• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part A - Categories of Scholarships Offered
• Part B - General Interpretation
• Part C - Panels
• Part D - Tenure and General Criteria
• Part E - Benefits
• Part F - Termination of Scholarships
• Part G - Appeals
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

(1) 7 March 2012 - Note: A revised version of the Scholarships for Undergraduates Policy is under development. Queries related to this matter should be referred to the Manager, Scholarships and Student Advancement.

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(2) The University of Western Sydney's (UWS) scholarships and prizes are designed to:

1. build the leadership and education capacity of the region;
2. establish peer expectation and recognition of UWS as an institution of academic excellence;
3. provide support to prospective and current students who are able to benefit from a university education but who are financially (or otherwise) disadvantaged;
4. position UWS competitively with other universities in relation to student recruitment;
5. signal the commitment of the UWS to academic excellence, and social justice.

(3) The policy applies to scholarships provided for undergraduate studies at UWS. All scholarships offered in the name of the UWS, its entities or industry partners must be approved by Academic Senate.

(4) Changes to the academic aims, structure, criteria and conditions of existing approved scholarships, including the specific scholarships in the annexure of this policy, also require Academic Senate approval.

(5) Additionally, where a scholarship is funded by the University, the Vice-Chancellor must approve it.

Section 2 - Definitions

(6) For the purpose of this policy:

1. A named externally funded industry or donor scholarship is an amount not less than $5,000 in cash per annum for a full time student for a period not to exceed the minimum completion time for a course offered at UWS; or, not normally less than $2,500 per annum for a part time student for a period not to exceed the minimum completion time for part time study. A scholarship may also comprise in-kind benefits in addition to the cash component. Some scholarship categories may only be tenable on a full time basis.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Part A - Categories of Scholarships Offered

(7) Scholarships at UWS fall into three categories. These are:

1. Group A - Scholarships funded by the University or its entities;
2. Group B —Externally funded named industry or donor scholarships;
3. Group C — Scholarship funded by the Commonwealth of Australia, or an Australian State or Territory.

(8) To see the current list of scholarships available refer to the Undergraduate Scholarships webpage.

(9) A student may hold a maximum of two scholarships simultaneously, and each scholarship must be from a different group. The only exception is that a student may hold an International Exchange Scholarship simultaneously with any other scholarship.

Part B - General Interpretation

(10) This policy shall apply to scholarships offered in the University's name and such other undergraduate scholarships as the Vice-Chancellor may from time to time determine.

Part C - Panels

(11) Where the provisions of a scholarship category require that applicants attend an interview, the Chair, Academic Senate will determine the panel membership.

(12) The Chair, Academic Senate has determined that the Vice-Chancellor's Leadership Scholarships, the Academic Excellence Scholarships, the Merit Equity Scholarships, the International Exchange Scholarships, and the Indigenous Achievement Scholarships have a selection panel that consists of:

1. Nominee of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching);
2. Nominee of the Chair, Academic Senate;
3. Nominee of the Academic Registrar;
4. Nominee of the Executive Director, Engagement and Partnerships;
5. Nominee of the Director Equity and Diversity.

(13) For the Indigenous Achievement Scholarship selection panel, the panel will also include the nominee of the Dean of Indigenous Education.

(14) The Chair, Academic Senate can also invite individuals external to UWS to form part of a panel.

(15) The selection arrangements for other scholarships will normally be approved by the Academic Senate at the time the scholarship proposal is approved by the Senate. The selection panels receive all documentation and will assess students' applications and associated documentation against the specific scholarship criteria. Interviews may be required where specified for specific scholarships.

(16) An offer will be made to successful recipients with recipients receiving payment only after confirmation of their enrolment at the HECS census date.

(17) The decision of the selection panel is final.

Part D - Tenure and General Criteria

(18) All applicants must be Australian citizens or have permanent resident status in Australia.

(19) All applicants must meet the minimum criteria for admission to UWS.

(20) Recipients must maintain satisfactory progress in terms of the criteria for each category of scholarship. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress will result in the withdrawal of scholarship benefits, subject to the guidelines outlined in the policy for special consideration. Annual renewal of scholarship benefits will depend on the scholar maintaining progress at a grade determined by the conditions for the specific scholarship.

(21) Recipients are subject to the UWS policies, procedures and guidelines. Recipients found to have breached the policies, procedures and guidelines, or have engaged in proven academic or non-academic misconduct, or have been found to have breached any relevant Commonwealth or State laws, may have all scholarship benefits withdrawn, and be ineligible for consideration for future scholarships and prizes.

(22) The scholarship is tenable in the UWS to support enrolment in an undergraduate bachelor degree program.

(23) An honours year can be included providing the length of the scholarship allows.

(24) The scholarship will cease if the recipient graduates from the course at an alternate exit point.

(25) The scholarship shall be subject to annual renewal and may be held for not more than the normal duration of the course when completed by full time or part time study.

(26) Any approved leave of absence will not be counted when calculating a student's progression in a course.

(27) Scholarship holders are subject to the Rules governing the degree for which they are enrolled.

(28) Once granted, the scholarship and any associated benefits are not transferable to another institution.

Part E - Benefits

(29) The scholarship shall provide an allowance in cash, and such other benefits as the Academic Senate may approve, and shall be paid according the arrangements determined by the Academic Senate. Scholarship funds will only be paid to the recipient.

(30) Full-time students will be paid the total value of a Scholarship and part-time students will be paid 50% of the annual total value providing part-time study is no less than 20 credit points in each Autumn and Spring teaching session, unless otherwise stated.

(31) Where the scholarship holder is in receipt of Centrelink benefits the scholarship holder is advised to inform Centrelink of any income received.

Part F - Termination of Scholarships

(32) UWS will terminate a scholarship:

1. if the student ceases to meet the criteria of the specific scholarship; or
2. once the full value of the scholarship has been paid in respect of the scholarship; or
3. if the student does not resume study at the conclusion of a period of leave of absence (Intermission) normally 12 months; or
4. if the student is suspended or excluded from UWS for serious misconduct; or
5. the student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as detailed in the relevant scholarship; or
6. on graduation from their degree; or
7. on the death, resignation or withdrawal of the student from UWS.

(33) Recipients may have their scholarship benefits withdrawn and may forfeit their eligibility for future scholarships and prizes if they are found to have:

1. breached University policies, rules and/or regulations;
2. breached relevant Commonwealth or State laws;
3. engaged in proven academic or non-academic misconduct.

(34) The termination of scholarship provisions in this clause do not apply to Commonwealth Learning Scholarships or Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships. Termination of Commonwealth Learning Scholarships or Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships will be governed by the prevailing Commonwealth Guidelines. For guidelines regarding the termination of all Commonwealth funded scholarships, see Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines.

Part G - Appeals

(35) A recipient of a scholarship, who has had scholarship benefits terminated or withdrawn, and who wishes to challenge the decision, must first consult with the Scholarships and Student Advancement Manager, so that the Manager can determine whether it is appropriate to amend the decision.

(36) If, following consultation with the Scholarships and Student Advancement Manager, the student remains dissatisfied with the decision and considers he or she has evidence that meets the grounds specified below, he or she may appeal, in writing, to the Chair of the College Academic Standards and Integrity Commitee. (The relevant college is the college which offers the course in which the student is studying and is the college to which the Head of Program for the course belongs).

(37) The student must ensure that any appeal, together with supporting evidence, is received by the Chair within 15 working days of the date of the letter advising of withdrawal of the scholarship. Late appeals will only be considered at the discretion of the Chair and if there are documented extenuating circumstances.

(38) An appeal can only be made on one, or both, of the following grounds, which must be specified and addressed in the appeal letter:

1. that there is evidence that the decision to terminate or withdraw the scholarship was made as the result of a procedural error or was in breach of procedural fairness; and/or
2. that there is evidence that the student's circumstances, which have led to the termination or withdrawal of scholarship, were because of misadventure or extenuating circumstances, as specified in the Special Consideration Policy.

(39) The Chair may determine that no valid grounds for appeal have been stated by the student and that therefore the appeal will not be heard.

(40) Otherwise, the Chair will convene a panel to hear the appeal, in accordance with the provisions for the operation of College Academic Standards and Integrity Commitee, as detailed in the Academic Senate Standing Committees Policy.

(41) The student will not have an automatic right to appear in person before a committee. Appeals should therefore include appropriate documentation (statements from counsellors, medical certificates, etc.) to substantiate the student's grounds for appeal.

(42) The appeals panel may determine to:

1. uphold the appeal and restore the scholarship;
2. uphold the appeal, but vary the student's required enrolment load and/or put conditions upon the continuation of the scholarship; or
3. dismiss the appeal.

(43) The determination of the panel will be final, except that a student may make a further appeal, in writing, to the Senate Academic Standards and Integrity Committee on one, or both of the following grounds. The grounds for the appeal must be specified in the student's letter of appeal.

1. that there is evidence that the panel has not observed procedural fairness in considering the student's case; or
2. that evidence in support of the student's case, which was not available to the panel, is now available.

(44) As Chair of the Senate Academic Standards and Integrity Committee, the Chair, Academic Senate, or the Deputy Chair Academic Senate, as his or her nominee, may determine no valid grounds for appeal have been stated by the student and that the appeal will therefore not be heard.

(45) Otherwise, the Chair, or Deputy Chair Academic Senate, as nominee, will convene a meeting of the Committee to hear the further appeal, in accordance with the provisions for the operation of the Committee, as detailed in the Academic Senate Standing Committees Policy.

(46) Any member of the Committee who has previously been involved with the assessment of a particular case before the Committee must excuse themselves from the Committee for the duration of that case.

(47) The Committee must contain at least one member of each gender.

(48) A quorum of the Committee will be the Chair and two members, one of whom must be an academic staff member.

(49) Following consideration of the further appeal, the Senate Academic Standards and Integrity Committee may make any determination available to a panel of a College Academic Standards and Integrity Commitee under this Policy.

(50) A determination by the Senate Academic Standards and Integrity Committee under the provisions of this Policy will be final.

Section 4 - Procedures

(51) Nil.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(52) Refer to Undergraduate Scholarships webpage.