9. Investigation by Faculty Panel

9.1 On receipt of a report concerning suspected Unacceptable Academic Practice, the Faculty shall convene a small panel to investigate the case. The panel shall be composed of the Chair of the Examination Board and at least one member of academic staff not associated with the assessment in question. Where possible, panel members should not have been involved with previous cases of UAP for the same student.

9.2 Staff who have made the allegation of Unacceptable Academic Practice should not be members of the panel and should take no part in the decision.

9.3 The Faculty shall inform the student of the date, place and time of the panel meeting, and that they have the opportunity to attend the meeting. The student should be notified as to the identities of panel members in advance of the meeting and can raise conflicts of interest prior to the meeting.

9.4 The student shall have the opportunity to submit written evidence in advance of the panel meeting, including evidence of special circumstances.

9.5 Documentary evidence shall be sent to the student before the date of the meeting and circulated to panel members. Any further evidence made available on the date of the meeting may be presented to the panel, but only with the express permission of the Chair.

9.6 The student may be represented by an advisor from the Students’ Union. Representation by other persons will be at the discretion of the Chair, and any requests for such representation should be made in writing to the Chair in advance of the panel meeting. Legal representation at the meeting will not normally be permitted.

9.7 Where a student, without good reason, fails to attend a panel meeting, the meeting may proceed in their absence.