(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 unforeseen 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 the Disability Service. Students can also access a University Counsellor, Student Welfare Officer or Student Rights Advocate for information, advice, support and referral. Special Consideration provisions apply to the University's students including those registered with the Disability Service. (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 of 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 Central staff. (16) Determine outcomes of all requests for Special Consideration (other than a "re-assessable fail" or an outcome of a request for Final Deferred Examination Special Consideration): Unit Coordinators. (17) Award of a re-assessable fail as the outcome of a Special Consideration application: the Dean of the School, who may delegate this function to the Deputy Dean or a Director, Academic Program. (18) Determine outcomes of requests for a Final Examination Deferred Special Consideration: the Dean of the School, who may delegate this function to the Deputy Dean. (19) Applications should be made using the appropriate form available on the web, with supporting documentation included that demonstrates the nature and severity of the illness, serious misadventure or extenuating circumstances (see clause 6). Forms are to be lodged online. (20) Student Central will review each application and assess whether the extenuating circumstances criteria are demonstrated and if so, forward the application to the School for approval. (21) Applications must be submitted no later than 5.00 p.m. of the 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) Students who believe their examination performance has been affected by ill health may request Special Consideration. (24) Students should note that the fact of submitting an application does not automatically mean that Special Consideration will be granted. (25) Appropriate documentation is required to verify claims made in any Special Consideration application. Information should relate to relevant provisions of this policy. (26) All applications should be submitted using the Special Consideration application form, with any supporting documentation. (27) 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. (28) 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 application form available on the University website. 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: (29) 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. (30) 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 seek approval to provide the relevant documentation as soon as it becomes available. Evidence of approval for late submission of documentation must be submitted at the time of Special Consideration Application lodgement. (Clause 21 provides details of circumstances where the period may be extended.) (31) 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. (32) Students should note that Special Consideration requests 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. Students are required to keep all original or certified copies of supporting documentation for a period of twelve months from the date of submission of their application, as this may be requested at any time by the University for auditing purposes. (33) 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. (34) The Unit Coordinator may interview the student where this would assist in making their decision. The Unit Coordinator may consult the relevant Academic Course Advisor or Director, Academic Program if necessary. The Dean or Deputy Dean of the School may require this consultation to take place for students who are enrolled in specified courses that are taught by the School. (35) Where the determination is that Special Consideration will be granted for the whole unit, the outcome may include: (36) The student will be notified via their University 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. (37) All documentation relating to the requests including recommendations, reasons and decisions will be retained for a minimum of 18 months following the final decision. (38) Unit Coordinators are required to document their determinations, giving reasons only in relation to this policy, and to regularly report their determinations to the Director, Academic Program via a summary at the end of each teaching session. The Director, Academic Program will provide a report to the Deputy Dean of the School for the School Academic Committee's meeting. (39) These procedures apply to Final Examinations held in the Formal Examination Period only, not examinations conducted during the teaching session. (40) The Unit Coordinator will consider the application for Special Consideration and has the authority to uphold or dismiss Special Consideration requests during the formal examinations period. (41) If a Special Consideration application is upheld, the Unit Coordinator will determine the most appropriate accommodation/action that should be taken in response to the student's circumstances. The recommended outcome may include: (42) All documentation relating to the Final Deferred Examination Special Consideration requests including recommendations, reasons and decisions will be retained by the School in the TRIM system. (43) Refer to the Academic Appeals Procedures for standard appeal provisions regarding a breach of procedural fairness.Special Consideration Policy
NOTE: The Policy Suspension or Variation Instrument - COVID-19 Policy Response 2021 is currently in place for this policy. For reference the following expired Policy Suspension or Variation Instrument - Special Consideration Policy document is available here.
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
Special Consideration for Part or the Whole of the Teaching Session
During the Formal Examination Period
Section 5 - Guidelines
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These situations are covered in guidelines that are part of the University's Assessment Policy.