Our Constitution

STANDARD CONSTITUTION OF A NON-SPORTS CLUB

In force from the beginning of Michaelmas Full Term 2017 (amended in Hilary Term 2020 with effect from Michaelmas Full Term 2020 and in Hilary Term 2023 with effect from Michaelmas Full Term 2023)

NAME AND OBJECTS

1. The Club is called the Oxford Computing and Technology Society (hereafter referred to as “the Club”). The Club’s objects are the support, development, improvement and promotion of the use of computing, technology and programming in the University of Oxford insofar as such objects are charitable; and the income and property of the Club shall be applied solely to those objects.

COMPLIANCE

2.

(a)    The Club shall be administered in accordance with the University’s Regulations for the Activities and Conduct of Student Members[1].

(b)    The activities of the Club will at all times be conducted in accordance with the University’s procedures, codes of practice and policies in force from time to time on equality, harassment, freedom of speech and safeguarding (which are available via the University Student Handbook on the University’s webpages), and the Club’s Code of Conduct

(c)    If there is a national governing body for the Club’s activities with which the Club is eligible to register, the Club shall effect and maintain such registration: purchase any insurance cover which the national body makes available (unless the Insurance Section of University Administration and Services agrees to or prescribes other arrangements); and make every effort to comply with all safety procedures which the national body prescribes, or recommends as good practice. If there is no such national governing body, or if the national governing body does not make insurance available, the Club must obtain alternative insurance as agreed by the Insurance Section of University Administration and Services.

(d)    The Club shall maintain and observe the Club’s Safety Policy, ensure compliance with the Policy by the members of the Club, and follow an appropriate procedure for risk assessment. Both the Safety Policy and the procedure for risk assessment must be acceptable to and approved by the University’s Safety Office.

(e)    No member of the Club shall participate in any activity overseas organised by the Club, whether during term-time or vacation, unless the plans for such activity have been notified at least one calendar month in advance of the date of departure from the United Kingdom to the University’s Safety Office or the University Marshal and approved by the Proctors. Each member participating in such activities overseas shall observe any conditions imposed by the Proctors on the recommendation of University’s Safety Officer or the University Marshal, e.g. relating to the deposit of contact addresses, fulfilment of health, safety and insurance requirements, and stipulation of coaches, trainers or Senior Members to accompany the trip.

(f)     The Club shall maintain a dedicated website and shall supply details of its web address to the Clubs Office for listing on the University’s clubs and societies webpage.  The Club may apply to the University’s IT Services to use information technology (‘IT’) facilities in the name of the Club. Where relevant facilities are allocated by IT Services it is the responsibility of the Club:

(i) to designate a member of the Club entitled to a University e‑mail account (as defined by IT Services rules) to act as its IT Officer, whose duties shall include liaising with IT Services about the use of facilities allocated and passing on to the successor in office all records relating to the use of the facilities allocated;

(ii) to designate one of its members (who may be, but need not necessarily be, the same as its IT Officer) or, exceptionally, a member of Congregation, to act as its principal Webmaster, whose duties shall include maintaining an awareness of the University guidelines on web and social media publishing, and co‑ordinating and regulating access to the web facilities used by the Club;

(iii) to comply with regulations and guidelines relating to the use of IT facilities published from time to time by IT Services;

(iv) to ensure that everyone responsible under (i)-(iii) is competent to deal with the requirements, where necessary undertaking training under the guidance of IT Services.

MEMBERSHIP

3.     The members of the Club shall be those who are eligible and apply for membership of the Club, who are admitted to and maintained in membership by the Committee, and who have paid the relevant Club subscription.
4.     Subject to paragraph 5, all student members of the University, and all persons whose names are on the University’s Register of Visiting Students, shall be eligible to become members of the Club. A member shall continue to be eligible until given permission to supplicate for a degree, diploma or certificate, regardless of any continuing liability to pay fees to the University.
5.     If the Club’s objects relate directly to a protected characteristic as defined in section 4 of the Equality Act 2010, the Club may be entitled to restrict membership to members sharing that protected characteristic, provided that the Proctors shall first approve any such restriction.
6.     The Committee may also, at its discretion, admit to membership:

(a)    students registered to read for diplomas and certificates in the University;

(b)    student members of Permanent Private Halls who are not student members of the University;

(c)    members of Ruskin College and Ripon College, Cuddesdon;

(d)    members of Oxford Brookes University, provided that such members shall not constitute more than one-fifth of the total membership; and

(e)    other persons not falling within paragraph 4 above or paragraphs 6(a) to (d) above, provided that such members shall not constitute more than one-fifth of the total membership.

7.     The Committee, having specific regard to the Senior Member’s advice in relation to the relevant matter, may remove a person from membership if removal of such person from membership is deemed to be in the best interests of the Club. If the person concerned is an Oxford University student (i.e. within paragraphs 6(a), (b) or (c) above), that person has a right to ask the Proctors to review the Committee’s decision.

MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS

8.     There shall be an Annual General Meeting for all the members of the Club in Hilary Full Term, convened by the Secretary on not less than fourteen days’ notice.
9.     The Annual General Meeting will:

(a)    receive the annual report of the Committee for the previous year and the annual accounts of the Club for the previous year, the report and accounts having been approved by the Committee;

(b)    receive a report from the Committee on the Club’s compliance with paragraph 2 above;

(c)    receive a report from the Committee on the number of complaints received, if applicable, the category of such complaints (e.g., harassment, funding disputes or service issues), and any Committee recommendations arising from them;

(d)    elect Members of the Committee in accordance with paragraph 24 below: the Committee’s nominations for the Officers and the Senior Member shall be contained in the notice of the Meeting: any alternative nominations must be seconded and have the consent of the nominee, and must be received in writing by the Secretary not less than seven days before the date of the Meeting: nominations for the other Committee Members may be taken from the floor of the meeting;

(e)    consider any motions of which due notice has been given, and any other relevant business.

10.   An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called in any Full Term; by the President, the Secretary or the Treasurer on not less than seven days’ notice; or on a written requisition by seven or more members, stating the reason for which the meeting is to be called, and delivered to the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the date of the Meeting.
11.   Prior to all General Meetings notice of the agenda shall be sent out with the notice of the Meeting.
12.   The quorum for a General Meeting shall be ten members present in person or by proxy, of whom three must be members of the Committee. When any financial business is to be transacted there must be present the Treasurer, or a member of the Committee deputed by the Treasurer to represent the Treasurer’s views to the Meeting (provided that where it is a case of a deputy, the only financial business transacted shall be that which was set out in the agenda accompanying the notice of the Meeting).
13.   Every matter, except where this Constitution provides otherwise, shall be determined by a majority of members present and voting.  In the case of equal votes, the President of the Club shall have a casting vote.
14.   Minutes of all meetings shall be kept and formally adopted. Copies of the minutes and the Committee’s reports shall be made available to members and, upon request, to the Proctors.

THE COMMITTEE

15.   The affairs of the Club shall be administered by a Committee consisting of not more than eight persons, which shall determine the subscriptions payable by the members of the Club, and have ultimate responsibility for the activities of the Club. Members of the University shall at all times make up the majority of the members of the Committee. The Committee shall consider the diversity of the Club and the benefits of increased representation for minority groups in its operations, including in the structuring of the Committee. The Committee shall have control of the funds and property of the Club, and of its administration.
16.   No member of the Committee (or the Club) shall enter into or purport to enter into any arrangement, contract or transaction on behalf of the Club with a value exceeding £1,000 unless the Committee has resolved to approve the relevant arrangement, contract or transaction at a Committee meeting.
17.   The quorum for a Committee meeting shall be four members present in person. When any financial business is to be transacted, there must be present either the Treasurer or a member of the Committee deputed by the Treasurer to represent the Treasurer’s views to the meeting.
18.   The Committee shall be made up of the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer (together, the “Office Holders”; and their offices are referred to as “the Offices”), the Senior Member and two other persons. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall each be either a member of the Club whose eligibility stems from paragraph 4 above or paragraphs 6(a) to (c) above, or (with the approval of the Proctors) a member of Congregation. Where eligibility stems from paragraphs 6(a) to (c) above, the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer must each, on election to office, sign an undertaking to abide by relevant provisions of the University Student Handbook, as directed by the Proctors from time to time, and other relevant University policies, and to accept the authority of the Proctors on Club matters.
19.   The President shall have the right to preside at all meetings of the members of the Club and at all meetings of the Committee. Should the President be absent, or decline to take the chair, the Committee shall elect another member of the Committee to chair the meeting.
20.   Minutes of all meetings, including Committee meetings, shall be kept and formally adopted. Copies of the minutes shall be made available to members and, upon request, to the Proctors.
21.   The Secretary shall:

(a)    maintain a register of the members of the Club, which shall be available for inspection by the Proctors on request;

(b)    give notice of meetings of the members and the Committee;

(c)    draw up the agendas for and minutes of those meetings;

(d)    notify the Proctors (through the Clubs Office) promptly following the appointment and resignation or removal of Office Holders and other members of the Committee;

(e)    take responsibility for the operation and updating of the Club’s website displaying (as a minimum) information about the Committee, the Club’s Constitution, Code of Conduct, Complaint Procedure and any safety procedures approved by the University’s Safety Office under paragraph 2(e);

(f)     provide the Insurance Section with full details of any insurance cover purchased from or through a national governing body pursuant to paragraph 2(c) above; and

(g)    inform the Proctors through the Clubs Office if the Club ceases to operate, or is to be dissolved, and in doing so present a final statement of accounts (the format of which the Proctors may prescribe).

22.   The Treasurer shall:

(a)    keep proper records of the Club’s financial transactions in accordance with current accepted accounting rules and practices;

(b)    develop and implement control procedures to minimise the risk of financial exposure, such procedures to be reviewed regularly with the University’s Internal Audit Section (“Internal Audit”);

(c)    ensure that bills are paid and cash is banked in accordance with the procedures developed under (b);

(d)    prepare an annual budget for the Club and regularly inform the Committee of progress against that budget;

(e)    ensure that all statutory returns are made including VAT, income tax and corporation tax if appropriate;

(f)     seek advice as necessary on tax matters from the University’s Finance Division;

(g)    develop and maintain a manual of written procedures for all aspects of the Treasurer’s responsibilities;

(h)    make all records, procedures and accounts available on request to the Senior Member, the Proctors and Internal Audit;

(i)     forward to the Proctors (through the Clubs Office) at the end of week 9 of Trinity Term a copy of annual accounts for the financial year to which they relate (the format of which the Proctors may prescribe) signed by the Senior Member, for retention on the Proctors’ files (subject to the condition that during the first year of registration, a club may be required by the Proctors to submit termly accounts); and

(j)     if the Club has a turnover in excess of £25,000 in the preceding year, or if owing to a change in the nature or scale of its activities, it may confidently be expected to have such a turnover in the current year, submit its accounts (the format of which the Proctors may prescribe) for independent professional inspection and report by a reporting accountant approved in advance by the Proctors. Accounts are to be ready for inspection within four months of the end of the Club’s financial year and the costs of the inspection and report shall be borne by the Club. If requested by the reporting accountant, the Club shall submit accounts and related material as a basis for a review of accounting procedures, the cost likewise to be borne by the Club.

23.   The Senior Member shall:

(a)    keep abreast of the actions and activities of the Club;

(b)    provide information relating to the Club to the Proctors on request;

(c)    seek to settle any preliminary disputes between the Committee and the members;

(d)    support the Club’s welfare officer in their role to seek to prevent incidents of harassment and support those involved in such incidents;

(e)    following paragraph 22(i) above, consider whether the accounts of the Club are in order and, if so, sign them;

(f)     ensure that adequate advice and assistance is available to the Secretary and the Treasurer in the performance of their responsibilities under paragraphs 21 and 22 above; and

(g)    be available to represent and speak for the Club in the public forum, and before the University authorities.

24.   The members of the Committee shall be elected by the members of the Club annually, and shall be eligible for re-election. The members of the Club shall not appoint several individuals jointly to hold any of the Offices, nor allow any individual to hold more than one Office at a time. The members of the Club shall appoint a member of Congregation as the Senior Member when electing other members of the Committee each year provided that a Senior Member who has previously held office as Senior Member for more than five consecutive years shall not be eligible for re-appointment. The Senior Member shall be a member of the Committee ex officio.
25.   If during the period between the annual elections to offices any vacancies occur amongst the members of Committee, the Committee shall have the power of filling the vacancy or vacancies up to the next Annual General Meeting by co-optation.
26.   Each Office Holder must, and shall procure that other Office Holders shall, at the end of any term of Office, promptly hand to the relevant successor in Office (or to another member of the Club nominated by the Committee) all official documents and records belonging to the Club, together with (on request from the Committee) any other property of the Club which may be in the outgoing Office Holder’s possession; and must complete any requirements to transfer authority relating to control of the Club’s bank accounts, building society accounts, or other financial affairs.
27.   Without derogating from its primary responsibility, the Committee may delegate its functions to finance and general purposes and other subcommittees which are made up exclusively of members of the Committee.
28.   The Committee shall have power to make regulations and by-laws in order to implement the paragraphs of this Constitution, and to settle any disputed points not otherwise provided for in this Constitution.  
29.   No member of the Committee shall be removed from office except by a majority vote of a disciplinary committee of three members of the Club who are not members of the Committee appointed by the Senior Member for that purpose and acting in consultation with the Senior Member (or the Proctors if the member of the Committee to be removed is the Senior Member or if the Senior Member is otherwise conflicted).

INDEMNITY

30.   So far as may be permitted by law, every member of the Committee and every officer of the Club (each a “relevant officer”) shall be entitled to be indemnified out of the Club’s assets against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by the relevant officer in the execution or discharge of duties as a relevant officer or the exercise of powers as a relevant officer, or otherwise properly in relation to or in connection with the relevant officer’s duties. This indemnity extends to any liability incurred by a relevant officer in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by the relevant officer in that capacity and in which judgement is given in the relevant officer’s favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on the relevant officer’s part), or in which the relevant officer is acquitted, or in connection with any application under any statute for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to the relevant officer by the Court.
31.   So far as may be permitted by law, the Club may purchase and maintain for the benefit of any relevant officer insurance cover against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law may attach to the relevant officer in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the relevant officer may be guilty in relation to the Club and against all costs, charges, losses and expenses and liabilities incurred by the relevant officer and for which the relevant officer is entitled to be indemnified by the Club by virtue of paragraph 30.

DISSOLUTION

32.   The Club may be dissolved at any time by the approving votes of two thirds of those present in person or by proxy at a General Meeting. The Club may also be dissolved (without the need for any resolution of the members) by means of not less than thirty days’ notice from the Proctors to the Secretary of the Club if at any time the Club ceases to be registered with the Proctors.
33.   In the event of the Club being dissolved, its assets shall not be distributed amongst the members, but shall be paid to or at the direction of the University.

CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

34.   In accordance with University regulations, if the Club wishes to remain a registered University Club, the Club must seek approval in writing from the Proctors for any changes to this Constitution that deviate from the University’s Standard Non-Sports Club Constitution, as amended from time to time. Such approval will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

35.   Changes to this Constitution must be ratified at a General Meeting with the approval of two-thirds of present, eligible and voting members. As such the University recommends that the Proctors’ approval is sought prior to seeking to change the Constitution at a General Meeting.

INTERPRETATION

36.   Any question about the interpretation of this Constitution shall be settled by the Proctors.
37.   This Constitution shall be binding on all members of the Club. No regulation, by-law or policy of the Club shall be inconsistent with, or shall affect or repeal anything contained in, this Constitution.

By-laws

From 7th March 2018, amended Trinity 2024.

1: This Society’s name shall normally be abbreviated to “CompSoc”.

2: The Officers shall be elected from the Membership in Hilary Term, until the the first Trinity after the next Annual General Meeting. Should an Officer be unable to continue, a replacement shall be elected at the next General Meeting, until which time the committee may temporarily appoint a replacement. Ex-presidents of the Society may sit on the Committee (ex prior officio), in addition to the normal Committee Members, at the committee’s discretion.

3: Should it be deemed necessary, the Committee may create additional posts up to the maximum provided for in the constitution. These posts shall be either co-opted by the committee or elected by the membership at a general meeting, at the discretion of the committee.

4: There shall be at least one General Meeting each Term.

5: There will be at least two committee members present in person at each General Meeting.

6: All types of Member may question Officers of the Society at a General Meeting.

7: If the university proctors request a constitutional amendment, and the general meeting following this request fails to meet quorum, the committee have the power to enforce this amendment immediately. Members must be notified of any such change.

8: Complaints against members of the Society shall be dealt with as specified by the Complaints Procedure for Non-sports Clubs.

9: The Society endorses the Code of Conduct.

10: Sponsors of the Society may refer to their sponsorship as “membership”, but that does not mean they are members of the society.

11: Proxy votes shall not be counted in elections; only votes in person shall count.

12: The Treasurer shall keep an inventory of valuable Society property kept in the CS Department and share this inventory with the University Insurance Office for insurance purposes.

13.1: The Two Committees

There will be two committees: the Constitutional Committee and the Secondary Committee. In accordance with Paragraph 15 of the Constitution, the Constitutional Committee discharges the functions allocated to ‘the Committee’ in the main Constitution, including the administration and activities of CompSoc, for which they hold ultimate responsibility.

The Constitutional Committee will be assisted in this function by the Secondary Committee. References to ‘the Committee’ in this section are to be taken to refer to the Secondary Committee, so far as this is consistent with the main Constitution. Every member of the Constitutional Committee shall also be a member of the Secondary Committee.

The members of the Constitutional Committee

The members of the Constitutional Committee shall be:

1. President
2. Secretary
3. Treasurer
4. Senior Member
5. Two additional members of the Secondary Committee, co-opted at the President’s discretion

Membership of the Secondary Committee

The Secondary Committee shall where possible always include the following posts:

1. President
2. Secretary
3. Treasurer
4. Senior Member
5. Vice President
6. Social Secretary
7. IT Officer

Additional members of the Committee can be co-opted by the Committee or elected by the membership at a General Meeting, for positions not specified above.

Any member may request the creation of these ad-hoc positions. The creation of the said position is automatic upon election or co-option of a member to hold it. These positions may or may not include, and are not limited to:

8. Head of Talks
9. Learn to Code Officer
10. Competitive Programming officer

At the discretion of the President, any committee post except the Officers may be held jointly by 2 or more members, provided that the post-holders agreed to hold the post jointly. Two or more posts may be held simultaneously by the same person; however, no person may jointly hold more than one of President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

13.2: Responsibilities of the Committee

The responsibilities of the Committee shall be as follows:

1. The President shall be responsible for the overall running of the society, chairing General Meetings and Committee Meetings, as well as ensuring the accountability of everyone in the Secondary Committee.
2. The responsibilities of the Secretary are as provided for in Paragraph 21.
3. The responsibilities of the Treasurer are as provided for in Paragraph 22.
4. The responsibilities of the Senior Member are as provided for in Paragraph 23.
5. The Vice President shall be responsible for deputising for the President in the event that the President is unable to attend Meetings, as well as any other auxiliary tasks the President sees fit.
6. The Social Secretary shall be responsible for organising social event room bookings, as well as organising the content of such events.
7. The IT Officer shall be responsible for management of the website, server and other technical equipment related to the Society.

In addition, all Committee members shall attend all Committee Meetings if at all possible, and report on their activities since the previous meeting. Additional responsibilities may be conferred on any Committee post by the President in consultation with the Committee, with the proviso that no Committee member shall be required to accept an additional responsibility which did not exist at the time of their election.

The President (in consultation with holders of the relevant Committee posts) shall keep and update more detailed notes on the responsibilities of each Committee post and shall make these available for consultation by all members.

If any members have been co-opted or elected to an ad-hoc position in the Committee, the responsibilities for such a role are at the discretion of the Committee, and to be agreed prior to election or co-option.

14: Those running for the position of President in the Annual General Meeting must previously have held a position on the committee (specifically within the secondary committee) unless no such candidate runs.

Complaints Procedure for Non-Sports Clubs

This document sets out the procedure for complaints (“Complaints”) against a member or members of the Oxford Computing and Technology Society (the “Club”) including for breach of the Club’s Code of Conduct or the University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedure on Harassment.

1. Applicability of the procedure

This procedure applies where a person believes that a Club member or members have failed to act in accordance with the Club’s Code of Conduct, the University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedure on Harassment, or have acted in breach of their obligations under the Club Constitution, during or in connection with Club activities.

2. Definition of the “Committee”

(a) If the person or persons being complained about (the “Subject(s)”) is one or more member(s) of the Committee, then the references to the “Committee” in this procedure are to the members of the Committee excluding the Subject(s).

(b) If the identity of the Subjects is such that it is impossible for a quorate Committee to consider the Complaint, the Complaint should be referred for consideration to the Senior Member, or, if the Senior Member is the Subject or otherwise conflicted, to the Proctors (casework@proctors.ox.ac.uk).

3. General

(a) Time limits in this procedure should usually be met by all parties. Time limits may only be extended by the relevant decision-maker(s) where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure a fair outcome (for example, where more time is needed because of a party’s illness, the timing of examinations or during the holidays).

(b) Complaints will be dealt with confidentially by all parties involved, except where it is necessary to disclose information to carry out a fair investigation.

(c) Complaints can be made anonymously and can lead to informal action but the extent to which an investigation can be carried out is likely to be limited where the person making the report does not want to be identifiable because of the need to follow a fair process for all. For example, it is very unlikely that a complaint could remain anonymous if it is likely that penalties will be imposed.

(d) The Committee may decline to consider malicious, vexatious or frivolous complaints.

(e) If the complaint relates to conduct which could constitute a serious criminal offence the Club should seek advice from the Proctors’ Office (casework@proctors.ox.ac.uk).

(f) Nobody who has a conflict of interest should be involved in decision-making under this procedure. If there is a doubt as to whether a conflict exists advice should be sought from the Senior Member.

4. Informal resolution 

(a) The person making the complaint should consider taking steps to resolve the matter informally before making a formal complaint. This might include discussing the matter with the Subject, and/or seeking advice from the Welfare Officer, the Senior Member or contacting the Clubs Office. The University’s Student Welfare and Support Services provide an informal mediation service which is also available to student clubs.

5. Referring a Complaint

(a) A formal complaint should be made to the Committee by being given to any member of the Committee, in writing, as soon as possible after the conduct complained of (the “Complaint”). To ensure the complaint can be investigated appropriately, this should be within 1 month of when matters complained about occurred. The committee may accept later complaints if they think it is fair and appropriate to do so (having regard to relevant factors which may include the impact on those involved in the complaint, the interests of the Club and the reasons for the delay).

(b) The Complaint should be in writing and should include:

(i) A detailed description of the event(s) complained of;

(ii) The outcome that is sought;

(iii) Statements by any people who witnessed the event(s) or were affected by them; and

(iv) Any other documents or evidence relied upon in support of the Complaint.

(c) If the Complaint includes an anonymous statement from a witness or refers to an individual without disclosing their identity, it must include the reasons why anonymity is requested in each case.

6. Interim Measures

(a) If it is necessary to do so to protect either or both parties and/or other club members from a risk of harm and/or distress, the Committee may suspend the Subject’s Club membership and/or access to Club activities and/or facilities for up to 2 months pending proceedings under this procedure.

7. Response to the Complaint

(a) Within 5 working days of receipt of the Complaint, the Committee will:

(i) send the person making the Complaint an acknowledgment of receipt; and

(ii) write to the Subject attaching the Complaint, all of the accompanying evidence and a copy of this procedure and stating that the Subject has 10 working days to provide written representations and any evidence in response to the Complaint (the “Response”).

(b) If the Response includes an anonymous statement from a witness or refers to an individual without disclosing their identity, it must include the reasons why anonymity is requested in each case.

8. Further Enquiries

(a) Upon receipt of the Response, the Committee may make any further enquiries of any person that they consider necessary or desirable.

(b) If the Complaint is likely to result in removal of membership, the discussions of the Committee must involve consultation with the Senior Member under Paragraph 7 of the Club’s constitution (the “Constitution”).

9. Decision: Complaints against Club members who are not Committee members

(a) The Committee shall record its decision and the reasons for it in writing and shall send a copy of the reasoned decision to the parties within 10 working days of the deadline for the Response.

10. Decision: Complaints against Committee members

(a) If the Complaint is against one or more Committee members, the Committee shall send:

(i) a copy of the Complaint file; and

(ii) a list of five Club members who are not Committee members and who are not the subject(s) of the complaint suitable to consider the matter and determine the appropriate penalty, together with their email addresses,

to the Senior Member within 5 working days of the deadline for the Response.

(b) The Senior Member shall contact the five club members selected under 10(a)(ii) and ask them to confirm if they have any conflicts of interest and their availability and shall then select three members to form a disciplinary committee (the “Disciplinary Committee”) within 3 working days of receipt of the complaint file. If it is not possible to identify three members able to form a Disciplinary Committee (for example, because of conflicts or lack of availability) the Senior Member may appoint other members of the Club and/or ask the Committee members who are not the subject(s) of the complaint for further suggestions.

(c) The Disciplinary Committee shall consider the matter in consultation with the Senior Member and determine the appropriate outcome. When arriving at its decision the Disciplinary Committee shall have full discretion to arrive at any decision they deem appropriate and to make any further enquiries of any person that they consider necessary or desirable.

(d) If the identity of the Subject(s) and/or any conflicts of interest are such that it is not possible for a quorate Committee to consider the matter under paragraphs 5-8 above, the Committee shall, on receipt of a Complaint under paragraph 5, send it to the Senior Member and the Senior Member shall select a Disciplinary Committee to consider the matter in place of the Committee in accordance with this procedure and without input from the Committee and without receipt of recommendations from them.

(e) The Disciplinary Committee shall record its decision and the reasons for it in writing and shall send a copy of the reasoned decision to the parties within 10 working days of formation of the Disciplinary Committee under 10 (b).

11. Sanctions

(a) The sanctions that may be imposed under this procedure include:

(i) Suspension of, access to or use of all or some of the Club’s activities or facilities for a fixed period;

(ii) Suspension of membership of the Club for a fixed period;

(iii) Removal from office;

(iv) A permanent or time-limited ban from standing for any Club Committee position;

(v) Removal of membership of the Club.

12. Review

(a) An Oxford University student (including students in the categories set out in Paragraphs 4, 6(a) to (c) of the Constitution) whose membership of the Club is removed under this procedure has a right to ask the Proctors to review the Committee’s decision, under Paragraph 7 of the Constitution. The Proctors’ review will consider whether the appropriate procedure has been followed and whether there has been any procedural irregularity or error. Such a review request should be made within 10 working days of notification of the decision of the Committee or Disciplinary Committee.

13. Promoting good practice

(a) The Committee will keep a record of all Complaints received and prepare an annual report that, in anonymised form, will set out:

(i) the category of such Complaints (e.g. harassment, funding disputes or service issues);

(ii) an overview of how Complaints were resolved; and

(iii) any Committee recommendations arising from them (for example, what further steps, including training, the Club may wish to consider to deal with incidents of harassment).

(b) Non-anonymised records should be held securely and destroyed when they are no longer needed, in accordance with data protection legislation.

Code of Conduct for Non-Sports Clubs

1. The Oxford Computing and Technology Society (“the Club”) does not tolerate any form of harassment or victimisation and expects all of its members, employees, and visitors to treat each other with respect, courtesy and consideration.
2. All members of the Club are expected to read and agree to act in accordance with this Code of Conduct and the University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedure on Harassment. Oxford students are also required to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct set out in Statute XI. Membership may be removed or suspended for failing to do so, and opportunities for members to take part in activities within and on behalf of the Club may be restricted.
3. All members of the Club are expected to:

• treat other members with dignity and respect
• discourage any form of harassment by making it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable
• support other members who feel that they have been subject to harassment
• attend any mandatory Club training put in place by the Committee

4. “Harassment” includes in particular the following conduct, however carried out (including online):

• verbal or physical bullying or threats
• sexual harassment including unwanted physical conduct, sexually explicit remarks or sexual assault
• racist behaviour or comments
• homophobic or transphobic behaviour or comments
• victimisation
• religiously motivated abuse

5. The Club should designate one or more member of their Committee as ‘welfare officer(s)’ who will act as a source of advice and support for Club members in relation to welfare issues and during harassment complaints.
6. The Club’s designated welfare officer Austen Fowler can be contacted for informal advice, including in relation to how you make a formal complaint, at austen.fowler@jesus.ox.ac.uk. Support and advice is also available from the Clubs Office.
7. The Club Complaints Procedure provides steps for dealing with internal complaints.
   Clubs are required to have this in place and to follow these steps when they receive a complaint.
8. University of Oxford students can also seek support from:

• one of the University’s harassment advisors;
• college harassment advisors (for members of Oxford colleges);
• their college deans or other officers with pastoral responsibilities, the Common Room welfare or equal opportunities officer or a student peer supporter;
• Oxford SU’s Student Advice Service
• Student Welfare and Support Services including:
  • the University Counselling Service
  • the University’s Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service

9. More information is available on the Oxford Students Harassment Pages, including a flow chart explaining the steps within the University’s complaints procedures (e.g., for complaints against staff and students).

Constitutional history

This Constitution was accepted at a General Meeting of MicroSoc, held on Thursday 16th November, 1978. The Consitution was then amended on:

• Wednesday, 24th January 1979,
• Thursday, 21st February 1980,
• Wednesday, 1st June 1994,
• Wednesday, 24th May 1995,
• Thursday, 19th November 1998,
• Tuesday, 26th February 2002,
• Thursday, 12th June 2003,
• Thursday, 27th November 2003,
• Wednesday, 28th May 2014.

After the Proctors required a standard constitution be used accross all clubs and societies, we replaced our constitution with this and added by-laws. They have been amended on:

• Saturday, 8th November 2014,
• Wednesday, 29th November 2017,
• Wednesday, 7th March 2018.
• Tuesday, 20th December 2022.