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Appendix 1 - Resolving Academic Concerns
It is important that:
- the student has read and understood the relevant materials (eg. the relevant policy, Unit Outlines) before proceeding;
- all matters are discussed as quickly as possible and close as possible to the source of the problem;
- there are grounds for the complaint/appeal, as defined in the relevant policy/regulations.
The accompanying chart illustrates some of the concerns that might arise for students of the University, the relevant policies, and appropriate channels of escalation. It should be noted that complaints/appeals should be made in writing to the relevant University officer.
It must be understood that not every concern can be answered to each complainant’s satisfaction; there will be occasions when the University, in following its procedures, legitimately will not give an affirmative response to a request. The Grievance Management process would only be invoked if there were clear grounds to proceed.
Subject Matter |
Relevant Policy/ Regulation | Sequence of Contact | |||
| Entry to a course | Admissions Policy Policy for Appeal and Review on Administrative Matters |
Relevant Manager (ie Admissions Manager) | Manager’s supervisor (ie Head, Student Business Services) | Academic Registrar | |
| A School decision that directly affects a student | Student Grievance Management Policy | Course Co-ordinator | Head of School | Faculty Dean; student may exercise formal grievance process | |
| A Faculty decision that directly affects a student | Student Grievance Management Policy | Head of School | Faculty Dean | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); student may access formal grievance process | |
| A decision affecting PhD candidature (other than those covered by the Research and Professional Doctorate Degree Regulations) | Student Grievance Management Policy | Head of School | Faculty Dean | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research); student may access formal grievance process |
|
| Assessment requirements | Student Grievance Management Policy | Academic staff member concerned | Head of School | Faculty Dean; student may access formal grievance process | |
| Academic standards (eg. teaching, supervision, units, workloads) | Student Grievance Management Policy | Academic staff member concerned | Head of School | Faculty Dean; student may access formal grievance process | |
| Result in a unit | Academic Regulations | Lecturer-in-charge of unit | Head of School | Faculty Board | Academic Board |
| Termination of enrolment on academic grounds | Academic Regulations | Course Co-ordinator | Head of School | Faculty Board | Academic Board |
Intellectual property
|
Intellectual Property Policy or Academic Honesty Policy | Lecturer-in-charge of unit Academic staff member supervising the student’s work | Head of School Head of School | Faculty Dean Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Research) | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)  Arbitration by the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre (with reference to research work) |
| Research ethics | National Statement on the Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (1999) | Principal research supervisor | Chair, Human Research Ethics Committee | University Research and Research Training Management Committee | |
| Administration of University policies, procedures (Choice depends on issue and which policy is applicable) | Student Grievance Management Policy or Policy for Appeal and Review on Administrative matters |
Staff member concerned Decision-maker (Manager of relevant section | Manager/Head of relevant section Head of relevant Division | Head of Directorate (eg Academic Registrar, Director of Finance, Dean) Academic Registrar | Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Administration and Resources)/ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) ; student may access formal grievance process |
| For international students | ESOS National Code | Director, International Office | External conciliator appointed for the purpose | ||
| Availability of or access to central computing facilities | Student Grievance Management Policy | Staff member concerned | Manager/Head of relevant section | Director, Information Technology | Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Administration and Resources); student may access formal grievance process |
| Availability of or access to Library facilities | Student Grievance Management Policy | Staff member concerned | Manager of relevant Library | Director, Libraries | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); student may access formal grievance process |
| Sexual harassment | Sexual Harassment Policy | Sexual Harassment Adviser | Equal Opportunity Officer | ||
