GUILD ASSESSMENT POLICY GUIDE
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CONTENTS SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
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ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
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REVIEWS AND APPEALS
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EXAMS 6
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ASSESSMENT TIPS
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USEFUL INFORMATION
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SPECIAL Consideration If you found your study is significantly affected by exceptional circumstances that are uncontrollable, you can apply for special consideration, which allows faculties to take those circumstances into account when assessing your academic performance.
It is recommended that you lodge your
Some examples of situations that you can apply for special consideration are:
objectively assess your circumstances,
• illness or serious injury • death or serious illness of your family or friend •being a victim of a crime •disruption to housing arrangements. Keep in mind that circumstances such as computer/IT failure, usual work commitments or misreading the assessment deadline are not grounds for special consideration.
application as soon as you see there may be a problem arising, but the deadline is no later than 3 university working days after the due date of assessment. Your
application
is
best
supported
by someone who is qualified and can such as your doctor, counsellor, police officer or religious leader. You can ask them to complete relevant section on the application form. Depending on the situation, you may also need to submit supporting documentations other than the application form. If
you
cannot
obtain
the
required
documents within 3 university working days after assessment deadline, contact your Student Advising Office for advice. If your application is approved, your Faculty will consider granting you deferred
TIPS: it’s always vital to back up your work, and take your online quizzes when you have a good internet connection.
exams, extensions for assignment or other forms of arrangements. However, if you are unhappy with the outcome of your application, you can lodge a formal appeal, requesting for a Review of
You can apply by filling out an application form, which can be found on student.uwa.edu.au/course/exams/ consideration and submit it via askUWA using your student email, or in person to you Student Advising Office (for a list of Student Advising Office contact details, please see “Useful Information”).
Academic Decision (RAD). This procedure can be done online by submitting a RAD Stage 1 form, which can be found at https://bit.ly/2NY6Be6. Full information about Special Consideration can be found at: h t t p s : //w w w. s t u d e n t . u w a . e d u . a u / course/exams/consideration 3
ACADEMIC Misconduct Academic
misconduct
refers
to
behaviours that breach the guidelines related to assessment works, which can include the following:
Academic
misconduct
can
result
in
different level of penalties. If it is your first time breaching academic guidlines, and
• Plagiarism – e.g. copying someone
you are in your first 48 points of study,
else’s work; not referencing sources
no grading penalty will be applied but
appropriately
assignments;
you should be given the opportunity to
resubmitting work you have submitted
revise and resubmit the assessment; if
in the past (self-plagiarism)
you already completed first 48 points of
in
• In exams – e.g. taking unauthorised notes, or other unauthorised items into an exam (like calculators without an
UWA
Approves
sticker);
having
someone else sit the exam for you • Collusion - Helping someone else to cheat by letting them copy your work
study, marks will be deducted from your assessment, depending how serious the breach was. However, if it is not your first instance of academic misconduct, the level of penalty will increase, from deducting marks, to receiving zero for the assessment, to failing the unit. You can look for more information about penalties
• Sharing copywrited course materials
in the university policy online.
• Any other conducts that compromise
During an exam, an exam invigilator will
academic
talk to you if you were to be suspected of
integrity, as defined in the University
academic misconduct and will confiscate
Policy on Academic Conduct
any unauthorised materials if you brought
ethical
scholarship
and
STUDYSmarter has a lot of resources (info sheets, videos and workshop events) to help you better understand and avoid
them to an exam. You should still have the right to complete the exam if you are confronted by an invigilator.
Academic
If you have received allegation of academic
an
online
misconduct (usually by email), the Guild’s
module that all students need to do in
Student Assist officers can provide you
their first semester, introduces students
support, such as attending meetings with
to ethical scholarships and expected
you and advocating on your behalf. You
academic conduct for university students.
can make an appeal of the investigation
When involved in group work, make sure
result (in writing) within 20 days of being
you understand which part should be
notified, if you are unsatisfied with the
individual work and which part is group
result. The Student Assist team can also
work, and whether you can use any of the
help you with this process.
academic Conduct
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group work in your individual piece.
misconduct. Essentials
The
(ACE),
REVIEWS AND APPEALS A student has the right to request a review
An academic review has 2 stages. Stage 1
of any academic decision made by the
involves a review by the original decision
university, and UWA will be committed
maker, or a faculty officer of the relevant
to conducting a thorough inquest. This
academic board. Stage 2 is a higher
can be regarding most academic matters,
review by a faculty dean, or senior officer
such as:
of the university, and can only be pursued
• Assessment outcome
you have legitimate grounds to do so. As
after a stage 1 review, and if you believe
• Final grade/mark for a unit
a final resort, a student has the right to
• Progress status
of review, and will be considered by the
• Advanced standing • Changes to enrolment • Requests for approved leave
appeal a decision made after both stages appeals committee of the university’s academic board. The necessary forms to conduct any review or appeals are available on the
• Special consideration
UWA governance website, and will be
If requesting a review, it must have
only be requested if there are legitimate
grounds; if you believe that the decision
linked in this document. A review should grounds for an injustice or breach of UWA
goes against a university rule, if you require
policy. All students still have the right to
further information about how a decision
appeal a decision, and if this process is
was reached, or if you believe there was
overly confusing, feel free to reach out
an irregularity in marking/a procedural
to the Guild for help at any point in the
error, you may request a review.
process. 5
EXAMS All formal university exams should be held
exam. (TIPS: Make sure you go to see
after 8:30AM and before 4:30PM, and
a doctor/counsellor on the day of, or
should not be weighted at 70% or above
the days before your exam and get a
the total unit’s marks. If this isn’t the case
medical certificate that cover the day of
exam/exams!)
ed@guild.uwa.edu.au,
and
your
complaint will be handled in an assisted and timely fashion and your complaint will be handled.
medical
condition:
If you have an accessibility issue that prevents you from taking an exam
Arriving 15 mins early to your exam is
under normal conditions, alternative
recommended. You can still sit the exam
arrangements such as a different venue
if you are less than 30 mins late (however
or the use of computers can be made.
no extra time granted), but if you are
In this case, make an appointment to
more than 30 mins late, you should go to Student Central ASAP to seek further guidance. A supplementary exam is available for undergraduate students who failed the assessment with a result of at least 45%, and that student is in their final semester, and requires that unit to graduate.
see a disability officer at UniAccess by phoning (08) 6488 2423. • Religious beliefs: If you cannot take an exam on a Saturday, your exam can be rearranged to a weekday. You would need a supporting letter from your local religious leader saying that you are a member of the congregation, submitted
There are a number of grounds that permit
with special consideration within 5 days
a student to defer or alter an examination,
of the exam schedule being published.
which can be done through a number of ways. These are:
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• Disability/ongoing
• Elite athlete: Requests for alternative arrangements must be submitted 4
• Recent medical issue/injury: In this case,
weeks prior to the exam period for
supporting evidence is required that it
alternative arrangements to take the
impeded your ability to attend the exam,
exam away from the venue during the
and must be submitted along with an
time you may be away. Alternatively,
application for Special Consideration
apply for a deferred exam within 3 days
to your faculty office within 3 days of
of the exam taking place.
useful information UWA MEDICAL CENTRE Located on the second floor of Guild Village https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/experience/health/medical-centre UWA COUNSELLING SERVICES Located on the first floor of Student Central building https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/experience/health/counselling UNIACCESS Provides free services and support to UWA students who want to disclose a disability or a medical condition and request assistance: https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/experience/health/uniaccess STUDENT ADVISING OFFICES CONTACTS https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/advisers UWA GUILD STUDENT ASSIST A team of friendly social workers and counsellor offering free support on any academic, financial and welfare issues you may face at uni! https://www.uwastudentguild.com/get-support ACADEMIC CONDUCT INFORMATION https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/resources/ace/conduct STUDYSMARTER https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/learning/studysmarter EXAMS INFORMATION https://www.student.uwa.edu.au/course/exams/ REVIEWS AND APPEALS OF ACADEMIC DECISION TO STUDENTS https://www.governance.uwa.edu.au/committees/appealscommittee/review-and-appeal-of-academic-decisions-relating-tostudents
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uwastudentguild.com/edcouncil @UWAStudentGuild
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