Academic Progression Policy (Applies to students enrolled in study periods commencing 1 January 2016 onwards)

Intent

The Policy sets out the University’s requirements for students to make satisfactory academic progress to complete their course in accordance with the applicable award rules stipulated in the University Handbook.

Scope

This policy applies to all students enrolled in undergraduate (including enabling courses) and postgraduate coursework courses at JCU in Australia and Singapore.  This policy does not apply to postgraduate research students, International Study Abroad students, non-award students and cross institutional students.

Definitions

Definition of terms for this policy are as per those listed in the Policy Glossary found in the JCU Policy Library, with the following exceptions:

• all references in this policy to teaching period shall also mean trimester, term and semester.

• Academic Status ­ the classification of a student’s academic progress in their studies at any one point in time, based on the student’s academic performance at the end of the last teaching period in which they were enrolled, as outlined in the Academic Progression Procedures. The classifications possible are:
  • Good Standing: the student has just begun their course at JCU and/or their academic performance in the most recent teaching period is satisfactory;
  • At Risk: is the academic status assigned to students who were identified in the most recent teaching period in which they were enrolled as needing to immediately take steps to improve academic performance in order to make satisfactory progress in future teaching periods. International Students are required to engage in an intervention plan.
  • Conditional: is the Academic Status assigned to students identified as not making satisfactory progress in their course and who will be required to engage in an intervention plan, improve their academic performance and meet certain University conditions if they wish to continue in their course. Such students may face suspension or exclusion should they not make satisfactory academic progress in subsequent teaching periods in which they are enrolled, and/or, not meet the conditions imposed on their enrolment;
  • Statement Required: a temporary academic status assigned to students who meet the criteria for Academic Suspension or Academic Exclusion.
  • Academic Suspension: under this policy, refers to when a student is not permitted to continue enrolment in their course for a defined period of no greater than 18 months due to failing to make satisfactory academic progress;
  • Academic Exclusion: under this policy, refers to when a student who is not permitted to continue their course, nor transfer to a course with the same inherent requirements, due to failing to make satisfactory academic progress or having insufficient time remaining to complete the course within the Maximum Time to Complete;
  • Core subject: a subject which is mandatory in order to complete the prescribed requirements of a course.
  • Intervention Strategies: mechanisms put in place by JCU to assist students in identifying their challenges and helping to improve academic performance.  See the ‘Intervention Strategy for Students Who Have Not Made Satisfactory Academic Progress’ policy for details;
  • Maximum Time to Complete – the maximum time, in years, a student is permitted to be enrolled to complete their course once admitted to that course, as published in the applicable Award Requirements in the University Handbook. A student must complete all award requirements within the published Maximum Time to Complete.
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress – means that a student has achieved subject results in each Teaching Period that are equal to or better than the University’s minimum academic standards as set out in this Policy, and, where applicable, has met the conditions placed on the approval for the student to continue in the course.
  • Schedule A subjects – practical or professional experience subjects as nominated by the Academic Division.
  • Schedule B courses - professional courses subject to stricter academic performance and progression rules in their Award Requirements.  The Schedule B listing may be varied from time to time by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the Academic Division

Policy

1.    The University’s expectations

a.    Students must acquaint themselves with University policies and procedures relevant to their enrolment and course of study, including the relevant Award Requirements for their course, the most up-to-date Subject Outlines for the subjects they are enrolled in, and any requirements relevant to the specific subject or course.
b.    Students must make genuine attempts to progress academically by meeting expectations associated with attendance, course, subject and assessment requirements, and by taking responsibility for their own academic progress.
c.    While it is hoped that students will want to exceed the University’s expectations and excel at their studies, students are expected to at least achieve minimum academic standards in each Teaching Period in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
d.    Students who believe that their personal circumstances may impact on their ability to meet the University’s expectations of satisfactory academic progress, are advised to seek advice and take action as early as possible.

2.    Minimum Academic Standards

a.    The Minimum Academic Standards in each Teaching Period in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress require a student to:

i.    Pass more than 50% of enrolled credit points, and
ii.    Pass all enrolled core subjects, and
iii.    Pass all enrolled Schedule A subjects, and
iv.    Maintain sufficient progress so as to enable the student to complete all award requirements within the
published Maximum Time to Complete
v.    Achieve all progression requirements for their course as stipulated in the University Handbook Award
Rules

3.    Monitoring student academic progress

a.    The University will monitor, assess and record the academic performance of students against the Minimum Academic Standards at the end of each Teaching Period and on a ‘per course’ basis.
b.    Where a student is admitted to two or more courses concurrently, the provisions of this policy are applied separately to each course in which the student is enrolled.
c.    In assessing the academic performance of students for the purposes of this policy:

i.    results will be included for all subjects in study periods that have a result publication date that falls between the results publication dates of the current and previous Teaching Periods;
ii.    Students who are awarded a supplementary or deferred exam, or who have any unfinalised grades, will not be subject to the provisions of this policy until all their grades are finalised, except where it is possible to assign an academic status based on the subject grades that have been finalised.

4.    Failure to make satisfactory academic progress

a.    The University will respond to unsatisfactory academic progress in accordance with the Academic Progression Procedures, which describe:

i.    how the university assesses and assigns an Academic Status to a student following each teaching period in which the student is enrolled,
ii.    the procedures the university will subsequently follow,
iii.    other information relevant to the operation of the Academic Progression policy.

b.    Depending on the Academic Status they are assigned following the end of each Teaching Period in which they are enrolled, students who do not make satisfactory academic progress will be expected to take responsibility for improving their academic performance in the next Teaching Period, and/or:

i.    Be given support to improve their academic performance through the activation of an appropriate University Intervention Strategy, and/or
ii.    Be given warning of the possible consequences of failing to meet the Minimum Academic Standards in other Teaching Periods, and/or
iii.    may be required to meet extra conditions in the next Teaching Period in which they are enrolled, and/or
iv.    may be required to show cause as to why they should not be suspended or excluded from their course, and/or
v.    may be required to seek approval for an extension of the Maximum Time to Complete.

5.    Right to appeal

a.    Students have the right to appeal decisions made under the provisions of this policy.
b.    Students who wish to appeal must do so in accordance with the Academic Progression Procedures.

Related documents and legislation

Academic Progression Procedures
Intervention strategy for students who have not made satisfactory academic progress
Qld Higher Education Act 2008
Migration Act 1958
Migration Regulations 1994
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for US Federal Aid Eligibility
Provision of Education to International Students: Code of Practice and Guidelines for Australian Universities
Specific to International Student Visa Holders:
Deferral, Suspension & Cancellation of Study
National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007
Educational Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
Qld Educations (Overseas Students) Act 1996
Qld Educations (Overseas Students) Regulations 1998
Private Education Act 2009 (Singapore)

Administration

Approval Details

Revision History