(1) The Courses and Units Approval Policy is the third element in the University's course and unit development framework: (2) The courses of the University are the primary means through which the majority of students engage with the University and through which the University builds its reputation for the quality of its graduates as well as its teaching income. The quality of a course is critical to the University and Academic Senate. As the key academic quality assurance agency of the University, Senate must be able to assess the quality through the approval process and by monitoring course performance. (3) This policy facilitates the development and approval of courses, specialisations and units of study, taking into account the University's strategic plans for academic development, the academic quality assurance framework and the quality control delivered by the schools, University Research Institutes, external advisory committees and supporting units across the University. (4) The information collected through the approval process is used for recruitment publications (University and UAC), the online handbook, Unit Outlines and Learning Guides, the timetable, setting fees, student enrolment, acquisition of Library resources and government reporting and approval. It is critical therefore, that approvals of courses, specialisations and units are finalised by the due dates. (5) This policy recognises that approval occurs through the relevant academic governance and management structures of the University. (6) The following definitions apply for the purposes of this policy. (7) The schools are the custodians of the University's courses and specialisations, and provide the content and teaching, notwithstanding that some courses and specialisations may be comprised of units offered by more than one school and that there are a small number of units not attributed to a school. (8) Courses must: (9) Specific features of bachelor degrees are set out in the Structure and Nomenclature of Bachelor Awards Policy and include specifications for key programs, majors and sub-majors. (10) Specific features of bachelor honours degrees are set out in the Honours in Bachelor Awards Policy. (11) Specific features of postgraduate coursework degrees are set out in the Postgraduate Coursework Policy. (12) The development of a new course is a significant project requiring: consideration of the rationale for development; the employment opportunities for graduates (including accreditation of courses by an industry or professional body); evidence of demand by prospective students; the relationship to other courses in similar disciplinary areas and potential for both synergies with and differentiation from those courses. (13) Many courses include components taught by other schools. For any proposals for new courses, changes, discontinuation or suspension of an intake, where the course includes one or more specialisations that are the responsibility of another school or schools, the proposal must be considered by the School Academic Committees of those schools before proceeding to the Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee (APCAC). (14) A new course requires: (15) The approval process for courses to be taught by The College, such as diplomas and associate degrees, is the same as for the approval of undergraduate curriculum as detailed in this Policy with the additional College approvals required. Approval to develop new courses to be taught by The College must be endorsed by The College Board, as well as by the University Executive Committee and APCAC. A Course Concept Proposal and a full course proposal should be endorsed by The College Academic Committee as well as by the relevant School Academic Committee and APCAC. Following endorsement by those academic committees, the full course proposal will be referred to Academic Senate, for final consideration and approval. (16) Some changes to an existing course or specialisation are treated as a new course for the components being changed. Refer to the Course Approval Authorities and Delegations document under Guidelines for further details. (17) Major change proposals must be submitted as a Full Course Proposal, approved by the Dean, explaining the rationale for the change, an assessment of the risks of changing and not changing and an assessment of the resource implications of the proposed change, including the continued financial viability of the changed course. The School Academic Committee considers the academic quality of the proposal and forwards its recommendations to Academic Senate via APCAC. (18) Where required by the Course Approval Authorities and Delegations document (see Guidelines), a proposal for a major course change will be referred to the Business and Infrastructure Development Committee for consideration of its strategic and resourcing aspects. (19) When major changes to a course or specialisation result in the creation of a new course or specialisation version, the proposal must detail the transition arrangements for continuing students for consideration by APCAC. (20) Discontinuation of a course or specialisation may have significant impact on other courses, schools and campuses as well as relationships with partners, professional associations and the community. (21) Proposed discontinuation of a course or specialisation, in the first instance, is discussed by the Dean with the Vice-Chancellor and President, and, where there is an international partner, with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Academic, prior to notification to the School Academic Committee, APCAC and Academic Senate. (22) Proposals for discontinuation of a course or specialisation (and the stages leading to discontinuation) must take into account the students currently enrolled in the program and must specify arrangements for them to transfer to a new course or complete the existing course or specialisation including the time-frame for completion. The School Academic Committee should provide details of proposed transitional arrangements to APCAC for consideration and, if endorsed, will be recommended to Academic Senate for approval. (23) A school may wish to suspend an intake of students to a course for a period of up to two years. The impact of suspending an intake is similar to course discontinuation (see above). (24) The proposed suspension of an intake in the first instance, is discussed by the Dean with the Vice-Chancellor and President, and, where there is an international partner, with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Academic, prior to notification to the School Academic Committee, APCAC and Academic Senate. (25) The proposal for suspension should provide the rationale for suspension, the arrangements to accommodate students currently enrolled in the course or an approved pathway to that course as well as the effect on other courses that may share units with the course. The School Academic Committee should provide details of proposed transitional arrangements to APCAC for consideration and, if endorsed, will be recommended to Academic Senate for approval. (26) Normally, a course will be retired at the end of the period of suspension. If suspension is required for a third year, a notification should be provided to APCAC by November of the first year of suspension. (27) If the suspension is to be lifted, advice should be provided to APCAC at least six months before the planned intake. If a UAC and Handbook entry is required for courses recommencing in the Autumn Semester, notice must be provided by 1 March of the preceding year. (28) Retirement of a course or specialisation occurs where there will be no further intake of students and will no longer be available for admission: (29) Where there is no replacement course or specialisation proposed, the school will identify the arrangements and timeframe for continuing students to complete their study. (30) Where a replacement course or specialisation is proposed, the proposal must detail the transition arrangements for continuing students for consideration by APCAC and, if endorsed, will be recommended to Academic Senate for approval. (31) A course or specialisation will be terminated by the Academic Registrar's Office's when there are no students enrolled in the retired course or specialisation. Any former student presenting for completion of the course after termination has taken effect, will be advised to seek admission to a current course and seek advanced standing for previous study. (32) Schools are responsible for the quality of unit content and delivery for the courses in which the units are located. (33) The Unit Proposal outlines how the unit contributes to any course or specialisation in which it is offered, the learning outcomes for the unit, assessment requirements, its relationship to other units, including the contributions that it makes to the Course Design Standards, course learning outcomes and assessment schedules of the relevant courses (see Associated Information for guidance), any identified Inherent Requirements, the resources required to deliver the unit, as well as when and how it is to be taught. Unit developers must provide all the information required in the template or system as the information will generate the Unit Outline and feed to other systems supporting the scheduling of the unit and student enrolment. (34) Unit Proposals require a detailed resource assessment, referring to the Course Support Standards, and proposers must consult with the supporting service areas (Library, Learning and Teaching Unit, Courses and Timetabling for all student administration, and Information Technology and Digital Services) and include a statement from the designated officer in each of those areas that the unit can be supported or the nature of the support issues. (35) All units must adhere to the provisions of the: (36) A new unit requires the completion of a Unit Proposal and Variation Form (see Associated Information). (37) For the purposes of this policy, a new unit is a unit that: (38) A change in unit code and/or title does not automatically constitute a new unit for the purposes of this policy, as some curriculum changes may be minor. (39) The School Academic Committee considers the academic quality of the proposal and forwards its recommendations to the Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee. (40) Coursework units in research programs must be considered by Senate's Research Studies Committee. Proposals may be referred back to the proposing staff members, when appropriate. (41) Proposals for changes to a unit require the resubmission of the approved proposal with changes highlighted. (42) Variations to units may be approved by the School Academic Committee in accordance with the Unit Approval Authorities and Delegations under Guidelines. (43) Other variations to units outside of the delegations are considered by the School Academic Committee, which forwards its recommendation to APCAC. (44) Proposals to retire or replace a unit must take into consideration students in all courses where the unit is offered or is an integral part of a specialisation. (45) Schools wishing to retire a unit should notify the School Academic Committee at least six months prior to the implementation of the decision. The notification should provide: (46) Where a unit will be replaced by a new unit, the request for retirement will accompany the proposal documentation of the new replacement unit. (47) Any continuing students affected by the decision to retire a core unit should be given a minimum of one semester's notice that the change will occur. Advice to affected students should include a formal letter from the Dean or Deputy Dean of the School which includes, where appropriate, the available options or alternative arrangements. (48) Annual Curriculum Approval Calendars are set by the University to ensure that externally imposed deadlines are met and that internal processes depending on the approved course and unit data, can be completed. [Timeline for Course Approvals - see Associated Information and University Meeting Schedule.] (49) New courses or major changes to courses, including the introduction of new units, should complete the approval process by the March meeting of Academic Senate of the year preceding introduction. The approval of the Chair of APCAC must be obtained if new course proposals are to be presented to the Academic Senate after this date. (50) New units should be approved by mid-March of the year preceding introduction to ensure alignment of unit and course versions. Major changes to units to be offered in the second half of the year should be approved by 1 March of the same year. (51) Notification of the intention to suspend or retire courses, key programs and majors should be made to the Vice-Chancellor and President by the Dean by October of the year prior to the last offering of the course or unit, unless there are extenuating circumstances such as minimal applications received during the admission period. (52) A variation to the above timeframe to allow major course changes and new units to be considered late may be made in exceptional circumstances. (53) Courses and Specialisations (54) Units (55) The Course Concept Proposal (CCP) is developed by the Program Management Group and includes the following: (56) The CCP is submitted to the University Executive Committee via BIDC, and to APCAC. (57) Where changes to an existing course result in more than 25% of non-elective units being changed a Course Concept Proposal must be submitted as above. Significant changes may include re-packaging of an existing version, addition of an off-shore offering, or additional placements that have resource implications. (58) The Chair of the Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee will decide whether exceptional circumstances warrant consideration of a new or amended course or a new unit outside of the meeting schedule. (59) Advice on identifying Inherent Requirements in courses is available on the following webpage (staff login required) and from the Disability Service for students.Courses and Units Approval Policy
Section 1 - Purpose and Context
Section 2 - Definitions
Top of PageSection 3 - Policy Statement
Part A - Courses and Specialisations
Course Development and Approval
New Courses
New Courses taught by The College
Changes to a Course or Specialisation
Course or Specialisation Discontinuation
Suspension of Intake to a Course (this section does not apply to specialisations)
Retirement of a Course or Specialisation
Termination of a Course or Specialisation
Part B - Units
New Units
Changes to a Unit
Retirement or Deletion of a Unit
Part C - Timing of Approvals for Courses and Units
Part D - Summary of Delegations
Top of Page
Section 4 - Procedures
Course Concept Proposals
Variation of Timeframe
Section 5 - Guidelines
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(Administrative note: a suspended version of a course is displayed in the online handbook as "SUSPENDED: This version of the course is under review and not available to new students.")
(Administrative note: a retired version of a course is displayed in the online handbook as "CONTINUING: This version of the course is available only to continuing or completing students.")
(Administrative note: a course that has been terminated has a status of "INACTIVE" and no longer displays in the online handbook. A course that is retired has a status of "CONTINUING" and continues to display in the online handbook.)
Guidance on completing course and unit documentation is available under Associated Information to this policy.
Timeline for Course Approvals and University Meeting Schedule