18.1 Unsatisfactory academic  progress is defined as failure by a candidate to do one or more of the  following:

1. maintain regular and frequent contact  with their supervisors, including attendance at scheduled meetings;
2. make application for ethics approval,  where required, in a timely manner;
3. submit data outputs or drafts of  written work as agreed;
4. participate in work-in-progress  seminars;
5. undertake research training activities,  as requested by the their supervisors;
6. adhere  to agreed timelines for progress and completion; and
7. achieve any other agreed goals.

18.2 A Faculty Associate Dean Research who is  of  the view that a candidate  is not making satisfactory academic progress following:

1. review of the annual Academic  Progress Report; or
2. at other times, upon advice and the receipt of  supporting documentation provided by the Principal Supervisor;

will notify the candidate in writing  that their academic progress is under review. The candidate will be asked to  develop a completion plan, in consultation with their Principal Supervisor,  which must include a timeline and clearly articulated monthly goals. The  completion plan must be endorsed by the Faculty Associate Dean Research within  20 working days of the candidate being notified that such a plan is required; a  copy of the plan must be retained by the Faculty Associate Dean Research and a  copy forwarded to the Manager, Graduate Research.

18.3 Should the candidate  fail to meet one or more of the monthly goals articulated  in the completion plan, the Faculty Associate Dean Research  may recommend to the Dean of  Research that the candidate’s enrolment be terminated. The recommendation  must include supporting documentation.

18.4 The  Dean of Research  will notify the candidate in writing that  the Faculty Associate  Dean Research has  recommended that their enrolment be terminated, and that the recommendation will  be considered by the Research Candidate  Academic Progress Committee.  The  candidate will be provided with a copy of the recommendation  for termination of their enrolment.

18.5 The  Dean of Research  will invite the candidate to  respond to the recommendation and make submissions  as to  why their enrolment  should not be terminated. The Dean of  Research may request further information or advice  from the candidate, the candidate’s  Supervisors and/or Faculty Associate Dean Research,  or  any other relevant  person.

18.6 If a candidate’s response and/or submissions include allegations  of  misconduct of  a member of staff which may be in contravention of  the StaffCode of Conduct, the Dean of Research will seek  the advice of the Director, Human Resources,  as to  whether the matter should  be considered under the Staff Code of  Conduct. If a process under the Staff Code of  Conduct is commenced, the Dean of Research may  suspend the academic progress  process pending the  outcome of the Staff Code of Conduct process.

18.7 The  Dean of Research  will convene a meeting of  the Research Candidate Academic  Progress Committee to consider the recommendation,  including the supporting documentation, as well as the candidate’s  response and submissions, and any  further information and/or advice received. The Committee will comprise:

1. the Dean of Research  (Chair);
2. an Associate Dean  Research from a Faculty other than the one in which the candidate  is enrolled (nominated by the Dean of Research);  and
3. the Manager, Graduate Research.

A person who was involved in making the recommendation  to terminate the candidate’s  enrolment will not be appointed to the Committee.

The meeting may be held  by telephone  or other electronic  means. All members  of  the Committee must  attend for the meeting to be quorate.

18.8 The  Research Candidate Academic Progress Committee  may decide that:

1. the candidate’s academic progress is satisfactory and that their enrolment  continue;
2. the candidate’s enrolment continue on a probationary basis subject to certain conditions  being met (failure to meet the conditions will result in termination of enrolment); or
3. the candidate’s enrolment be terminated for  unsatisfactory academic  progress.

18.9 Normally within 10 working  days of a decision  by the Research Candidate Academic  Progress Committee, the Dean of Research will notify  the  candidate in writing  of the decision, the reasons  for the decision, and,  if  the decision is to  terminate enrolment, the circumstances under which the  candidate may submit an appeal  against the decision (refer section 23). In the case of  an  international candidate whose  enrolment has been terminated, the candidate will  also be notified of the possible implications  of  the decision on their visa status.

18.10 A copy of the decision will  be provided to the candidate’s Supervisors  and  Faculty Associate  Dean Research, and any  other staff members  who may need to take action  as a result of the decision.  A copy of the decision will be held by  Graduate Research in the candidate’s  electronic file and, if the decision is to terminate  enrolment, reported to the University Research Committee.