Policy Central

Policy: Special Consideration

Purpose

The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.

This policy is instituted to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.

Overview

The University recognises that at times an event or set of circumstances may occur that:

Could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student AND
Was beyond the student’s control AND
Caused substantial disruption to the student’s capacity for effective study and/or completion of required work AND
Substantially interfered with the otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of unit or program requirements AND
Was of at least three (3) consecutive days duration within a study period and/or prevented completion of a formal examination.

In fairness to all students, it is necessary for the University to have a clear and unambiguous statement of policy so that both staff and students can act consistently, equitably and transparently.

The University provides support services to assist students throughout their studies. Whilst advice and recommendations may be made to a student, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to access these services as appropriate.

Scope

All undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students. Staff involved in teaching, assessing or managing units.

The Policy

Special Consideration is intended for a student who is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing any unit requirements in accordance with their ability.

All students have the right to submit an application for Special Consideration.

For an application to be valid, the student must have been performing satisfactorily in the unit prior to experiencing serious and unavoidable disruption.

The University defines serious and unavoidable disruption to studies as resulting from an event or set of circumstances that:

Could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student; and
Was beyond the student's control; and
Caused substantial disruption to the student's capacity for effective study and/or the completion of required work; and
Substantially interfered with the otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of unit or course requirements; and
Was of at least three (3) consecutive days duration within a study period and/or prevented completion of the formal examination.

The University definition of serious and unavoidable disruption explicitly excludes acute problems, except where the disruption affects completion of a formal examination.

The University defines acute problems as those involving fewer than three (3) consecutive days within a study period. In these cases, the student is responsible for contacting the relevant Unit Convenor so that a local solution may be discussed, except where the disruption affects completion of a formal examination.

The University reserves the right to determine if a Special Consideration application should be considered and any subsequent action to be taken.

The University has the right to determine the deadline for submission of a Special Consideration application.

The University will publish the required forms, procedure and deadlines.

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and full consideration will be given to the particular circumstances of the individual student.

All documentation relating to a Special Consideration application will be kept in accordance with the University’s Privacy Policy.

Only the staff involved in processing Special Consideration applications will have access to the student’s documentation.

Original documentation relating to a Special Consideration application is to be filed on the student’s central file in accordance with University protocols. No copies are to be made of any of the documentation submitted by a student.

Copies of the original application submitted by the student are to be disposed of via confidential waste.

It is the student alone who can determine whether it is appropriate to apply for Special Consideration, as they are the only person aware of their individual circumstances.

It is the student who is responsible for notifying the University of unavoidable disruption.

Special Consideration applications must be supported by evidence to demonstrate the severity of the circumstance(s) and that substantial disruption has been caused to the student’s capacity for effective study.

Special Consideration applications must include specific details of how the unavoidable disruption affected previously satisfactory work by the student.

The University has determined that some circumstances routinely encountered by students are not acceptable grounds for claiming Special Consideration. These grounds include, but are not limited, to:

Routine demands of employment
Routine family problems such as tension with or between parents, spouses, and other people closely involved with the student
Difficulties adjusting to university life, to the self-discipline needed to study effectively, and the demands of academic work
Stress or anxiety associated with examinations, required assignments or any aspect of academic work
Routine need for financial support
Routine demands of sport, clubs and social or extra-curricular activities

Conditions existing prior to commencing a unit of study are not grounds for Special Consideration. The student is responsible for managing their workload in light of any known or anticipated problems. The student is responsible for contacting Student Support Services if they have a chronic condition.

The Executive Dean of Faculty is responsible on behalf of Academic Senate for taking Special Consideration into account when assessing the student’s academic performance.

The student has the right to retract a request for Special Consideration. In such cases, the University will return all relevant documentation to the student.

Policy Information


Contact Officer	Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee
Date Approved	7 October 2008
Approval Authority	Academic Senate
Date of Commencement	1 January 2009
Amendment Dates	17 November 2009 – clarification to definition of an acute problem
Date for Next Review	July 2010
Related Policies, Procedures and Guidelines	Examination Policy Grade Appeal Policy Privacy Statement Special Consideration Procedure Guidelines for Staff – Special Consideration (to be written) Guidelines for Students – Special Consideration (to be written) Special Consideration Form (includes the Professional Authority Form)
Policies Superceded by This Policy	The Special Consideration processes outlined in the University Handbooks (both published and online), the Academic Manual and any local policies (Division, Faculty or Department) are replaced by this policy. Approval of the policy will require the following to be repealed / amended: Bachelor Degree Rules 7(3), 7(4), 9 Graduate Diploma Rule 5 Diploma Rules 5, 6 Certificate Rule 4 Graduate Certificate Rule 5 Master by Coursework Rules 6(3), 6(4) Postgraduate Diploma Rules 6(3), 6(4) Postgraduate Certificate Rules 6(3), 6(4)
Keywords	Special Consideration, Illness, Unavoidable Disruption

Macquarie University