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Support to Continue in Study

This process relates to the University investigating whether or not a student is fit to continue with their studies at a particular moment in time. This will apply in situations where the student’s health, wellbeing and/or behaviour are having a detrimental impact on their ability to progress academically and function effectively at the University.

This process may be used when other processes have either been exhausted or are not considered appropriate. Examples of situations where the process may be used are:

  • If there is evidence that you have failed to engage with your studies and this has not been satisfactorily addressed through other interventions or processes.
  • There are serious concerns about your wellbeing
  • Your support needs are beyond the type or level of support which the University can reasonably be expected to provide - including, but not limited to, your health, wellbeing or financial needs.
  • Your behaviour is adversely affecting the activities of the University or placement provider
  • Your behaviour is seen to pose a risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself or others.
  • Your behaviour is negatively impacting the teaching, learning and/or experience of others.

Circumstances are not limited to the list above.

  • Level 1

    The process may used in place of the conduct regulations in cases where it is not deemed appropriate to use that process.

    You will be kept updated with any progress throughout the process if your are going through the Support to Continue in Study Procedure.

    At the start of the process when the concerns about you are raised, a meeting with you will be arranged at Level 1 of the process, with a relevant person who knows you, for example a Personal Tutor, Supervisor or module lead.

    You should be notified of the meeting and the concerns in writing by the member of staff who will be holding the meeting with you. A staff member from the Disability or Wellbeing Service may also be present. You are allowed to be accompanied to this meeting by a member of University Staff, another registered student of the University or the Chaplaincy.

    Within the meeting, the member conducting it should:

    1. explain the concern(s)
    2. discuss the perceived impact/implications on your wellbeing and support to study
    3. gather an initial understanding of your perception of the matter
    4. allow you the opportunity to respond to the concern(s)
    5. identify any related support needs you may have
    6. agree an appropriate time-bound action plan setting out the ways in which the concerns will be managed including any obligations on your part (e.g. in respect of their engagement with their studies, conduct, or additional supports the they should seek)
    7. identify and agree review and follow-up arrangements.

    After the meeting, it is expected that the following happen:

    • A written record of the meeting, agreed actions, follow-up and review outcomes should be recorded by the lead staff member and shared with you and any other attendees at the meeting;
    • If deemed appropriate information can be shared with appropriate University staff, your GP or external organisation,  in line with the University’s Student Privacy Notice.
    • If you do not attend the meeting, the lead staff member should notify a senior member of staff in the School or Directorate and then contact Student Disability and Wellbeing Services for further advice and guidance as in line with the Student Support Protocol.

    If Level 1 of the process does not arrive at a conclusion that the University feels will resolve the initial concerns, the process may be escalated to Level 2.

  • Level 2

    Usually this will only be utilised if the concerns raised under Level 1 are still present despite intervention and/or the concerns are perceived to be of a serious (or potentially serious) nature.

    Where Level 2 interventions are seen to be necessary, the member of staff leading the process will usually aim to arrange a further meeting within 5 working days. They aim to do this as soon as possible to avoid the concerns escalating further and as a consideration to your wellbeing. Again, you are permitted to be accompanied to this meeting.

    At this meeting, the member of staff should:

    1. explain and/ or review the concern(s)
    2. discuss and/or review the perceived impact/implications on your wellbeing and fitness to study
    3. gather or get an up-to-date understanding of your perception of the matter
    4. allow you the opportunity to respond to the concern(s)
    5. identify any related support needs you may have
    6. agree a referral to the University’s Occupational Health Service (OHS) on the grounds of Support to Study, as per the OHS Student at Risk of Support to Continue in Study/Practise Referral Pathway
    7. agree any further interim time-bound actions to help manage concerns while the OHS referral and assessment process is undertaken including; any obligations expected of you (e.g. in respect of their engagement with your studies, conduct, or additional supports you should seek).

    After the meeting:

    • A written record of the meeting, agreed actions, follow-up and review outcomes should be recorded by the lead staff member and shared with all attendees at the meeting;
    • If deemed appropriate information can be shared with appropriate University staff, your GP or external organisation,  in line with the University’s Student Privacy Notice.

    You will usually be required to attend an Occupational Health Assessment at some stage after this meeting. Upon receipt of the OH report the member of staff leading the process will arrange a follow-up meeting with you to discuss the OH report recommendations.

    You should also be notified of this meeting in writing and your right to be accompanied. If you are required to attend an Occupational Health Assessment and fail to do so, a decision regarding your support to continue in study will be made in the absence of any independent medical evidence.  

    As a result of the meeting and the OH report recommendations the following determinations can be decided, but are not limited to;

    1. Implementation of reasonable adjustments and appropriate support arrangements to be reviewed periodically
    2. A recommendation is made that you take a voluntary temporary withdrawal from your studies or the relevant area of activity (e.g. student accommodation)
    3. A decision is made that requires you to take a temporary withdrawal from your studies, placement, overseas study or other University related activity
    4. You are permitted to continue your studies on a part-time basis or to study away from the University if this is practicable
    5. Imposing a formal suspension from study for a stated period of time and/or exclusion from specified University facilities/activities, with or without conditions for any subsequent return to study or readmission to those facilities of activities
    6. Termination of your studies at the University.

    The outcome should be presented to you in the meeting and in writing after. If an outcome cannot be decided upon in the meeting, it should be explained to you clearly why this is and you should be given a timeframe in which you should expect the outcome. The outcome should then be communicated to you within the agreed time frame.

    Requesting a Review 

    If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Level 2 meeting and subsequent decision regarding your support to study, they can request a review of this. The review request must be submitted in writing to the Appeals and Complaints Team (appeals@qub.ac.uk) within ten working days of receiving the outcome.

    This will be reviewed by a panel made up of the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Students and Education (or nominee), the Director of Academic and Student Affairs (or nominee) and a member of academic staff. You will be invited to present your case to the panel if you wish, though this is not compulsory  - you can choose to allow them to review the review request on paperwork alone. They will aim to review the decision within 10 working days of receipt of the review request and will provide five working days notice in advance of any meeting.

    The decision of the review panel is final and there is no further internal route of appeal.

    Should you get to the end of the review request process and remain dissatisfied or your request be rejected by either the Sifting or Review Panels, then your only option will be to submit a complaint to the Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman (NIPSO). You would need to submit a complaint to them on the basis of maladministration and provide evidence that the University did not follow its own procedures correctly.

    Complaints to NIPSO must be made within six months of the date you received your final outcome letter. Complaints submitted outside of this time are likely to be rejected.

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