Unsatisfactory Progress
Policy | This policy applies to all coursework degrees (except courses being phased out) |
This policy is underpinned by University statute 11.5 and should be interpreted with reference to this document.
The University has a responsibility to take a proactive approach to the progress of students to ensure that those enrolled make satisfactory progress. This responsibility is enshrined in Commonwealth legislation including the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and the Educational Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.
The University specifies the levels of academic achievement required for successful completion of subjects and courses. When a student's academic performance falls below these levels, the University may consider that student to have made unsatisfactory progress (UP). The University then has the right to ask that student for an explanation of the reasons why, and request that the student take appropriate action to improve their academic performance or, in cases of repeated poor performance, to deny the student permission to continue with their studies.
The University recognises that there are many factors that may impact on a student's capacity to succeed academically. It does not monitor student progress with the purpose of punishing poor performance. Rather, it is hoped that students who make unsatisfactory progress will be provided with the advice and assistance they require to overcome whatever is affecting their academic performance and complete their course. For this reason, it is in a student's interests to comply with instructions given to them by the University in relation to their unsatisfactory progress.
To facilitate this process, students who have made unsatisfactory progress will be identified at the end of each teaching period and categorised (i.e. allocated an academic status) according to the level of their academic progress over this and previous teaching periods. Depending on this category, they will be required to meet with a Student Adviser or make a submission to the Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee (CUPC). Each of these can make recommendations to the student. The CUPC can also make recommendations to the Academic Board for termination or suspension of the student's enrolment in the relevant degree.
Students with unfinalised results will not be categorised until final results have been confirmed for each of the subjects in which they have been enrolled in a teaching period. In some cases, this may mean that they are unable to appear before the CUPC for that teaching period.
Unsatisfactory progress may have particular consequences for international students in respect to their student visa and International students should be advised to seek advice from the University's International Students Services Office.
University staff engaged in work with students who have made unsatisfactory progress will provide information about the process and academic advice, but will not provide independent advice about preparing a submission for the CUPC. Students will be provided with information about organisations from which they can seek independent advice and assistance.
A student whose progress was previously unsatisfactory must achieve a specified level of achievement in future teaching periods in order for their academic status to return to 'good standing'.