1. Policy Statement
1.1 The Policy on Student Appeals provides a framework for 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.
2. Policy Scope
2.1 This policy will apply to all applications for review and/or appeal against academic and administrative decisions.
2.2 Appeals may only be made where published policy and/or procedures have not been followed.
3. Policy Exclusions
3.1 The following matters are specifically excluded from the scope of this policy, as they are covered under other relevant 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 Work, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy |
Matters relating to higher degree research and professional doctorate studies | Research and Professional Doctorate Degree Regulations |
3.2 Any matter dealt with under Statute 10 Student Conduct and Discipline or the Policy on Student Complaint Management is excluded from this policy.
4. Formal communications
4.1 The timelines and associated provisions relating to formal communications contained in the Academic Regulations will apply to communications under this policy.
5. Policy Principles
5.1 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.
5.2 A person or committee handling a review or an appeal will deal with the matter as expeditiously as possible, consistent with the need to act fairly.
5.3 Students will familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant University regulations, course rules and associated written procedures and standards of conduct.
5.4 It is the responsibility of the student to state their grounds for review or appeal fully and to provide copies of all relevant evidence from the first stage of any application for review or appeal.
5.5 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.
6. Support during the review or appeal process
6.1 In any discussions or interviews in which a student participates during any review or appeal process under this policy, the student may, at their discretion, be accompanied by one other person, other than a person with a qualification in law, whom the student designates as their support person.
6.2 A support person may not be a person who was involved in, associated with, or alleged to have been involved in or associated with the subject matter of the review or appeal.
6.3 A support person may only make submissions on behalf of a student if invited to do so by the responsible officer or committee dealing with the matter.
7. Withdrawal of application for review or appeal
7.1 At any time during the process a student may withdraw an application, by notice in writing to the responsible officer.
7.2 Upon such withdrawal, consideration of the application will normally be discontinued.
8. Malicious or vexatious applications
8.1 In any case in which an application for review or appeal is found to be frivolous, vexatious or malicious, action may be taken by the University under Statute 10 Student Conduct and Discipline.
9. Student status
9.1 Unless the Vice-Chancellor otherwise directs, a student who has applied for a review or submitted an appeal under this policy may continue in their program of study until the decision on the review or appeal is notified to the student.
9.2 If:
- a student exercises the option to continue in their program of study while any appeal process is under consideration; and
- the final stage of the appeal process accessed by the student is not completed before the census date for the relevant study period 1 ,
then the student may complete their enrolment in the relevant study period and be awarded the result(s), whether pass or fail grades, achieved in those units in that study period, irrespective of the outcome of the appeal process.
9.3 In the case of an appeal against termination of enrolment for unsatisfactory academic progress, if the appeal is dismissed, the termination of enrolment will take effect from the end of the study period in which the appeal process is finalised.
9.4 In the case of an appeal against suspension of enrolment for breach of the Academic Honesty Policy, if the appeal is dismissed, the suspension will take effect immediately.
9.5 In the case of an appeal involving an international student, the University will notify the relevant Australian Government department of any notifiable change to that student's enrolment.
10. Other avenues of appeal
10.1 While students are encouraged to resolve any concerns or complaints they may have arising from their status as a student of the University, nothing in this policy detracts from the right of a student to access any other appeal or complaint mechanism available to the student as legislated in the relevant State or Territory. If any external process is initiated, the internal appeal or complaint process will be terminated.
10.2 Following exhaustion of internal appeal or complaint management processes, in the case of matters for which there is no specific external independent arbiter, a student can appeal to the University Visitor, who is an independent arbiter, external to the University. Any such appeal must be made in accordance with the Policy on Review by the University Visitor of Appeals or Complaints by Students.
1 Typically this would be the semester following that in which the grounds for appeal arose. For example, an appeal against termination of enrolment for unsatisfactory progress would not normally commence until early in the following study period.