• Section 1 - Purpose
• Scope
• Section 2 - Policy
• Part A - General Provisions
• Academic Standing Status
• Part B - Courses with Professional and Currency Requirements
• Part C - Requirements for Students Enrolled in Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses
• Part D - Appeals
• Section 3 - Procedures
• Determination of Academic Standing status
• Section 4 - Guidelines
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Policy sets out the principles for monitoring students’ progression towards the successful and timely completion of their coursework award, identification of students at risk of not successfully progressing through their course, and the implementation of appropriate interventions to support academic progress.

(2) This Policy outlines the University’s approach to Academic Progression, including monitoring and reporting of students at-risk of not meeting Academic Progression requirements, in accordance with the requirements outlined in:

1. the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Cth);
2. the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (Cth); and
3. the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act).

(3) All coursework students are subject to the provisions of the General Coursework Rules. This Policy sets out the Academic Progression requirements for ongoing admission to a Course under the provisions of the General Coursework Rules.

(4) This Policy should be read in conjunction with the Support For Students Policy.

(5) Some students have additional course-specific requirements that are applied in addition to the Academic Progression provisions outlined within this Policy. These include:

1. Students enrolled in a course detailed in Schedule 1: Courses with Currency Requirements have a requirement to complete their studies within the timeframe specified within this Schedule.
2. Students enrolled in practical, clinical or professional courses listed in Schedule 2: Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses may have additional inherent requirements and/or other compulsory course requirements that align to standards for accreditation or endorsement with the relevant external professional bodies and are applicable for the full duration of the course.
3. Students enrolled in practical, clinical or professional courses listed in Schedule 3: Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses with Fitness to Practice Requirements of this Policy are also subject to the provisions of the Fitness to Practice Procedure.

Scope

(6) This Policy applies to:

1. all coursework students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate Award Course;
2. Macquarie University College students enrolled in one of the following courses or programs:
   1. Diploma;
   2. Standard Foundation or Intensive Program;
   3. UniReady; or
   4. Masters Qualifying Program.

(7) This Policy does not apply to:

1. Graduate Research candidates (refer to the Graduate Research Rules);
2. Macquarie University College students enrolled in a non-award program not listed in Clause (6)b. Students enrolled in English Language Courses (ELICOS) should refer to the Macquarie University College Academic Progression Policy - ELICOS Students;
3. students enrolled at other institutions undertaking exchange, study abroad or cross-institutional study at Macquarie University; and
4. students or participants enrolled in any other Macquarie University non-award course or program.

Section 2 - Policy

Part A - General Provisions

(8) The academic performance of all enrolled students is actively monitored and those identified to be at risk of unsatisfactory academic progression are offered relevant academic and/or non-academic support.

(9) The University recognises its specific obligations for monitoring students enrolled in externally accredited, practical, professional, and clinical courses. The University will identify students at risk of not meeting relevant course-specific requirements, including where relevant, Fitness to Practice Requirements and will offer relevant academic and/or non-academic support in accordance with the Fitness to Practice Procedure.

(10) Unsatisfactory academic progression is considered to be when a student:

1. Fails two or more units of study within a study session/term; or
2. Fails more than 50% of units of study across two consecutive study sessions/term; or
3. Fails the same unit of study two or more times.

(11) Some courses may have additional specific academic progression requirements, such as the maintenance of a specific Weighted Average Mark (WAM) or the completion of a course within a specified time period (see Schedule 1: Courses with Currency Requirements), that will need to be satisfied for students to continue to study in a particular course. Students should refer to the Course Handbook for course specific requirements.

Academic Standing Status

(12) A student’s Academic Standing status will reflect a student’s academic progress across time. Students will be regularly informed of their Academic Standing to assist them to achieve the requirements of their course of study.

(13) The Academic Standing status for a student will be categorised as either:

1. Pending: is an interim Academic Standing status where a calculation of Academic Standing status is yet to be finalised.
2. Satisfactory: reflects satisfactory academic progression towards successful and timely completion of their degree.
3. Academic Caution: applies to a student deemed to be at risk of not progressing towards the successful and timely completion of their degree, and should seek appropriate supports to mitigate relevant risk/s.
4. Academic Probation: applies to a student deemed to be a significant risk of not progressing towards the successful and timely completion of their degree. As a condition of ongoing enrolment a student with this standing will be required to work with the University in the development and implementation of a personalised Academic Action Plan to support them to mitigate the most likely underlying cause/s of their unsatisfactory academic progression as a requirement of their ongoing enrolment.
5. Academic Exclusion: applies to a student who has been excluded from study due to ongoing unsatisfactory academic progression. Academic Exclusion may be:
   1. placed at a Course level or extend across all forms of study at the University; and
   2. for a defined period of time or permanent.

(14) The University will provide notification to a student following any change to their Academic Standing status, including notifying international students of any potential impacts to their visa status, if relevant, in alignment with the National Code of Practice.

(15) Students are responsible for following the advice provided by the University and undertaking any required actions in their notification.

(16) International students deemed to be at risk of not completing their course within the timeframe specified in their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) may be asked to provide documentation at any stage of their enrolment that may be required to support a future request to extend their CoE.

(17) International students are required to take appropriate action to ensure they are compliant with the requirements of their visa, such as applying for a Reduced Study Load or Suspension of Study if they are experiencing situations considered compassionate and/or compelling in alignment with the eligibility requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.

(18) Should a student on Academic Probation not take action to have an Academic Action Plan developed and implemented, or fail to meet the requirements of this plan, their enrolment may be suspended until these requirements have been met. Ongoing failure to comply with this requirement within the specified timeframe may result in a student’s standing being moved to Academic Exclusion.

(19) Should a change in Academic Standing status occur after the commencement of the next study session the student will be informed at that time, and where this change reflects a heightened risk of unsatisfactory academic progression, appropriate academic and/or non-academic services will be offered.

(20) Should a change in Academic Standing status to that of Academic Probation or Academic Exclusion occur after Census Date, the student shall be informed at that time and appropriate action be implemented that reflects the student’s progress in the unit/s of study they are currently enrolled in and likelihood of successful completion of these units with appropriate support.

(21) A student may be eligible for Withdrawal without Penalty if a change in Academic Standing status has occurred after Census Date and where it is deemed that the most appropriate action is that the student withdraw from the unit/s of study they are currently enrolled in in alignment with the Enrolment Policy and Withdrawal Procedure.

(22) The University will report any international students placed on Academic Exclusion under Section 19 of the ESOS Act.

(23) Where a student has taken a Leave of Absence or Suspension of Studies, the most recent Academic Standing status will be applied upon their return, with the exception of a student returning following a period of Academic Exclusion, where a status of Academic Probation will be applied.

(24) Any student returning to study after a period of absence, suspension or exclusion who has an academic standing status of Academic Probation will be required to have an Academic Action Plan in accordance with clause 13(d).

Part B - Courses with Professional and Currency Requirements

(25) The currency requirements against which students are assessed for courses of study which are accredited by an external registration body are specified in Schedule 1: Courses with Currency Requirements.

(26) A student will be permanently excluded from their course of study if they fail to meet the currency requirements listed in Schedule 1: Courses with Currency Requirements.

Part C - Requirements for Students Enrolled in Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses

(27) The University’s practical, clinical and professional courses are specified in Schedule 1: Courses with Currency Requirements, Schedule 2: Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses and Schedule 3: Practical, Clinical and Professional Courses with Fitness to Practice Requirements of this Policy.

(28) A student will be permanently excluded from their course of study if they fail to meet the course requirements governed by the General Coursework Rules clauses 13 to 15.

(29) Further information is available in the Fitness to Practice Procedure.

Part D - Appeals

(30) A student can appeal a change to their Academic Standing status. Academic Appeals are governed by the Academic Appeals Policy.

Section 3 - Procedures

Determination of Academic Standing status

(31) A student’s Academic Standing status will be updated once final grades have been determined for a study period. A student’s Academic Standing status will always reflect the most recent determination of status, regardless of whether a prior session’s status update had been delayed.

(32) Where the calculation of Academic Standing status is yet to be finalised a status of Pending will be applied.

(33) Satisfactory is an Academic Standing status will be applied to a student who:

1. has completed their first study period and has displayed satisfactory academic progression; or
2. has an Academic Standing status of Satisfactory Standing and continues to display satisfactory academic progression; or
3. had Academic Standing status of Academic Caution and has displayed satisfactory academic progression in the most recent study session.

(34) Academic Caution will be applied to a student who:

1. had Academic Standing status of Satisfactory Standing and has displayed unsatisfactory academic progression in the most recent finalisation of academic standing; or
2. had Academic Standing status of Academic Probation and has displayed satisfactory academic progression in the most recent finalisation of academic standing.

(35) A student with a standing of Academic Caution will be made aware of relevant academic and/or non-academic support services that may support their return to a Satisfactory status.

(36) Academic Probation reflects a student at significant risk of not meeting Course requirements and is applied to a student who:

1. had Academic Standing status of Academic Caution and has continued to display unsatisfactory academic progression in the most recent finalisation of academic standing; or
2. has an approved Academic Probation Action Plan in place to support a return to satisfactory academic progression but has yet to meet all the requirements of this plan in order to return to a standing of Academic Caution. This may include a student who has returned to study following a period of Academic Exclusion.

(37) Academic Exclusion reflects a student who has been excluded from study due to ongoing unsatisfactory academic progression. Academic Exclusion may be:

1. placed at a Course level or extend across all forms of study at the University; and
2. for a defined period of time or permanent.

(38) Where a student has holding grades in place, Academic Standing status will be recalculated upon the finalisation of grades, and if there is a change in a student’s Academic Standing status, the student will be notified regarding this change.

Section 4 - Guidelines

(39) Nil.

Section 5 - Definitions

(40) Nil.