Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER II
pp. 211–212
MATRICULATION, RESIDENCE, ADMISSION TO DEGREES, DISCIPLINE

SEPTEMVIRI

Appointment.

1. Except as provided by Statute U, V, 3, members of the Court of the Septemviri shall be appointed as follows:

  1. (a)the Chairman shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for four years from 1 January following his or her appointment;
  2. (b)in each year three Septemviri shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for two years from 1 January following their appointment.

2. The Registrary, or a deputy appointed by the Registrary, shall act as Clerk of the Septemviri.

Notice of appeal.

3. Any person who wishes to institute an appeal to the Septemviri under the provisions of Statute B, VI or Statute U, V shall send to the Clerk of the Septemviri a notice in writing setting out the grounds of appeal and stating whether the appeal is in respect of the whole or in respect of any specified part of any finding of fact, decision, or sentence. In the proceedings of an appeal the appellant shall not be entitled, except with the leave of the Septemviri, to rely on any grounds of appeal not specified in the notice of appeal.

4. When an appeal to the Septemviri is instituted, the Chairman of the Septemviri shall appoint a date, time, and place for the hearing of the appeal. The Chairman shall have power, if the circumstances require it, to cancel a hearing so arranged at any time before the commencement of the hearing, and to appoint a different date, time, and place.

Parties.

5. The parties to an appeal shall be:

  1. (a)the appellant;
  2. (b)(i)in the case of an appeal against a decision of a competent authority under Statute U, II, the competent authority;
  3. (ii)in the case of an appeal against a decision of the University Tribunal or any other University court, or of a Medical Board, or an appeal arising from proceedings before such a body, the University Advocate or other person who was responsible for presenting the case to the Tribunal or other body;
  4. (iii)in the case of an appeal against a disciplinary decision of any other University authority, the authority concerned;
  5. (iv)in the case of an appeal against any dismissal of a University officer otherwise than in pursuance of Statute U, II, III, or IV, the competent authority concerned;
  6. (c)any other person added as a party by the Septemviri or by the Chairman of the Septemviri, either on application or otherwise.

6. When a hearing has been arranged, the Clerk shall send to each party

  1. (a)a notice of the hearing which shall contain information and guidance concerning attendance at the hearing, the bringing of documents, representation by another person, and the calling of fresh evidence;
  2. (b)a copy of the notice provided by the appellant under Regulation 3.

7. Any party to an appeal shall be entitled to be represented by another person, whether such person is legally qualified or not, in connection with and at the hearing of the appeal.

8. An appeal shall not be determined without an oral hearing at which the appellant and his or her representative, if any, are entitled to be present.

Admission to hearing.

9. The Septemviri may sit either in public or in camera at the discretion of the Chairman, provided that if the appellant so requests they shall normally sit in camera. The Septemviri shall have power, if they think it appropriate in the circumstances, to hear appeals by two or more parties at the same hearing.

10. The Septemviri shall have power to proceed with a hearing in the absence of any of the persons entitled to be present and, notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 8, the Chairman shall have power to exclude any person from a hearing if in the opinion of the Chairman such exclusion is necessary for the maintenance of order.

Conduct of hearing.

11. Each party to a hearing before the Septemviri shall be entitled to make a statement and to address the Septemviri; but witnesses may not be called save with the consent of the Septemviri. Leave to adduce fresh evidence, or to recall witnesses examined at first instance, shall be given only if the Septemviri are satisfied that it is necessary or expedient in the interests of justice.

12. Subject to the provisions of Statute B, VI and Statute U, V, and of these Ordinances, the Septemviri shall have power to regulate their own procedure. The Chairman may set time-limits for each stage of the proceedings, and any meeting of the Septemviri may be postponed or adjourned at the discretion of the Chairman. It shall be the duty of the Septemviri and of the Chairman to ensure that any appeal is heard and determined as expeditiously as is reasonably practicable.

13. The Chairman of the Septemviri shall not impose under Statute B, VI, 20 any fine exceeding £175.

14. The Septemviri shall have power to allow or dismiss an appeal, or to dismiss an appeal for want of prosecution, or to remit an appeal for further consideration in accordance with the provisions of Statute U, V, 8.

15. The Clerk of the Septemviri shall be entitled to be present throughout the hearing and at any meeting of the Septemviri, and shall keep a sufficient record of the proceedings.

Decision.

16. The decision of the Septemviri shall be recorded in a document signed by the Chairman which shall contain:

  1. (a)any findings of fact which differ from those reached by any other University authority which has previously considered the case;
  2. (b)the reasons for the decision of the Septemviri;
  3. (c)any penalty determined by them.

17. The Clerk of the Septemviri shall send a copy of the document specified in Regulation 16 to the Vice-Chancellor, the appellant, and the other parties to the appeal.

18. The Chairman shall have power by certificate under his or her hand to correct in documents recording the decisions of the Septemviri any clerical errors arising therein from accidental mistakes or omissions.