Hi all, I've found myself in quite a tricky situation. Any advice would be welcomed. Basically, I am facing a disciplinary hearing at uni for what they have termed serious misconduct. The uni has been 'investigating' for over two weeks. I had a chance to attend the uni and meet with them, but ended up walking out as the faculty lady was extremely patronizing and rude. Looking back, probably not the best way to handle the situation. The uni has not been very helpful at all, and I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and what to expect. Will I have a chance to speak? Should I get a lawyer? Is it likely that I will be excluded?
The incident relates to something that occurred on a practical placement, which, I admit, was extremely unprofessional. But at the same time I feel like I have a good case against the uni and my placement provider, who didn't offer me adequate supervision for the type of work I was doing, or, in the case of the uni, even respond to my concerns about what was occurring at placement. Basically, I was treated more like a worker than a student and made to do serious overtime and complete tasks that I believe were outside my role. I tried to handle it professionally, bring it up to my supervisor who kept telling me they were busy and pushing back our supervision. Then I called and emailed the uni to no response.
The stress of the placement got to me and my mental health declined leading to the aforementioned incident and me ending up in hospital. The uni seems like all they want to do is cover themselves as well as the placement provider, and have even accused me of lying about correspondence to the uni and my supervisor related to the concerns I was having. I have the documented evidence to provide including emails, texts etc. But when I asked the uni if I could provide this, they didn't bother responding. How should I handle this? The uni has been useless as well as the uni advocate.
While I understand the uni is all about policy and procedure, I don't think its fair for them to look at the breach in isolation from their own negligence in providing me what I am paying them for, as well as the placement provider which basically neglected my need to be supervised and supported in doing the work. Do I have a case? Any advise would be welcomed.
The incident relates to me attending placement under the influence of an illicit substance after not having slept the night prior. I had a few assigned tasks that day- including driving. I realize this was serious, but at the same time I don't think I was thinking rationally due to the compounding stress of the situation. I was called into a meeting with the supervisor and disclosed this. I did contact the liaison prior to this happening- the person between uni and the placement- to no response. Hence I felt I had no other avenues left. I attended the placement the next day and management was notified and I was terminated from placement in a meeting.
Go get a job and pay back yours Hecs fees while your at it