Non-Academic Discipline

do you want help with your non-academic discipline matter?

Downtown Legal Services (DLS) can help! DLS is a legal clinic with experience representing students in the non-academic discipline process. It is located on the University of Toronto campus and provides free legal services to students who qualify.

IMPORTANT: For any upcoming non-academic discipline hearings, we will work with Senior Chair or specific Chair assigned, as well as the parties, to determine if it is appropriate for the case to proceed using an electronic hearing format. Where possible and permissible, the hearing will be conducted in such manner.

Downtown Legal Services has been operating remotely since June 1, 2020. If you are facing allegations of non-academic misconduct, and you are seeking representation, please contact their Office if you wish to consult their services.

The University of Toronto is a large community and, therefore, must define standards of behaviour and make provisions for student discipline with respect to conduct that jeopardizes the good order and proper functioning of the academic and non-academic programs and activities of the University or its Divisions.

The Code of Student Conduct defines behaviours that endanger the health, safety, rights or property of its members or visitors, or that adversely affect the property of the University where such conduct is not, for the University's defined purposes, adequately regulated by civil and criminal law.

Nothing in the Code of Student Conduct shall be construed to prohibit peaceful assemblies and demonstrations, lawful picketing, or to inhibit freedom of speech as defined in the University.

Decisions of a Hearing Officer can be appealed to the Discipline Appeals Board

Under the Code, the Vice-President & Provost may impose what are known as Interim Measures.  These occur if a serious threat of violent behaviour exists, and they may involve a suspension of a student for up to three working days while a preliminary investigation takes place. The suspension is not a determination of guilt and the University must review the suspension within the three-day suspension period, following the preliminary investigation, and either revoke or continue the suspension.  If the suspension is continued, an appeal from the University’s decision can be made through the ADFG Office to the Senior Chair (or delegate), or the Associate Chair (or delegate) of the University Tribunal. 

Please note: the contents of the web site, where possible, have been written in simplified language. Should a question/dispute arise where the language in the web site differs from the Code, the Code will prevail.

do you want an easy way to understand the non-academic discipline process?

Click below for an easy-to-understand flowchart illustrating the entire non-academic discipline process.