The responsibilities of supervisors of students enrolled in the research component of an Honours program include:

1. verifying that the student is correctly enrolled;

2. planning an appropriate research topic with the student, which should include:

1. evaluating the feasibility of the proposed research topic;
2. discussing the value of the research;
3. ensuring that the scope of the research is appropriate to the degree;
4. ensuring that adequate resources and funding will exist to support the project;
5. ensuring that he or she has the necessary knowledge/expertise to supervise the student effectively in the area chosen;

3. becoming well acquainted with the students academic background so that if the student needs additional skills and/or knowledge to undertake the proposed research project, the student can be informed how these might be acquired, or alternative courses of action can be discussed;

4. at the start of the research project, discussing with the student an agreed method of working and schedule of meetings;

5. informing the student about any planned extended leave (or retirement) during the students enrolment and the arrangements made to provide effective supervision during such an absence;

6. maintaining close and regular contact with the student throughout the research project and structuring supervision sessions so that it is relatively easy for the student to ask questions and exchange ideas;

7. giving guidance to the student on the appropriate conceptual framework and research methods/techniques to adopt for the research project, and suggesting appropriate library and other information resources relevant to the field of research;

8. assisting the student to develop a research plan that sets out timelines for completing stages of the research project;

9. monitoring the students performance and progress against the agreed timetable and assisting the student to develop solutions to problems as they are identified;

10. ensuring that inadequate progress or work below the standard generally expected for an Honours degree is brought to the students attention;

11. ensuring that, where relevant, Honours students inform themselves of State and Commonwealth legislative requirements regarding ethics approval¹;

12. ensuring that Honours students are aware of scholarships and prizes offered by the University at the postgraduate level, in anticipation of enrolment in a higher degree;

13. ensuring the student is aware of facilities, resources and technical assistance available in the School(s) and Faculty/ies to support his or her research;

14. ensuring the students project has appropriate ethical and/or biosafety approval (if applicable), and that the student is aware at the start of the project of any confidentiality agreements or other issues of intellectual property;

15. ensuring the students research is conducted in accordance with the Universitys occupational health and safety requirements²;

16. encouraging the student to participate in research training opportunities provided in the Honours program, which may include attendance at seminars or other activities;

17. encouraging the student to submit written work, including drafts of the thesis, on an agreed schedule so that his or her progress can be assessed at regular intervals. In each instance, a turnaround time for any submitted work should be established;

18. providing constructive and critical comment on the content and the drafts of the Honours thesis, including providing advice on the presentation of the thesis or final research product;

19. ensuring the student is aware of the requirements of the examination process, including submission dates;

20. discussing with the student, in the first instance, any difficulties with the supervision relationship and, if the concerns are not resolved satisfactorily, seeking advice from the Honours course coordinator. Should the supervisory relationship breakdown, the supervisor should immediately inform the Honours course coordinator.

¹More information regarding ethics approval can be obtained by contacting Research Services.
²See National OH&S Policy Statement and OH&S Roles and Responsibilities Policy.
To obtain further information in relation to ACU's OHS Policies and Procedures, see the PREOD website.