This section describes an overview of student’s code of conduct which sets out the standards of conduct expected of students and various forms of unacceptable behaviors likely to pose a threat to the health and safety of the university community or causes damage to the university property. Students are therefore requested to familiarize themselves with the code and to abide by it.  Failure to maintain the standards and behavior set out in the student’s code of conduct may result in disciplinary action commensurate with the seriousness of the misconduct.

Prohibited conduct

UNILAK students are expected to exhibit acceptable standards of behaviors, thereby demonstrating obedience, politeness, tolerance, integrity, and mutual respect. In this regard, unacceptable behavior that is considered a breach of the student’s code of conduct includes but is not limited to:

• Inappropriate clothing;
• Not carrying valid student’s identity card while on campus and/or refusing to show it to university officials as and when required;
• Possessing, using, selling, or distributing all forms of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or other addictive drugs on university premises, in university-owned vehicles or at university supervised activities;
• Any conduct that may cause a risk or danger to the health, safety, or security of a member of the university community or to the safety or security of the university property;
• Any form of physical, psychological, verbal or written threat;
• Any form of discrimination and genocide ideology;
• Any unauthorized photography, audio or video recording of anyone without his/her prior knowledge or permission;
• Disrupting or interfering with university activities or any other student’s activity;
• Unauthorized access to, entry into, presence in, or use of university property, facilities, or resources;
• Destruction, damage, or misuse of any property of the university, or of a member of the university community;
• Moving any furniture from its proper allotted place;
• Pasting notices on walls. Notices shall only be pasted on the noticeboards;
• Arranging any functions or meeting within the campus without permission of the concerned authorities;
• Sexual misconduct;
• Attempted or actual theft or misappropriation of any property and/or services of the university, or of another person;
• Forgery, alteration, falsification, misuse, or unauthorized possession of university documents, records, or identification cards;
• Supplying false or misleading information to the university or making false accusations against any member of the University community;
• Interfering with any investigative or disciplinary process or inducing a witness to provide false information or to withhold information;
• Failure to comply with a reasonable request or instruction of university officials in the performance of their duties;
• Failure to comply with any disciplinary sanction imposed by the university;
• Encouraging, aiding, or conspiring in any prohibited conduct or attempted prohibited conduct;
• Failing to observe Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Disciplinary sanctions

Any student who contravenes any provision of the Student’s Code of Conduct is subject to one or more of the disciplinary sanctions tailored to meet the specific violation(s).  Sanctions for violations of the Student’s Code of Conduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Warning (oral warning or written warning);
• Reprimand;
• Restitution/restoration cost: payment for damages;
• This sanction may include but is not limited to: Denial of the right to represent the university, removal from an elected or appointed university office or position; denial of the university hostels;
• Suspension: Temporary separation of the student from the university for a specified period of time;
• Expulsion: Permanent separation of the student from the university.

The university reserves itself the right to impose additional sanctions depending on the nature, context, and severity of the misconduct; disciplinary history of the student; and any other aggravating or mitigating factors. In consideration of the seriousness of the misconduct, the university may choose to refer the case to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

The decision to impose any of these sanctions lies with the Disciplinary Committee. However, no disciplinary action will be taken against a student until the case has been fully investigated. Furthermore, the student has the right of appeal against the disciplinary sanction.

Student dress code

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment instead; it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4). Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12). Though UNILAK students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance, they are expected to maintain standards of modesty and decency in dress appropriately to the Christian lifestyle.

In view of the above, the following guidelines aim to clarify student’s attire:

• Clothing should be neat, clean, and relatively free of the tattered and worn look;
• All clothing should be appropriate and modest in length and coverage.
• Students are not to wear clothing that is skin tight, sagging, see-through or revealing, low cut or short;
• Clothing that bare or expose private body parts including, but not limited to, the stomach, buttocks, back, breasts, or cleavage are not permitted;
• All clothing must conceal undergarments;
• Females have to wear bottom garments that end below the knee when standing;
• Clothing containing holes, tears and/or rips are not permitted;
• Clothes designed as underwear or sleepwear should not be worn as outerwear;
• House slippers of any kind are not allowed;
• Shorts are not permitted on campus;
• Hats or caps are not permitted in classes with the exception of religious ones or those that are part of a uniform;
• Hair must be well groomed, neat, and clean at all times. Unusual hair styles or unnatural hair colours are not permitted;
• Beards are to be neatly trimmed.

Any student wearing any article of clothing deemed inappropriate will be required to change into appropriate clothing. However, repeated dress code infractions may result in further disciplinary action. The university reserves itself the right to determine the appropriateness of a student’s attire. In this regard, students having any questions about the dress code are advised to visit the office of students’ affairs/address their concerns to the office of students Affairs.  

Student-staff relationships

Students are strongly advised not to enter into any relationship with a member of  the university staff with any responsibility for them

The academic problems are resolved at UNILAK premises. Any attempt by students to discuss the academic issue at the staff or lecturer’s home is considered as forcible entry and is strictly prohibited.