Policy Relating to the Expulsion of Students

Approval Date: April 19th 2021
Implementation Date: September 1st, 2021
Review Date: April 2023
Responsible Office: Executive Director

Randolph College for the Performing Arts (“the College”) is committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure the students can successfully complete their program. Randolph College has a commitment to ensure that within this general framework, all students are treated fairly and equitably. Students who do not support the academic and ethical goals of the College for themselves and their fellow students, may be subject to penalties up to and including expulsion. 

In general, the College will attempt to resolve a situation without expulsion. Verbal warning, written warning and suspension may precede this final and most serious of actions. Where the College deems the integrity, safety and wellbeing of the students, staff, clients, visitors, and other guests is compromised, then expulsion may be applied at the discretion of the College at any point in the process. 

In conjunction with this policy, Randolph College will post all Student Policies on the school website, and ensure that students receive the Student Handbook. All Randolph College policies apply to students regardless of the medium (i.e., online or in-person).  

The following outlines the conditions under which a student may be expelled with cause: 

1. Academic Misconduct: Any behaviour that undermines the College’s ability to evaluate fairly students’ academic achievements, or any behaviour that a student knew, or reasonably ought to have known, could gain them or others unearned academic advantage or benefit, counts as academic misconduct.  
   Included in academic misconduct are: Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism; contract cheating; cheating; misrepresentation of personal identity or performance; submission of false information; contributing to academic misconduct; damaging, tampering, or interfering with the scholarly environment; unauthorized use of intellectual property; misconduct in re-graded/re-submitted work. While this list characterizes the most common instances of academic misconduct, it is not intended to be exhaustive. A more comprehensive list of inclusions can be found in the Student Code of Conduct. 

2. Non-Academic Misconduct: reflects the expectation that students will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with generally accepted standards of behaviour, College regulations and policies, departmental policies, and in compliance with federal, provincial and municipal laws, as well as professional standards and codes of ethics. A more comprehensive list of inclusions can be found in the Student Code of Conduct. 

3. Outstanding Fees: Failure to pay overdue accounts owing to Randolph College within the specified period may be grounds for expulsion after a written warning has been given. 

4. Academic Failure: Students who fail to achieve the required academic standing may be expelled from the program. Randolph College may at its discretion offer alternatives to a student and these are outlined in the Student Handbook. 

5. Sexual Violence: Randolph College does not condone harassment or discrimination of any student, staff, faculty, client, or visitor to the College. Students participating in harassing or discriminatory activities that are racial, sexual, or pertaining to sexual orientation in nature may be subject to immediate suspension depending on the severity of the activity and pending investigation. A more comprehensive list of inclusions can be found in the Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention Policy. 

6. Illegal Behaviour: Randolph College is committed to the right of all Randolph College staff, students, clients, and visitors to be safe. Students who by action or neglect in any way endanger the safety of themselves or others may be expelled. 

Prior to expulsion, depending on the severity and nature of the incident, Randolph College may take intermediate steps at its discretion according to the applicable Policy, which may include: 

1. Immediate Temporary Suspension* 

2. Verbal Warning

3. Written Warning

4. Suspension

5. Expulsion

*Immediate Temporary Suspension: 

The student will be immediately suspended from classes prior to any decision on expulsion if it is determined that the student poses a significant risk of danger to the School community and is jeopardizing the wellbeing of any student. The student may also be suspended if they are interfering with the aim of the College to provide a learning atmosphere that is safe, positive, and welcoming. Immediate suspensions will be issued for conduct including but not limited to weapon(s) possession, assaults causing bodily harm, harassments, acts of violence, extortion, robbery, threats, and repeated incidents of inappropriate behaviour of a serious nature, or failure to comply with previous disciplinary actions. The purpose of this temporary suspension is to allow time for the College to perform a formal review. The student must be informed immediately, in writing, of the reasons for the suspension and must be afforded the opportunity to respond. Temporary suspension must be reviewed within three (3) working days. The suspension may be extended for a period of no more than ten (10) working days in order to complete the formal review. 

Notification 

Students who are subject to expulsion for any reason will be notified in writing.  

The notification will contain a description of the basis for expulsion and the effective date, as well as a copy of the policy and associated procedures under which the decision for expulsion took place.

Students who wish to appeal must follow the Student Complaint Procedure.

A student whose expulsion is upheld after appeal may file a complaint through the Complaints process of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. 

If a student's appeal is successful and they are eventually reinstated as part of the internal Randolph College or Ministry appeal processes, then Randolph College will work with the Student to reintegrate them into the Program from the date of expulsion specified in the written notification. 

Fees 

Settlement of student’s accounts, for students who have been expelled, will be completed under Randolph College’s Fee Refund Policy (as per signed student contract), using the effective date of expulsion to calculate a refund, if applicable. 

Return of Property 

A student who is expelled is responsible for the return of any Randolph College property in their possession within ten (10) days of expulsion and will be held financially responsible for any property not returned in good condition.