Niagara College Canada

If you require immediate attention, contact 911 first. If you are concerned for your safety and are on campus you can contact Campus Safety by:

• visiting their office which is located in S101 at the Welland Campus and N102B at the NOTL (DJP) campus; or
• dialing 905-735-2211 extension 6999.

Please note that Campus Safety operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

If you are unsure about making a formal report, you can consult with our office by emailing [email protected] to review the matter and decide on next steps.  Some incidents do not involve policy violations or would be better addressed through a more informal approach. The SRRO can help you better understand you rights and responsibilities as a member of the college community, provide resources and referrals as well as strategies for resolution.

• If your matter is urgent, please file a report with Campus Safety. When the incident report involves non-academic student behaviour, the report will be sent to SRRO for review.
• If your complaint involves sexual violence, please refer to Consent is Key for reporting options and support.
• If you would like to file a formal complaint under the Student Code of Conduct, please complete the Student Misconduct Form (listed under Related Documents for the Student Code of Conduct Procedure) and submit it to [email protected]. Please ensure you provide as much detail as possible when completing the Student Misconduct Form. SRRO operates during normal business hours, and will respond to your email as soon as possible with next steps.

The Student Code of Conduct provides guidelines for appropriate behaviour for all Niagara College students and a framework for addressing non-academic misconduct. Misconduct under this policy includes any action that violates the Criminal Code of Canada, Provincial Offenses Act or any other applicable legislation. See the Student Code of Conduct which outlines types of misconduct that may be considered a violation to the Code. For assistance with academic concerns and related policies, see the Academic Honesty Policy, Academic Misconduct Procedure and/or Academic Rights & Responsibilities Policy which can be found here.

• A Notice of Allegation is to let you know that an allegation has been made that you, the Respondent, have violated the Student Code of Conduct or other related polices. Allegations are not a finding of responsibility, and you will be provided a fair and unbiased opportunity to respond to the allegation during a Conduct Meeting.
• If you have received a Notice of Allegation from SRRO, respond to the email and a Conduct Meeting will be arranged with you. You are required to attend this meeting and speak to the allegation.

The college has an interest in maintaining a safe community and appropriate standards of conduct for its students. The Student Code of Conduct may also apply to off-campus incidents when:

• engaged in Niagara College Activity;
• communicating electronically, including but not limited to calls, text messages, social media, Blackboard and/or;
• the behaviour impacts the safety, integrity, or interests of the NC community or any of its members.

• A Conduct Meeting is held to discuss any relevant information about the incident in question. The Respondent will be provided a fair and unbiased opportunity to provide the investigator information, respond to the allegation, and speak to any mitigating circumstances they believe are related to the incident.
• The Respondent will also be given the opportunity to present any witnesses, information and evidence related to the incident.

• If you would like to bring a support person with you for emotional support during the meeting, you are required to notify the SRRO in writing prior to your meeting of who you would like to bring.
• A support person may not address the allegation, pose questions, or speak with Niagara College on behalf of the student. Students must independently present information and address the allegation.
• A support person may not be disruptive and/or cause unreasonable interference to the application of this procedure.

When a student is found responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct or related policies, the SRRO may apply a range of Sanctions including but not limited to:

• verbal warning;
• written warning;
• providing a written apology letter and/or reflection paper;
• completion of an educational program, workshop or project unrelated to academic obligations;
• restitution for damages caused by the Misconduct;
• eviction or temporary removal from Residence;
• removal from one or more classes, activity, co-op placement, course or program;
• temporary or indefinite suspension from one or more activities, facilities, and/or services at Niagara College and/or Niagara College events, including any conditions for return;
• suspended re-enrolment in circumstances where a Respondent has left Niagara College prior to the conclusion of the Misconduct process;
• behavioral agreements which may include, but are not limited to mandatory meetings with the SRRO, no contact measures, or other personal undertakings;
• non-academic suspension;
• non-academic expulsion; or
• notice of Trespass pursuant to the Trespass to Property Act.

A student found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct may appeal a written sanction by completing the Student Conduct Appeal Form and submitting it to [email protected] within ten (10) Business Days of receiving the written notification of discipline decision.

A student must include information supporting their appeal which identifies one or more of the grounds for appeal as follows:

• there was an error in the student conduct process that rendered the process unfair;
• new evidence is available that, through no fault of the student, was not available at the time of the investigation; or
• the Sanction imposed is unreasonable in relation to the nature of the offence.

Yes. Until a final decision is made by the Reviewing Authority, the sanction given continues to be in effect.