Detailed guidance is available for staff, students and Conduct Investigators.
This guidance covers:
The Conduct team has also created a useful summary to the guidance, which staff may find useful.
In the first instance, we encourage a supportive approach towards students so that they understand what is expected of them, for example reminding them to wear a face covering where it is required (and they are not exempt from doing so) or reminding them of the physical distancing requirements if they are too close to you or others. Patrol Officers will also have authority to issue COVID-19 Cautions to students who are not following the COVID-19 requirements. A COVID-19 Caution will be used to reinforce the importance of complying with the COVID-19 health and safety requirements and advise students that formal action may be taken in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct if they fail to alter their behaviours.
However, a student’s persistent and/or serious alleged breaches of COVID-19 requirements will not be tolerated and should be reported to the Student Progress Team (Student Conduct) for review in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct.
Referrals under the Code should be made where there has been a serious and/or persistent breach. An example of serious behaviour might be acting in a disorderly, violent or threatening way when asked to follow protection measures, deliberately coughing on another person, failing to self-isolate when required or any other serious behaviours that are likely to cause injury or impair safety on University premises. A case is persistent when undesirable behaviour continues after informal advice has been given to the individual and they have been given a chance to modify their behaviour at this informal stage. Colleagues will need to exercise judgement about when that point has been reached.
Persistent and/or serious alleged breaches of the Code will be managed in accordance with the Code. For further information please see the detailed guidance for managing COVID-19 related allegations of misconduct and the Code of Student Conduct.
Reports of serious and/or persistent alleged misconduct linked to COVID-19 may be submitted via Report and Support, Campus Security, to COVID19@essex.ac.uk or to the Student Progress Team (Student Conduct) directly at studentconduct@essex.ac.uk.
Please complete an Incident Report Form (.doc) with as much information as possible. This should include:
All reports referred to the Student Progress Team (Student Conduct) or received directly will be reviewed and appropriate action taken. You will be informed when your case is concluded, but will not be given full details of disciplinary action taken in accordance with the Code due to confidentiality.
If you have questions about the conduct processes, in the first instance you should refer to the detailed guidance for managing COVID-19 related allegations of misconduct and the Code of Student Conduct.
Any further questions should be directed to studentconduct@essex.ac.uk.
Questions or concerns about the University’s approach to COVID-19 protections measures should be directed to COVID19@essex.ac.uk in the first instance.