Message from the Registrar

Dear Student,

You will be aware of certain commercial events which are being organised on next Thursday November 26th. These events have the potential to cause major disruption to our neighbours here in Bishopstown, seriously damage the reputation and public perception of Cork Institute of Technology and in particular the reputation of our graduates and you our students.

A successful charity-based seasonal event which ran well for a number of years was cancelled last year by the Institute following the events of 2007. Unfortunately commercial interests have sought once again to exploit you our students for their own commercial gain. We would urge you, in your own best interests, not to support the events of November 26th next.

The Institute has already received quite a number of representations from the Garda Síochána, Residents Associations, City Councillors and private residents in the Bishopstown area regarding the upcoming events on November 26th. There has also been a high level of media interest in what may or may not happen on this date.

The CIT position on this matter is quite clear. Thursday November 26th is a normal college day in CIT. All class timetables will run as normal in terms of lectures, practical and workshop sessions, laboratories etc. Any Continuous Assessment scheduled for the day will continue as normal and will not be rescheduled. Friday November 27th is also a normal college day here in CIT.

You are advised that the Institute will invoke disciplinary procedures, as appropriate, where individual students have been found to have brought the Institute into disrepute. In particular, you are asked to note that, by Regulation:

Students must not engage in any behaviour which may constitute inconvenience or nuisance to any person(s) within or outside the Institute.
The Institute has power to discipline any student deemed to have been guilty of misconduct, and has power to expel a student deemed to have been guilty of grave misconduct.

Apart from these sanctions which the Institute will apply, persons convicted of Public Order offences cause serious damage to their future career prospects and may disqualify themselves from overseas visas.

CIT, through the efforts of staff and students alike, has consistently developed its profile as a leading Higher Education institution in terms of academic achievement, success in the sporting world and the national and international achievements of our graduates. The Institute will not allow this reputation to be undone by commercial exploitation of our students. Neither will we allow the rights of our neighbours here in Bishopstown, to live free of nuisance and intimidation, to be put at risk by any unacceptable behaviour which could be associated with this Institution.

Dr. Barry O’Connor
Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs 19/11/’09