CHAPTER 20

 

STUDENT PROGRESS AND COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE

 

20.1        Terms of Reference

 

(i)      To consider appeals or representations from students whose registrations have been terminated normally on the grounds of:

 

(a)          procedural irregularity at the Faculty/ Centre/ Cluster Board;

(b)         new evidence, which could not have been available at the Faculty/ Centre/ Cluster Board;

 

(ii)         To permit those students whose appeals are allowed to remain in the University to proceed with their studies subject to such conditions as the Committee may impose.

 

(iii)    To consider cases of students whose registrations have not been terminated but who are appealing against other decision(s) of the Faculty/ Centre/ Cluster Board;

 

(iv)    To consider complaints from students pertaining to their Programmes of Studies (excluding review of examination scripts).

 

20.2        The Committee will not normally consider cases of students who have reached the end of the maximum allowable period of study.

 

20.3        The Student Progress and Complaints Committee reports directly to Senate subject to section 20.9.12.

 

20.4        Composition of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee

 

The Student Progress and Complaints Committee (SPCC) will comprise the following members for a period of 2 years:

 

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (T&L)

Chairperson

Two Deans of Faculty not involved in the case(s) nominated by the Vice-Chancellor

Members

Three members of the academic staff appointed by Senate

Members

Students’ Representative on Senate/ T&L/ Discipline Committee (in order of priority)

Member

Registrar’s Representative

Secretary

 

20.5        The Committee shall have the power to co-opt other member(s) of staff of the University, or other person(s), as the Committee considers appropriate.

 

20.6        The Chairperson of the Committee is empowered to decide which items of business should be reserved items.

 

20.7        The quorum for the Committee shall be four.

 

20.8        Neither the Dean/ Director of the relevant Faculty/ Centre nor any other member directly related with the student’s studies shall participate in or be present at the decision of the Committee. S/he may provide information and respond to questions by the Committee.

 

20.9        Operational Guidelines for the Student Progress and Complaints Committee

 

20.9.1     All appeals and complaints by students shall be made in writing to the Registrar who will forward them to the Chairperson of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee.

 

20.9.2     Complaints pertaining to Programmes of Studies should be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office before the start of examinations.

 

20.9.3     The Chairperson of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee reserves the right to refer appeals or complaints to other instances as appropriate, e.g. Faculty/ Centre/ Central Administration (VC, Registrar as appropriate).

 

20.9.4     The student should submit the following documents:

 

(i)      a written statement giving full details of her/his case to be considered;

 

(ii)     documentary evidence to support her/his case under consideration, e.g. any extenuating circumstances, which the student thinks may have affected her/his performance.

 

20.9.5     A written acknowledgement should be sent to the student by the Registrar’s Office within two weeks after receipt of the letter from the latter.

 

20.9.6     The outcome(s) or any action(s) to be taken in case of appeals or complaints referred and dealt at instances other than the SPCC, should be notified to the Chairperson of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee, within fifteen days of referral of the case, for appropriate and necessary action.

 

20.9.7     All appeals and complaints of students that cannot be dealt at Faculty/ Centre/ Central Administration (VC, Registrar as appropriate) level and appeals and complaints dealt unsatisfactorily by the latter will be considered by the Student Progress and Complaints Committee.

 

20.9.8     The Student Progress and Complaints Committee may give a hearing to the student, if necessary. The student may also be called for a hearing when her/his case has been referred to other instances.  No member directly related with the student’s appeal(s) or complaint(s) shall participate in or be present at the deliberation. S/he may however provide information and respond to questions.

 

20.9.9     After consideration of the case, the Student Progress and Complaints Committee may make one of the following decisions:

 

(i)           the student be permitted to proceed with her/his studies with or without conditions;

(ii)         the student be required to withdraw permanently;

(iii)       the student be permitted to repeat her/his year of study;

(iv)       remedial action(s) be taken by Central Administration (VC, Registrar as appropriate) or Dean/ Director of the Faculty/ Centre;

(v)         not entertain the complaint.

 

20.9.10   The recommendation(s) of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee regarding progress of students will be forwarded to Senate for approval.

 

20.9.11   Students shall have no right to appeal against the recommendation(s) of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee as approved by Senate.

 

20.9.12   The recommendation(s) of the Student Progress and Complaints Committee regarding complaints of students against staff will be forwarded to the Vice-Chancellor for appropriate action.

 

20.9.13   Students submitting frivolous complaints (e.g. unsubstantiated allegations) may be referred to the Discipline Committee for appropriate action.

 

 


COMMITTEES oN WHICH STUDENTS ARE REPRESENTED

 

Membership of Council

 

The Pro-Chancellor as Chairperson

The Vice-Chancellor

The Pro-Vice-Chancellors

A Dean of Faculty to serve by rotation

An elected representative of the academic staff of the University

An elected representative of the non-academic staff of the University

An elected representative of the students of the University

Prime Minister’s Nominees

 

Membership of Senate

 

The Vice-Chancellor - Chairperson

The Pro-Vice-Chancellors

The Deans of Faculty

One Departmental Head from each Faculty to be nominated by the Faculty Board

The Chief Librarian

All Professors of the University holding appointment on the permanent and pensionable establishment

Three persons associated with research or teaching nominated by the Senate

Three persons appointed by Council

One representative of the Students’ Union

In Attendance: Directors/ Principals of Partner Institutions, Directors of Centres (VCILT, CITS, CPDL), Director Quality Assurance, Budget Director

Registrar’s representative as Secretary

 

Membership of Teaching and Learning Committee

 

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (T&L) as Chairperson

Deans of Faculty

Directors/ Principals of Partner Institutions (MIE, MGI, SSR Medical College, SAC)

Directors of Centres (CPDL, VCILT, CITS)

Director, Quality Assurance

Students’ Representative from Senate

In Attendance: Representative of Admissions and Student Records Office, Administrative Assistants of all Faculties

Co-opted members as and when required

Administrative Assistant (Pro-VC/ Registrar’s Office) as Secretary

 

Membership of Discipline Committee

 

Two Deans nominated by Vice-Chancellor, one of them to be elected as Chairperson

Three Members not being students appointed by Senate

Two Students’ Union Representatives appointed by Senate

 

Membership of Appeals Committee

 

A Pro-Vice-Chancellor - Chairperson (to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor)

Three Senate members not being students appointed by Senate

The Students’ Representative on Senate

 

 

 

Membership Faculty Board

 

Dean of Faculty - Chairperson

The Chief Librarian or Representative

All Professors of the Faculty

All Heads of Department of the Faculty

One Representative from each Department of the Faculty

The Students’ Representative

Administrative Assistant as Secretary

 

Membership of Library Committee

 

Chief Librarian - Chairperson

One Representative from each Faculty

A Representative of Library

One Students’ Union representative from each Faculty

Librarian or representative of Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute

A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources

A representative of the Mauritius Institute of Education

The Director or Appointee of Mauritius Institute

The Chief Archivist or Representative

A representative of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute

 

Student Progress and Complaints Committee

 

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (T&L) - Chairperson

Two Deans of Faculty not involved in the case(s) nominated by the Vice-Chancellor

Three members of academic staff appointed by Senate

Students’ Representative on Senate/ T&L/ Discipline Committee (in order of priority)

Registrar’s Representative as Secretary

 

Departmental Programme Board of Studies

 

Head of the Department/ Unit Coordinator - Chairperson

All full-time academic staff of the Department/ Unit

Programme Coordinator(s)

Two student representatives (of whom at least one should not be in the final year) to be nominated by and from students undertaking the Programme

Administrative Assistant as Secretary

 

Interdisciplinary Programme Board of Studies

 

Dean/ Centre Director or representative where the Programme is or will be on offer - Chairperson

Head of the Department coordinating the Programme

All Heads of Department whose modules (excluding CSE 1010e and GEMs) will appear or appear clearly in the Programme Plan or their representatives

A minimum of four members of academic staff nominated by the Head(s) of Department, drawn from the principal participating Departments/ Units including Partner Institutions, in approximate proportion to the number of credits contributing or to be contributing to the Programme as per Programme Plan

Programme Coordinator(s)

Two student representatives (of whom at least one should not be in the final year) to be nominated by and from students undertaking the Programme

Administrative Assistant as Secretary

                    


Cafeteria Supervisory Committee

 

Administrative Assistant - Chairperson

Representative of USU

Representative of Budget Director’s Office

Representative of UTU

Representative of UMASU

Services Superintendent

Managing Director of Cafeteria

Students’ Union Representative

Principal Executive Assistant as Secretary

 

Sports Committee

 

One Member of the Academic Staff - Chairperson

Administrative Assistant

Representative of Budget Director’s Office

Representative of University Staff Club

Representative of UMASU

Services Superintendent

3 Students’ Union Representatives

Sports Organiser

Sports Officer

 


ACADEMIC DRESS

 

Honorary Degrees

 

Doctor of Civil Law

Doctor of Literature

Doctor of Science

Red gown with pointed cape type sleeves as follows:

 

DCL     Silver Grey

DLitt    Mid Blue

DSc      Gold

 

Gold hoods lined with sleeve colour.

Black square cap with tassel coloured as sleeve.

 

Doctor of Philosophy

Maroon gown with pointed cape style sleeves.

Grey facings.

Black hood lined with grey.

Black brimmed academic cap with velvet crown.

 

Master

Dark green gown with cape sleeves.

Black hood lined for each Faculty/ Partner Institution as follows:

 

Agriculture                                            Green

Engineering                                           Yellow

Law and Management                       Red

Science                                                  Blue

Social Studies and Humanities         Beige

MGI                                                       Fuschia

MIE                                                        Rust Coloured

SAC                                                        Orange

SSR Medical College                          Light Blue

 

Black square cap with green tassel.

 

Bachelor

Black gown with pointed cape type sleeves.

Black hood lined according to Faculty/ Partner Institution Colour as for Master. 

Black square cap with black tassel.

 

Undergraduate

Black gown with bell shaped sleeves. 

Black square cap with black tassel.