Rules & Regulations
Village CARE forms a living-learning community made up of individuals. Residents are expected to help to cultivate a stimulating, congenial and mutually supportive environment in the Village CARE and get involved actively in a wide variety of learning experiences along different themes of the College.
1. Interpretation In these Terms and Conditions:
“University” means the Hong Kong Baptist University.
“Student Residence” means all on-campus residential accommodations for students under the management of the University.
“VC” means Village CARE.
“VC Management” means any person authorized by the Director of Student Affairs, including but not limited to the Student Housing Manager and College Masters, to perform functions and duties in relation to the management of Village CARE.
“Resident” means a student of the University or any other person who is residing or who has accepted an offer of residence in a Student Residence.
2. Compliance with Terms and Conditions
2.1. Residents shall use the premises for the purpose of personal residence ONLY. Commercial activities are not allowed in the premises without prior permission of the VC Management.
2.2. Residents are prohibited to transfer, sublet or share their rooms or bed spaces or any part thereof to or with any other person. Any violation may result in immediate termination of Student Residence and / or lead to expulsion from the University.
2.3. Residents are not allowed to make any alternations and / or additions to their rooms. Residents shall observe and comply with the terms and conditions herein, Residents’ Code and VC Rules, any reasonable order of the College Master, and where appropriate, the Standards of Conduct and General Regulations of the University.
3. VC Admission
3.1. Application for VC shall be made in the manner prescribed by the University. Provision of false information in the application may lead to disqualification of the application and/or disciplinary action as appropriate.
3.2. The VC Management shall, in accordance with regulations and procedures approved by the University, admit Residents for one Academic Year or for such period as may be prescribed as appropriate.
4. Payment of VC Charges
4.1. Residents shall commit to residing at VC for the whole accommodation period which is specified and approved by the VC Management.
4.2. Lodging fee shall cover charges for accommodation in a bedroom/unit/apartment within the specified time-period and shall exclude charges for the use of laundry and other facilities of which separate charges are applicable and for the electricity consumed by certain facilities*. Residents who occupy another bed without proper authorization will be required to pay a rent of HK$50 per day for that extra bed.
* Charges for the electricity consumed by air-conditioners, refrigerators and sockets at the single rooms or 2-person rooms in a 2-person/3-person/4-person unit are not covered by lodging fee.
Charges for the electricity consumed by water heaters, exhaust fans and sockets outside the single rooms or 2-person rooms in a 2-person/3-person/4-person unit are not covered by accommodation fee.
Charges for the electricity consumed by air-conditioners and sockets at the single rooms in a 7-person apartment are not covered by accommodation fee.
Charges for the electricity consumed by air-conditioners, water heaters, exhaust fans, refrigerators, rangehood, pantry shared appliances and sockets outside the single rooms in a 7-person apartment are not covered by lodging fee.
5. Caution Money
5.1. Residents have to pay a caution money set out for the due observance and performance of the Terms and Conditions, VC Rules and Residents’ Code.
5.2. If any payable charges are not settled by a resident, VC Management shall deduct the charges from the resident’s caution money.
5.3. VC Management may deduct any compensation and / or penalty as a result of the resident’s breach of rules from the caution money without prejudice to any other right of action or any remedy of VC in respect of such breach made by the resident. In case of early termination of student residence, the paid caution money shall be totally forfeited.
5.4. After completion of the entire accommodation period, less any restitution charges for damage or loss of properties and / or penalty for breach of Terms and Conditions, VC Rules and Residents’ Code, caution money is refundable to a resident’s or his / her representative’s designated bank account (without interest) within 90 working days upon his / her checkout date.
6. Privileges of Residents
Residents who have settled the entire lodging fee or who have been permitted to make a deferred payment shall be entitled to reside at the assigned room of the VC during the residential period and are eligible to use the facilities in the premises.
7. Visitors
Subject to Residents’ Codes, Residents may invite visitors to VC. Residents shall accompany their visitors throughout their visits to VC and be responsible for the acts of their visitors.
8. Responsibilities and Liabilities for Injury and Damage
8.1. Residents shall keep the interior of the rooms/units/apartments in good condition (except normal wear and tear and damage caused by inherent defects) and keep the rooms/units/apartments clean and tidy. Residents shall deliver the rooms/units/apartments, which should be in the same condition upon their check-in, to the VC Management at time of check-out. They shall make good or pay on demand for any loss or damage to furniture, fittings, fabric, facilities, equipment and properties of the VC for which they are responsible, normal wear and tear excepted.
8.2. Residents shall take good care of anything they bring into VC. Personal belongings left unattended in public areas will be confiscated without prior notice. The confiscated items will be kept by the VC Management for 7 calendar days, after which any unclaimed items will be disposed of. Residents who wish to retrieve the confiscated items will be charged an administrative fee in accordance with the List of Miscellaneous Fees and Charges. Residents who are reported leaving personal belongings in the common areas will be recorded demerit points according to the Demerit Point Scheme.
8.3. Residents are advised to be vigilant in keeping valuables at VC All valuables should be locked in their assigned drawers or cabinets in their rooms when they are unattended. Neither the University, VC nor the VC Management shall be responsible for any loss of or damage to any property, goods, articles or things whatsoever brought into VC by the residents. Residents may consider insuring their properties placed inside their rooms.
8.4. VC shall not be held responsible for any injury sustained as a result of the unsafe actions of the residents inside VC.
9. Inspection and Maintenance of Rooms/Units/Apartments
9.1. The VC Management reserves the right to authorize entry into any rooms/units/apartments in Village CARE at any time with or without prior notification and presence of the residents to conduct inspection, maintenance or repair works to the facilities in rooms/units/apartments to ensure proper care, maintenance and safety of the facilities; to carry out routine cleaning; conduct routine checking of students participating in the Local & Non-local Pairing Scheme and to conduct investigation if there is reason to believe that the safety or security of any resident is being threatened or there is any suspected breach of the Terms and Conditions herein, Residents’ Code, VC Rules or University Standards of Conduct. Advance notice for room entry will be made as far as practicable.
9.2. Residents should notify any defect of the rooms/units/apartments to VC immediately. VC will arrange inspection and conduct the repair works within reasonable time from the date of receiving such notice.
10. Relocation of Rooms
The VC Management reserves the right to relocate residents to other rooms within VC by normally serving the latter at least five days’ notice in advance (emergency cases excepted) for reasons not limited to efficient utilization of resources, facilitate timely repairs to rooms and / or as part of the disciplinary actions.
11. Check-out Arrangement
Residents shall have their rooms/units/apartments vacated and all personal properties removed on or before the last day of the residential period. Residents who fail to remove all their belongings from their rooms/units/apartments and complete the check-out procedures upon expiry of residence will be required to pay a penalty per day, the accumulation of which will continue until the completion of check-out. They will also be recorded 16 demerit points and disqualified from future student residence applications. All items left behind will be disposed of at the prevailing charge. The University shall not be liable for any loss of or damage to such property whatsoever.
12. Discipline
12.1. The VC Management is authorized by the University to take disciplinary action against any Resident for violation of the terms and conditions herein, Residents' Code, VC Rules or University Standards of Conduct.
12.2. No refund of any accommodation fees will be made for early termination of residence by the Residents. *Partial refund of lodging fees will be considered for suspension or termination imposed as a disciplinary sanction.
*Residents who have completed shorter than 50% of the paid residential period can be considered for a refund of no more than 50% of the residual lodging fees from the actual check-out date.
12.3. The VC Management may confiscate any appliances or items, which, according to VC Rules and Residents’ Code, are not allowed to be brought into VC without prior permission, or any equipment that may cause disturbance, inconvenience and / or harm to other residents.
12.4. In case of any non-settlement of outstanding charges of a resident, the VC Management reserves the right to terminate the resident’s residence if the payable charges are not settled within 7 days, which shall not prejudice any other right of action or any remedy of VC in respect of such breach by the resident.
12.5. The Appeal Panel may suspend or terminate by notice in writing, with immediate effect, a resident’s residence when there is reason to believe that the resident’s behavior is incompatible with the orderly operation of VC and the goals of University education. No refund of lodging fee and caution money paid shall be made in this situation as a disciplinary action.
12.6. A resident may appeal to the VC Management against any findings or decisions that he / she has violated the VC Rules. The appeal must be in writing with specified grounds.
13. Termination of Residence
13.1. Residents who are absent;from VC for more than 20 consecutive nights* within any period of 30 calendar days may be terminated of residence.
*Except for absences during the period between the first date of examination in the First Semester and the commencement date of the Second Semester.
*Except for research postgraduate students who are absent from VC due to their overseas exchange or study research.
*Except those who obtained prior approval from the respective College Master of their College.
13.2. Residents shall no longer have the right to reside in Student Residence, if they, for whatever reasons, cease to be students of the University. In such case, they shall vacate the room and remove all personal properties in the room immediately after the termination of residence.
14. Review of Terms and Conditions, Residents’ Code and Hostel Rules
Residents’ Code and VC Rules may be reviewed and amended by the Student Affairs Committee from time to time as it deems appropriate.
Interpretation
| 1
| “VC” means Village CARE. “VC Management” means any person authorized by the Director of Student Affairs, including but not limited to the Student Housing Manager and College Masters, to perform functions and duties in relation to the management of VC. |
Occupancy
| 1.1
| Use of Student Residence for any purpose other than personal residence is not allowed.
|
1.2
| Each room at the Student Residence is designated for a specified occupancy. Occupancy of more than the original design is strictly prohibited.
| |
Rooms and Bed Spaces Allocation
| 2.1
| Rooms and / or bed spaces allocation is the sole responsibility of the VC Management. Swap of assigned rooms / bed spaces without prior approval from the VC Management is not allowed.
|
| 2.2 | For shared rooms, residents can only use his / her own bed space and associated space as assigned by VC Management. For a resident who occupies space other than the above-mentioned area, VC Management reserves the right to charge him / her additional lodging fee for such unauthorized occupancy. In addition, VC shall not be held liable for any loss or damage to the belongings associated with such unauthorized occupancy. | |
Room Cards, Keys and Student Cards
| 3
| Residents shall be responsible for the good custody of the room cards and keys issued by VC and Student Cards (physical or electronic) and shall not loan or duplicate them for other person’s use. |
Fire Hazards
| 4.1
| Open flames, including candles and incense, are not allowed in any areas of the VC premises. |
| 4.2 | Use of any device that generates scent, smoke or heat such as aroma diffuser and electric insect repellent is strictly prohibited within VC. | |
4.3
| No one shall interfere with the fire protection facilities in VC premises. | |
4.4
| Stairs, corridors and fire-fighting equipment must remain free of any obstacles. | |
Smoking
| 5.1
| Smoking is prohibited on campus including all areas of the Hostels.
[Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2006, Laws of Hong Kong]. |
5.2
| A maximum fine of HK$1,500 shall be charged to residents who are found smoking at the VC premises and their residency may be suspended or terminated according to the demerit point scheme. | |
| Cooking | 6 | Cooking is allowed only inside the Co-living Space. Naked fire is strictly prohibited within VC. |
Furniture, Fittings and Fixtures
| 7.1
| Residents shall not interfere with / deface / remove existing fixtures, fittings and furniture or install new utilities or fittings to any part of their rooms, units, apartments or public areas without prior approval from the VC Management. |
7.2
| Residents shall not affix any glue, stickers, double adhesive tapes, scotch-tapes, nails, spikes, tacks, hooks or any other things on or drive the same into any wall, floor, fixture, fittings or furniture in any part of their rooms, units, apartments or public areas without the permission of the VC Management. Residents shall be liable for compensation according to the respective Student Residence’s compensation list for any defected wall, floor, fixture, fittings or furniture caused by the act of the residents.
| |
Drugs
| 8
| Residents and their visitors shall not bring into or use in Village CARE any dangerous drugs as defined in Section 2 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134, Laws of Hong Kong). Any violation found in VC will result in immediate termination of residence of the resident concerned.
|
Alcohol
| 9
| Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed or possessed in VC*. *Except for wine appreciation activities as students’ learning experience under the supervision at least one full-time academic/administrative staff HKBU or VC Tutor.
|
| Gambling | 10 | Gambling is not allowed in VC. |
| Mahjong | 11 | Mahjong playing is not allowed in VC. |
| Pets | 12 | Resident is not allowed to have pets in VC. |
| Sales Activities | 13 | Sale of any goods or services in Village CARE is not allowed without prior approval of the VC Management. |
| Indecent Behaviour | 14 | Any indecent behaviour, or any behaviour which is deemed as causing undue uneasiness to others is prohibited in Village CARE. |
Note: As students of the University, residents shall also observe University Standards of Conduct at all times.
| Interpretation | 1 | “VC” means Village CARE. “VC Management” means any person authorized by the Director of Student Affairs, including but not limited to the Student Housing Manager and College Masters, to perform functions and duties in relation to the management of the Student Residence. |
General
| 1.1
| VC is part of the University Community. The University’s Standards of Conduct will therefore apply in VC.
|
Identification
| 2
| Proof of identity may be requested of any person in VC by staff of the VC Management.
|
Cleanliness
| 3
| It is the shared responsibility of residents to keep all the areas of their room, the common bathroom and/or shared pantry in their apartments clean and tidy. Trash should be properly disposed of.
|
Hallways
| 4
| Lift lobbies, hallways and stairs are to be kept clear of equipment , furniture, trash, personal property and any other objects as they will obstruct passage and therefore the escape routes during emergencies.
|
Dress Code
| 5
| Residents should be properly attired at all times during their stay at VC.
|
Laundry
| 6.1
| Residents shall wash and dry their clothes using the washing machines and drying machines in the Laundry Room.
|
6.2
| Hanging of wet clothes is not advised inside washrooms and bedrooms.
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6.3
| Residents are advised to collect their washed or dried clothes from the laundry machines timely. The VC Management shall not be responsible for any loss of or damage to any unattended laundry loads of the residents.
| |
| 6.4 | The laundry facilities in the Laundry Room are open for use by all residents who should strictly follow the user guide and shall be held responsible for any loss of or damage to their laundry items. For any unattended laundry items, the VC Management reserves the right to dispose of them without prior notice. | |
Electrical Appliances
| 7.1
| Only light electrical appliances intended for grooming purposes may be used in the residents’ rooms and should be properly maintained. The VC Management may confiscate any appliances or items which are not allowed to be brought into the premises, or any equipment used in such a way as to disturb or endanger others.
|
Copyright
| 8
| Residents should strictly observe the Copyright Ordinance inside VC.
|
Access to Internet
| 9
| Access to internet service via the University network is intended for academic purposes only.
|
Visitors
| 10.1
| Residents shall not invite visitors to the residential floors outside the visitation hours between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
|
10.2
| Residents are required to ensure that their visitors register their names and related information at the Security Counter of VC upon entry or exit.
| |
| 10.3 | Visitors staying at VC shall abide by the same set of VC Rules and Residents’ Code governing the VC residents. | |
| 10.4 | To ensure the safety of all residents, the VC Management reserves the right to authorize entry into the rooms of residents whose visitors fail to exit the Hostel after 11 p.m., with or without notice, to order the visitors to leave. | |
Mutual Respect of Residents
| 11.1
| Residents may meet with one another anytime in the Co-living Space and common areas of VC. However, to show respect for other residents' right to rest, residents shall not stay in other residents' rooms between 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. Both the host residents and the visiting residents shall be held responsible for any violation to this rule.
|
| 11.2 | Residents shall respect their roommates’ right to enjoy privacy, study and rest time. | |
| 11.3 | Residents shall coordinate with their roommates on the use of space and facilities in their room. | |
Activities and Quiet Hours
| 12.1
| The period between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. is regarded as Quiet Hours of VC.
|
12.2
| At all times, residents shall keep their noise level at a reasonable level so as not to cause nuisance to their neighbours.
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12.3
| During study and examination periods, Quiet Hours may be extended to 24 hours a day. Notice of such study and examination periods will be posted on the bulletin boards.
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Neighbourhood Watch
| 13.1
| Residents are advised to safeguard all properties of VC and report damages to the VC Management promptly.
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13.2
| Actions or behaviours that unreasonably interfere with other residents' normal use of facilities in the VC should be avoided.
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Decorations and Display of Materials
| 14
| Decorations or material displays which contain implicit or explicit languages or themes that cause disturbance or annoyance to other residents are strictly prohibited. The VC Management reserves the right to remove the aforesaid materials immediately.
|
Preamble
For educational purposes and well-being of the resident community, disciplinary action against violation of Village CARE (VC) Rules, Terms and Conditions of Student Residence and Residents' Code is necessary. Currently, the established disciplinary procedures are fair but quite tedious, even if the violation is minor and common. In order to shorten the disciplinary procedures for common and relatively minor violations without compromising fairness or sacrificing rigours, a demerit point scheme is introduced.
It should be noted that the demerit point scheme is NOT a replacement of VC Disciplinary Actions, and is implemented in parallel with the established disciplinary procedures as deemed necessary by the College Masters.
Demerit Points
Please note that all demerit points recorded under the Demerit Points Scheme will be accumulated and taken into consideration when a student applies for student residence again during his/her study in the University. It will result in the deduction of the overall student residence admission marks by the following percentages:
All demerit points
| Percentage Deducted in Overall Student Residence Admission Marks
| e.g. Final marks of a student with original Student Residence admission marks of 60
|
3-6 points
| 10%
| 54
|
7-11 points
| 20%
| 48
|
12-15 points
| 30%
| 42
|
16 or more points
| Disqualified of student residence application
| |
The Demerit Points for common violations are listed in the following table. For each violation or offence, the maximum demerit point is given. The actual number of points to be recorded will be decided based on the circumstances of each case.
The following misdeeds will lead to demerit points listed against them:
| Max. Points
| |
1.
| Making excessive nuisance noise
| 6
|
2.
| Littering in common areas
| 6
|
3.
| Hanging clothes outside window(s) and/or in non-designated areas
| 6
|
4.
| Unattended cooking
| 6
|
5.
| Entering or leaving the VC without valid student identity card or pass
| 8
|
| 6. | Placing personal belongings in common areas | 1st Violation: 3 2nd Violation: 6 3rd Violation: 9 |
7.
| Change of beds without approval from the VC Management
| 11
|
8.
| Loan of door key and/or Student I.D. Card for other person’s use
| 11
|
9.
| Playing and/or keeping Mahjong
| 11
|
10.
| Causing fire alarm in a resident’s room
| 11
|
11.
| Consume or possess alcoholic beverage in the VC
| 11
|
12.
| Rearing pets
| 11
|
13.
| Creating offensive smell and hygienic nuisance
| 11
|
14.
| Resident overstaying in the room of another resident
| 16
|
15.
| Intentionally misuse and/or causing damage to any equipment and/or facilities in VC
| 16
|
16.
| Allowing non-residents to overstay in VC beyond the visitation hours
| 16
|
17.
| Smoke or carry a lighted cigarette
| 16
|
18.
| Cooking in non-designated areas
| 16
|
19.
| Throwing objects from height
| 16
|
Implementation Procedures
- The College Fellows/Residential Life Officer, in consultation with the respective College Master, will decide on the points to be recorded and be responsible for keeping records.
- The resident shall be notified of the points recorded and reminded not to commit the offence again.
- Depending on the nature of the offence, additional penalty may be imposed on top of the points recorded.
- The list of demerit points is not exhaustive. A College Master or the VC Disciplinary Panel may hand down additional demerit points or penalties.
- When sixteen (16) or more demerit points are incurred by a resident within a period of 12 months, a VC Disciplinary Panel will be set up to review and confirm if the resident should be suspended from student residence, and if so, the length of suspension.
Appeal
Residents may lodge an appeal to the College Master against the demerit points recorded. The College Master may convene a VC Appeal Panel to hear the case.
| 1 | Reports of Misbehaviour Which May Require Disciplinary Action |
| 1.1 | Any member of the University community including students, staff members of the University and service contractors in Village CARE (VC), may report to the VC Management on any alleged violation of Terms and Conditions of Student Residence, Residents' Codes, VC Rules or University Standards of Conduct of a resident no later than seven (7) working days from the date of the suspected violation or from the date the violation could reasonably have been detected. |
| 2 | Decision to Proceed with Hearing or Not |
| 2.1 | The College Master(s) of the accused resident(s), shall determine whether the case concerning the alleged violation would entail demerit point(s), a warning and/or community service only and shall be handled by himself or herself alone or otherwise be heard by a VC Disciplinary Panel or even be dismissed. The College Master may consult with the Student Housing Manager before making such a decision. The decisions shall be communicated to the complainant. |
| 2.2 | Any complainant who is dissatisfied with any such decision to dismiss a case may submit a written appeal to the Director of Student Affairs within one (1) week after the decision is first communicated to the complainant. |
| 3 | Hearing |
| 3.1 | If the decision is to proceed with the Student Residence Disciplinary Procedures, a Student Residence Disciplinary Panel (the “Panel”) consisting of two (2) staff members including College Master(s)/Resident Master(s) shall be formed. One of which should be the College Master/Resident Master of the accused resident(s), to initiate a hearing of the alleged violation. One (1) of the College Masters/Resident Masters will act as the Chairperson and a College Fellow/Residential Life Officer nominated by the Chairperson will serve as the Secretary. |
| 3.2 | The Secretary shall notify the accused student of the following details of the prospective hearing by the VC Disciplinary Panel at least twenty four (24) hours in advance: date, time and place of the hearing; and details of the alleged violation. |
| 3.3 | If the accused student does not attend the hearing, the hearing may be conducted in his/her absence and such absence shall not invalidate the proceedings or decision of the VC Disciplinary Panel. |
| 3.4 | Hearings before the VC Disciplinary Panel shall be conducted behind closed doors. Only the following individuals will be allowed to be present in a hearing session: (1) members and the secretary of the VC Disciplinary Panel; (2) the complainant and/or the accused student; (3) witnesses of the complainant/accused. Witnesses will be present only at the time of their testimony and may not be permitted to hear the testimony of other witnesses. |
| 3.5 | The Chairperson shall have discretion on whether the identity of any person concerned shall be kept anonymous in any agenda documents, reports and evidence as well as during the hearings and meetings. The Chairperson may at his own discretion prescribe the manner under which student members including the accused student, the complainant, and other students standing as witnesses, shall participate in hearing of the VC Disciplinary Panel. |
| 3.6 | A hearing is not intended as a formal judicial proceeding, and strict rule of evidence will not be followed. A hearing will follow the sequence below. At sole discretion of the Chairperson, changes may be made to accommodate unusual circumstances. |
| 3.7 | The complainant/accused student shall submit to the Secretary of the VC Disciplinary Panel a list of witnesses who would provide evidence during the hearing at least twenty four (24) hours before the hearing. |
| 3.8 | The VC Disciplinary Panel may arrange hearing session with the complainant, the accused resident(s)/student(s) and/or their witnesses jointly or severally. At a hearing session, the Chairperson shall request parties concerned to state their identities. |
| 3.9 | During the hearing with the complainant, the complainant will be required to summarize the allegation and present any evidence in support of the charge. Members of the VC Disciplinary Panel may question the complainant and his/her witnesses. |
| 3.10 | During the hearing with the accused student, the Chairperson will explain the charge to the accused student and ask for an admission or denial thereto. |
| 3.11 | If the student admits the charge, hearing will be terminated and the VC Disciplinary Panel shall go on to determine the appropriate sanction in private. If the student denies the charges, hearing will be continued and the VC Disciplinary Panel shall determine whether the charge sustains and if so, the sanction. |
| 3.12 | The accused student may present evidence to defend against the charge. Members of the VC Disciplinary Panel may question the accused student and his/her witnesses. |
| 3.13 | The VC Disciplinary Panel may, as it deems appropriate, arrange a session for cross-examine. During such session, the accused student may question the complainant and his/her witnesses. Likewise, the complainant may question the accused student and witnesses. All questions shall be directed through the Chairperson of the VC Disciplinary Panel. The complainant followed by the accused student may each make a closing statement. |
| 4 | Executive Session |
| 4.1 | The VC Disciplinary Panel will then enter into an executive session in private to determine whether the charge has been proven. The complainant, accused resident(s) /student(s) and all witnesses shall be excused. |
| 4.2 | The preponderance of the evidence standard of proof shall be adopted to determine if a charge is proven. Preponderance of the evidence means such evidence, when considered and compared with that opposed to it, has more convincing force to the members of the VC Disciplinary Panel. |
| 4.3 | A quorum consists of all the members of the VC Disciplinary Panel. Decisions of the Panel shall be based on the consensus of the members present. |
| 4.4 | Any previous violation of Terms and Conditions of Student Residence, Residents’ Codes, VC Rules or University’s Standards of Conduct by the accused student shall not be considered in determining whether the alleged violation was committed. |
| 4.5 | If the accused student is found guilty of the charge, the VC Disciplinary Panel shall decide the disciplinary sanction to be imposed. Any previous violations of Terms and Conditions of Student Residence, Residents' Codes, VC Rules or Standards of Conduct of the student may be considered in arriving at a sanction. |
| 4.6 | Upon the conclusion of a hearing, members of the VC Disciplinary Panel shall return to the Secretary of the VC Disciplinary Panel all documents pertaining to the disciplinary matter. |
| 4.7 | At the discretion of the Chairperson, an audio verbatim of the whole proceedings of the Panel may be maintained for record. |
| 4.8 | Normally within four (4) working days after the conclusion of the proceedings of the VC Disciplinary Panel, a written notification stating the findings of the VC Disciplinary Panel and the sanction arrived at, if any, shall be sent to the accused student. The complainant shall be verbally notified of the decision of the VC Disciplinary Panel. |
| 4.9 | “If the accused resident(s)/ student(s) and/or the complainant is dissatisfied with the decision of the Student Residence Disciplinary Panel, he/she may, within three (3) working days from the date of the notification in paragraph 4.8, lodge a written appeal stating the grounds of the appeal with the Student Residence Appeal Panel consisting of the Director of Student Affairs as Chairman and two (2) staff members consisting of College Masters/Resident Masters/College Fellows not involved in the initial hearing as members. College Fellow/Residential Life Officer who served as Secretary in the initial hearing will also serve as Secretary of the Student Residence Appeal Panel. Late appeal will normally not be accepted. The decision of the Student Residence Appeal Panel shall be final”. |
| 4.10 | In case of violation of the University Standards of Conduct, the VC Disciplinary Panel will refer the case to the Director of Student Affairs for further action including dismissal or expulsion from the University. |
| 5 | Suspension from VC |
| 5.1 | Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 4.8 and pending the decisions of the VC Disciplinary Panel or under Police investigation, a College Master may, where he/she is satisfied that a student being accused of a charge, poses (a) a danger to the safety of other members of VC, (b) an ongoing threat of disrupting the proper functioning of VC, or (c) a negative impact to the VC community, upon approval of the Director of Student Affairs, temporarily suspend a resident/student and/or deny the resident's/student's access to any facility or the entire premises of VC until further notice. |
| 5.2 | When sixteen (16) or more demerit points are incurred by a resident within a period of 12 months, a VC Disciplinary Panel will be set up to review and confirm if the resident should be suspended from hall residence, and if so, the length of suspension. |
| 6 | Appeal Against the Decision of the VC Disciplinary Panel to VC Appeal Panel |
| 6.1 | An appeal shall be limited to review of the initial hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following reasons: (a) To determine whether the original hearing was conducted fairly in light of the alleged violation and evidence presented, and in conformity with the VC Disciplinary Procedures giving all parties a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence. (b) To determine whether preponderance of the evidence standard of proof is followed. (c) To determine whether the sanction imposed was appropriate for the charge. (d) To consider those new evidence or facts not brought out in the original hearing, sufficient to alter a decision, which were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original hearing. |
| 6.2 | If the VC Appeal Panel is satisfied that new evidence or newly discovered facts are admissible and could have altered the decision of the VC Disciplinary Panel, the matter may be remanded to the VC Disciplinary Panel for reopening of the hearing. |
| 6.3 | The VC Appeal Panel may confirm or modify the decision of the VC Disciplinary Panel and/or may uphold, reduce/increase the sanction or suspend the sanction. |
| 6.4 | At any time after a notice of appeal is served, an appellant may abandon the appeal by serving the Director of Student Affairs a notice to that effect as soon as possible. In that case, the appeal shall be deemed to have been dismissed. |
| 6.5 | The decision of the VC Appeal Panel shall be communicated to the appellant in writing normally within fourteen (14) working days after the date of the appeal is received. |
| 7 | Records of the Disciplinary Matter and Penalty |
| 7.1 | Papers, other materials and Notices of Sanctions relating to a disciplinary matter shall be kept by the Student Accommodation Section as long as the accused student remains as a registered student of the current undergraduate/postgraduate course of study of the University. |
Residence Life is an integral part of Whole Person Education. Through the daily interaction with people from different backgrounds, residents can develop different kinds of life skills, including the skills to understand, respect and resolve differences. To maintain the living environment for the comfort of all residents, residents should observe the guidelines on sound generation on domestic floors:
- Residents may meet with one another anytime at the Co-living Space and common areas in Village CARE (VC). However, to show respect for other residents' right to rest, residents shall not stay inside other residents' bedroom between 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.. Both the host residents and the visiting residents shall be held responsible for any violation to this rule. (Residents’ Code clause 10.3)
- The period between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is regarded as Quiet Hours of VC. (Residents’ Code clause 12.1)
- At all times, residents shall keep their noise level at a reasonable level so as not to cause nuisance to their neighbours. (Residents’ Code clause 12.2)
- During study and examination periods, Quiet Hours may be extended to 24 hours a day. Notice of such study and examination periods will be posted on the bulletin boards. (Residents’ Code clause 12.3)
The University is committed to the active pursuit of equal opportunity in all areas of its operation. Discrimination and harassment on the grounds of sex, pregnancy, marital status, disability, family circumstances and race are unlawful and will not be tolerated. For details, please refer to the website of Campus Life & Support Section. You may also refer to this leaflet on the prevention of sexual harassment.