• Section 1 - Purpose
• Scope
• Section 2 - Policy
• Principles
• Shared responsibilities
• Section 3 - Procedures
• Section 4 - Guidelines
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Policy specifies the principles and responsibilities that inform the development of students’ academic language and literacies at Macquarie University. For the purpose of this Policy, the term “academic language and literacies” encompasses English language proficiency, academic literacies, and professional communication.

Scope

(2) This Policy applies to all students undertaking preparatory, study abroad, exchange, undergraduate, postgraduate, or higher degree research courses where English is, in whole or in part, the language of instruction and assessment.

(3) This Policy applies to all staff of the University and third-party providers involved in the design, approval, delivery, review, and support of academic courses (award and non-award).

(4) This Policy does not apply to students undertaking English Language programs at Macquarie University College. 

Section 2 - Policy

Principles

(5) The University values linguistic diversity and acknowledges the first and additional languages of students and staff as enriching our community.

(6) The University recognises academic language and literacies as integral to the communicative competencies, disciplinary practice, and academic and professional success of students and staff.

(7) The University acknowledges academic language and literacies as fundamental to:

1. the core activities of the University;
2. a student’s successful engagement with course and unit learning; and
3. employability.

(8) The University regards the achievement of English entry standards as indicative only of a student’s readiness to commence course learning.

(9) The University takes a holistic, developmental approach to academic language and literacies to enrich the student learning journey and improve graduate outcomes and employability.

(10) The University commits to developing all students’ academic language and literacies within course design and delivery.

Shared responsibilities

(11) Responsibility for the development of academic language and literacies is shared between the University and students.

(12) The University is responsible for setting English language proficiency requirements for entry to academic courses (award and non-award) including minimum English language entry requirements (refer to Admission Policy – Schedule(s) and Graduate Research Rules).

(13) Exceptions to English as the language of instruction and assessment may be approved by Academic Senate in special circumstances, where relevant requirements set out in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 are met.

(14) The University is responsible for verifying that students applying for entry to academic courses (award and non-award) have achieved the relevant English language requirements.

(15) The University is responsible for:

1. ensuring that discipline-specific academic language and literacies are achieved by course completion in accordance with criteria and qualification type descriptors appropriate to the relevant AQF level;
2. ensuring that progressive academic language and literacies development is explicitly embedded and scaffolded across all courses;
3. supporting staff to deliver and assess academic language and literacies development in units;
4. providing explicit feedback to students to guide their development of academic language and literacies;
5. ensuring that services, resources, and programs for developing students’ academic language and literacies are accessible, appropriately resourced, responsive to the learning needs of identified cohorts, and promoted throughout the student learning journey; and
6. referring students to these services, resources, and programs as required.

(16) Students are responsible for:

1. continuing to develop their academic language and literacies by engaging actively in their learning;
2. responding appropriately to academic language and literacies feedback;
3. utilising services, resources, and programs to develop their academic language and literacies; and
4. acting on referrals to these services, resources, and programs.

Section 3 - Procedures

(17) Nil.

Section 4 - Guidelines

(18) Nil.

Section 5 - Definitions

(19) The following definitions apply for the purpose of this Policy: 

1. English language proficiency – means the ability to use English fluently, flexibly, and appropriately to make and communicate meaning;
2. academic literacy – refers to the ability to participate effectively in knowledge-making, discursive, and socio-cultural practices in academic contexts; and
3. professional communication – refers to the ability to understand and adapt language to achieve workplace and professional outcomes.