Defence Force, National Service and Elite Athlete Friendly University Procedure

Intent

This Procedure supports the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy, the Coursework Enrolment Policy and requirements under the Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001. It details adjustments which may be applied to ensure students are not disadvantaged academically or financially due to their commitments to the Australian Defence Force, National Service or as an Elite Athlete.

This Procedure addresses Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2.1, 7.2.1 and 7.2.2.

Scope

This Procedure applies to all James Cook University (JCU; the University) students, regardless of location or attendance mode, who are members of the Defence Force, National Service or recognised by the University as Elite Athletes.

Definitions

Except where otherwise indicated in this procedure, the definitions used in this procedure are found in the Coursework Enrolment Policy or the Policy Glossary.

Australian Defence Force Members: Includes students who are full time Australian Defence Force members and reservists.

Elite Athlete: A person formally identified and recognised by the University as an elite athlete, coach, referee or umpire.

Procedure

1. Australian Defence Force Members: A student who is currently enrolled at any JCU Australia campus (including JCU Brisbane) and who is an Australian Defence Force Member must provide the College Dean with:

1.1 a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Australian Defence Force detailing the dates and times when attendance at an Australian Defence Force commitment is to take place; or

1.2 a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Australian Defence Force detailing full-time service (eg as part of a peacekeeping or humanitarian aid operation); and

1.3 a list of subjects the student is currently studying that may be affected by Australian Defence Force commitment.

2. National Service: A student who is currently enrolled at the Singapore campus and who is in the National Service must provide the Academic Head with:

2.1 The National Service enlistment notice; and

2.2 a list of subjects the student is currently studying that may be affected by their National Service commitment.

3. Elite Athletes: A student who is currently enrolled at any JCU campus, regardless of location and wishes to be recognised by the University as an Elite Athlete under the provisions of this Procedure must:

3.1 be recognised by one of the following organisations as an Elite Athlete, coach, referee or umpire:

• Australian Institute of Sport;
• State Institutes or Academies of Sport;
• AFL Players’ Association;
• Australian Cricketers’ Association;
• Rugby Union Players’ Association;
• Rugby League Players’ Association;
• Professional Footballers’ Australia;
• National senior squad members from the Cricket Australia Centre for Excellence (CACE)
• Australian Basketball Players’ Association;
• National squad members from Australian Sports Commission funded sports;
• Senior/head coaches or administrators from state and territory institutes/academies of sport, national teams from Australian Sports Commission funded sports or participating professional sports; or

submit a request to the Elite Athlete Program Coordinator, as advised on the JCU Elite Athletes webpage for consideration of merit-based inclusion.

3.2 be a currently enrolled student who is recognised by the University as an Elite Athlete, and must provide the Elite Athlete Program Coordinator with:

3.2.1 Evidence from their sporting organisation detailing the dates and times when attendance at an Elite Athlete sporting commitment is to take place; or

3.2.2 a statement signed by an authorised officer of their sporting organisation detailing training schedules and sporting commitments.

3.3 Upon receipt of documentation received under Clause 3.2 and following consultation with the Elite Athlete, the Elite Athlete Program Coordinator will provide a letter of support which can be provided to either Subject Coordinators or the Examinations Office.

4. Upon receipt of a letter from either the Defence Force, National Service or the Elite Athlete Program Coordinator:

4.1 Student. The student may submit an application under the Special Consideration Procedure and use the letter as supporting documentation..

4.2 Subject Coordinator. The Subject Coordinator will arrange for alternative formats of learning materials to be provided if a student is unable to attend face-to-face classes due to their commitments, where possible.

4.3 Examinations Office. The Examinations Office will consider a deferral request for the end of subject examination on the grounds of being required to attend Australian Defence Force, National Service, or Elite Athlete sporting commitments.

4.4 Where it becomes apparent after the census date (as published in the Academic Calendar) that a student’s commitments make it impracticable for them to complete the requirements of the subject/s within the current study period, the student may:

4.4.1 apply for remission of HELP debt, re-credit of HELP balance and/or refund of student contribution amounts or tuition fees;

4.4.2 if withdrawing after the last date to withdraw without academic penalty (as indicated in the Academic Calendar), apply to withdraw from the subject without academic penalty (that is without a grade of fail on their academic record for subjects being undertaken in the current study period); and

4.4.3 Where possible, explore Credit and recognition of prior learning opportunities associated with the formal and informal learnings connected with the Defence Force, National Service or Elite Sporting activities being undertaken.

5. Applications from Australian Defence Force Members for remission of HELP debt, re-credit of HELP balance and/or refund of student contribution amounts or tuition fees will be considered in accordance with Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001, particularly Part 7, the Higher Education Support Act 2003, Student Fee Payments and Refunds Policy and Domestic Fee Payments and Refunds Procedure.

6. Requests to withdraw from a subject/s without academic penalty must be submitted within 12 months of the date of withdrawal from the subject, or if the subject is not withdrawn, within 12 months of the end of the study period in which the student was enrolled in the subject.before the end of the subjects’ study period.

Related policy instruments

Coursework Enrolment Policy

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy

Student Fee Payments and Refunds Policy

Domestic Fee Payments and Refunds Procedure

Academic Calendar

Course and Subject Handbook

Student Special Circumstances Policy

Special Consideration Procedure

Withdrawal from Subjects without Financial and Academic Penalty Procedure

Student Forms

Defence Act 1903 (Cth)

Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 (Cth)

Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth)

Elite Athletes Program

Schedules/appendices

Nil

Administration

NOTE:  Printed copies of this procedure are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History