(1) The University recognises that there will be serious misadventure, accident or extenuating circumstances (including sporting and cultural events) beyond a student's control which are of such severity or gravity that they may impact adversely on academic performance. (2) To pass units, students must demonstrate that they have achieved the unit learning outcomes; merely applying for Special Consideration on the basis of serious misadventure, accident or extenuating circumstances will not demonstrate that the learning outcomes have been achieved. Granting Special Consideration recognises extenuating circumstances, and provides alternative ways in which a student may be assessed, so they are not disadvantaged. Granting Special Consideration for assessment tasks (including examinations) will not take the form of allocating additional marks, or changing grades without undertaking an alternative assessment. (3) The underlying principle of this policy is that all students have the right to equity and fairness when undertaking the assessment components of their studies. The policy has been instituted to support students who would under normal circumstances reach their usual demonstrated performance level but are significantly affected by serious misadventure, accident or extenuating circumstances beyond their control. (4) This policy does not cover the situations where a student: (5) Examinations: (6) Serious Misadventure, accident or extenuating circumstances is any unexpected event that is outside a student's capacity to prevent or overcome that demonstrably affects their capacity to complete teaching/learning and/or assessment tasks, or achieve the level of attainment typical of their previous performance in the unit. (7) Special Consideration refers to those situations where a student wishes to formally advise the University that they have suffered unforseen severe and/or grave illness, misadventure, accident, or have extenuating circumstances, and, as a result, have: (8) Teaching session refers to the time from the first week of lectures up to the commencement of the end of session examinations. (9) The policy applies to students enrolled in undergraduate awards and postgraduate coursework awards including on-shore, off-shore and external-study students. The policy refers to both the teaching session and the formal examination period. (10) The policy addresses Special Consideration requests from students who are affected by short-term illnesses or serious misadventure during a teaching session and the formal examination period. Special Consideration should not be utilised repetitively in order to manage longer-term illness, disabilities or ongoing severe disruptive circumstances. In such circumstances students should refer to the University's Disability Policy and should seek advice from staff in Counselling and Disability Services. (11) Students with disabilities should contact Disability Services. Students can also access a University Counsellor, Student Welfare Officer or Student Advocate for information, advice, support and referral. Special Consideration provisions apply to UWS students including those registered with Disability Services. (12) It is the student's responsibility to notify the University of illness, misadventure or extenuating circumstances and to obtain documentation which demonstrates the severity and/or gravity and timing of the circumstance. The documentation should also demonstrate how the misadventure has disrupted previously satisfactory work by a student during the teaching session. (13) On the basis if the information provided by the student, the following may be taken into account: (14) All staff who deal with Special Consideration applications are required to maintain confidentiality of information presented by students. (15) Assessment that "serious misadventure, accident or extenuating circumstances" has been proved and documentary evidence provided: Student Centre staff. (16) Determine outcomes, other than a re-assessable fail, of all requests for Special Consideration: Unit Coordinators (17) Award of a re-assessable fail as the outcome of a Special Consideration application: the Head of School. (18) Approve or dismiss applications for a Deferred Examination: Assessment and Graduation Manager (19) Applications should be made on the appropriate forms available on the web or from a Student Centre: (20) The Student Centre will review documentation and assess whether the extenuating circumstances criteria are demonstrated and if so, scan documentation and email to the School for distribution to the relevant Unit Coordinator for Special Consideration applications or to the Assessment and Graduation Manager for determination of eligibility for a Deferred Examination. (21) Applications must be submitted no later than 5.00 p.m. of 2nd working day after the due date of the assessment task or examination. Students who can provide evidence to support extenuating circumstances affecting submission of the application may be granted permission to submit applications after this time. (22) A request for Special Consideration for an examination relates to situations where a student: (23) A request for a Deferred Examination should only be made in exceptional circumstances where the severity and/or gravity of misadventure, accident or illness is such of an extreme nature that the student will not be able to sit the examination and where a rescheduling of the examination is demonstrated to be the only reasonable option. The University will not consider cases where a student is unable to attend an examination due to circumstances such as a vacation, ceremony or family event. (24) Students who believe their examination performance has been affected by ill health may request Special Consideration. A Deferred Examination will not be granted if a student has entered the examination room. (25) Access to a Deferred Examination is a privilege determined on a case-by-case basis. It is not a right. A Deferred Examination is a significant concession to a student. (26) Students should note that the fact of submitting an application does not automatically mean that Special Consideration or a Deferred Examination will be granted. (27) Appropriate documentation is required to verify claims made in any Special Consideration application. Information should relate to relevant provisions of this policy. (28) All applications should be submitted using the relevant application form, with any supporting documentation or request for confidentiality attached. The application forms are available on the Student Administration Forms web page. (29) Documentation and certificates signed by family members will not normally be accepted. Documents must be in English, and if not, supplied with a certified translation. (30) If medical information is provided, it should have sufficient detail so that the severity and gravity of the condition in relation to teaching/learning and/or assessment tasks can be reasonably ascertained. The medical practitioner should be asked to complete the relevant section of the application form. However, if the medical practitioner provides a medical certificate, the medical information on the certificate must address the same requirements as those listed in the University's application form. The documentation must clearly indicate: (31) The certificate on the University's application form can also be used to provide supporting documentation from other appropriately qualified professionals such as psychiatrists, physiotherapists, registered psychologists, social workers and counsellors. (32) For causes other than sickness, (e.g. road accident, court hearing or death of a relative) written evidence (e.g. a police report, a court summons, or a death certificate) is acceptable. Where supporting documentation is not immediately available, students must submit the Special Consideration form within the time-period and provide the relevant documentation as soon as it becomes available. (Clause 21 provides details of circumstances where the period may be extended.) (33) Documentation relating to serious misadventure or extenuating circumstances should provide evidence to support the claim and indicate the severity and/or gravity of the circumstances, and the extent of the impact on the student. Where the extenuating circumstances have arisen from substantial changes to financial situations the application should be supported by documentation. (34) Students should note that Special Consideration requests or requests for Deferred Examinations will normally not be considered if documentation does not provide sufficient information to support the claims made in the application. The University will not approach doctors, hospitals, police, etc, to obtain documentation on behalf of the student. The University may seek verification from these agencies that the certificate has been issued to the student. (35) Where the Unit Coordinator determines that Special Consideration will be granted for an assessment task, the outcome may include: (36) Unit Coordinators are required to document their determinations, giving reasons only in relation to this policy, and to regularly report their determinations to the Head of Program and the School Academic Committee. (37) For Special Consideration for part or the whole of the teaching session, the application should be submitted as soon as the student is aware that he/she has extenuating circumstances that will affect studies for the session. (38) The Unit Coordinator may interview the student where this would assist in making their decision. The Unit Coordinator may consult the Head of Program if necessary. (39) Where the determination is that Special Consideration will be granted for the whole unit, the outcome may include: (40) The School will notify the student via their UWS email address (copied to the TRIM record keeping system) of the determinations made on requests for Special Consideration within two working days following the Unit Coordinator's determination. (41) All papers relating to the requests including recommendations, reasons and decisions will be retained by the School for a minimum of 18 months following the final decision. (42) Unit Coordinators will present a summary at the end of each teaching session to the Head of Program who will provide a report to the Head of School for the School Academic Committee meeting. (43) These procedures apply to formal end of session University examinations only, not examinations conducted during the teaching session. (44) The Unit Coordinator will consider the application for Special Consideration and have the authority to uphold or dismiss Special Consideration requests during the formal examinations period. (45) If a Special Consideration application is upheld, the Unit Coordinator will recommend to the Head of School the most appropriate accommodation/action that should be taken in response to the student's circumstances. The recommended outcome may include: (46) The Assessment and Graduation Manager will consider all applications for Deferred Examinations (except for any practical examination requests which will be sent to the Unit Coordinator for decision) and will, for each application, make one of the following determinations: (47) Deferred Examinations will be held shortly after the normal examination period. The scope, structure and duration of a Deferred Examination for a unit will be the same as the examination for the same unit held in the formal examination period. (48) Where possible, the student will be notified at least five working days prior to the Deferred Examination. (49) Where a student cannot sit a Deferred Examination, because the documented duration of the incapacity will extend beyond the period set aside for Deferred Examinations the Assessment and Graduation Manager will refer the application to the School. The School will arrange an alternative assessment task or an individual supplementary examination at a time that suits the student. Note that this option is not available for students whose request for a Deferred Examination has been rejected. (50) Where a student has been granted a Deferred Examination but illness or misadventure prevents a student from attending the examination there will be no further deferment of that examination. (51) The student should submit the Final Deferred Examination Special Consideration Application form. The Assessment and Graduation Manager will assess the application against the criteria for "serious misadventure, accident and extenuating circumstances" and if the application is eligible for Special Consideration forward it to the relevant Head of School. (52) The Head of School will convene a small review panel, comprising the Head of School, relevant Head of Program and relevant Unit Coordinator, to consider the application. The outcome may be one of: (53) Students will be notified within five working days following the final decision. (54) All documentation relating to the Final Examination Deferred Special Consideration requests including recommendations, reasons and decisions will be retained by the Assessment and Graduation Unit (where a decision was made by the Assessment and Graduation Manager ) or by the School (where a decision was made by the School ) in the TRIM system. (55) Nil.Special Consideration Policy
Section 1 - Purpose and Context
Top of PageSection 2 - Definitions
Section 3 - Policy Statement
The Policy
Delegations to Approve Special Consideration
Section 4 - Procedures
Part A - Applications
Acceptable Documentation for Applications
Part B - Outcomes
During the Teaching Session
Special Consideration for an Assessment Task in One Unit of Study
Special Consideration for Part or the Whole of the Teaching Session
During the Formal Examination Period
Deferred Examinations
Students Unable to Attend the Deferred Examination
Section 5 - Guidelines
View Current
This is not a current document. To view the current version, click the link in the document's navigation bar.
These situations are covered in guidelines that are part of the University's Assessment Policy.
with supporting documentation attached that demonstrates the nature and severity of the illness, serious misadventure or extenuating circumstances (see clause 6). Students may indicate in their application their preferred outcome of the special consideration (see clauses 35 — 45). Forms are to be lodged at a Student Centre.