• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Part B - Course Design Standards
• Part C - Course Support Standards
• Part D - Course Delivery Standards
• Part E - Course Impact (Encompassing Academic Learning Standards)
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Part A - The Academic Policies Framework is under review. The University has adopted the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015.

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The Western Sydney University Act 1997 (section 8) specifies that the object of the University is the promotion, within the limits of the University's resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and teaching, and academic excellence.

(2) The principal functions of the University include the provision of facilities for education and research of university standard; the provision of courses of study or instruction across a range of fields, and the carrying out of research, to meet the needs of the community, beginning in Greater Western Sydney; the conferring of degrees, including those of Bachelor, Master and Doctor, and the awarding of diplomas, certificates and other awards; the provision of teaching and learning that engage with advanced knowledge and inquiry; and the development of governance, procedural rules, admission policies, financial arrangements and quality assurance processes that are sufficient to ensure the integrity of the University's academic programs.

(3) The Academic Senate (Senate) is responsible to the Board of Trustees for promoting and monitoring the academic quality, standards and values of the University's academic activities, deciding academic policy and approving related procedures.

(4) This document sets out the framework of academic policies that have been approved by Senate, and shows how they are related to each other, to some other policies that have been approved by the Board of Trustees and Vice-Chancellor, and to the University's Academic Standards and Assessment Framework.

Section 2 - Definitions

(5) For the purpose of this policy:

1. Academic policies - means policies that are approved by Senate under clause (4) of the Academic Governance Policy. They are published on the University's Policy DDS.
2. The University's Academic Standards and Assessment Framework - refers to a diagram which shows how the University's academic policies, quality assurance mechanisms and practices fit together and complement each other (see Associated Information). The Framework is organised into four overlapping domains that relate to course design standards, course delivery standards, course support standards, and course impact (encompassing academic learning standards).

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(6) Senate has approved a comprehensive set of academic policies that fulfil its obligations under clause (4) of the Academic Governance Policy, assisting the University in meeting its legislative obligations, and ensuring the academic quality and standards of the University's academic programs.

(7) These policies may be organised in a number of different ways; this document relates them to the Academic Standards and Assessment Framework and a set of other education-related policies.

(8) Individual academic policies may contribute to one or more of the four overlapping domains of the Academic Standards and Assessment Framework.

Part B - Course Design Standards

(9) This domain includes the policies that relate to:

1. fundamental curriculum principles, structure and nomenclature of undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and Higher Degree Research (HDR) awards; and
2. the approval of awards, articulation pathways and advanced standing, including the arrangements for external advisory committees.

(10) The following policies relate to the fundamental curriculum principles, structure and nomenclature of the University's academic awards.

(11) The following policies relate to the approval of awards, articulation pathways and advanced standing, including the arrangements for external advisory committees.

Part C - Course Support Standards

(12) This domain includes the academic policies that relate to the support of Learning and Teaching in undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and Higher Degree Research (HDR) awards. These are organised according to a student's progress through a course, and include the University's policies on special consideration and reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities.

(13) These policies provide a clear administrative and support framework to guide students through their enrolment at the University, including provision for illness, misadventure and processes for resolving appeals and complaints.

Part D - Course Delivery Standards

(14) This domain includes the academic policies that relate to the delivery of Learning and Teaching, including assessment-based learning guides, staff responsibilities and training.

(15) Other policies that relate to staff recruitment and development, but that do not lie within Senate's purview, may be found on the Policy DDS.

Part E - Course Impact (Encompassing Academic Learning Standards)

(16) This domain includes the academic policies that relate to criterion and standards-based assessment; monitoring and improvement of Learning and Teaching Quality, including the responsibilities of Senate and its committees; and the University's approach to Ethical Scholarship.

Section 4 - Procedures

(17) Nil.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(18) Nil.