Students in the community

University of Leeds’ students are a great asset to the city. Their knowledge, skills and ideas contribute to making Leeds the vibrant, culturally rich and innovative city it is today.

During their time in Leeds, we encourage students to think beyond their studies and to become responsible citizens who positively contribute to the communities where they live and work. This means everything from organising and taking part in events, to being responsible neighbours or volunteering for local organisations.

Recognising student impact

Though the vast majority of our students add value to their local communities, we recognise that sometimes there can also be negative impacts associated with young students, who are often new to independent living. Some of the local challenges we face involve noise, waste and parking.

The role of the Sustainability Service is to engage with our neighbouring communities, help our students to integrate and foster positive behaviour. Where necessary we will also address the potential negative effects on the wider community.

To stay up to date on our latest community news and initiatives or to find out more information, sign up to our Community Newsletter or contact Amanda Jackson.

Student Citizenship

Our Student Citizenship Programme has been developed to engage and support our students and make sure their time in Leeds is positive for both them and their communities.

Student engagement initiatives take place over the academic year in response to ongoing, as well as emerging, student and community needs. We work with a number of strategic partners, including Leeds University Union, Leeds City Council, Leeds Beckett University, Police and community representatives.

The Students and their Community report sets out the University’s unique approach to engaging our students as responsible and active citizens. This includes our procedures with handling any issues and complaints registered from the local community, involving our students.

If you need to report negative student behaviour, please get in touch through our Neighbourhood Helpline or read our Neighbourhood Helpline FAQs.

If you’re a student looking for information about your new accommodation or community, check out our guide to making the most of your time in Leeds.

Students in their community complaint process

The disciplinary process if students receive community complaints.

Stage one

Identification of the University of Leeds student involvement with community issues

Issues are registered with the University through the process detailed in the Neighbourhood Helpline Code. Where our students have been identified as living at a property implicated for causing a neighbourhood issue, the Sustainability Service initiate the University process with handling community complaints.

Assessment of issue impact

The University assess the severity and impact of the incident reported before determining the best course of action. There are three impacts that have different outcomes: minor, moderate, and major.

Stage two

Contact made with students involved

All students identified as living at the property are contacted through a letter. This details the allegation and provides guidance on living locally and the University and Leeds City Council processes and sanctions if further complaints are registered. If the issue was a minor impact and the students receive no further complaints then the disciplinary process ends here. However, if they receive further complaints they will be invited to Good Citizenship Training.

Stage three

Good citizenship training

If the issue was moderate or if students receive further complaints after stage one, students will be invited to Good Citizenship Training. Students that fail to attend the training will be referred to the Head of Student Cases.

All students identified as living at the property are contacted through a letter and email to invite them to attend citizenship training. The letter details the allegations, provides guidance on resident responsibilities and details the University and Leeds City Council processes for responding to neighbourhood issues.

This workshop has been developed to give students a better understanding of their role and responsibilities in society and how to make a positive contribution to the local community.

This includes guidance on how to manage conflict with others, identify solutions to neighbourhood disputes, understand the consequences and impacts of nuisance behaviours and help them to prevent further situations that would result in further complaints.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

State their need for training around good citizenship;
Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the sanctions should these be breached. Including Leeds City Council and University sanctions for community conduct.
Describe the impact anti-social behaviour has on people, businesses and organisations in the community;
Describe examples of anti-social behaviour and the solutions to resolve situations; and
Describe how they might contribute positively to their community and articulate actions to enable them to make such a contribution.

Stage four

Referral to the Head of Student cases

If the complaint was classed as having a major impact or if students have attended the training and receive further complaints they will be directly referred to the Head of Student cases.

Student behaviour to be considered under the General Disciplinary Regulations.