Skip to main content
Glendon Campus Alumni Research Giving to York Media Careers International York U Lions Accessibility
Future Students Current Students Faculty and Staff
Faculties Libraries York U Organization Directory Site Index Campus Maps
Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities

Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities

For your convenience, we have included the complete Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities document.

Summary of the Process

Non-academic student conduct falls under the jurisdiction of the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities. All students and student groups/governments are expected to conduct themselves in a way that promotes an atmosphere of civility, diversity, equity and respect in their interactions with others. Behaviour that is inconsistent with these values may be held accountable through the Code. It is the responsibility of Local Adjudicators and the University Tribunal to make decisions with regard to breaches of community values.

Filing a Complaint

Any student, staff or faculty member (a Complainant) may file a complaint under this Code, alleging a breach of community standards by a student. See the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities.

All Complaints should be directed to the Office of Student Conflict Resolution or the relevant Residence Local Adjudicator for review and then will be forwarded to a Local Adjudicator in the relevant College, Faculty, Residence or Administrative unit. Representatives of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution also act as Local Adjudicators.

All Complaints must be in writing and must include the Complainant's name. Anonymous Complaints will not be taken forward.

The Complaint must be filed within three months of the alleged violation of the Code unless the Local Adjudicator or the University Tribunal, upon first addressing the Complaint, considers it reasonable to extend that time limit.

Complaint Form (PDF)

Complaint against University Employees by students (PDF)

Overview of Process

Incident
Complaint
Filed by affected Community Member (Student, Staff or Faculty Member) online at www.yorku.ca/oscr.
Office of Student Conflict Resolution
Determines if complaint is possible. Code violation and if so, refers to appropriate resolution process.
Local Adjudicator
Assesses whether Complaint should be dismissed, investigated or referred to the University Tribunal.
Local Adjudicator Hearing
Meets with Complainant and Respondent, gathers information, makes a decision of responsibility and assigns sanction(s) where necessary. 		University Tribunal Hearing Responsible for hearings both parties, make a decision of responsibility and assign sanction(s) where necessary.
Request for a University Tribunal Hearing University Tribunal Hearing held if request is granted on appropriate grounds. Appeal
Appeal hearing held if appropriate grounds are demonstrated.

Local Adjudicator Decision-Making

Initially every complaint made under the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities will be directed to the Office of Student Conflict Resolution or to a Local Adjudicator in the relevant College, Faculty, Residence or Administrative Unit. For complaints that to do not inherently belong in one of those areas, the Local Adjudicator will be a representative of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution. Local Adjudicators will be appointed by the Vice-President Students.

The Local Adjudicator will gather the facts of the case. If the Local Adjudicator determines there has been a breach of the Code, sanctions may be imposed or the case may be sent to a University Tribunal Hearing.

The written decision of the Local Adjudicator will be provided to the Respondent and will be filed with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution. The Complainant will also be informed of the decision of the Local Adjudicator.

Request for a University Tribunal Hearing Following a Local Adjudicator's Decision

Following a decision of a Local Adjudicator, a Respondent may request a hearing before the University Tribunal on certain grounds. These grounds are outlined in Section 5c of the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities. The request must include detailed reasons and be in writing delivered to the University Tribunal, c/o the Director of Student Conduct, within 10 days after the date on which the Local Adjudicator's written decision was issued.

Request for a University Tribunal Hearing Form (PDF)

University Tribunal Hearing

The members of the Tribunal are students, faculty, and staff volunteers appointed by the Vice-President Students. Each Tribunal Hearing panel will be comprised of three persons, one of whom will be a student. They will elect a Chair for the proceedings.

A University Tribunal Hearing may be called:

  • If a Respondent has grounds to believe the Local Adjudicator has made a fundamental error in arriving at his/her decision.
  • If the Local Adjudicator feels it necessary to refer the Complaint to the University Tribunal level.

Tribunal hearings provide an opportunity for a balanced airing of facts. The hearings are held in “private”. The Tribunal Hearing panel is not bound to observe strict legal procedures, but in order to ensure that its procedures are as fair as possible in the context of University circumstances and traditions it shall comply with the procedural guidelines outlined in Section 6(b) of the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities.

For quick reference, review our information sheets

Appealing the Tribunal's Decision

  • Requests for appeals can be made by Respondents or the University.
  • Appeals must be sent in writing to the Director of Office of Student Conflict Resolution within 14 days of the original written decision.
  • Appellants may find it useful to use an APPEAL REQUEST FORM(PDF).

 

Office of Student Conflict Resolution
Telephone: (416) 736-5231
Fax: (416)736-5565
Location: W128 Bennett Centre for Student Services
Email: oscr@yorku.ca

A division of Student Community Development (SCD)