The student who is offered a place in the Faculty of Arts has an interview during enrolment with an adviser, who approves the student's selection of subjects for the first year and a provisional outline of the remainder of the course. The function of the enrolment adviser is not to select a student's course but to give any help and advice needed and to ensure that the choice the student makes is based on rational grounds. Students are expected to understand the regulations. For later-year students, course approval is normally granted at re-enrolment, following consultation with an adviser. Any change in the selection of subjects must be formally approved by an officer of the faculty.
Students intending to proceed to the Diploma in Education should take note of the teacher education entry and the information about the DipEd in the handbook for the Faculty of Education before deciding on their selection of subjects.
Advice to students
Throughout their university course, students are expected, on any matters of difficulty in their studies, to seek the advice of the tutors and lecturers whose classes they attend, and, if necessary, of the head of the department concerned. In addition, the course advisers, whose main function is to assist the dean in advising students, may be consulted by students on the selection of their subjects, on changes of course, or on matters relevant to their academic progress in their university courses. Sometimes the advisers may wish to refer a student to one or other of the student services such as health, housing or counselling. Experience suggests that many students get into unnecessary difficulties through failing to make use of advice which is available to them.
Once a student has embarked on a second-year level subject and becomes a later-year student, the general supervision of his or her work becomes the responsibility of the department, or one of the departments, in which a major sequence is being taken or in which the student is enrolled for an honours degree.
Students are advised that, while the faculty will endeavour to give every possible assistance and advice concerning subject choice, the onus is on students to ensure that subjects selected meet degree regulations and requirements. It is therefore recommended that students purchase a copy of this handbook and consult it when seeking information about course and subject-related matters.Student services
The university provides a wide range of services to students including financial advice and assistance, a health service, a university housing office, a counselling service and a course and career centre. Assistance for students with disabilities is provided through the university's equal opportunity office. There is a religious centre on the Clayton campus with two full-time and three part-time chaplains. Further information on student services will be provided at the time of enrolment or by ringing the university on 905 4000.
Language and Learning Unit
Director: Mr G V Taylor
The faculty's language and learning unit advises students particularly on matters of learning, essay writing, reading and other aspects of their academic work. Students on the Clayton campus can make an appointment by ringing 905 2263. At Caulfield and Peninsula students have access to the centrally organised language and learning units located on those campuses.