The courses offered by the faculty are intended to attract students from a variety of backgrounds who are interested in computers and information technology. Some courses are designed for students who have a sound grounding in mathematics and an interest in the engineering and scientific aspects of computers. Others are designed for students whose interests lie more in the development of computer-based information systems for commerce and industry and the use of computers to solve problems encountered in the management of organisations. When selecting a course, particular attention should be paid to the prerequisite studies.
Good study habits are vital in undertaking a computing course. In particular it is important that computing assignments are tackled in a timely manner and that programming is practised using the extensive computing facilities that are available to students.
All students have ready access to tutors and lecturers, and students are encouraged to take their problems and concerns about their studies to them. Students should not hesitate to approach academic staff at any time. The sooner a problem is dealt with, the better for all concerned. If you do not feel satisfied with the assistance or advice you receive then approach the head of the department, the faculty registrar, the associate dean (Teaching) or the dean.
The university has student counsellors available to help students. Assistance can be provided for both personal and study-related problems to students who are reluctant to approach academic staff. There is also a medical service available on campus which has extensive experience in dealing with the medical problems of students.
Students are advised that, while the faculty will endeavour to give every possible assistance and advice concerning subject choice, the onus is on the student to ensure that the subjects selected meet the course regulations and requirements. This is not the faculty's responsibility and the faculty does not take any responsibility for error in subject selection.
Enrolment dates for first-year undergraduate students are normally advised at the time offers of places in courses are made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For graduate courses enrolment details are included in letters of offer made directly by the faculty.
Subjects which are offered in more than one semester may have quotas determined by the availability of teaching staff and other resources. Students who have enrolled for a degree course in the faculty will, in normal circumstances, be given the opportunity to enrol in the subjects offered by the faculty that are required by the course concerned, and will be given preference over students enrolled in other faculties wishing to study the same subjects. Where students of the faculty wish to enrol in subjects offered by other faculties the same guarantee cannot be given.
Enrolments are normally accepted for both semesters at the beginning of the year and may be varied after the first-semester examinations.
It is the responsibility of students to ensure that, at all times, their enrolment is kept up to date. If the university's records show that the student is enrolled in a subject, fees are payable whether or not classes are attended. Should the work requirements not be met or the examination not sat the record will show that the subject has been failed.
The faculty uses pre-enrolment for continuing students. This has removed time-consuming aspects of re-enrolment for many students.
In October each year, students complete pre-enrolment forms representing their enrolment for the following year, according to the requirements for their courses. Students who pass all subjects at the end of the year and have submitted their pre-enrolment forms will be automatically re-enrolled. However, students who fail subjects affecting their proposed study program for the following year have to amend their subject choice. Students who do not pre-enrol will forfeit their place in the degree.
It is important that a student maintains a current address with the university. Failure to notify the university of a change of address may mean that a student misses out on receiving vital information such as that concerning pre-enrolment.
While the prerequisites for entry to a course may be minimal, there may be further prerequisites for the individual subjects that a student may wish to study, eg first-year chemistry taken as part of a degree in computing requires VCE-level chemistry.
The details of subject assessments can be found in the subject descriptions in this handbook. All students should be aware that departments may require that a pass be obtained in all components of assessment for a pass in the subject. This is often referred to as the hurdle requirements of a subject. Students will be advised in the first week of teaching of a subject of any hurdle requirements that might be attached to the assessment for the subject.
Where there are resource and staffing constraints, the faculty may be required to place quotas on enrolments in subjects or in major areas of study. The faculty will include details about subject quotas with the pre-enrolment information sent to students.
Students enrolling in courses within the faculty are allocated home campuses. This is usually the campus on which the course is principally taught. It is expected that students will undertake their studies on their home campus. Students wishing to take studies from a campus other than their home campus must obtain the approval of the faculty.
Transfers between courses conducted by the faculty are not encouraged. Transfers will normally be approved only where the student can demonstrate that he or she has outstanding ability and wishes to study in a field not supported at the campus of enrolment, or that the student is not coping with a course and there is a better alternative for which they are qualified and in which they are considered likely to succeed. Each application for transfer will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
All transfers between courses require the approval of the dean of the faculty. Students wishing to transfer either between courses within the faculty or from outside of the faculty to a course within the faculty should complete an application for transfer form available from the faculty offices.
Timetables for the courses and subjects of the faculty are prepared by the faculty offices on each campus. The timetables are displayed on notice boards located near the faculty office on each campus. Timetables are usually available at the time of enrolment and pre-enrolment. The revised second-semester timetable is usually available a week before the semester begins. It is important to understand, however, that timetable changes may be made in the first weeks of semester to accommodate changing class sizes. Certain tutorials and lectures may be restricted to some groups of students, ie those on day-release.
Students having a timetable clash between a core subject and an elective subject are normally required to choose another elective. Every endeavour is made to ensure that timetable changes and clashes are kept to a minimum. Complaints about the timetable should be directed to the faculty registrar.
For all subjects offered by the faculty, teaching staff are expected to issue a written statement at the commencement of classes, detailing the syllabus, the method of assessment, recommended textbooks and, where appropriate, reference material. Where suitable texts are not available, students will be provided with printed notes; if these notes are extensive, there may be a charge to cover production costs. Departments make arrangements in advance with the university bookshops to stock recommended texts. For most subjects, this handbook lists both texts and the form of assessment.
The faculty has set certain standards for the presentation of assignments and theses. Students should make themselves familiar with these standards and ensure that written work submitted conforms to the standards.
The standard text is Thesis and assignment writing by J Anderson and M Poole, 2nd edn, Wiley, 1994.
Intending students are advised that microcomputers are used in a wide range of courses within the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology. Students are strongly advised to purchase, or have high quality access to, an IBM-compatible microcomputer. Students intending to purchase a microcomputer should consult the faculty before purchase.
While it is not necessary to own a personal computer to study successfully, it can be a significant advantage. It is strongly recommended that students do not buy their own computer before the commencement of their course as doing so may lead to the acquisition of an unsuitable model.
Part-time students are expected to proceed through their course at half the rate of full-time students. Part-time evening classes are available on the Caulfield campus for all courses on that campus. At the Clayton and Gippsland campuses classes are available only during the day. However, classes for the graduate diplomas in Robotics and Digital Communications and the Masters in Digital Communications are held in the early evening at the Clayton campus.
At the Peninsula campus classes are available only during the day. However, the tutorial arrangements for the Graduate Diploma in Computing held at Peninsula may be negotiated between the tutor and the students.
At Caulfield the part-time evening classes normally commence at 4 pm or 6 pm. Additionally, some provision is made in the Bachelor of Computing for day-release study, ie lectures immediately followed by tutorials on the same day. This mode of study is restricted to part-time students only and there is a limited number of places available.
Part-time undergraduate students should note that they are required to attend examinations at the same time as full-time students. In some instances this also applies to students in graduate programs. If in doubt students should check with the faculty office.
All courses offered by the Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology, with the exception of research degrees, are available to students throughout Australia for part-time study by distance education. These courses are designed so that it is possible to complete all requirements without any on-campus attendance, although optional weekend school classes are offered in most subjects. Distance education applicants are normally required to be at least twenty-one years of age.
All distance education students in computing courses must have an IBM-compatible personal computer with a printer and a modem, in order to complete and electronically submit assignment work, and to communicate with lecturers and other students.
Final examinations in most subjects are normally held during the university examination period at the end of each semester. The faculty does not normally offer supplementary examinations. In the event of failure, students re-enrol in the subject when it is next offered.
At the end of each semester, following completion of the examinations, a faculty board of examiners considers each student's performance as a whole before results are published.
Grades awarded for subjects for undergraduate courses of the faculty are fail (NN), terminating pass (PII), pass (P), credit (C), distinction (D), high distinction (HD). In addition the grade PGO may be used for a pass where there is no higher grade available. Where a student does not achieve a pass (P) or higher grade in a first-semester subject which forms part of a pair of sequential subjects, a provisional pass (PR) may be awarded. After completion of the second part of the pair the grade of (PR) is amended to P or NN. The PII and PR grades can only be awarded by the board of examiners. A PR grade may not be carried for more than one semester. In graduate courses of the faculty the additional grade of NE is used.
A candidate, for the purposes of qualifying for an undergraduate degree, shall not count or include more than twenty-four points of PII grades provided that:
(a) a maximum of twelve points of PII grades can be counted for any one year;
(b) where a candidate obtains a PII grade for a subject and subsequently obtains a higher grade for that subject the PII grade is not included in the count of points for qualifying purposes.
Honours are awarded in four grades, namely first class honours (HI); second class honours, division A (HIIA); second class honours, division B (HIIB); and third class honours (HIII).
Where a student has been prevented by illness or other serious cause from presenting for all or part of an examination or where a student's performance has been gravely affected during the semester or academic year or examination or other assessment by illness or other serious cause the student may apply for special consideration or for a special examination.
Such an application must be made within forty-eight hours after a student's last examination and must be supported, where appropriate, with medical certificates and supporting evidence. Special consideration forms are available from the faculty office on each campus.
Special consideration applications are referred to both the examiner and the board of examiners. The examiners take the application into account when marking papers and the board of examiners takes the application into account when assessing the student's results as a whole.
The university is governed by statutes and regulations which appear in the university Calendar. These cover such topics as the disciplinary measures which may be taken by the university and the rules which apply to each course. Students should read the regulations covering the award of degrees as well as the less formal course description. The degree regulations for the courses of the faculty are printed later in this handbook.
Under normal circumstances a student is expected to pass all the subjects for which he or she is enrolled. Failure to do so may result in a request to attend an interview aimed at establishing the reasons for failure and finding ways to overcome problems.
Where progress is considered so poor as to justify possible exclusion from a course a student is called before the Student Progress and Exclusions Committee.
Where scholarships are paid by the university, unsatisfactory progress may be judged by more stringent criteria, and failure in more than one subject in a single semester may be considered sufficient reason to terminate the scholarship.
Students whose progress is considered unsatisfactory may be excluded from the faculty. Students will be deemed not to have made satisfactory progress if they fail half or more than half of the subjects for which they were enrolled in the last two semesters or if they fail the same subject twice. No decision will be taken to exclude a student until the student has been given the opportunity to present a case to the Student Progress and Exclusions Committee.
Students who are asked to show cause why they should not be excluded will, in the first instance, be invited to do so in writing. No student will be excluded without being given the opportunity to appear in person before the committee. A student excluded by the faculty can appeal to the University Exclusion Appeals Committee.
It is the responsibility of students to ensure that their enrolment is correct. The faculty board has approved a policy for students who fail to undertake subjects for which they are enrolled or who undertake subjects for which they are not validly enrolled. Under this policy, students enrolled in a subject but not submitting any work for assessment or attending the examination will receive a fail NN grade for the subject. Students attending a subject for which they are not validly enrolled will receive no results for the subject.
Applicants wishing to defer an offer of a course of study must attend for enrolment in accord with the details contained in the letter of offer. Applications for deferment must be made in writing to the faculty registrar. The faculty reserves the right to disallow deferment from certain one-year programs such as graduate diploma and coursework masters courses.
The faculty considers each application for deferment on its merits. The maximum period of deferment is one year.
Students who experience difficulties during the year or who wish to take a year away from study for any reason may apply for leave of absence. When granting such leave the faculty reserves a place in the course the following year and the period of approved leave will not be counted in the time limits for completion of the course. Leave is normally granted for one year only. The maximum period of leave a student may take from his or her undergraduate course is three years. The maximum period of leave a student my take from his or her postgraduate course is two years.
Applications for leave of absence should be made in writing to the faculty registrar and must state the reasons for requesting the leave of absence. A form for applying for leave of absence is available from the faculty office.
These procedures are designed to facilitate confidential resolution of grievances with a minimum of delay and formality for any student who believes that he or she has a grievance against the faculty, where procedures for the resolution of that grievance are not provided for by other means.
Such grievances may include, but are not limited to, equal opportunity complaints, complaints related to access and conditions, and complaints related to teaching or support services or provision of faculty facilities. Where university procedures already exist for dealing with student complaints (ie appeals against exclusion etc), these will take precedence over faculty grievance procedures.
2.1 Any student (as defined by Statute 1.1) or any student enrolled in a non-award course who believes that he or she has been unfairly treated by an academic or administrative decision has the right to seek redress through these procedures.
2.2 A grievance may relate to any matter other than:
(i) matters covered in Statute 2.6 - The Discipline Committee;
(ii) matters which relate to staff discipline procedures as prescribed in the Monash University staff handbook;
(iii) matters that relate to sexual harassment grievances which are to be dealt with under the provisions of the university `sexual harassment grievance procedures'.
2.3 In these procedures the term `the parties' means the aggrieved student (and any person who represents the aggrieved student), who constitutes the aggrieved party, and any member of staff or any department or school of the faculty (and any person who represents that member of staff, department or school), being the other party.
3.1 Members of the student grievance committee and parties to the proceedings or their witnesses must not divulge any information relating to a matter which is, or has been, before the committee to any person who is not a member of the committee or a party to the proceedings.
3.2 Proceedings will be conducted in camera. Statements, claims and other matters put forward in these proceedings must not be used or made available for consideration in other areas.
4.1 Complainants must be given the opportunity to settle any matter within the jurisdiction of the university.
4.2 It is expected that in the first instance students will attempt to resolve complaints in an informal manner.
4.3 Any student who has a complaint may wish to discuss the matter confidentially with any of the following personnel:
(i) the dean or head of department or school;
(ii) the faculty registrar;
(iii) the associate dean (teaching)
(iv) a member of the University Counselling Services;
(v) an officer of the Monash Association of Students or an officer of Monash University Student Union Inc. or
(vi) the equal opportunity manager, who may assist with equal opportunity matters.
4.4 Where a complaint is not resolved informally it may be referred by the student in writing to the dean through the faculty registrar who must either:
(i) convene a student grievance committee; or
(ii) inquire into the complaint and attempt to negotiate a resolution.
4.5 A grievance is deemed to have been resolved when:
(i) the aggrieved party lodges a written withdrawal of the grievance, with the consent of the other party; or
(ii) a settlement has been agreed to in writing by the parties.
Membership of the student grievance committee will normally be:
(i) a member of the faculty as chairperson appointed by the dean;
(ii) a nominee who is acceptable to the student of the Monash Association of Students or of Monash University Student Union Inc., depending on the campus of the complaint; and
(iii) at the request of the respondent a nominee of the branch of the staff association to which the respondent belongs, or is eligible to belong and who is acceptable to the respondent, or another staff member.
An additional member may be coopted from the relevant professional body where professional matters are involved. Both sexes should normally be represented on the committee. A secretary to the student grievance committee will be appointed by the faculty registrar.
6.1 The student grievance committee will commence its proceedings within ten working days of its establishment and referral to it of a matter for deliberation.
6.2 The student grievance committee will inquire into the complaint calling for submissions and evidence which it deems relevant.
6.3 The parties to a grievance are to have access to all information relevant to `the grievance'.
6.4 The student grievance committee must give the parties to a grievance reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present such materials and evidence in support of their submissions as may be relevant.
6.5 Each party to the grievance has the right to be accompanied and/or represented by one other person from the university and that person has the right to be heard.
6.6 The student grievance committee must hear the grievance to completion with a minimum of formality within twenty working days from the date of commencement of its deliberation.
6.7 After considering the matter the student grievance committee must make a confidential written report to the dean with a statement that:
(i) the grievance has been settled; or
(ii) the parties are to undertake certain agreed courses of action; or
(iii) where the grievance remains unresolved a recommendation that the dean attempt a resolution or take other action as appropriate.
6.8 Following receipt of the advice from the student grievance committee the dean must advise the parties involved in writing of the outcome within five working days.
6.9 The chairperson must monitor the settlement for up to six months after resolution to ascertain whether the desired effect has been achieved and may recommend to the dean that further steps be taken.
6.10 The secretary of the student grievance committee shall keep the only record of proceedings which will not identify the parties involved. The record of the student grievance committee must include:
(i) the date of the hearing;
(ii) the membership of the student grievance committee;
(iii) the general nature of the grievance;
(iv) a brief outline of proceedings;
(v) the general nature of evidence; and
(vi) the findings and recommendations of the student grievance committee.
Records must be kept for a period of twelve months after which time they will be destroyed.
6.11 The faculty registrar will report annually to the faculty board on the operation of the student grievance procedures, including the number and general nature of grievances received.
6.12 Subject to the foregoing the student grievance committee is to regulate its own proceedings.
6.13 The procedures will be reviewed by the faculty board after their first-year of operation and thereafter from time to time as and when required.
This section aims to inform students about their rights and responsibilities as students of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Monash University, what they can reasonably expect from the faculty and what the faculty expects of them. It supplements material that is available in the university calendar, the staff handbook, the student information handbook, and the statutes and regulations under which the university operates. Students should note that this document cannot be taken to imply any legal obligation of the faculty, the university, the student or the staff member. It constitutes what is believed to be reasonable advice and guidance.
Some students appear to find the university a daunting place and when they experience difficulties are uncertain about how to resolve them. One aim of this document is to encourage students to take advantage of their rights in the interests of efficiently using their study time.
1.1 The basic rights of a student of the faculty are:
1.1.1 To be given a fair and objective assessment of their academic achievement. There is no reason for a student to fear that a difference of opinion, excessive questioning of a member of academic staff or any other reasonable action might lead to punitive action such as the award of a lower grade than would be otherwise deserved. The university respects the rights of individuals and encourages free thought and speech.
1.1.2 To gain access to a tutor, lecturer, year or course leader, or head of department, associate dean or dean within a reasonable time of requesting it, to discuss any matter of concern. It is generally reasonable to expect to gain access within twenty-four hours where the time required of the staff member is a few minutes and within seventy-two hours where half an hour or more may be required. Obviously, the service which can be provided depends on whether many students have problems at the same time. In the case of difficulties with assignments, better service may be provided if students organise themselves into groups when seeking help. Staff are expected to inform their students about the times when they expect to be available for consultation.
1.1.3 To constructively criticise academic staff about their delivery of lectures, organisation of materials and the content of subjects. Academic staff generally appreciate getting feedback from their students. The goal of the academic staff is to have all their students gain sufficient knowledge and skills related to a subject to pass. If they are assuming that most people in a class know things when they do not, then the sooner the lecturer is told, the better for all concerned. Standards of knowledge and achievement are set with a view to meeting the requirements of professional societies and maintaining a quality of education which is widely recognised. This has to be taken into account when deciding whether a student who does not perform well should be granted a pass in a subject. A sensible approach in dealing with a problem situation where the lecturer or tutor is considered at fault, for example covering material too quickly, is to first check to see if other students have a similar view and then talk to the member of academic staff. If that does not solve the problem, then it is appropriate to talk to the year coordinator, then the course coordinator, and then to the head of department. If that does not produce an acceptable result, the problem should be discussed with the dean. It is most unusual for the dean to become involved in such matters. Normally the lecturers, year coordinators, course coordinators, and heads of departments resolve problems.
1.1.4 To be able to participate in a lecture or tutorial without the distraction of noise from other students. All students in a class have the right to hear the lecturer or tutor without there being extraneous noise from other students talking or behaving in a disruptive way. Academic staff try to create a good learning environment but need the cooperation of the whole class.
1.1.5 To be given fair consideration to compensate for illness or personal problems. Where students have been unable to study effectively because of problems beyond their reasonable control, faculty policy is to consider ways to overcome the problem, for example, the granting of deferred assessment. A letter/certificate should be provided to support an application for deferred examination. Students who face difficulties are encouraged to confide in a member of staff or a member of the university's medical or counselling service as soon as possible to try to find a way to overcome them. Faculty staff and people in other services provided by the university respect the confidential nature of what they are told. They convey information to other staff only with the agreement of the students, eg to support the case for deferred assessment.
1.1.6 To have an examiner check the marking of assignments and examination papers and report to the student within a reasonable time. Students can expect marked assignments to be accompanied by informative comments. This service may be requested through the faculty offices or department offices where there is no faculty office on a campus.
1.1.7 To have an examiner discuss the assessment given to a failing student and explain both the weaknesses and the positive qualities displayed in the work.
1.1.8 To be provided at the start of the teaching of a subject (or before) with details of the syllabus, the way in which assessment is to be carried out, details of recommended reading and textbooks which are available through the university bookshop.
1.1.9 To have access to sample examination papers for the subject, or if the examination is likely to be radically different in style, or if it is a new subject for which there has been no previous examination, reasonable information about the style of the examination.
1.1.10 To have fair access to library and computing facilities in a reasonable environment. If a student cannot find equipment which is free to use and finds equipment being used by other students for something which is obviously not part of assignments, a polite request should be made for its use. Rooms with computers should not be used by students as venues for social meetings and noisy conversations. Others should be given the chance to work efficiently.
1.1.11 To attend a meeting of the Student Progress and Exclusions Committee to present their case when their academic progress is considered below standard and they are asked to explain why they should not be excluded from their course.
1.1.12 To appeal to the university's Exclusion Appeals Committee if the faculty's Student Progress and Exclusions Committee excludes the student.
1.1.13 Not to be subjected to sexual harassment or any form of discrimination.
1.1.14 To expect confidentiality in regard to their attendance and results/progress as well as personal problems and illnesses. This includes not providing information to parents without the student's authority.
1.2 The basic responsibilities of a student of the faculty are:
1.2.1 To behave during lectures or tutorials in a way which does not disturb the lecturer, tutor, or other students.
1.2.2 To leave a class when asked to do so by the lecturer or tutor.
1.2.3 To adhere to the highest ethical standards. Students are expected to be familiar with the Australian Computer Society's code of ethics (available from faculty offices). Students are expected not to take any action aimed at trying to convince academic staff that they are more able or competent than they really are. Plagiarism is unacceptable. On the other hand, working in groups to learn and develop skills is quite acceptable.
1.2.4 To devote sufficient time to study to have a high chance of succeeding.
1.2.5 A full-time student is expected to spend a total of forty-eight or more hours per week studying seriously, in formal classes and privately. The faculty is not happy to see students waste their opportunities. Students are advised to make sure that they enrol in no more subjects than they can reasonably cope with.
The staff of the faculty attempt to identify students who are not coping with their studies and then help them overcome their difficulties. Nevertheless, students may, for many different reasons, fail examinations.
Where a student fails to meet the satisfactory progress provisions of the faculty regulations, the faculty seeks an explanation and tries to ascertain whether:
Staff too have rights in respect of their interaction with students, which all students are expected to respect. They have other rights, responsibilities and expectations as employees of the university which are not covered here.
3.1 Staff rights which students are expected to respect are:
3.1.1 To decide the way in which they teach the syllabus for a subject (with due regard to the views of colleagues and their head of department);
3.1.2 To have the attention of students in classes and a quiet atmosphere in which they can be heard. It is considered reasonable practice for a lecturer encountering an unruly class to assume that the prepared lecture was given, and the material examinable, even though it was impossible to deliver it fully.
3.1.3 Not to provide personal tutorial assistance to students who fail to attend lectures and formal classes or fail to invest reasonable effort in attempting to understand and learn.
3.1.4 To determine their level of availability to students.
3.1.5 To specify the way in which a student's learning and skills are to be assessed.
3.1.6 To specify when assignments are due and to determine the penalty, including non-acceptance for late submission.
3.1.7 To make assessments of students, by mutual agreement, in such supplementary ways as they see fit, in order to satisfy themselves about the ability of a student and provide evidence to the chief examiner in the subject who makes the final decision about the result.
3.1.8 To have a private off-campus life. Students should not contact staff members at their place of residence, unless invited to do so.
3.1.9 Not to be subjected to sexual harassment or any form of discrimination.
3.2 The basic responsibilities of academic staff are:
3.2.1 To create a positive learning environment in which the subject material can be communicated to the students.
3.2.2 To publish times when the staff member is available for student consultation.
3.2.3 To assess practical work and assignments promptly and provide timely feedback to students.
The faculty and its departments endeavour to provide good service and good facilities for their students and staff. This section indicates what students can expect and what they are encouraged to complain about when the service is not provided.
Some aspects of the level of service which the faculty aims to achieve are covered in the section `Basic student rights and responsibilities'. Here two topics are covered: (a) computing services and access to equipment and (b) services provided by the faculty and department offices.
4.1 Computing facilities
The faculty attempts to have sufficient equipment and software available to students during working hours and after hours for them to be able to complete assignments in a timely way.
Normally, arrangements can be made with the Computer Centre to gain access to computing facilities from 8.30 am to 12 midnight week days and 9 am to 5 pm on weekends. On some campuses access can be gained by using the barcode on an identification card and PIN. Generally, the faculty does not support students working after midnight.
Unfortunately, the way in which students will use equipment is unpredictable and consequently overload situations may happen. The fundamental rule is that computing assignments involving the use of university equipment should be tackled in a timely manner. Failing to do so can lead to severe competition for computing resources.
4.2 Faculty office services
The faculty offices at Caulfield and Clayton provide a range of services.
At Peninsula and Gippsland these services may be accessed by approaching the school.
The faculty office makes a commitment to all students of the faculty that their problems and concerns will be dealt with speedily.
The prime function of the faculty office administration is to support the teaching and research activities of the faculty. This function includes but is not limited to selection of students, advice on course offerings, timetabling, assisting students with subject choices and similar matters.
The faculty office ensures that a comprehensive set of administrative policies and practices that meet the needs of students are in place. The services provided include a coherent set of procedures in relation to, and assistance with, course administration, student administration, student grievance procedures, timetables, secretariat services and student recruitment.
4.2.1 Course administration The faculty office is responsible for the administration of courses of the faculty. In this role the faculty office provides detailed advice, support and when appropriate counselling in relation to:
4.2.4 Timetables Timetables for the courses and subjects for the faculty are produced by the faculty offices on each campus. Timetables are displayed on the notice boards located adjacent to the faculty office on each campus. Timetables are usually available at the time of enrolment and re-enrolment. The revised second-semester timetable is usually available a week before the semester begins.
4.2.5 Secretariat services The faculty office provides the secretariat support to the committees of the faculty, including the production of agendas and minutes, the publication of decisions etc.
4.3 The services available from all departmental offices
The departments and schools of the faculty make a commitment to all students of the faculty that in relation to the items listed in this section students will have ready access to staff of the department or school and where applicable to the head of the department or school.
4.3.1 Assessment
1 Details on assessment procedures and particular items of assessment and the make up of a subject's assessment including submission dates will be available at the first lecture, class or laboratory for that subject.
2 Feedback on items submitted and the opportunity to discuss individual pieces of assessment with the relevant lecturer of tutor will be made available to all students when assessment items are returned. At other times access to staff will be available usually within forty-eight hours by appointment.
3 Students can expect to obtain supervised access to their examination script within forty-eight hours of asking at the department or school office.
4 The lecturer in charge or examiner will deal promptly with problems experienced by students in relation to the adequacy, amount and timeliness of assessment.
4.3.2 Subject choice
1 Advice and counselling on appropriate subject choices and sequences will be offered by the department or school at appropriate stages of the year including at enrolment, pre-enrolment and re-enrolment.
2 Subject handouts will be available both at the department or school's office and at the lecture or tutorial at which they are distributed.
3 Reading lists will be available for a subject within the first week of teaching of the subject.
4 Cancellations of subjects offered will be notified promptly.
4.3.3 Research
Honours, masters and PhD students will be provided with appropriate support including accommodation, desk, relevant hardware etc, in addition to the department or school's responsibilities as detailed in the information handbook for PhD and EdD candidates.
4.3.4 Laboratories and other teaching accommodation
1 Each department and school will provide details to all its students on such matters as access to laboratories and other teaching accommodation.
2 Each department and school will provide details to all its students on safety precautions and requirements for the use of equipment, laboratories, other teaching accommodation and field trips where appropriate.
The faculty board has agreed that the principles guiding attribution of points to a subject are:
The computing profession, like others, conforms to a strict code of ethics that covers such matters as the improper and illegal use of computers and the use of powers that members of the profession enjoy in respect of access to information belonging to others. Because it is possible for the uninformed to breach the code of ethics or the law as it relates to computers, software and copyright, students are strongly advised to become acquainted with the regulations and the code of ethics published by the Australian Computer Society. Copies will be made available to students free of charge. In particular, students in computing should be aware that disciplinary action will be taken against those detected interfering with the operation of the university's computer equipment, interfering with the computer programs and data belonging to others, using unlicensed programs or breaching copyright by copying software that they do not own or do not have a licence to use. It is the university's policy to refer evidence of criminal activity associated with the use of computers to the police, ie `hacking' may well lead to prosecution as opposed to disciplinary action by the university.
Students should note that cheating is regarded as a very serious offence that is likely to lead not only to failure in the subject concerned but also to additional penalties including exclusion. Students should carefully note that the taking of any unauthorised material into examinations such as notes and unauthorised dictionaries will be regarded as cheating. Students should also note that essays, assignments and other work are generally understood to be the student's own work and where any such work is identical with, or similar to, another student's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. Where students wish to undertake work in conjunction with other students, it is suggested that the matter be discussed with the lecturer concerned.
Accommodation is available at a student residence located close to the campus. There are seventy places available and fees range from $125 to $170 per week depending on the size of the room. Most meals are included. Applications should be made to the Manager, Frank Tate House, 373 Dandenong Road, Armadale, Vic. 3143 (telephone (03) 9509 3181).
Mannix College has places for 220 students. Fees are approximately $178 per week and include two meals per day. Applications should be made to the Master, Mannix College, Wellington Road, Clayton, Vic. 3168 (telephone (03) 9544 8895).
The Halls of Residence offer accommodation for approximately $80 per week, not including meals. All meals, including breakfast, are available on a cash basis. Deakin Hall has places for 143 students, Roberts Hall 174, Farrer Hall 187, Richardson Hall 177 and Howitt Hall 187.
Application for residence at all halls should be made to the halls admissions officer, Halls of Residence, Monash University (telephone (03) 9905 6200).
The Peninsula campus fifteen residential units are available at $231 per month, per student, with two students per unit. Apply on enrolment to the facilities officer (telephone (03) 9904 4000). In addition, the student union provides a housing service to help students find suitable, economically priced accommodation in the Frankston area (telephone (03) 9904 4217).
Four hundred places are available. Fees range from $85 to $130 per week. Apply to the amenities manager (telephone (051) 226 236).
The Monash University Disability Support program (MUDS) provides comprehensive support services, equipment and facilities to students with temporary or permanent disabilities or medical conditions. These services are varied and include provision of pre-application advice, assistance with enrolment and orientation, course and research materials in alternative formats such as braille and audio tapes, notetaking services, alternative arrangements for assessment and examinations, advocacy through representation and grievance procedures, provision of specialised equipment such as hearing loops, furniture, or specialised software. These and other services are listed in `The green guide: A resource guide for people with disabilities'. For more information on the MUDS program, a confidential appointment or a copy of this guide, contact the disability liaison officer. Students on metropolitan campuses should telephone either the disability liaison officer on (03) 9905 5704 or the telephone typewriter service on (03) 9905 5391. Gippsland campus and distance education students should telephone the disability liaison officer on (03) 9902 6794.
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