Overview
While the expectation is that all international students abide by program policies and the rules and laws of Canada and Alberta, school authorities may encounter scenarios where disciplinary action is needed. To ensure that school authorities are prepared to handle international student infractions, it is recommended that guidelines and clear processes around disciplinary action are developed and incorporated into the administration of an international student program.
The following practices should be considered in the development and implementation of an international student program and in establishing disciplinary guidelines and processes:
- Setting rules around appropriate behaviour in the homestay and school environments. Clear direction and rules should be established around details such as alcohol/drug/cannabis use, academic attendance, homestay rules, inappropriate behaviour, etc. School authorities should also identify appropriate consequences for violation of each of these rules.
- Sharing the rules of the international student program and disciplinary action guidelines with international students at the time of application and during the student orientation process. International students and their parents/guardians might also be required to sign an agreement form, to confirm their understanding of applicable rules, consequences and disciplinary procedures.
- Creating a process (for example, advocacy model) for when serious infractions occur between host families and international students. Also, designate a staff member to act as a liaison in these scenarios. This process may also include determining where the student will be placed after the infraction is reported (for example, emergency respite homestay).
- Ensuring staff, host families, international students, parents/guardians and custodians have a clear understanding of their specific roles and responsibilities in situations involving the reporting of a serious incident both inside and outside of school hours and on or off school authority property and steps to take after reporting.
- Designing a clear process for when and how to involve senior school authority leadership, particularly in situations involving major infractions or allegations thereof. Other individuals to notify of an infraction – such as parents/guardians, custodians, homestay families, applicable representatives of the school authority, relevant stakeholder association, Alberta Education (when relevant) and law enforcement – should also be considered in developing this process.
- Incorporating guidelines into school authority-approved international student handbooks as well as handbooks and guides for international student program administrators and liaisons.
Immediate termination of program
It is important to consider that the nature and severity of a particular incident or behaviour may result in the immediate dismissal of an international student. Such scenarios may include infractions of the laws of Canada or Alberta, and/or any action or attitude that significantly jeopardizes the health/safety of other students, the host family, school, or community.
In these circumstances school authorities should obtain legal counsel to determine if relevant legal authorities should be contacted. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada may also be involved, depending on the severity of the infraction, and it may also impact the international student’s immigration status in Canada and any future opportunities to re-enter the country.