UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR STUDENTS:

            EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

PREAMBLE

 

The overall commitment and responsibility of universities to their students are of paramount importance.  Likewise, universities hold expectations about the responsibilities students have as they pursue their studies within the special environment that universities offer.

 

Australian universities comply with or are guided by a number of external legislative requirements and codes of behaviour which cover health and safety, affirmative action, anti-discrimination, equal opportunity, equity and international students.

 

Universities are committed to improving the access, participation, success and retention of groups in the community which have historically, and continue to be, under-represented in higher education. Such groups include Indigenous Australians, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, people living in rural and isolated locations, people with a disability, women in non-traditional disciplines, and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

 

Australian universities represent a diversity of institutions varying in size, mission, maturity and complexity.  Their students come from diverse backgrounds as well, from large metropolitan centres, small rural towns, from Indigenous Australian communities (in both urban and rural locations), from interstate and from overseas.  Some students study on a campus in full-time or part-time mode while others pursue their study through distance education processes.  Students vary in age from the traditional school leaver to the mature age, from undergraduate to postgraduate.

 

Within the context of this diversity and acknowledging the constraints imposed by limitations in funding, the Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee (AVCC) believes it is useful to identify guidelines which, in general terms, set out responsibilities and expectations universities and students can legitimately and fairly expect of each other.

 

The AVCC believes strongly that universities should formulate their own statements for use within their institutions.  However, as a framework for more detailed statements, the AVCC has set out principles that should govern:

 

(a)        the responsibilities of universities; and

(b)        the responsibilities of students.

 

 

A.         UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBILITIES:  STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

 

1.         Potential students will have reasonable access to current and accurate information about available university courses, application and entry procedures, credit transfer policies and financial implications prior to the enrolment period.

 

2.         Students will be selected for entry into university by fair and open procedures with published criteria outlining access for all levels of candidacy.  The principles upon which selection decisions are made will be stated clearly and adhered to by the university.

 

3.         Students enrolled in a particular course can normally expect to complete that course in the format as described in official university publications, providing they make satisfactory progress.  Where changes to courses are made during the normal period of candidacy, these should not disadvantage students.

 

4.         Written information, or information in an appropriate accessible format for students with disabilities, about each unit or subject will be made available to students no later than the first week of the academic timetable.  The information will outline unit or subject objectives, workload expectations, assessment procedures, attendance requirements, reading requirements, laboratory involvement and other requirements of the student.  Such information will not be changed unless for exceptional circumstances, in which case students will receive adequate warning and consultation.  A clear statement on the nature and unacceptability of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism and fabrication or falsification of data, and on individual rights and responsibilities regarding the proper use of copyright material will be included in this information.

 

5.         The university will endeavour to provide a suitable environment for teaching and learning and research supervision in which students will be stimulated to reach a high level of intellectual attainment. This learning environment should take account of the different characteristics of students and their varying cultural and educational backgrounds including those of Indigenous Australian students.

 

6.         The teaching-learning environment should be a positive and co-operative one where students will have reasonable access to staff to discuss issues and problems and can expect fair, critical and helpful assessment and feedback on their academic work in a timely manner.

 

7.         The university will provide for appropriate dissemination of final assessment results to students within a reasonable time of the completion of units or subjects.

 

8.         The university will produce a clearly outlined appeal mechanism, which will provide students with an opportunity to review and to question formally their results.

 

9.         The university will endeavour to provide a harmonious work and study environment in which concerns and complaints will be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.  Student grievances that relate to academic standing and progress will be dealt with quickly and satisfactorily through a clear set of procedures provided by the university.

 

10.        The university will provide opportunities for students to participate in the functioning of the university at various levels and to provide feedback on the teaching-learning environment.

 

11.        At all times students can expect the university to hold confidential all personal information and to release it outside the university only with the consent and knowledge of the student or when legally required to do so.

 

12.        The university will endeavour to address the reasonable needs of all its students regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability or background.

 

13.        The university will endeavour to provide an environment for students which is free from harassment and discrimination as set out by relevant university policy and State and Federal Anti-discrimination legislation. Universities have taken steps to provide their communities of staff and students with the opportunity to become aware of and understand cultures other than their own. Particular attention should be given to cross-cultural awareness programs which increase knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Australian cultures, amongst all students. Awareness programs on issues which may affect other equity target groups may also be required. Where alleged harassment or discrimination occurs, procedures will be available to students to facilitate expeditious and just resolution of grievances.  The relationships that university staff develop with their students should not provide any basis for the abuse of the power that staff have over students in the university environment nor of the trust that students may legitimately expect to place in staff.

 

14.        The university will encourage a network of support for all students to be developed which may include access to health services, recreational facilities, counselling services, learning assistance, child-minding facilities, graduate career planning, housing and accommodation information. All support services should take into consideration the needs of equity group students which may include provision of specific and in some cases separate services. Support services should meet the educational needs of different groups of students and in particular should targe the educational support needs of those groups of students which are under-represented in higher education including Indigenous Australian students.

 

15.        Student Representative Organisations have played a traditional and significant role in the life of Australian Universities.  It is expected that the university will support such organisations, as the university deems appropriate, within the legislative framework applying to the university and its administration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.         RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS:  UNIVERSITY EXPECTATIONS

 

1.         Students are responsible for making themselves aware of all university rules and regulations pertaining to their rights and responsibilities as students.  They can expect that the university will make such rules and regulations readily available to them to access and, where appropriate, to acquire.

 

2.         Students are expected to be aware of all unit or subject information made available to them and to raise any questions or concerns with the appropriate academic staff member in a timely manner.

 

3.         Students have a responsibility to participate actively and positively in the teaching-learning environment.  It is expected students will attend classes as required, maintain steady progress within the unit or subject framework, comply with workload expectations and submit required work on time.

 

4.         The university is entitled to expect honest work at all levels from students.  Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, are not acceptable.  Students are also expected to be aware of their individual rights and responsibilities regarding the proper use of copyright material.

 

5.         Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress within the teaching-learning environment and the academic program.  They will have reasonable access to academic staff for assistance and to the various academic support services.

 

6.         Students have a responsibility to participate in the functioning of the university and to provide feedback on the teaching-learning environment. Student participation is important as students represent a key constituency within the university and provide useful perspectives on its operations.

 

7.         Students are expected to act at all times in a way that respects the rights and privileges of others and shows commitment to the ideals of a university with special reference to excellence in performance and freedom of expression. Students have a responsibility to be aware of and understand cultures other than their own, and to be sensitive and tolerant to these cultural diversities.

 

8.         Students are expected to be aware of their responsibilities under the statutes of the university and to abide by these statutes.

 

9.         Student Representative Organisations have played a traditional and significant role in the life of Australian Universities.  It is expected that these organisations will continue to act responsibly and in the best interests of all students attending universities and that they will be supported, as the university deems appropriate, within the legislative framework of the university and its administration.