(1) The unit assessor during the first two weeks of each study period shall make available to all students enrolled in that unit and shall lodge with the Library a Unit Information Guide which shall contain details as stipulated in the Unit Statements Policy. (2) The Unit Information Guide shall normally include at least the following information about student assessment: (3) This Rule refers to the conditions under which variations to assessment tasks or requirements may be made to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities. Such variations may include, for example, the method of completing assignments or recording answers, a lengthening of the time taken over a test or examination, the venue for tests or an examination, the provision of sound amplification or of large print for test or examination papers, and the provision of particular furniture requirements. The onus is on a student with a disability who wishes to seek variations to assessment tasks or requirements to bring this matter to the attention of the Disabilities Liaison Officer in accordance with the University's Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities Policy. (4) Procedures for students registered under the Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities Policy as having a disability shall be those specified in that Policy. Once a determination is made under the Policy concerning variations to assessment tasks or requirements for a student with a disability, these variations shall be available throughout the period of enrolment unless changed in accordance with the Policy. (5) All students with disabilities who are not registered under the Policy and who seek accommodation for a disability must contact the Disabilities Liaison Officer. An application for a special examination or special consideration in a unit does not relieve the student of this onus. (6) Requests for special consideration in relation to assessment tasks shall only be considered on the following grounds: health (including impacts of religious fasting); compassionate circumstances; religious observances or celebrations; serious unforeseen personal events; selection in State, national or international sporting or cultural events; rendering genuine and unforeseen emergency service in a professional or voluntary capacity; or rendering any service (including undertaking training) in the Defence Reserves. Onshore international students must have a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) for an SCU course which remains valid for the period of the request. (7) For consideration on health grounds, the following information in relation to a student's condition shall be required from a registered health practitioner: (8) For consideration on grounds of compassionate circumstances or serious unforeseen personal events, a student shall provide factual details of the circumstances or events, together with such corroborative evidence as may support the student's application. In this context "serious unforeseen personal events" refer normally to events which are outside the student's control to prevent or overcome. (9) For consideration on grounds of selection in State, national or international sporting or cultural events, or religious observances or celebrations, a student shall provide a statement signed by an authorised officer of the appropriate organisation which validates a conflict with the University's timetable. (10) For consideration on grounds of rendering genuine and unforeseen emergency service in a professional or voluntary capacity, or rendering any service (including undertaking training) in the Defence Reserves, a student shall provide a statement signed by an authorised officer of the appropriate organisation which details the nature of the service rendered, and validates a conflict with the University's timetable. (11) Misreading the advised due date for any assessment task including misreading the exam timetable, as officially advised by the University, is not grounds for special consideration. Official advice only includes information provided in Unit Information Guides, on University websites and formal written correspondence. (12) Variation of the due date for an assessment task, other than an examination: (13) Special consideration in the end-of-unit examination: (14) Consideration in relation to a completed assessment task: (15) Examination periods (including special examination periods) shall be those periods as determined by the Vice Chancellor. (16) Special examinations will be held in official examination periods as designated by the Vice Chancellor. International students who hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) from SCU for onshore study must sit special examinations within the duration of the COE. (17) Subject to the discretion of Director, Student Administration Services, students granted a special examination under Section 5 - will sit the special examination in the next: (18) Where special consideration is granted prior to an examination on the basis of religious observances, a student will be examined within the immediate examination period, using the same examination materials as for the standard examination (where necessary) so long as the student: (19) In the case of clause (19), the Unit Assessor will assess exam results to ensure no odd patterns of results are detected. (20) Students enrolled internally are required to return to the University to sit an examination, unless prior arrangements for an alternative venue have been approved in writing by the Director of Student Administration Services. International students may only apply for an alternative venue under compassionate and compelling circumstances. (21) Except for the case of clause (19), in any examination period where a unit has either Special Examinations or Supplementary Assessment examinations, the unit shall normally have an examination paper that is different, but of an equivalent standard, to the examination previously set. (22) Timetables for examinations shall be prepared and posted on the appropriate notice boards, or due notice of examinations shall be given to students by other means as determined by the University. Such notice shall be given not less than ten (10) working days prior to the commencement of the examination. (23) A person other than a student, a supervisor, a unit assessor or other authorised person may not, except with the permission of a supervisor, enter or remain in an examination room during an examination session. (24) A student may not enter an examination room before being given permission to do so by a supervisor, or thirty (30) minutes after the commencement of the writing time for the examination. (25) No student may leave the examination room before the expiry of thirty (30) minutes from the commencement of writing time or after the ten-minute warning given by a supervisor before the end of the examination. (26) A person, whether a student or not, who is given permission to enter or leave an examination room shall comply with all conditions on which the permission is given. (27) A student shall not, except with the explicit permission of the unit assessor, bring into an examination room anything whatsoever which conveys or is capable of conveying information concerning or otherwise has reference to any unit, or is such that it may reasonably give rise to suspicion that it is capable of conveying information concerning or of having reference to any unit or that it was intended by the student so to do. Exception: Electronic dictionaries are not permitted under any circumstances. It is immaterial that the subject matter of the material is not one to which the examination relates. It shall be sufficient answer to any alleged breach of this Rule if the student establishes that anything brought into an examination room was brought in with the permission of the supervisor, or, forthwith upon entering the room, deposited with a supervisor or at a place designated for the deposit of such things. (28) A student whose first language is not English may use an unmarked and unannotated standard translation hardcopy dictionary only, where the examination is set in English. (29) Except with the approval of the supervisor, a student shall not during an examination session communicate with any other person except a supervisor, the unit assessor or other person authorised by the relevant Deputy Head of School or College Director, or assist any other person to communicate with another person, or willingly receive a communication from any person other than a supervisor, the unit assessor or the relevant Head of School. (30) Students shall bring into the examination room their student identification card or any other photo identification card. (31) A student for an examination shall, upon entering an examination room, proceed without delay to the place the student is directed to occupy for that examination by a supervisor or by notice or other means, and shall not leave that place except with the permission or by the direction of a supervisor. A supervisor may at any time direct a student to leave any such place and to occupy another place specified by the supervisor, and a student shall without delay comply with any such direction. (32) A student shall comply with all directions to students set forth on a writing book or other examination material supplied or set out on any notice displayed in the examination room, and shall without delay comply with directions given by a supervisor. A supervisor need not give a student a reason for any direction or requirements given or made to the student. (33) All examinations must be answered during the examination session in the student's own handwriting, unless alternative arrangements have been made through registration and consultation with the Disability Liaison Officer. (34) A student shall not remove from the examination room any worked script or paper provided for use during the course of the examination, or other material the property of the University unless permitted by the supervisor. (35) A supervisor may: (36) A person present in the examination room shall comply with any such requirements or answer any question so asked. If the person fails so to do, the supervisor may require the person to leave the examination room. (37) If, in the opinion of a supervisor, a student's behaviour is such as to disturb or distract any other student, the supervisor may require the person to leave the examination room. A supervisor shall have and may exercise all such powers as are reasonably necessary to ensure the proper and efficient conduct of the examination. (38) If a person who is required by a supervisor to leave the examination room fails to do so forthwith, the permission given to be on the premises of which the examination room forms part shall be deemed to be withdrawn and the person may be dealt with accordingly. (39) A student of the University who commits a breach of any part contained within Section 7 - shall be guilty of misconduct and dealt with in accordance with Section 18 - . If not a student of the University, the examination result may be cancelled by the Chair of the Academic Board after such inquiry as the Chair deems appropriate to the case. (40) A student shall not cheat nor attempt to cheat in an examination. Cheating is defined as any behaviour by a student in relation to an examination that is intended to defeat the purposes of the examination. (41) A person, whether a student or not, shall not do anything intended to assist any other person sitting for an examination to cheat or otherwise defeat the purposes of the examination. (42) A supervisor who suspects a student of cheating or acting dishonestly or unfairly, or of assisting another student to cheat or act dishonestly or unfairly, in connection with an examination, may require the student to surrender any book, paper or other material which the supervisor suspects has been or is being used by the student for such purpose and the student shall comply with any such requirement. (43) After surrender of any book, paper or other material in accordance with clause (43), the student may be permitted to continue the examination. (44) A supervisor who suspects a student of a breach of clause (41) and/or (42) shall, as soon as practicable, submit a written report of the circumstances of the alleged breach, together with any book, paper or other material surrendered in accordance with clause (41), to the Director of Student Administration Services who shall either; (45) The assessment mode for a unit may be either graded or ungraded, as specified in the Unit Information Guide. (46) A student who satisfactorily completes a graded unit shall be awarded a grade of High Distinction, Distinction, Credit or Pass. (47) A student who satisfactorily completes an ungraded unit shall be given a grade of Satisfied Requirements. (48) A student who does not satisfactorily complete either a graded or an ungraded unit shall be given the grade of Fail or the interim grade of Incomplete, Not Available or Special Examination. (49) A student who submits no assessment items and who is deemed to have abandoned studies shall be given the grade of Absent Fail. (50) For year-long units, the grade applicable in the first study period shall be Continuing Unit. The grade applicable in the second study period shall be as specified in clause (47) to (49). (51) For Thesis/Project units, the grade at the end of each study period, until such time as the unit is successfully completed, is Continuing Unit. Upon completion of the assessment process, an appropriate grade will be entered on the student's record. (52) Incomplete may be used: (53) Not Available may be used either where a student has completed a practicum but the report has not been returned to the unit assessor from the school, hospital or supervisor, or where the student has submitted or completed all assessment tasks but a grade has not been determined in time for the submission of final grades. (54) Special Examination may be used where a student has been awarded a special examination. (55) The Resit grade will be used where a student has been granted approval to resit an examination in designated unit/s which are determined by School Boards. (56) An Incomplete or Not Available shall be converted to a final grade as soon as possible, and by no later than the next relevant Committee of Examiners meeting. Notwithstanding clause (58), if the interim grade is not converted by that time, a Fail shall be recorded. (57) If the special consideration extension is granted beyond the time frame outlined in clause (57), Head of School approval is required to extend the interim grade. The interim grade shall be converted to a final grade within 12 months of the final day of the study period in which the student was enrolled in the unit. (58) In any one study period, any International student holding a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) who receives an incomplete grade or a special exam will be deemed to be at risk under the Course Progression and Completion within Expected Duration Policy. (59) A student who withdraws from a unit after the census date shall have a grade of Withdrawn Fail recorded on their academic record. (60) If special circumstances require a student to withdraw from a unit after census date, the student may apply in writing to the Head of School responsible for the unit to "withdraw" from the unit. A "Withdrawn" authorised by the Head of School does not reduce the student's financial liability for the unit. (61) The following scale of equivalence of grades to percentage marks shall normally apply: (62) In determining the final grades for students in a unit, a Committee of Examiners may seek an explanation from the unit assessor regarding the grade distribution for the unit. (63) The following grade codes apply: (64) The Grade Point Average (GPA) is a simple numerical index which summarises a student's academic performance in a course in a single study period or over the duration of the student's enrolment in the course. The GPA is recorded on a student's Statement of Academic Record/Transcript and Notification of Assessment. The GPA is calculated as: (65) Grade points are assigned to graded units where High Distinction = 7, Distinction = 6, Credit = 5, Pass = 4, Fail = 0, Absent Fail = 0 and Withdrawn Fail = 0. (66) Grades not identified above and advanced standing are not included in grade point average calculations. (67) Credit value is the number of points awarded for the completion of a study package. (68) By the first day of each study period, the relevant Head of School shall supply to the Director, Student Experience a schedule of units for which a grade is to be submitted, together with the names of the Unit Assessors and all Course Coordinators. (69) Recommended final grades shall be submitted electronically by Unit Assessors in a form and at a time determined by the Director of Student Administration Services in consultation with the Chair of the Academic Board. (70) Following electronic submission of recommended final grades and prior to the Committee of Examiners, Course Coordinators shall ensure that the grades submitted are correct. Any incorrect grades shall be corrected electronically before the Committee of Examiners meeting. (See clause (75), regarding Variation to a Grade). (71) The Committee of Examiners shall consider the grades recommended by the Course Coordinator for each student and shall determine the student's final grade or interim in a unit. (72) Prior to approval of final grades, the Committee shall ensure quality and standards in accordance with Assessment Policy, Rules for the Academic Board and its Committees, and Procedures for Committees of Examiners. (73) The Committee of Examiners may determine a grade different from that recommended by a Course Coordinator, and the relevant Unit Assessor will be notified before the release of grades to any so affected students. (74) A grade determined by the Committee of Examiners may be altered by the relevant Chair of Committee of Examiners after consultation with the unit assessor and relevant Course Coordinator concerned: (75) A final grade may be altered by the relevant Chair of Committee of Examiners, after consultation with the Unit Assessor, within 12 months of the last day of the study period in which a student was enrolled in the unit. (76) The Chair of Committee of Examiners may approve a variation to grade older than 12 months if it can be demonstrated that special circumstances applied to prevent completion of the unit requirements. Special circumstances apply if they: (77) The Chair of the Committee of Examiners shall certify to the Director of Student Administration Services the final grades in respect of each student after all authorities have carried out and exercised any power given to them under these Rules and relevant Policies and Procedures. (78) The Chair of Committee of Examiners shall certify to the Director of Student Administration Services the names of any students who have qualified for Honours and the class of Honours for which they have qualified. (79) After certification of final and interim grades, the grades shall be released to students by the Director of Student Administration Services in a form and at a time determined by the Director of Student Administration Services. (80) Where a student has taken a special examination, the unit assessor concerned shall submit to the relevant Chair of Committee of Examiners within ten (10) working days of receiving the examination script a grade for the unit, which the Chair of Committee of Examiners may confirm executively. (81) Where a student considers that the assessed work for an individual assessment task has been unfairly or inappropriately assessed, the student or nominee shall follow the process below, taking step (a) normally within five (5) working days of notification of the result in that assessment task: (82) A student may query the grade awarded for any unit. The student shall follow the process below, taking step (82)c within seven (7) working days of notification of the final grade. (83) A student who is not satisfied with the determination of the Head of School under Section 15, may appeal to the Academic Board Appeals Committee on one or more of the following grounds: (84) An appeal made under this Rule shall be lodged with the Secretary, Academic Board Appeals Committee, within ten (10) working days of the date of sending of formal notification of the Head of School's determination. A late appeal may be received at the discretion of the Chair of the Academic Board Appeals Committee where the student is able to satisfy the Chair that the appeal is lodged late through no fault of the student. (85) The Chair of the Academic Board Appeals Committee will assess the content of the appeal and determine whether it is appropriate for the appeal to proceed to a hearing by the Academic Board Appeals Committee under the relevant Rule. The Secretary, on behalf of the Chair of the Academic Board Appeals Committee, will contact the student in writing, within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal by the Chair informing them: (86) The decision of the Chair of the Academic Board Appeals Committee whether or not to proceed to a hearing by the Academic Board Appeals Committee shall be final within the University. (87) An appeal cannot be made on the basis of the absence of one or more items specified in clause (2) from a Unit Information Guide. (88) After the final grades in a unit have been released, a student may request the unit assessor to provide more detail concerning the student's performance. Any such request made within six (6) months of the release of the relevant grade shall be complied with by the relevant unit assessor. (89) After a period of six (6) months following the release of the final grades in a unit, any piece of work related to assessment tasks for that unit, including examination scripts, which have not previously been returned to students may be destroyed and details on performance need not be provided. (90) Academic integrity is an accepted foundation of excellence in ethical scholarship. Courses and units of study and assessment tasks are designed to educate student in ethical values and the meaning and practice of academic integrity. (91) The Rules - Student Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct Rules provide the framework for dealing with academic misconduct when it occurs and the fair, reasonable and consistent application of penalties for such misconduct. (92) All staff are expected to be aware of the values and practice of academic integrity, to provide students with a solid foundation in how to practice academic integrity, to take a fair and consistent approach where academic misconduct is suspected or found and to comply with the Rules - Student Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct Rules in referring academic misconduct allegations. (93) All students are expected to practice academic integrity and to be aware of and comply with the Rules - Student Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct Rules along with all other relevant Rules, Policies, Procedures and the Code of Conduct. (94) Refer to the Rules - Student Academic and Non-Academic Misconduct. (95) If the relevant Head of School is satisfied that by reason of exceptional circumstances it is necessary to cancel or postpone an assessment task of which notice has been duly given to students enrolled for a unit, the Head of School may cancel or postpone that assessment task and, in that event, may give such directions as they consider necessary or desirable as a consequence of the cancellation or postponement.Rules Relating to Awards - Rule 3 - Coursework Awards - Student Assessment and Examinations
Section 1 - Assessment Information in Unit Information Guides
Top of PageSection 2 - Assessment Provision for Students with Disabilities
Section 3 - Grounds for Special Consideration
Section 4 - Types of Special Consideration
Top of PageSection 5 - Examination and Special Examination Periods
Section 6 - Conduct of Examinations
Top of PageSection 7 - Grading Categories
Section 8 - Use of Interim Grades of "Incomplete", "Not Available" Resit, and "Special Examination"
Section 9 - Use of Other Grades
Section 10 - Graded Percentages, Distribution and Codes
Grade
Marks
High Distinction
85 and above
Distinction
75—84
Credit
65—74
Pass
50—64
Fail
Below 50
Top of Page
Grade Description
Grade Code
High Distinction
HD
Distinction
D
Credit
C
Pass
P
Fail
F
Absent Fail
AF
Satisfied Requirements
SR
Incomplete
I
Not Available
NA
Resit
R
Special Examination
SE
Continuing Unit
KU
Withdrawn
W
Withdrawn with Fail
WF
Section 11 - Grade Point Average
Section 12 - Determining Final Grades
Section 13 - Student Query of Assessment Results other than Final Grades
Top of PageSection 14 - Query of Final Grade
Top of PageSection 15 - Appeal Against a Final Grade
Section 16 - Additional Detail on Student Performance
Section 17 - Academic Integrity
Section 18 - Academic Misconduct
Section 19 - Cancellation or Postponement of Assessment Tasks
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Sum of (Grade Point x Credit Points) / Sum of (Credit Points)