3. Roles and Responsibilities
The specific roles and responsibilities related to assessment presented below are complementary to those outlined in the Academic Honesty Policy.
3.1 Students
It is the responsibility of students to:
(i) engage actively in the learning process and participate according to unit and assessment requirements;
(ii) complete assessment tasks diligently and honestly to provide evidence of learning achievements in a unit;
(iii) meet assessment requirements as specified in the unit outline, including submission of work by the due date;
(iv) where relevant, consult the Disability Adviser as early as possible about any disability issues;
(v) discuss any concerns they have regarding their progress in coursework and assessment as early as possible with relevant lecturers and/or the Course Co-ordinator and/or Student Services;
(vi) consult with the Lecturer-in-Charge (in the first instance) and Course Co-ordinator, or with the Head of School as early as possible, if personal circumstances are affecting participation or performance in assessment (refer to Section 5.2);
(vii) raise any concerns they may have regarding the marks for each assessment task promptly, rather than wait until the final grade is awarded in the unit;
(viii) check that their name is on the unit list after classes commence and if not, to contact the Student Centre and/or their Course Co-ordinator;
(ix) in the case of late enrolment, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the unit outline from the Lecturer-in-Charge in the first week of attendance in the unit;
(x) access and abide by all policies, procedures and regulations relating to assessment and seek clarification, where necessary.
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3.2 Lecturers-in-Charge
It is the responsibility of Lecturers-in-Charge (in consultation with other relevant staff as appropriate) to:
(i) design and specify the number and type of assessment tasks and their weightings;
(ii) prepare the unit outline in accordance with the procedures (refer to Section 4.3) and provide an electronic copy to the School Office prior to the start of the study period;
(iii) make the unit outline available electronically to all students enrolled in the unit during the first week of the study period 25;
(iv) be available for student consultation on a regular basis, informing students of their availability for consultations (both with and without appointments);
(v) in exceptional circumstances, where the need arises, seek approval of the Head of School to change assessment tasks or criteria for a unit after the first week of the study period26. Such changes should not result in disadvantage to any student and all students must be advised, in writing by email, of approved changes;
(vi) where compulsory attendance is specified in the unit outline for designated classes, maintain and collate records of attendance;
(vii) following advice from a Disability Adviser, make appropriate learning and assessment adjustments for students with disabilities. Such adjustments shall be in accordance with the student’s Education Inclusion Plan, where one has been approved;
(viii) ensure that lecturers receive guidelines on how to provide appropriate adjustments for students with disabilities in School examinations and tests (refer to Section 6.2);
(ix) submit examination requests, if required, by the due date and prepare and submit the examination paper(s) for central examinations by the due date;
(x) prepare and arrange the conduct of all School-based assessment tasks for the unit and alternative/additional assessment tasks, as required;
(xi) give consideration to and approve, if appropriate, applications for consideration of personal circumstances affecting assessment, eg applications for extensions for assessment (refer to Section 5.2);
(xii) liaise with the Course Co-ordinator, as required, with regard to applications for consideration of personal circumstances affecting assessment;
(xiii) provide appropriate guidelines to lecturers and markers, where used, on assessment criteria, marking procedures, moderation and methods for calculating final results;
(xiv) maintain and collate records of each student’s marks for all assessment components in accordance with the assessment schedule in the unit outline. A secure record of each student’s results, both electronically and in hard copy/writing (black pen), must be kept for at least one standard study period after the release of final results;
(xv) allocate final result grades or interim results for ratification by the Head of School (by the date specified by the Head of School) and provide substantiation, when requested;
(xvi) provide final result grades to replace any interim grades by the date specified in the Academic Regulations;
(xvii) ensure that any necessary changes to grades are made within six months of the original allocation and approved by the Head of School;
(xviii) where appropriate, eg for large classes, provide students with timely feedback on the range, mean and distribution of marks or grades for a given assessment task;
(xix) if requested, provide clarification to students about a result for an assessment task or grade in a unit;
(xx) communicate effectively with all staff teaching and/or marking in a unit to ensure quality of practice;
(xxi) make recommendations to the Head of School regarding assessment policy, procedures and outcomes.
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3.3 Lecturers
It is the responsibility of lecturers to:participate in the assessment of students;
(i) liaise with the Lecturer-in-Charge to ensure that assessment practices are conducted in a consistent and coherent manner;
(ii) be available for student consultation on a regular basis, informing students of their availability for student consultations (both with and without appointments);
(iii) advise the Lecturer-in-Charge within a reasonable time of student progress and how effectively students are learning;
(iv) keep a secure record of each student’s results, both electronically and in hard copy/writing (black pen), for at least one standard study period after the release of final results;
(v) provide data relating to results in assessment tasks and attendance, if required, to the Lecturer-in-Charge.
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3.4 Markers
It is the responsibility of markers to mark assessment tasks accurately, consistently and fairly, as guided by the Lecturer-in-Charge.
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3.5 Course Co-ordinators
It is the responsibility of Course Co-ordinators to:
(i) give consideration to and approve, if appropriate, applications for consideration of personal circumstances affecting assessment and liaise with relevant staff, as required (refer to Section 5.2);
(ii) determine applications for alternative assessments and/or adjustments to assessment tasks in consultation with the Lecturer-in-Charge and/or the Disability Adviser, where the application is by a student with a disability. In the latter case, reference should also be made to the Education Inclusion Plan, where one has been approved;
(iii) overview students’ progress and provide academic advice based on assessment outcomes and, if necessary, consider submissions from students to show cause why enrolment should not be terminated;
(iv) monitor the conversion of interim grades to final grades by the relevant due date.
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3.6 Heads of School
It is the responsibility of Heads of School to:
(i) oversee all the units offered by that School;
(ii) appoint Lecturers-in-Charge for each unit administered by their School;
(iii) evaluate and approve requests from Lecturers-in-Charge to change assessment tasks or criteria for a unit after the first week of the study period 27. Such changes should be made only in exceptional circumstances and not disadvantage any student;
(iv) ensure that unit outlines are reviewed and accurate prior to publication;
(v) ensure that examination papers are reviewed and accurate prior to submission, and are submitted by the relevant due date;
(vi) give consideration to and approve, if appropriate, applications for consideration of personal circumstances affecting assessment and liaise with relevant staff, as required (refer to Section 5.2). Such approvals shall include Education Inclusion Plans developed for students with disabilities;
(vii) ensure Lecturers-in-Charge receive appropriate guidelines on how to provide, in a manner that is compliant with the Disability Standards for Education of the Disability Discrimination Act, appropriate adjustments for students with disabilities in School examinations and tests. Such guidelines shall include information on how to employ disability support workers such as scribes and signing interpreters if required;
(viii) consider recommendations from Lecturers-in-Charge for the allocation of final result grades in accordance with the Academic Regulations, seeking the advice of a School Assessment Review Committee [Note: The Head of School may nominate another staff member in the School to ratify grades];
(ix) award Pass Conceded grades in exceptional circumstances;
(x) review the performance of students undertaking units offered by the School, paying particular attention to results that are borderline between grades;
(xi) monitor the appropriateness of allocation of grades in accordance with the Academic Regulations and the effectiveness of assessment practices in units administered by the School (with advice from the Assessment Review Committee);
(xii) ensure all ratified grades are submitted by the due date;
(xiii) consider reports from Lecturers-in-Charge about alleged breaches of academic honesty and determine in line with the Academic Honesty Policy;
(xiv) ensure that University quality assurance processes for assessment, such as moderation of assessment in units, are followed;
(xv) ensure the University Assessment Policy and Procedures and Academic Regulations are implemented;
(xvi) consider requests for review of grade;
(xvii) consider requests for review of termination of a student’s enrolment;
(xviii) oversee the status of interim grades and ensure their timely conversion to final grades.
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3.7 Assessment Review Committees
An Assessment Review Committee will be established by a Head of School to review assessment outcomes for the School. The role and responsibilities of the Assessment Review Committee will be specified by the Head of School at the time of its establishment and should be reviewed annually. Responsibilities so delegated by the Head of School may include the following:
(i) review the performance of students undertaking units offered by the School, paying particular attention to results that are borderline between grades;
(ii) monitor the appropriateness of allocation of interim and final grades in accordance with the Academic Regulations. Evidence to substantiate recommendations regarding grades may be requested from Lecturers-in-Charge;
(iii) advise the Head of School, who ratifies the final results prior to submission;
(iv) monitor the effectiveness of assessment practices in units offered by the School using, amongst other means, statistics on grade distribution;
(v) make recommendations to the Head of School regarding assessment policy, procedures and outcomes.
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3.8 Deans
It is the responsibility of Deans to:
(i) establish requirements for the evaluation and moderation of assessment practices within the Faculty;
(ii) appoint Course Co-ordinators for each course administered by their Faculty;
(iii) monitor assessment outcomes for the Faculty with regard to the distribution of grades;
(iv) resolve reviews/appeals of a Head of School’s decision regarding a grade in a unit or termination of a student’s enrolment or refer them to the Faculty Appeals Committee;
(v) consider and approve, where appropriate, waivers/special dispensation based on the Academic Regulations.
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3.9 Chair, Academic Board
A student may appeal to the Chair of Academic Board in relation to the outcome of an appeal to the Dean regarding a review of a decision regarding a grade in a unit or termination of a student’s enrolment (only on the basis of failure by the University to comply with the relevant Academic Regulation). The Chair of Academic Board will deal with the appeal at his or her discretion in accordance with the Academic Regulations.
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3.10 Student Services
Academic Skills Advisers, Campus Ministers, Counsellors and Disability Advisers offer assistance to students in regard to their performance at University and/or their academic progress.
They receive information in confidence from students and may reveal information to Lecturers-in-Charge, Course Co-ordinators or Heads of School about a student’s circumstances only to the extent authorised by the student.
Disability Advisers determine and coordinate requests for learning and assessment arrangements from students who have permanent or temporary disabilities.
Disability Advisers may recommend a range of inclusive strategies, including:
- adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment, including alternative assessment; and
- consideration for factors affecting assessment performance.
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3.11 Student Administration
Student Administration is responsible for the administrative procedures associated with the assessment and progression of all students in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework award, non-award and cross-institutional programs. It is the responsibility of Student Administration to:
(i) apply, as appropriate, the rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the University relating to students and give effect to academic decisions relating to assessment, progression, exclusion and termination of enrolments;
(ii) arrange the conduct of central examinations for units which are taught in Australia in standard study periods and which are notified to Student Administration within the required timelines as requiring a central examination;
(iii) arrange the conduct of deferred examinations;
(iv) provide advice to Schools relating to the requirements for submission of results;
(v) ensure the efficient and timely publication of results and notification to students.
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25 In the case of non-standard study periods, this must occur prior to the census date.
26 In the case of non-standard study periods, this must occur prior to the census date.
27 In the case of non-standard study periods, this must occur prior to the census date.
Page last updated: 2017-06-29
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/53893
Page last updated: 2017-06-29
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/53893