Procedures for Criminal Conviction Checking for Non-Professional Courses
1. Criminal Conviction declared on Application Form
A letter requesting completion of a further information form is sent to the applicant and a hold put on their application on SITS. The completed form is passed to Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) in the first instance to make a decision on whether the applicant can be given an offer of a place. If necessary, a reference is taken up from the details given on the form. If no decision can be made because of (a) the seriousness of the convictions or (b) the volume of convictions (see guidelines), the form is passed to the Head of Registry and then the Chief Operating Officer and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor if required. The decision of the Chief Operating Officer is final and no appeal can be made.2. Criminal Conviction not declared on Application Form
Should it subsequently come to light that a student has a criminal conviction that was not declared, the Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) will write to the student and request a meeting to discuss the reason for the non-declaration. [Applicants are informed on application forms that they must inform the University of any relevant criminal offences acquired after they applied.] Subsequent to the meeting with the applicant/student, the Senior Assistant Registrar (Admissions) will provide the Head of Registry with all the information pertaining to the case (reason for non-declaration and offence). The Head of Registry will then decide whether to rescind the offer of a place at the University and will write to the student with her decision. Normally, the student will be asked to leave the University. The decision of the Head of Registry is final and there shall be no appeal.3. Criminal Conviction declaration by Students
Each year, as part of the line re-enrolment task, students must declare any convictions received in the past year. The student will be asked to provide more details of the conviction by completing the standard criminal conviction declaration form. If the conviction is other than minor, the student disciplinary procedures, as set out in Senate Regulation 6, will be followed. The decision on whether the student can remain at the University will be based on the safety of staff and students. The implications of the student possibly bringing the University into disrepute shall also be considered.If it subsequently comes to light that a student has an undeclared conviction, the University’s disciplinary procedures shall be followed, as set out in Senate Regulation 6.
