The faculty has introduced these procedures to cover problems and grievances that students may have over academic and administrative matters at the departmental or faculty level. These include matters relating to enrolment, assessment, unsatisfactory progress, the provision of teaching or support services, and provision of faculty facilities. These procedures do not relate to discipline or sexual harassment matters which are covered by special university procedures.
The procedures are designed to provide for the resolution of problems and complaints quickly and efficiently through appropriate departmental and faculty mechanisms, while protecting the rights of students and staff. All cases of this kind will be treated as confidential. These procedures are provided for cases where the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily through the usual more informal means.
Academic grievances are those where students have complaints about aspects of their courses, assessment or other matters which are the responsibility of academic staff and of departments and centres in the faculty.
This procedure is as outlined under `Other graduate concerns and matters' later in this section.
Administrative grievances are those where students have complaints about matters relating to enrolment or to information, advice or services on other matters provided by administrative staff of the faculty.
Students who have a grievance in relation to administrative matters concerning the graduate studies office or officers should in the first instance discuss the matter with the coordinator, graduate studies office. The coordinator will attempt to resolve the matter. If this is not successful, the coordinator will advise the student how to proceed.
Depending on the nature of the matter, students may be advised to appeal either to the chair of the Committee for Graduate Studies or to the faculty registrar. Students should make a written submission to the appropriate person. A recommendation for the resolution of the matter should be made within fourteen days of the submission being received.
If the student is not satisfied with the proposed method of resolution, the student may appeal to the dean.
The manager for student relations and inquiries receives complaints from students about administrative matters and is charged with investigating and settling complaints.
Students should first discuss the matter with the lecturer/ supervisor concerned. In the case of a coursework matter, if this does not resolve the matter satisfactorily, the student should consult the course coordinator (where the course co-ordinator is not the lecturer). If still unresolved the student should present his or her case in writing to the responsible head of department or director of centre (or where the lecturer/supervisor is the head of department or director of centre to a senior member of that department or centre). In the case of a research student, if the matter cannot be resolved between the student and the supervisor, the student should present his or her case in writing to the head of department or director of centre. No more than fourteen days should elapse between the time the matter is raised by the student and attempts to resolve it within the department or centre.
If the matter is not resolved within the department or centre within fourteen days, the matter may be referred by either the student or the head of department/director of centre to the chair of the Committee for Graduate Studies (COGS). At this stage further information may be submitted to the chair of COGS by either party. The chair of COGS will attempt to resolve the dispute within fourteen days of receiving the referral.
If this matter cannot be resolved by the chair of COGS, it may be referred to the full committee for arbitration. The committee shall make its determination within fourteen days and notify the student and the head of department or director of centre of its decision in writing.
The student or department/centre may lodge an appeal against the committee's determination which shall be heard by the dean.
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