Statements on Rules on the Discipline of Students at South China University of Technology

Rules on the Discipline of International Students (including degree and non-degree students) of SCUT shall be implemented in accordance with Rules on the Discipline of Students at South China University of Technology, combined with Regulations for Language Studies in the School of International Education at SCUT, the Regulations for Full-Time International Undergraduate Students at South China University of Technology and Regulations for Postgraduate International Students at SCUT. School of International Education is responsible for interpretation of those provisions which do not apply to international students and are inconsistent with regulations of School of International Education.

In case of the dispute, the Chinese version of Rules on the Discipline of Students at South China University of Technology shall prevail while the English version is only for reference.

Rules on the Discipline of Students at South China University of Technology

Chapter One General Provisions

1. In order to fully implement the party and the country’s educational policy, maintain the normal education and teaching order and life order of the school, protect the lawful rights and interests of students, and cultivate socialist builders and successors with comprehensive development of morality, intelligence, physics, art, and labor, this regulation is formulated based on the actual situation of our school in accordance with Education Law of People’s Republic of China,the Regulations on the Management of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions (Order No. 41 of the Ministry of Education) , Students’ Code of Conduct of College Students and Constitutions of South China University of Technology.

2. This regulation applies to all degree students at South China University of Technology (hereinafter referred to as SCUT), including bachelor students, master students and PhD students. Other types of students who break regulations should be given punishments based on the corresponding regulations. If there is no corresponding regulations, they should be given punishments based on this rules.

3. For students who violate Constitutions, Chinese laws and regulations, rules and regulations of the South China University of Technology, the school will give criticism or disciplinary action according to the nature of the plot, the severity of the fault, the attitude of students, how students repent and mend his way and so on. Those who violate the criminal law shall be sent to the public security organs or the judicial office. 

There are four types of disciplinary actions:

(1) Warning;

(2) Serious warning;

(3) Noting of breach of discipline on record

(4) Suspension;

(5) Expulsion from School;

4. The duration of warning and serious warning is 6 months; The duration of noting of breach of discipline on record is 9 months; The duration of the suspension is 12 months.

5. Students who violate rules in conjunction with the following conditions will be subject to a disciplinary measure one level more severe: 

        a. Flagrant disregard the advice of supervising personnel;

        b. Refusing to admit one’s mistake or maintaining a poor attitude following the breach of discipline;

        c. Complicity with other suspects, hiding the truth or framing others;

        d. Taking revenge on or threatening others;

        e. Bribing others or interfering teacher’s work in any other ways;

        f. Organizing and planning collective activities that are illegal or violates school’s regulations.

        g. Do not compensate or refund intentionally.

        h. Having been punished, one still break the school regulations.

        i. Other conditions where students should be given punishment or serious punishment.

     6. For repeated violators of discipline:

        a. Those who have been reprimanded twice by the university or three times by the School of International Education (hereinafter referred to as SIE) will be given a warning or serious warning;

        b. Those who have been given warnings and receive additional reprimands from the university or SIE will be given a punishment one level more severe for each additional infraction;

        c. Those who have received an accumulated total of three times of punishment will be suspended or expelled.

      7. For students who have violated multiple rules:

    Students who have violated two or more school rules simultaneously will be disciplined in a manner taking into account the sum of their actions. If the punishments belong to the same type, then one punishment shall be given; if punishments belong to different types, the most serious punishment shall be given; those who have serious violations will receive a punishment from a disciplinary measure one level severe than the final decided punishment to expulsion.

       8. Violators can be given a lighter punishment, reduction or exemption from punishment.

a. Students who have violated rules but then shown remorse for their errors in an honest and appropriate manner to the School of International Education may be considered for a reduction or exemption from punishment.

b. Students who have violated rules but cooperate in reporting or providing important information on other violators may be considered for a reduction or exemption from punishment.

c. Other conditions under which students can be given a lighter punishment, reduction or exemption from punishment.

9. The punishment given to students must be educational as well as appropriate to the students’ illegal and disciplinary actions and severity of students’ faults. In addition, we should have sufficient evidence, clear basis, accurate decisions, justified procedure and appropriate punishment.

Chapter Two  Discipline Violations and the Corresponding Punishments

10. Those who disobey the Constitutions, reject the Four Cardinal Principles, undermine Chinese stability and unity, disrupt social order and threat national security and unity shall be given the corresponding punishment:

a. Those who plot or organize unlawful assemblies, processions, demonstrations, or protests will be expelled, and participants in such events shall be suspended or expelled, depending on the case.

b. Those who issue articles, speeches, declarations, or manifestos which oppose the Four Cardinal Principles and Communist Party’s policies, split China or undermine Chinese unification and solidarity will be expelled, if they persist in their refusal to correct after being reprimanded.

c. Those who make, write, post, or distribute materials such as buttons, leaflets, posters, or pictures which go against Chinese interests shall be given punishments ranging from serious warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

d. Those who formulate or spread hearsay which is considered a disturbance to social order shall be given punishments ranging from serious warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

11. For students who break laws and regulations:

        a. Those convicted as criminals and given criminal punishments shall be expelled regardless of the case;

        b. Those who have been filed for investigation because of the clear crime facts, but are exempt from prosecution, or constitute a criminal offence, but are exempt from criminal punishment, shall be subject to suspension or expulsion from school.

        c. For those who are sentenced to administrative detention, if the detention period is less than 5 days (excluding 5 days), they will be given noting of breach of discipline on record or suspension. Those with a detention period from 5 days (including 5 days) to 10 days (excluding 10 days), they will be given suspension. Those with a detention period of more than 10 days (including 10 days) but less than 15 days (including 15 days) will be subject to suspension or expulsion; those with a detention period of more than 15 days (excluding 15 days) will be expelled.

        d. Those who receive official warnings from legal authorities shall receive punishments ranging from noting of breach of discipline on record to suspension, depending on the case.

        e. Those who are fined by policeman shall receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

12. Those who expose national secrets of China or SCUT’s scientific and technological achievements or secrets will receive punishments ranging from noting of breach of discipline on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

13. For students who organize or participate in illegal organizations or activities:

        a. Those who organize, form, or join illegal social groups, get engaged in illegal activities, or publish illegal materials will be given punishments ranging from warning to expulsion.

        b. Those who disobey the rules regarding formation of student groups, organize and take part in unauthorized student groups, publish illegal materials or carry out illegal activities in the name of legitimate student groups, or cause harm due to negligence of the rules regarding student groups will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion.

        c. Those who organize or participate in religious propagation or other religious activities in disaccord with Chinese policy and do not cease after being reprimanded will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion.

        d. Those who organize or participate in cults or illegal multi-level marketing schemes will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion.

14. For students who violate rules regarding computerized information systems of China or SCUT:

a. Those who enter computer networks or use network resources without permission will be given punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

b. Those who delete, modify, append, or interfere with computer functions, stored, processed or transmitted computer data, or applied procedures will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

c. Those who intentionally produce and spread computer viruses to interfere with the normal functions of computers will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

d. Those who misuse computer networks in order to disturb the normal function of computers, invade the privacy of others, access restricted information, or otherwise behave deceitfully will be given a punishment ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

e. Those who manipulate modems, switches, or wires to obtain network connections without permission and do not resolve the problem after being reprimanded will receive punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

f. Those who alters, moves, seizes, steals, or damages communication facilities (including wireless APs, optical fibers, switches, etc.) will be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension, depending on situation.

g. Those who log in to illegal websites to make, copy, read, or disseminate illegal content, will be given punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the situation.

h. Those who transmit hearsay through computer networks considered to be a disturbance to the normal teaching or social order or send out spam or pornographic materials will be punished ranging from serious warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

i. Those who publish or forward untrue statements about the school online and attract a lot of attention, which cause bad influence, shall be given punishments ranging from warning to serious warning.

j. Those who use other students’ computer or electronic devices without permission from the owners to infringe on other students’ privacy and steal their files will receive punishments ranging from warning to suspension, depending on the case. Those who cause any adverse affects or serious consequences will be given noting of breach of discipline on record or suspension.

k. Those in violation of national, regional or SCUT’s rules and regulations about the internet will receive punishments ranging from warnings to expulsion.

15. Those who destroy public or private property will be given the following punishment, in addition to compensating for losses:

a. Those who destroy public or private property because of his negligence and bring serious consequences will receive a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

b. Those who deliberately destroy public and private property will receive a a noting of breach of discipline on record or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

16. In addition to recover stolen money and goods or compensation at price, those who illegally encroach on public and private properties (item valued at current market price) by various means shall be given the following punishments:

a. Those who steal, defraud, or take public or private property with a value of less than 2000 yuan will receive a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case;

b. Those who steal, defraud, or take public or private property with a value of more than 2000 yuan will receive suspension or more serious punishments, depending on the case;

c. Those who have been confirmed by the public security organs or the security departments to illegally encroach on public and private property, will receive a noting of breach of discipline on record or more serious punishments, depending on the case, although they have not obtained the property;

d. Those who provide information and tools for criminal purposes, or participate in the distribution of stolen goods or harbor, transfer, purchase and sell stolen goods, will receive a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

e. Those who illegally possess lost property or another person’s property but would not like to change, although education has been given, will receive a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

f. Those who rob, loot or extort public and private property will receive the suspension or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

If the above acts constitute a criminal offence, the student will be expelled.

17. Students involved in smuggling or trafficking goods shall be punished ranging from warning to suspension, depending on the case. If the actions constitute criminal offenses, the student shall be expelled.

18. Students who deliberately harm others with toxic substances or other similar means shall be suspended or expelled, depending on the case.

19. Students who grow, make, transport, sell, or use drugs or other illicit substances, or encourage others to use drugs, shall be expelled.

20. Students who participate in the impairment of the public welfare through acts such as vandalism or damage to public traffic signs, transportation systems, electricity and gas mechanisms, or other public safety provisions, or by tampering with facilities in factories, mines, oil fields, bodies of water, forests, farms, public buildings, or other public or private properties shall be punished ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

21. For students who disobey school regulations, disturb the public order in schools, residences, or public places, or infringe upon the rights of other individuals or groups:

a. Those who cause commotion or make trouble in dormitories, classrooms, or public areas and disregard the discouragement of others will receive punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

b. Those who damage public facilities in schools will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

c. Those who accommodate unauthorized persons in the dormitory, privately change or occupy the beds, rent beds or transfer beds to others shall be given a warning or serious warning. Those who cause serious consequences will be given punishments, ranging from noting of breach of discipline on record to suspension.

d. Those who bring flammable, explosive, toxic, radioactive, or other dangerous items into the dormitory or keep those in the dorm, keep or use dangerous stuffs easy to hurt others including knives with a length of more than 120mm and a width of more than 25mm, use gas stoves or unapproved electrical devices in the dorm, or burn candles or other materials in the dorm will be given a warning or serious warning, depending on the case. Those who set off fire alarms, start fires, contaminate food or water supplies, or cause personal harm will receive punishments ranging from noting of breach of discipline on record to expulsion.

e. Those who reroute electrical wires without permission and do not resolve the problem after being reprimanded will receive a warning or serious warning. Those who set off fire alarms or start fires will be given punishments ranging from the serious warning to expulsion.

f. Those who cook in places except the public kitchen in the dorm and refuse to mend their way despite repeated education shall be given warning or serious warning. Those who cause serious consequences, such as fire, will be given punishments ranging from suspension to expulsion.

g. Those who intentionally break the equipment including electricity, water and cold supply facilities, embezzle electricity, appropriate or break the fire-fighting equipment, and block the fire-fighting passages, will be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension, depending on the degree of loss.

h.Those involved in marketing or other commercial activities and do not resolve the problem after being reprimanded will be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

i. Those who disobey dormitory rules and engage in activities which interfere with the studies or rest of other students and do not resolve the problem after being reprimanded will be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

j.Those who disregard the instruction of supervising personnel regarding going out of or coming back to the dorm at a very late time and those who come in and out late more than three times without appropriate reasons, shall be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

k.Those who can not come back to the dorm at night should ask for a leave from SIE. Those who do not finish leaving application procedures and do not come back to the dorm at night should be given a warning.

l.Those who do not come back to the dorm at the required time but conduct activities damaging the image of the students, like going to bars, dance halls or other commercial enterntainmemnt places or drinking outside will be given a warning or serious warning. Those who do not come back to the dorm at night and cause trouble because of drink , will be given punishments ranging from suspension to expulsion, depending on the case.

m. Those who improperly or forcibly enter the dormitory and disregard the discouragement of others in doing so will be given a warning or serious warning.

n. Those who help others living outside of dorm to enter the dorm by lending them entrance security cards, change the key to the door or add keys will be given a warning or serious warning, if they disregard the instruction of supervising personnel. Once the above behavior brings serious consequences, he or she will be given a suspension.

o.Those who sneak into the dorm by climbing doors or windows shall be given serious  warning or suspension.

p. Those who keep pets in the dorm or bring pets into the dorm, like cats, dogs, birds, mice, rabbits and lizards, will be given warning or serious warning, if they disregard the instructions of supervising personnel .

q. The management of the dorm shall refer to the Regulations of the International Students’ Dormitory of the School of International Education”. Those who violate the relevant regulations, like “Regulations of the International Students’ Dormitory of the School of International Education”, will be given the corresponding punishments, depending on the case.

r. Those who disobey traffic laws will be given punishments ranging from serious warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

s. Those who break the relevant campus management rules, refuse to cooperate with the security guard to finish related works, including registration, indentity inspection, seizure of “five types of vehicles” and temperary traffic control, shall be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

t. Those who deliberately swip other students’ campus card, steal or change other students’ express delivery or takeaway, even the public security organs can not take compulsory measures but what they do is obviously unethical, shall be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

22. All forms of gambling-related activities are prohibited. Those who take part in gambling, including play Mahjong on campus, will be given punishments ranging from noting of breach of discipline on record to expulsion, depending on the case. 

23. Regarding students who participate in quarrels or fights:

a. For those who instigate conflicts (i.e. disobey discipline, disregard discouragement, verbally assault others, or use other actions to incite conflict):

I. Those who instigate conflicts but take no action physically shall be given a warning or serious warning.

II. Those who start fights but cause no bodily harm shall receive a noting of breach of discipline on record.

III. Those who start fights and causes minor bodily harm shall be suspended or expelled.

IV. Those who start fights and causes major bodily harm shall be expelled.

V. Those who threaten or harm witnesses of a conflict shall be suspended or expelled, depending on the case.

VI. Those who carry out physical action on others due to a teacher’s or staff member’s admonishment shall receive punishments ranging from suspension to expulsion.

b. Planners

1.Those who plot or incite conflict among others shall receive punishments ranging from a noting of breach of discipline on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

II. Those who bring outsiders to fight on campus shall be expelled.

c. For those involved in fights:

I. Those who participate in fighting but cause no bodily harm shall be given a warning or serious warning.

II. Those who participate in fighting and cause minor bodily harm shall be given punishments ranging from a noting of breach of discipline on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

III. Those who participate in fighting and cause serious bodily harm shall be expelled.

IV. Those who participate in brawls shall be suspended or expelled, depending on the case.

d. Other participants:

Those who use bias in attempting to intervene with or stop a fight but instigate further fighting or consequences shall receive punishments ranging from serious warning to suspension. If the consequences are serious, students shall be expelled.

e. For those who provide lethal weapons for others:

I. Those who provide weapons but do not cause any serious consequences shall receive a noting of breach of discipline on record.

II. Those who provide weapons and cause consequences shall be suspended or expelled.

III. Those who provide weapons and cause serious consequences shall be expelled.

f. Those involved in armed fighting shall be suspended or expelled, depending on the case.

g. Those who receive punishments from the public security organs or judicial departments shall be expelled.

24. Those who falsify accounts of events or help destroy evidence such that it hinders investigation will be given punishments of serious warnings. If such actions result in serious consequences, students will be suspended or expelled.

25. Those who threaten, bribe, or use violence as means to cause witnesses not to testify or to testify dishonestly shall be given a warning or serious warning. If such actions result in serious consequences, students shall be suspended or expelled.

26. Those who are aware of the improper behavior of others but lie, protect, or hide evidence on behalf of others such that it worsens a situation or hinders investigation shall be given a warning or serious warning. If such actions result in serious consequences, students shall be suspended or expelled.

27. Those who insult, slander, or fabricate false charges about others will receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the case.

28. Those who cheat in the examinations, plagiarize other researchers’ results or violate the academic ethics shall be given punishments ranging from a warning to expulsion. Those who have one of the following behavior shall be expelled.

a. Take part in examinations on behalf of others or let others attend examinations instead of themselves, organize cheating, use equipment like mobile phones and electronic watches during the final examinations, sell examination questions and answers to others for profit and have other behaviors to disrupt the order of the examinations.

b. Have academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, tampering or forgery in the dissertations or publicly published research papers and provide essay-writing service or conduct a trade of dissertations on behalf of others.

Students with other related cheating in the examinations and academic misconducts should be punished based on Approach to Handle Cheating in Bachelor Students’ Examinations of South China University of Technology and Approach to Handle Academic Misconduct of Students of South China University of Technology.

29. Those who violate the principle of honesty or break school’s regulations during the evaluation period for awards and seeking jobs shall be given punishments ranging from a warning to suspension, depending on the case.

30. Those who disregard rules during experiments or practice to cause the damage or loss of school or government property shall receive punishments ranging from warning to expulsion.

31. Those who alter or dispose of formal or important documents shall be given punishments ranging from warning to suspension, depending on the case.

32. For those who engage in activities detrimental to the image of international students or in contradiction with the moral standards of China:

a. Those offenders of alcoholism shall be given a warning or serious warning, if the circumstances are relatively minor. Those offenders of alcoholism shall receive punishments ranging from a noting of breach of disciplines on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

b. Those who make, reproduce, sell, or distribute pornographic pictures, magazines, videos, or other materials, or other similarly banned materials, shall be given punishments of suspension or expulsion, depending on the case.

c. Those who behave inappropriately or indecently in public places on campus and continue after being reprimanded, or whose such behavior is deemed overtly distasteful, shall receive punishments ranging from warning to suspension.

d. Those who harass, pester, or stalk females or perform similarly devious behavior towards others shall be given punishments ranging from a noting of breach of disciplines on record to expulsion.

e. Those who cohabit or live with others in a manner deemed inappropriate shall be given punishments ranging from a noting of breach of disciplines on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

f. Those who have extramarital sexual relation shall be given punishments ranging from a noting of breach of disciplines on record to expulsion, depending on the case.

g. Those who allow members of the opposite sex to stay in their dorm room or those who stay in the dorm room of members of the opposite sex shall receive punishments ranging from a noting of breach of disciplines on record to expulsion.

h. Those who visit prostitutes, engage in prostitution, introduce prostitutes to others, or accommodate persons involved in prostitution shall be expelled.

i. Those who interfere with others’ marriages and/or family matters or take part in adulterous relationships shall be expelled.

    33. It will be considered as absenteeism that students do not participate in the academic activities demanded by the school without the school’s approval and the attendance shall be recorded. For students with unexcused absences:

a. Those who have 10 to 19 (including 19) absences within one semester shall be given a warning.

b. Those who have 20 to 29 (including 29) absences within one semester shall be given a serious warning.

c. Those who have 30 to 39 (including 39) absences within one semester shall be given a noting of breach of disciplines on record.

d. Those who have 40 to 49 (including 49) absences within one semester shall be given a suspension.

e. Those who have a total of 50 absences or more within one semester shall be expelled.

34. For students who do not have classes and leave school without approval from office, if the accumulated leaving days are between 7(including 7 days) to 14 (including 14 days), they shall be given a warning or serious warning; if accumulated leaving days are 15 days or more (including 15 days), they shall be given a noting of breach of discipline on record or suspension; if accumulated leaving days are one month or over, they shall be expelled.

35.  Students who violate national and school’s birth control laws and regulations, and give birth (such as non-marital bearing, over-reproduction), shall be given a noting of breach of disciplines on record in accordance with Regulations of Guangdong Province on Population and Birth Control.

36. Graduating students who do not leave as scheduled and continue to live in the dormitory shall receive a serious warning. If other rule violations exist before they leave the school, students shall receive punishments ranging from warning to invalidation of their graduating status (regarded as dropping out of the school).

37. Students with other violations of the “Regulations on the Management of Students in Universities and Colleges” and “Code of Conduct for Higher Education Students”  shall be given the following punishments:

a. Those who forge documents, certificates or transcripts, impersonate others' signatures, steal seals and provide false materials shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

b. Those who borrow valid certificates such as student ID cards, medical certificates, and library cards and cause adverse consequences shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

c. Refusing or obstructing Chinese government staff or school administrators to perform official duties according to law or in accordance with school rules and regulations, shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case;

d. Those who conceal, destroy or privately dismantle other people's letters and cause adverse effects or losses, in addition to compensating for the loss, shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case;

e. Those who obtain confidential or undisclosed materials of the Chinese government, schools or others through abnormal means, shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case;

f. Those who disrupt the order of public places and fails to change after through education shall be given a warning or more serious punishments, depending on the case.

38. For other violations that were not mentioned but still needs to be given punishments, the relevant departments of school can refer to the related rules and regulations of student management at South China University of Technology, evaluate and give the corresponding punishment.

Chapter Three Disciplinary Procedures and Student Rights and Interests

       39. Disciplinary powers and handling procedures

       a. Disciplinary powers

For warnings and serious warnings, the school can investigate, make the final decision and then report it to the related departments of SCUT; for noting of breach of discipline on record or more serious punishment, the school should investigate, put forward the preliminary suggestions of punishment and then report it to SCUT for approval from Student Affairs Office, Academic Affairs Office, Graduate School, Security Departments and school; for noting of breach of discipline on record and suspension, it should be reported to SCUT’s authority for approval; Suspension should be decided by the president’s meeting of SCUT or the special meeting authorized by the principal. After that, the disciplinary decisions shall be reported to the Student Complaint Handling Committee for record.

       b. Handling procedures

I. Conduct disciplinary investigation and evidence collection. They should conduct the investigation immediately, once they find students have misconducts. If necessary, they should report to the public security organs for investigation and evidence collection. Also, school should cooperate with relevant departments to talk with disciplinary students and give criticism and education.

II. Put forward the preliminary suggestions of punishments. Based on the investigation, the school or relevant departments should put forward handling suggestions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the regulations for students.

III. Listen to students’ statements and defenses. The relevant departments of the SCUT or the school should inform students with facts, reasons and basis for making the decision before they punish students. Also, they should inform students with the right to make statements and defenses, and listen to the statements and defenses of students;

IV. Make the disciplinary decision. The school or the SIE should conduct a comprehensive review of the legality in advance and then make a disciplinary decision. For matters that clearly violate the regulations or laws, the school should, within 30 days of receiving the materials or notice, make a disciplinary decision or suggestion. If the school fails to comply with regulations when dealing with students’ disciplinary incidents, SCUT can ask the SIE to make a new review.

When the school makes a disciplinary decision for students, the school should issue a disciplinary decision letter to students. The disciplinary decision letter should include the following:

(1) Student’s basic information;

(2) Facts and evidence of punishments;

(3) The type, basis and duration of punishments;

(4) The methods and deadline of defenses

(5) Other necessary contents.

When the disciplinary incident involves students from different schools, the relevant departments of SCUT is in charge of coordinating with school. If there is any special situation, school have rights to give punishments to students directly.

V. Publish the disciplinary punishments. The SCUT’s disciplinary documents should be published within the university based on situations. Also, the school in which students are should   inform students’ parents. Whether matters that involves personal privacy and Chinese government’s secrets should be published is decided by the SCUT.

VI. Send the disciplinary decision letter. The school is responsible for informing students to sign on the disciplinary decision letter and give an ideological and political education. For students who refuse to sign, it should be delivered by lien. For students who have left SCUT, it should be delivered by post. For students who are hard to get in contact, it is deemed to have succeeded in delivering within 15 days after the date of publication .

40. Dismissal of punishments

a. If students perform well during the punishment period and there are no more misconducts, the punishment can be dismissed after its expiration date in accordance with the handling procedures.

b. If students have outstanding performance during the punishment period, they can apply and submit the evaluation report and suggestions through the school and then report it to the Students’ Affairs Office for approval to cancel the punishments in advance. However, the duration from the disposition to the dismissal shall not be less than 6 months;

     c. Students subject to a disciplinary action can still apply for graduation and degree awarding, if they receive a warning or serious warning which are not be lifted before graduation. Those who receive noting of breach of disciplines on record and suspension punishment cannot apply for graduation and degree awarding until the punishment is lifted.

d. Students should submit the applications by themselves to the SIE for the dismissal of punishment. Then, the school should submit the investigation report and suggestions to SCUT for deliberation. Finally, staff in the department which gives the disciplinary action discuss, make the final decision and issue a document to lift the punishment.

e. The authority and the approval processes of punishments dismissal are the same as the ones of disciplinary action decisions.

41. Students subject to punishments will be disqualified for the current year’s scholarship and honorary title applications during the punishment period. After the punishments dismissal, students can still apply for commendations and awards without any influences from the original punishment.

42. Materials of the disciplinary action decisions and punishment dismissal should be archived. Materials of the disciplinary action decisions and punishment dismissal shall be recorded in the documents of the SCUT, the school and the corresponding students. Also, the expulsion notice should be reported to the SCUT and the higher supervision authority of education in Guangdong Province for records.  

43. Safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of students and make sure students have rights and opportunities for defense and appeal.

a. If a student disagrees with the decision of the SCUT or school, he or she can, submit a written complaint to the Student Complaint Handling Committee within 10 days from the date of receiving the decision;

b. The Student Complaint Handling Committee should review the appeal made by students and make a review and inform the results to the claimant within 15 days of receiving the appeal. If the situation is too complicated to make a conclusion within the stated time limit, it may be extended by 15 days upon approval by the person in charge. If the Student Complaint Handling Committee think it is necessary, it may recommend that the SCUT suspend the relevant decisions;

Upon review, the Student Complaint Handling Committee find that there is any insufficient evidence, improper provisions or wrong procedures, they can suggest to cancel or change the revisions. After that, the relevant departments will evaluate and then report it for approval by SCUT’s president meeting or special meeting.

c. If the student has any doubts about the review decision, he or she may appeal to the Guangdong Provincial Education Administration by a written statement within 15 days of receiving the school review decision.

d. Since the date of disciplinary action or review decision being served, the student who fails to appeal during the complaint period is deemed to have abandoned the complaint, and the SCUT will no longer accept the complaint made by them. If the disciplinary action or review decision fail to inform students with the deadline for appeal, the deadline for appeal should be calculated from the date on which the student knows, should know or the date of the disciplinary action, but the maximum duration should not exceed 6 months;

e. Students who believe that the SCUT’s staff violate the regulations and infringe upon their legitimate rights and interests may file a complaint to the Guangdong Provincial Education Administration;

f. Other unmentioned matters concerning the complaint should be dealt with in accordance with the relevant regulations of “Student Complaint Handling Procedures of South China University of Technology”.

44. Students who are subject to disciplinary actions will have their degree, school status and record changed in accordance with the relevant school regulations. Students who have been expelled by SCUT must apply for leave within two weeks after the decision is made.

Chapter Four Supplementary Provisions

45. SCUT is responsible for interpreting the rules and the specific work should be undertaken by the Student Affairs Department.

46. This provision comes into effect from September 1^st, 2019. Rules on the Discipline of Students at SCUT (Revised in 2018) is abolished at the same time.