Programs & Courses 2011
Student Handbook Home: Edition 2
Student Handbook : Important Information

Assessment

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Results and grades
Publication of grades
Feedback
Appeals

As an educational tool, the primary focus of assessment is to encourage, direct and reinforce learning. A number of the University's programs are subject to meeting the accreditation standards of external bodies. Therefore assessment processes must meet external requirements.

To meet the quality processes and standards of the University, assessment must be conducted on shared principles of transparency, equity and fairness, using shared standards and processes.

Assessment tasks and their relative weightings for each course, together with any relevant details regarding the assessment such as assignment due dates, project topics, or assessment criteria, are included in the course profile.

Assessment policies can be found on the CQUniversity policy website at http://policy.cqu.edu.au/ - under 'A'.

The course profile is provided to each student enrolled in the course no later than the first week of term.

Assessment tasks used during term are to be completed by each student by the due date as stated in the course profile or course outline (for distance students, this may be the post-marked date).

Feedback from such assessments should be provided to each student, with adequate time for the student to respond to this feedback before completing the next assessment task.

Feedback shall occur in a timely manner, be specific, needs-related, clear, informative, and include suggestions about how performance can be improved.

Feedback on all items of assessment work completed in term will be provided prior to the submission deadline for subsequent assessment tasks.

Refer to the Assessment of Coursework Policy at http://policy.cqu.edu.au/.

Results and grades

Interim Results
Interim Results used by CQUniversity are:

  • AF - Absent Fail
  • DA - Deferred Assessment
  • NS - Not Sat
  • I - Incomplete
  • RO - Result Outstanding
  • DE - Deferred Examination
  • PO - Practicum Outstanding
  • SE - Supplementary Examination
  • SA - Supplementary Assessment

Grades
The term grade is a subset of the term result and reflects a judgement of academic achievement by a student enrolled in a course. Grades used by CQUniversity may be criterion-referenced or norm-referenced and the following ranges apply:

  • HD - High Distinction
  • D - Distinction
  • C - Credit
  • P - Pass
  • PC - Pass Conceded
  • PT - Pass Terminating
  • PN - Pass Non-grade
  • S - Successful
  • U - Unsuccessful
  • WF - Withdrawn Fail
  • F - Fail
  • SP - Supplementary Pass
  • First Class Honours
  • Second Class Honours, Division A
  • Second Class Honours, Division B
  • Third Class Honours

Definitions and further information can be located in the Grades and Results Policy on the CQUniversity policy website at http://policy.cqu.edu.au/.

 

Notification to students: PC and PT grades

The Pass Conceded (PC) and Pass Terminating (PT) grades are used in lieu of a composite mark normally in the range of 40% - 49%. The maximum percentage of courses graded PC or PT that will be accepted as contributing towards the requirements of an award is 10%. This may be further restricted by a Faculty Education Committee or may be more closely defined in the application for a Faculty award.

Each student who is awarded a PC or PT grade should be notified of the significance of this grade and the effect this may have on the completion of an award.

At the time of ratification of term grades by the Faculty Assessment Committee, those students who are awarded a PC or PT grade will be identified and the Faculty Assessment Committee will send a form letter to each student advising them of the:

  • significance of the grade;
  • the potential impact that a further PC or PT grade may have on progress towards completion of the award.

Publication of grades
Students' results will be published via CQUcentral. Results will not be released over the telephone and students should not ring the University seeking such information.

Students will be required to print copies of their grades via CQUcentral. If unable to access CQUcentral contact the Student Contact Centre on 13 27 86 or email scc@cqu.edu.au .

Degrees with Distinction
The Awarding Degrees with Distinction Policy is available from the CQUniversity policy website. (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/).

Awarding degrees with Honours and Honours degrees
Students who have completed an initial three year Bachelor degree, and who have demonstrated a record of outstanding achievement from an early stage in the initial degree, may enter an Honours degree program. An Honours degree shall consist of the equivalent of a further year of full-time study, which will have a predominant research focus comprising at least 40% of the course content. The Awarding Degrees with Honours and Honours Degrees Policy is available from the CQUniversity policy website. (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/)

Assessment feedback
Feedback, given to a student with respect to his or her assessment tasks, may be verbal, written or available through the course website.

For further information see CQUniversity's Assessment of Coursework Policy.

Review of Grade

The process where a student who considers that an error has been made in the awarding of a grade may request that the grade be reviewed.  Students are encouraged to seek immediate feedback on results of assessment tasks.  In order to clarify any issues relating to the assessment task or examination or the result awarded, students are entitled to seek an Informal Consultation for each piece of assessment.  And in order to clarify any issues relating to the overall grade for the course, the student is entitled to seek an Informal Consultation for the course after Certification of Grades. It is at this stage that any oversight, omission of marking, or arithmetical discrepancies in the marking is corrected.  Should the student have continuing concerns about the process by which the grade was reached, he/she may lodge an application for a Review of Grade for a course.

 

There are three chronological stages to the Review of Grade policy:

  1. An Informal Consultation where students may request further information from the Faculty. If the assessment is a formal exam, students are encouraged to view their exam scripts at this stage.
  2. A Review of Grade.
  3. An appeal to the Office of the Student Ombudsman.
  4. For further information see CQUniversity's Review of Grade policy.

There are strict time limits for Informal Consultations and the Review of Grade.  For more information go to the Review of Grades website at www.cqu.edu.au/rog.

Appeals policy and procedures
Council has established an Appeals Committee to hear and determine appeals from students of the University on academic matters. It is Council's intention that the Appeals Committee of the Academic Board will be the final appeal body for students in the University on these matters, with no further right of appeal from the Appeals Committee's decisions to the Council.

Functions

The Appeals Committee may hear and determine appeals from students on the following matters:

  1. an application to the Faculty Education Committee for a review of grade(s) which is unsuccessful;
  2. a Faculty Education Committee determination that a student's enrolment shall be conditional;
  3. exclusion on the grounds of failing to meet the requirements for progression as specified in the relevant award rules;
  4. suspension, exclusion, or expulsion for cheating, plagiarising or attempting to circumvent assessment requirements.

To view the full appeals policy refer to the CQUniversity policy website (www.cqu.edu.au/policy).

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