teaching Handbook. Students must observe all such rules, and the instructions provided by the Invigilator and University Examinations Officer.

 

(b) Any invigilator or other official entrusted with the duty of superintendence in a University examination may immediately suspend or dismiss from an examination a student suspected of misconduct, and such action shall be reported immediately to the Examinations Officer who will follow the procedures for dealing with an Examination Irregularity, as outlined in the Learning and Teaching Handbook.

(4) Plagiarism

(a) In formal examinations and all assessed work prescribed in module outlines and programme regulations, candidates should take care to acknowledge the work and opinions of others and avoid any appearance of representing them as their own.

 

(b) Where suspected by an examiner, plagiarism will be investigated in accordance with procedures outlined within the Learning and Teaching Handbook.

 

(c) Any student work may be uploaded to a plagiarism detection system, at the discretion of the Department concerned if plagiarism is suspected. The system may also be used routinely to screen work for plagiarised text: for this purpose students are required to sign a declaration at registration authorising the uploading of their work onto the system.

 

(d) Plagiarism will be penalised and, in extreme cases, may be classed as a dishonest practice under 6(a)(x) of General Regulation IV – Discipline and may lead to expulsion. The facilitation of plagiarism through publication may also be classed as a dishonest practice under General Regulation IV – Discipline and may lead to expulsion (see also General Regulation X – Intellectual Property Rights).

 

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General Regulation IX - (A) Conferment of degrees, diplomas and licences; wearing of academic dress (B) Payment of Fees and Charges

Preamble to the Regulations

Students are required to pay all charges owing to the University by the due date. Students will not normally be awarded their degrees or other qualifications whilst they have a tuition fee debt owing to the University.

(1) No students are entitled to describe themselves as holding a degree of the University until it has been conferred upon them in Congregation either in person or in absentia.

 

(2) Where a degree, diploma or licence is conferred upon any person who is reported under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor and Warden, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Provost, an Executive Dean or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor as being in default in regard to the payment of his or her tuition fees to the University, the proof of degree, diploma or licence shall normally be withheld until such time as these obligations have been met.

 

(3) Undergraduate diplomas and certificates of the University shall be deemed to have been conferred on the date of issue of the official pass list announcing the award and their holders may describe themselves as possessing the relevant qualification from that date.

 

(4) Students shall wear academic dress at Congregation and as prescribed by notice from the Vice-Chancellor and Warden or from the Head of College to which the student belongs.

 

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(1) Tuition fee debts may not be carried from one term to the next within an academic year without the written agreement of the Head of College.

(2) No degree or other qualification shall normally be conferred upon a student while he/she has a tuition fee debt owing to the University. Results will be published to undergraduates and postgraduates with tuition fee debts to the University but such students will not normally have their degrees conferred until the debt has been cleared. 

 

(3) Tuition fees are charged termly and are due 30 days from the start of the Michaelmas Term and 14 days from the start of the Epiphany and Easter Terms. Any other arrangement is at the discretion of the Head of College concerned and/or the Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer) of the University and/or their delegates.

 

(4) A student who fails to pay tuition fees owing to the University by the date may incur an administrative charge and will be reminded in writing to settle the debt on a maximum of three further occasions at 14 day intervals until the end of term. If the debt has not been paid by the end of the term the student may be required to withdraw from the University. 

 

(5) Students whose registration is suspended by concession will not normally be permitted to return to the University if any tuition fee debt has not been settled.

 

(6) Where the University terminates an applicant’s application prior to the programme start date or requires a student to withdraw following the termination of their registration under the terms of University’s Notification of Academic and Personal details for Admission, Matriculation and Registration Purposes Regulation the University may retain any fees paid by or on behalf of the applicant/student. This provision does not affect the student’s statutory rights under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 to a 14 day cancellation period.

 

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General Regulation X - Intellectual Property Rights

(1) As a general principle the University recognises the student as the owner of any Intellectual Property the student produces while a registered student at the University. Intellectual Property is the term given to the production of original intellectual or creative activity in the course of their academic work, studies or research while a registered student at the University. Intellectual Property Rights are the legal terms that arise from these productions. This principle of recognition may, may however, be subject to variation in the case of collaborative or externally sponsored work, or other exceptional circumstances where ownership has to be shared or granted to the University.

 

(2) In connection with their academic studies or research, students may become involved in work with commercial potential. The University is committed to encouraging the successful exploitation of Intellectual Property Rights by its students and maximising the value of the Intellectual Property for the benefit of all involved in its creation. To that end, the University will seek to promote the recognition, protection and exploitation of potentially valuable Intellectual Property produced by its students.

 

(3) The University retains the right to require any student to assign his or her interests in any Intellectual Property Rights arising from the financial exploitation of any work with commercial potential. Assignment will only take place in the event that Intellectual Property is generated. Students who are required to assign Intellectual Property Rights to the University will be entitled to a share in any revenue arising from the commercial exploitation of that Intellectual Property.

 

(4) Students shall in such circumstances be required, in conjunction with their supervisor, or the member of staff directing their studies to ensure that the Chief Financial Officer (Treasurer) of the University is notified in writing of any Intellectual Property or other result developed or obtained in the course of their academic work which it is considered, by the University, may have commercial significance.

 

(5) Notification by a student must take place in a timely manner before publication or other disclosure and to withhold publication for a limited period if required to do so by the Council of the University.

 

(6) It is University policy that all Intellectual Property or other results developed or obtained in the course of a student’s academic work or studies shall be published. The University, however, retains a right to request a delay in publication when it is necessary to secure the Intellectual Property or where the prior permission of a third party, for example an external sponsor, is required.

 

(7) The University will also assert its rights over a student’s academic work or studies to prevent publication where it deems publication to be unethical and/or likely to promote improper use of the work and/or to bring the University into disrepute, for example by promoting or facilitating plagiarism through the process of publication.

 

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General Regulation XI - Regulations for the use of University IT Facilities

The aim of these regulations is to ensure that Durham University’s IT Facilities can be used safely, lawfully and equitably. The staff and student IT regulations, plus further information and guidance are available at:

CIS Policy Zone (sharepoint.com)

 

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General Regulation XII - Library Regulations

¹These regulations refer to the conditions under which Durham University students are allowed to use the Library. 

 

(I) The Use of the Library

(1) Matriculated undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University may borrow books from the Library;

 

(2) In addition to the other categories of users set out in the regulations for Durham University staff and other users, the Librarian may admit other non-University members to use the Library for the purposes of reading and reference only, (for example, members of the SCONUL Access scheme).

 

(3) The Librarian may refuse other persons admission or readmission to the Library.

 

(4) All users may be required to register on first being admitted to the use of the Library.

 

(5) Campus cards are issued to all regular registered users. The campus card may be used only by the person to whom it is issued and whose name appears on it.

 

(6) Campus cards should be carried on all visits to the Library and must be produced each time books are borrowed or when requested by a member of Library staff.

 

(7) Students must report lost or stolen campus cards to Computing and Information Service staff immediately. Campus cards may be replaced on payment of a fee determined by the Computing and Information Service.

 

(8) Students should notify any change of term-time or vacation address via the online enrolment system.

(II) Borrowing

(1) Certain material such as books and manuscripts from the Special Collections and works of reference may only be borrowed with the permission of the Librarian. Some material, including some Inter Library Loans, are confined to the Library and may not be borrowed.

 

(2) The loan period of certain categories of material may be restricted.

 

(3) A separate loan record must be made for each book borrowed. The student remains responsible for each book borrowed until the loan record is cleared.

 

(4) Students may not have on loan at any time more books than the borrowing limit for their category of borrower as determined from time to time by the University Library and Collections Committee and published in the Library. In special cases, permission to borrow additional volumes may be given by the Librarian.

 

(5) All books must be returned or renewed on or before the due return date (or, for Short Loan items, by the due return time), or returned by the revised date as noted in a recall notice.

 

(6) After a book has been in the possession of a student for one week, it may be recalled for use by another user. Books are subject to recall in vacation as well as in term.

 

(7) Any student who fails to return an item on loan from the Library when it is due or when requested to do so by the Library shall be liable to a fine. Refer to the University Library for information on library charges.

 

(8) If fines accumulate to a level determined by the University Library and Collections Committee, borrowing privileges will be suspended until payment is made.

 

(9) Any student who marks, damages, loses or wilfully refuses to return a book or has the book stolen whilst on loan, will be sent an invoice for the cost of replacement, fines due and a handling charge. The fines and handling charge will be charged whether or not the book is eventually returned.

 

(10) Students must return all books borrowed by them and pay any outstanding fines or charges in accordance with current library rules. All accounts must be cleared of outstanding books or fines before membership of the Library expires.

 

(11) During university vacations, the standard term-time loan periods and recalls and renewals policies continue to apply. During vacation periods, it is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure that books are renewed or returned to the Library as required.

 

(12) These regulations apply to both material owned by the Library and material obtained from other sources on the student’s behalf (e.g. via the Inter Library Loans service).

(III) General

(1) Users should observe any noise restrictions in study areas; following the silent, quiet or group/collaborations study space designation.

 

(2) Material may only be copied by or on behalf of students in accordance with relevant UK Copyright legislation.

 

(3) Material in the Special Collections, and other material liable to strain or damage, may only be copied at the Librarian's discretion, and normally such copying may only be carried out by Library staff.

 

(4) The Library reserves the right to inspect what is brought into the Library by students and what is taken out of the Library.

 

(5) Personal belongings may be brought into the Library at the Librarian's discretion, and at the student's own risk. The Library cannot be held responsible for loss of, or damage to, personal property.

 

(6) Electrical sockets in the Library must not be used for personal equipment, other than personal computers, or mobile devices such as tablets or mobile phones for study or research purposes.. Where personal equipment is used, this is at the student’s own risk.

 

(7) Students may be asked to move to a different area or stop using personal equipment if it is causing a disturbance to other users or a health and safety risk.

 

(8) Mobile phones should be on silent mode so as not to disturb other users.

 

(9) Smoking (including vaping) is prohibited in the Library.

 

(10) Users must observe local rules on food and drink.

 

(11) Illicit removal of Library materials and deliberate damage to or defacing of Library materials are serious disciplinary offences which shall be reported to the Librarian, who may seek compensation for damage incurred and/or initiate disciplinary procedures.

 

(12) Students may not introduce into the Library any item which is likely to damage books or equipment and shall be liable to pay compensation in respect of any damage caused.

 

(13) Library staff may clear away any personal property left on tables in order to make seats available to other users.

 

(14) Students must heed all tannoy announcements or requests from Library staff and leave the Library promptly before closing time and may be asked to vacate their seats at any time after the final announcement of closing. Failure to do this may result in students being locked in the building at their own risk.

 

(15) All members of the Library staff are empowered to enforce discipline in the Library.

(IV) Penalties

(1) Students who are admitted to the Library undertake to observe Library rules and regulations.

 

(2) The Librarian shall at all times have authority to maintain good order in the Library and may exclude from it or suspend from its use any student who infringes the regulations or rules.

 

(3) Infringements of the regulations or rules and offences against good behaviour in the Library shall render students liable penalties, including exclusion from use of some or all Library services, which may be imposed by the Librarian, or, if appropriate, under the relevant University discipline procedure. A serious breach of library regulations will be treated as a major offence as set out in General Regulations IV 5(a), where it is defined broadly as behaviour that either does or has the potential to cause serious damage to the University, its staff and other students As such, it may include but is not restricted to the following examples of offences:

 

• serious instances of disorderly conduct

• theft or fraud in connection with library accounts or property 

• misuse of the student campus card

 

(4) On occasions University students may, by virtue of their status as members of Durham University, be given privileges to use other libraries, including the British Library and other university libraries. Where an alleged offence is reported to the University Librarian by the other institution, the Librarian may impose a fine or other penalty appropriate to the gravity of the offence at their discretion. No further penalty will be imposed in cases where it is believed that any disciplinary action already taken by the library in question is sufficient punishment for the offence. Any offence may impact on the continued ability to use other libraries.

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¹ Within these regulations the terms "book" and "books" are defined as including books and all other library materials (e.g. periodicals, microforms, audio-visual materials etc.), whether physical or electronic.

 

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