Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER II
pp. 194–199
MATRICULATION, RESIDENCE, ADMISSION TO DEGREES, DISCIPLINE

In this section

DISCIPLINE

General

Amended by Grace 4 of 26 July 2017

Whereas it is the duty of the University to maintain good order and discipline within the University:

1. No member of the University shall intentionally or recklessly disrupt or impede or attempt to disrupt or impede the activities and functions of the University, or any part thereof, or of any College.

2. No member of the University shall intentionally or recklessly impede freedom of speech or lawful assembly within the Precincts of the University. No member of the University shall intentionally or recklessly fail to give any notice which is required to be given to a University officer or a University authority under the terms of a code of practice issued under the provisions of section 43 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986.

3. No member of the University shall intentionally occupy or use any property of the University or of any College except as may be expressly or by implication authorized by the University or College authorities concerned.

4. No member of the University shall intentionally or recklessly damage or deface or knowingly misappropriate any property of the University or of any College.

5. No member of the University shall intentionally or recklessly endanger the safety, health, or property of any member, officer, or employee of the University within the Precincts of the University.

6. (a) No member of the University shall engage in the harassment of:

  1. (i)a member, officer, or employee of the University or a College; or
  1. (ii)any other person where the harassment takes place either within the Precincts of the University or in the course of a University or College activity.
  1. (b)Harassment shall include single or repeated incidents involving unwanted and unwarranted conduct towards another person which is reasonably likely to have the effect of (i) violating that other’s dignity or (ii) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for that other.8

7. No candidate shall make use of unfair means in any University examination. Unfair means shall include plagiarism1 and, unless such possession is specifically authorized, the possession of any book, paper or other material relevant to the examination. No member of the University shall assist a candidate to make use of such unfair means.

8. No member of the University shall forge or falsify or knowingly make improper use of any degree certificate or other document attesting to academic achievement, or knowingly make false statements concerning standing or concerning results in examinations.

9. All members of the University shall comply with any instruction given by a University officer, or by any other person authorized to act on behalf of the University, in the proper discharge of his or her duties.

10. All members of the University shall state their names and the Colleges to which they belong when asked by a Proctor or Pro-Proctor, or by any other person in authority in the University or in any of the Colleges in the University.

11. Regulations 1–10 above, the regulations for the initiation of proceedings under these regulations, the regulations for motor vehicles, and the regulations for bicycles and boats, shall apply to persons in statu pupillari who have not matriculated as if such persons were members of the University.

Notice by the General Board

University-wide statement on plagiarism

The General Board, with the agreement of the Board of Examinations and the Board of Graduate Studies, has issued this guidance for the information of candidates, Examiners, and Supervisors. It may be supplemented by course-specific guidance from Faculties and Departments.

Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one’s own work, irrespective of intent to deceive, that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement. It is both poor scholarship and a breach of academic integrity.

Examples of plagiarism include copying (using another person’s language and/or ideas as if they are a candidate’s own), by:

quoting verbatim another person’s work without due acknowledgement of the source;

paraphrasing another person’s work by changing some of the words, or the order of the words, without due acknowledgement of the source;

using ideas taken from someone else without reference to the originator;

cutting and pasting from the Internet to make a pastiche of online sources;

submitting someone else’s work as part of a candidate’s own without identifying clearly who did the work. For example, buying or commissioning work via professional agencies such as ‘essay banks’ or ‘paper mills’, or not attributing research contributed by others to a joint project.

Plagiarism might also arise from colluding with another person, including another candidate, other than as permitted for joint project work (i.e. where collaboration is concealed or has been forbidden). A candidate should include a general acknowledgement where he or she has received substantial help, for example with the language and style of a piece of written work.

Plagiarism can occur in respect to all types of sources and media:

text, illustrations, musical quotations, mathematical derivations, computer code, etc.;

material downloaded from websites or drawn from manuscripts or other media;

published and unpublished material, including lecture handouts and other students’ work.

Acceptable means of acknowledging the work of others (by referencing, in footnotes, or otherwise) is an essential component of any work submitted for assessment, whether written examination, dissertation, essay, registration exercise, or group coursework. The most appropriate method for attribution of others’ work will vary according to the subject matter and mode of assessment. Faculties or Departments should issue written guidance on the relevant scholarly conventions for submitted work, and also make it clear to candidates what level of acknowledgement might be expected in written examinations. Candidates are required to familiarize themselves with this guidance, to follow it in all work submitted for assessment, whether written paper or submitted essay, and may be required to sign a declaration to that effect. If a candidate has any outstanding queries, clarification should be sought from her or his Director of Studies, Course Director, or Supervisor as appropriate.

Failure to conform to the expected standards of scholarship (e.g. by not referencing sources) in examinations or assessed work may affect the mark given to the candidate’s work. In addition, suspected cases of the use of unfair means (of which plagiarism is one form) will be investigated and may be brought to one of the University courts or disciplinary panels. The University courts and disciplinary panels have wide powers to discipline those found to have used unfair means in an examination, including depriving such persons of membership of the University, and deprivation of a degree.

The University makes use of text-matching software for the purpose of plagiarism education and detection, and reserves the right to submit a candidate’s work to such a service. For this purpose, candidates consent to the submission of their papers to the service and for the submitted papers to form part of the service’s comparative source work database. To facilitate use of the service, students (and participating Examiners and Assessors) may be required to agree to the service provider’s end-user agreement and provide a limited amount of personal data upon registration to the service, for instance, their name, email address, and course details.

Fines

The Board of Examinations, the Information Services Committee and the Library Syndicate shall have power to impose a fine not exceeding £175 on any person who infringes the regulations for those bodies or the rules made by them under those regulations.

Motor Vehicles

1. A member of the University in statu pupillari shall not keep, use, or cause to be kept for his or her use any motor vehicle other than a moped within ten miles of Great St Mary's Church while in residence in term or in the Long Vacation period of residence, unless he or she shall have obtained, on his or her Tutor's written recommendation, a licence for that vehicle signed by the Special Pro-Proctor for motor vehicles. The Special Pro-Proctor may issue such a licence to any member of the University in statu pupillari who is a graduate of a university, or who has the status of Bachelor of Arts, or who has kept (or been allowed) nine terms by residence, or to whom the Proctors decide that its issue is warranted by exceptional individual circumstances.

2. A member of the University in statu pupillari who is not qualified to hold a licence under Regulation 1 may, on the written recommendation of his or her Tutor, be granted a licence to keep a motor vehicle to be used for the purposes of a University Department or of a University or College club or society, or for any other purpose approved by the Special Pro-Proctor, provided that the application be supported in writing, in the case of a University Department by the Head of the Department, and in the case of a University or College club or society, by the committee of the club or society.

3. A licence shall normally be valid until the end of the academical year in which it is issued but it may be suspended or revoked at any time by the Special Pro-Proctor, subject to an appeal to the Discipline Board.

4. An application for a licence must be made within seven days of the vehicle being brought within a ten-mile radius of Great St Mary's Church, or, if it is already within that radius, within seven days of its coming into the possession of the applicant, or within the first seven days of Full Michaelmas Term if the application is for a renewal.

5. A licence shall at all times be prominently displayed on the vehicle for which it is issued.

6. The issue of a licence may be conditional upon the person to whom it is issued being covered by insurance on behalf of passengers, and upon restrictions on the garaging and parking of a vehicle for which it is issued.

7. These regulations for motor vehicles shall not apply to

  1. (a)the use of motor vehicles licensed by the Cambridgeshire Police Authority, or in charge of or driven by tradesmen or their employees,
  2. (b)the hiring of motor vehicles, or the receiving of driving instruction, from firms appearing on lists maintained by the Special Pro-Proctor.

8. The Special Pro-Proctor shall have power to impose a fine not exceeding £175 for an offence against any of these regulations or for a breach of any condition made by the Special Pro-Proctor under Regulation 6.

Bicycles and Boats

1. A member of the University in statu pupillari shall not keep, or cause to be kept for his or her use, a bicycle within the Precincts of the University, unless it bears a distinguishing mark in accordance with instructions to be issued from time to time by the Proctors.

2. A member of the University in statu pupillari shall not keep, or cause to be kept for his or her use, a boat to be used within the Precincts of the University, unless it is registered annually with the Conservators of the River Cam and bears a distinguishing mark in accordance with instructions to be issued from time to time by the Proctors.

Clubs and Societies

1. Any club or society consisting wholly or partly of members of the University in statu pupillari may apply to the Junior Proctor for registration as a University society. A club or society applying for registration shall submit to the Junior Proctor a statement of its current financial position and a copy of its constitution. The Junior Proctor may refer such an application to the Societies Syndicate. If the Junior Proctor refuses to register a club or society the club or society may appeal to the Societies Syndicate, who may if they think fit register the club or society.

2. All registered clubs or societies shall deposit any changes in their constitution with the Junior Proctor, and shall notify him or her of any change of officers.

3. Every registered club or society shall deposit by 31 December each year with the Junior Proctor a copy of its accounts for the previous academical year audited either professionally or by a resident member of the Senate or by a person approved for this purpose by the Junior Proctor.

4. A club or society whose constitution requires it to have a Senior Treasurer shall not amend its constitution so as to remove this requirement without obtaining the prior approval of the Junior Proctor and submitting to the Junior Proctor a statement of its current financial position.

5. Any club or society sanctioned by the Proctors before these regulations take effect shall be deemed to have been registered in accordance with these regulations.

6. Any registration granted or deemed to have been granted under these regulations may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Junior Proctor, subject to a right of appeal by the club or society to the Societies Syndicate.

7. No club or society consisting wholly or partly of members of the University in statu pupillari, whether registered under the provisions of these regulations or not, shall, while occupying University premises, engage in trade without the permission of the Finance Committee of the Council. The Finance Committee may make such permission conditional on the submission to them of annual audited accounts or subject to such other conditions (including the condition that the club or society shall be registered as a limited liability company) as the Finance Committee may deem desirable in the interests of the University or of its members. For the purpose of this regulation

  1. (a)the term ‘trade’ shall include the buying or selling of goods or services, whether for profit or otherwise, but shall not include the sale of tickets for admission to a public performance given by a club or society, or the sale of any paper, magazine, or journal published by a club or society or of advertising space in such a publication;
  2. (b)the term ‘occupying’ shall not include the occasional hiring of University premises.

8. These regulations shall not apply to sports clubs.2

Meetings and Public Gatherings on University Premises

Code of practice issued under section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 19863

Section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986, referring to freedom of speech4 in universities, polytechnics, and colleges, requires the Council to issue and keep up to date a code of practice to be followed by members, students, and employees of the University for the organization of meetings and other events, which are to be held on University premises, and for the conduct required of members, students, and employees of the University in connection with such meetings, etc. This Code of Practice therefore applies to all members, students, and employees of the University, in respect of all University premises, which for the purposes of this Code includes Cambridge University Students’ Union and the Graduate Union. Outdoor, as well as indoor, meetings and events on University premises are included.

Members of the University are reminded that alleged breaches of the general regulations for discipline and other alleged offences against the discipline of the University may be brought by the University Advocate before the University Tribunal, the Discipline Committee, or the Discipline Board, as appropriate.

Authority and approval processes for meetings and events on University premises

Authority is required for meetings and events to be held on University premises, whether indoors or out of doors. In the case of accommodation assigned to a single Faculty or Department, the permission of the relevant Faculty or Departmental authorities is required. In the case of accommodation not so assigned, permission must be obtained from the central University authority responsible for the accommodation concerned and, if a room is to be reserved, a booking must be made through that authority 〈at least fourteen working days in advance of the proposed event. Further details of who to contact are available in the Event Booking Guide at http://www.[     ]〉.5

It is anticipated that, in the vast majority of cases, the authority in question will straightforwardly consider the request as part of normal business.

However, in the exceptional circumstances that the authority in question considers that the holding of the event might reasonably be refused solely because of the duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, there is a process of escalation to a Referral Group to be followed before permission may be refused. Only the Referral Group may refuse permission on this basis. The request should be forwarded to the Referral Group6 (email: [     ]@admin.cam.ac.uk)7 with a statement of the concerns. This referral should be made at least seven working days in advance of the proposed event. Members of the University who are concerned that a particular forthcoming event should be escalated to the Referral Group may do so directly. The Referral Group will, in consultation as necessary, determine whether the event can go ahead as originally planned, or in alternative premises, at a later date or in a different format. Only in exceptional circumstances and when the Referral Group considers that there are risks which cannot be mitigated or the event organizer refuses to meet any conditions imposed, will permission be withheld. An organizer who is unhappy with the Referral Group’s decision has the right of appeal to the Vice-Chancellor or to his or her appointed deputy for these purposes.

Any decision by the Referral Group that an event proposed to be held in the University is not to take place, or may only take place subject to conditions, is binding and takes precedence over any other permission which may have been given by any other body or officer in the University.

Organization and management of meetings and events on University premises

Once approved, the organizers of meetings and events must comply with any conditions set by the University authorities concerned for the organization of the meeting or other activity and the arrangements to be made. Such conditions may include the requirement that tickets should be issued for public meetings, that an adequate number of stewards should be available, that the police should be consulted and their advice taken about the arrangements, and that the time and place of the meeting should be changed. The cost of meeting the requirements, and the responsibility for fulfilling them, rests with the organizers.

Notification of Proctors

In addition to seeking the permission referred to above, the organizers of all meetings and events to be held on University premises which are to be addressed or attended by persons who are not resident members of the University (except for academic meetings organized by the authority of a Faculty or Department, or for any meetings or classes of meetings approved for the purpose by the Senior Proctor as being commonly or customarily held on University premises) are required to give notice to the Senior Proctor. This notice may be given on the form used to book University premises, a copy of which will be sent by the University authority concerned to the Senior Proctor. The organizers may also, if they wish, communicate directly with the Proctors to give further details. Information is required at least seven working days in advance (although the Senior Proctor may, at his or her discretion, agree to receive information closer to the time of the meeting than this). The information needed is the date and time of the meeting, the place, the names, addresses, and Colleges (if any) of the organizers, the name of the organization making the arrangements, and the name of any expected speaker, whether or not a member of the University.

The organizers of any meeting must comply with instructions given by a Proctor, by any other University officer, or by any other person authorized to act on behalf of the University, in the proper discharge of his or her duties. The attention of members of the University is drawn to Regulations 9 and 10 of the general regulations for discipline.

Colleges

The provisions of section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986 apply also to the Colleges in respect of their own members, students, and employees, and in respect of visiting speakers. Colleges are also subject to the duties under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, as described in the University’s Statement on Freedom of Speech9. Each College is requested by the University to name a senior member who will be responsible for enforcing the provisions of both the above Acts in that College and will co-operate as necessary with the Proctors. Members of the University are reminded that University disciplinary regulations apply on College premises as elsewhere in the Precincts of the University. A College may invite the Proctors to enter its premises.

The attention of organizers of public meetings and assemblies is drawn to sections 11 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, concerning processions and assemblies. Other legal requirements may affect the conduct of meetings, etc. A speaker, for example, who incites an audience to violence or to a breach of the peace or to racial hatred is breaking the law. Equally, assemblies of persons, even if directed to lawful purposes, cease to be lawful if they cause serious public disorder or breaches of the peace. Attention is also drawn to the provisions of the Licensing Acts, which apply to certain University premises, including the University Centre. These Acts require the licensee to maintain good order on licensed premises, and give the licensee the power to expel persons from the premises if he or she considers it necessary.

The application of this Code

Any person who is in any doubt about the application of this Code of Practice to any meeting or public gathering in the University is under an obligation to consult the Senior Proctor, who, in consultation with the officers of the Registrary’s Office, will determine whether the provisions of the Code apply.

Footnotes

  1. 1. Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one's own work, irrespective of intent to deceive, that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement.a
  2. 2. See the regulations for the University Sports Committee (p. 142). This regulation will come into effect on a date agreed by the Junior Proctor and the Chair of the University Sports Committee.a
  3. 3. Section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986 was reproduced in Reporter, 1986–87, p. 578.a
  4. 4. See the University Statement on Freedom of Speech: http://www.registrarysoffice.admin.cam.ac.uk/governance-and-strategy/university-statement-freedom-speech.a
  5. 5. The text in angular brackets will be added once the Event Booking Guide is available.a
  6. 6. The Referral Group has the following membership: The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Institutional and International Relations) as the University's Prevent lead; the Head of the Registrary's Office (as the Prevent contact); the Senior Proctor; the Academic Secretary; a student representative; and a member of the Legal Services Office.a
  7. 7. The email address for the Referral Group will be added once it is available.a
  8. 8. See also: Procedure for handling cases of student harassment and sexual misconduct (p. 218).a
  9. 9. See the University Statement on Freedom of Speech: http://www.registrarysoffice.admin.cam.ac.uk/governance-and-strategy/university-statement-freedom-speech.a