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Part A - Policy

Student Appeals Policy

1. Objectives
2. Principles
3. Scope of the Policy
4. University Appeals Committee

1. Objectives

In line with its Mission, the University aims to promote and maintain a supportive learning environment within which students can optimise their personal, academic and professional development. The aim of the Student Appeals Policy is to provide fair and equitable processes which enable students’ academic and administrative concerns to be addressed as quickly as possible and at a level as close to the source of the decision-making as possible.

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2. Principles

The Student Appeals Policy is based on the following principles:

  1. All actions under this policy are to be based on values that are consistent with the University Mission and to be underpinned by principles of mutual respect and procedural fairness for and by all students, staff and others who may be involved.
  2. A person or committee handling an appeal will:
    1. deal with the matter as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the need to act fairly;
    2. determine the matter on the basis of evidence adduced by the student and/or the University, act fairly, and proceed in the way that is appropriate;
    3. give the student a copy of, or an opportunity to inspect, all documentation relevant to the subject matter of the appeal;
    4. give the student a reasonable opportunity to make a case in writing and/or to appear before that person or committee;
    5. give the student at least five working days’ written notice of the date, time and place of any meeting or hearing regarding the appeal;
    6. permit the student and any support person whom the student appoints under Section 12 to be present at any meeting regarding the appeal, except when members of a committee wish to confer privately among themselves and/or to consider their decision;
    7. normally conduct meeting(s) or hearing(s) in closed session and treat the appeal in strict confidence, except as necessary for the discharge of that person’s or committee’s responsibilities or as otherwise required by law.
  3. Students will adhere to all relevant University statutes, rules, regulations, policies and standards of conduct.1
  4. The University will take all reasonable steps to prevent students suffering any disadvantage (including through victimisation) as a result of lodging an application for review or appeal.

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3. Scope of the policy

3.1 This policy will apply to applications for clarification or review and appeals against academic and administrative decisions, including decisions on the following:

  1. admission to a program under the Admissions Policy;
  2. exclusion from admission to a program under the Academic Regulations;
  3. exclusion from enrolment or re-enrolment under the Academic Regulations;
  4. an assessment decision, including a grade or Honours classification, in a unit or course under the Academic Regulations or Assessment Policy;
  5. granting of credit under the Academic Regulations;
  6. recognition of prior learning under the Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning;
  7. termination of enrolment for unsatisfactory academic progress under the Academic Regulations;
  8. program completion under the relevant program rules;
  9. conduct which is deemed to be a breach of the Academic Honesty Policy;
  10. conduct which is deemed to be a breach of the Examination Policy and Procedures – Students (to the extent specified in that policy);
  11. conduct which is deemed to be a breach of the Intellectual Property Policy;
  12. conduct which is deemed to be a breach of the Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy;
  13. any penalty imposed under any of the above regulations, rules or policies;
  14. administrative decisions on matters such as:
    1. re-credit of Student Learning Entitlement;
    2. administration of the Commonwealth Government’s Higher Education Loan Program;
    3. award of Commonwealth Scholarships;
    4. enrolment decisions;
    5. matters relating to financial liability;
    6. imposition of a fine or late fee;
    7. notification of cancellation of Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC);
    8. refusal to grant a letter of release to an international student up to the end of six months in his/her principal course.

3.2 The following are specifically excluded from the scope of this policy as they are covered by the nominated policies and processes:

Subject of concern or complaint

Relevant policy

Allegations of Sexual harassment

Discrimination and Harassment Policy

Allegations of Discrimination

Discrimination and Harassment Policy

Allegations of Bullying

Discrimination and Harassment Policy, Bullying in the Working or Learning Environment Statement or Occupational Health and Safety Policy

Matters relating to higher degree research and professional doctorate studies

Research and Professional Doctorate Degree Regulations

3.3 Any matter dealt with under this policy may not also be addressed under the Student Complaint Management Policy.

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4. University Appeals Committee

4.1 Composition

There will be a University Appeals Committee which will comprise:

  1. two persons who may be members of Senate (other than staff or student members) appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, who will also appoint one of those persons as chair of the Committee;
  2. the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Resources) or nominee;
  3. one member of academic staff appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nominee;
  4. one student appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning and Teaching).2

A University Appeals Committee will not include:

  1. the Dean of the Faculty or Head of School responsible for any program or unit for which the student has applied (in the case of an appeal against an admission decision) or in which the student has been or seeks to be enrolled or re-enrolled;
  2. the Director or other senior officer responsible for any organisational unit providing services of the type to which the appeal relates;
  3. in the case of any decision made or purported to have been made on health grounds, a person who has treated the appellant for the condition in question;
  4. any person who has given advice to the student in relation to the subject matter of the appeal.

4.2 Quorum

The quorum for a meeting of a University Appeals Committee will be three persons including the student member.

4.3 Matters which may be referred to a University Appeals Committee

Any matter within the scope of this policy, as listed in Section 3.1, may be referred to aUniversity Appeals Committee.

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1 See Statute 10 Student Conduct and Discipline.
2 Normally a postgraduate student will be appointed in relation to an appeal by a postgraduate student, and an undergraduate student will be appointed in relation to an appeal by an undergraduate student.