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Support for Students Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Scope

Purpose

(1) The University is committed to ensuring its students are provided with the support and resources required to assist them to be successful in their studies.

(2) This Policy outlines:

  1. how the University will identify students who are at risk of not successfully completing their units of study;
  2. the support available to the University’s students to assist them to successfully complete their units of study; and 
  3. the University’s processes for making students aware of these support options.

(3) This Policy supports compliance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003(Cth). 

Scope

(4) This Policy applies to:

  1. all University students (non-award, undergraduate, postgraduate and research, domestic and international) irrespective of their mode of participation or location;
  2. University staff; and 
  3. the University’s Educational Partners and their staff.
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Section 2 -  Policy Statement 

(5) Southern Cross University:

  1. provides its students with the support and resources required to assist them to successfully complete their units of study; and
  2. makes its students aware of these support services throughout their study.   

Support Services Available to Students

(6) The University offers numerous support options for students to assist in successful completion of their units of study, including but not limited to:

  1. Orientation and Transition to University programs
  2. Student Learning Zone (Learning coaches, resources, Study Hub and workshops)
  3. Indigenous Australian Student Services
  4. Library Services
  5. Peer Assisted Learning Support 
  6. Peer Mentoring
  7. International Student Support
  8. First Year Advisors 
  9. Student Safety and Wellbeing (promoting health and safety, incident reporting and post incident support)
  10. Student Equity and Inclusion (learning adjustment, gender and sexuality support, diversity events)
  11. Counselling Services 
  12. Career and Employability Services 
  13. Student Loans
  14. Accommodation Support 

(7) The University makes students aware of the support services available to them in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

  1. information provided to students during orientation
  2. information provided on the University’s Student Services and Support Webpage

Students At Risk of Not Successfully Completing Units of Study 

(8) The University identifies students who are at risk of not successfully completing their units of study based on a number of factors, including: 

  1. new students with no or low engagement with their unit learning site;
  2. students in units with historically higher fail rates;
  3. students that fail a unit of study.

(9) The University communicates with students identified as at risk to ensure they are aware of support services available to assist them in successfully completing their units of study. 

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Section 3 - Supporting Documents 

(10) This Policy should be read in conjunction with the following:

  1. Student Academic Experience Policy
  2. Assessment, Teaching and Learning Policy 
  3. Assessment, Teaching and Learning Procedures 
  4. Student Rights and Responsibilities Charter 
  5. Support for Students with Additional Requirements Procedures 
  6. Rules Relating to Awards - Rule 2 - Coursework Awards - General Provisions
  7. Rules Relating to Awards - Rule 3 - Coursework Awards - Student Assessment and Examinations
  8. Course Progress and Completion Within Expected Duration of Study Procedures 
  9. Course Progress and Completion Within Expected Duration of Study Procedures 
  10. Fitness for Study Policy
  11. Higher Degree Research Fitness to Study Policy 
  12. Welfare Arrangements of International Students Aged Under 18 Policy 
  13. Student Critical Incident Management Policy
  14. English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Academic Progress Policy
  15. Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response)Policy
  16. Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention Policy
  17. Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances for Onshore International Students - Guidelines