1999 Arts Handbook - Student progress and assessment

Student progress and assessment

The progress of a student
Examinations
- On-campus students
- Distance education students
Special consideration
Unsatisfactory progress - exclusion

The progress of a student

Full-time students normally take forty-eight points each year in order to complete the degree in three years. Part-time and distance education students take twenty-four to thirty-two points each year, and normally complete the degree in five to six years. Students wishing to vary this workload in any way may only do so with the permission of the chairperson of the school board (or the chairperson's nominee). Any requests for variation must be lodged in writing with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, together with the reasons for the request. Permission to vary the normal study load will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and students with a reduced workload may have certain conditions attached to approval of their re-enrolment.
On-campus students are expected to attend specified lectures and tutorials, participate in discussions and to submit written work for assessment. Participation in classes is considered to be an important component of each subject, and often requires work additional to attendance at formal lectures and tutorials.
Distance education students are provided with extensive printed materials for each subject, and are required to utilise these fully by maintaining weekly reading schedules. Weekend school classes are offered in many subjects, and provide an opportunity for additional contact and instruction. In some subjects, attendance at some weekend schools is compulsory. Students are also expected to submit written work which will then be assessed.
Assessment may be based on a student's performance in classwork, assignments throughout the semester, a formal end-of-semester examination or any combination of all three. The board of examiners and the school board will review the progress of all students enrolled in humanities and social science courses at least once during the course of each semester.
Subsequently, students may be required to discuss their progress and/or continuation with staff of the school, or to make an appropriate written submission if necessary.
Because of demand for places students should note that continued enrolment depends on satisfactory completion of a normal coursework load. Applications for re-enrolment must be received by the due date each year.
Any variations to the regulations must be approved by the head of school (or the head's nominee).

Examinations

On-campus students

Examination timetables will be published five to six weeks before the commencement of the scheduled examination period. Students will be advised of the methods available to obtain the examination timetable. Examinations for subjects studied on campus must be sat at a venue as directed by that campus.

Distance education students

Students will be sent their currently recorded examination centre about six weeks before the commencement of the examination period. A list of approved examination centres will also be provided so that the student can change their examination venue if necessary. This is done by completing the enclosed tear-off slip and returning by the date specified. The methods available to obtain the examination timetable will also be included with this information.

Special consideration

Students whose academic performance has been adversely affected by illness or other serious cause (and who wish to have such illness or cause taken into account in the assessment of their work) should apply with supporting evidence (such as a doctor's certificate) to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences before the examination period begins in any semester.
If performance in an examination is adversely affected by causes beyond a student's control, an application to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences for special consideration must be made within forty-eight hours after the last examination scheduled for the candidate for the semester concerned.
Any student who is unable to sit an examination on the date specified must provide supporting documentation to the subject adviser. The subject adviser has discretionary powers in coordinating an alternative time if this is deemed to be appropriate.

Unsatisfactory progress - exclusion

A full-time or part-time/distance education student who does not pass a given proportion of the subjects for which he or she is enrolled will be liable for exclusion from the school for the following year. No decision will be taken to exclude a student until the student has been given an opportunity to present a case to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee. The grounds for exclusion are (1) failing the same subject twice; (2) failing more than half the subjects attempted in the last two years of study; (3) failing all subjects attempted in one semester of study; (4) failing to meet any previously prescribed conditions, restrictions or limitations.