The University of Western Australia

University Policy on: Courses - Transition Arrangements (Undergraduate)

Purpose of the policy and summary of issues it addresses:

This policy deals with transition arrangements relating to the University's new model of undergraduate degree courses which were first introduced in 2012.

This policy outlines:

• principles to reduce the possibility of disadvantage either to transitioning students or to students who remain enrolled in pre-2012 courses;
• principles to guide the enrolment-related, administrative and regulatory transition to the new undergraduate degree courses;
• strategies to ensure ongoing compliance with the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000; and
• necessary University planning and management activities to support smooth transition.

Definitions:

In this policy and any associated procedures,

the University means the University of Western Australia

transition period means the period during which students in courses that do not form part of New Courses 2012 can complete their courses in accordance with the relevant rules and policies

transitioning students means students who were enrolled in a course at the University prior to 2012 and who are admitted into one of the University's new undergraduate degree courses

Policy statement:

1 General Principles

1.1 Transfer to new undergraduate degree courses is voluntary but transfer is encouraged where practicable, and supported, including the provision of flexibility in the application of the new undergraduate degree course rules to transitioning students.

1.2 The University is committed to:

• giving special consideration to the educational needs of students in pre-2012 courses;
• honouring the wishes of students who do not want to transfer into new courses, and supporting them to complete their course;
• taking efforts to ensure that students completing courses initiated prior to 2012 do not suffer disadvantage during the transition period;
• ensuring students who commenced in 2011 are not disadvantaged because of their year of first enrolment.

1.3 In offering alternatives to students completing pre-2012 courses, due consideration must be given to any disadvantage to students that the alternatives may present.

2 Course Offerings and Time Limits

2.1 Students completing a unit which is being offered for the final time must be supported through assessment processes as per the University Policy on Supplementary Assessment UP11/2 and may access extended provisions when granted to do so by the appropriate faculty or board.

2.2 No new offers into combined courses are to be made from mid-2011 onwards except if a faculty has sought and obtained special approval from Academic Council.

2.3 Time limits for combined courses must not exceed those stipulated in the University Policy on Time Limits for Courses (Other Than Higher Degree by Research Courses Administered by the Graduate Research School) UP11/10.

3 International Students

3.1 To satisfy ongoing compliance with the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007, the University must ensure that international students are:

3.1.1 able to complete their course within the contract timeframe without undertaking units at an institution other than the University (unless such units are taken at the student's own volition);

3.1.2 advised accordingly at the time of receipt of offer if the units required to complete their course within the contract timeframe will be unavailable.

3.2 All staff in a student advising capacity must be aware of the University's obligations under the ESOS Act.

4 Actions Supporting Transition

4.1 The appropriate bodies of the University (e.g. Faculties, Central Administration, etc.) are responsible for:

• Monitoring the progress of transitioning students and students enrolled in pre-2012 courses via the creation and review of transition plans and, where required, individual study plans;
• Communicating with and providing enrolment-related guidance to transitioning students and students enrolled in pre-2012 courses;
• Counselling all transitioning students and pre-2012 students who have fallen behind a standard rate of progress, including those who apply for and/or take approved leave;
• Mapping current and required courses, programs, majors and units and the associated implications;
• Developing appropriate information systems and recording mechanisms that facilitate the above activities.

4.2 Deans of faculties have authority to approve the identification of equivalent, alternative and substitute units for students enrolled in a pre-2012 course.

4.3 The alternative units specified in 4.2 can include units in the new professional postgraduate courses appropriately tailored for undergraduate students and units taught at other Australian institutions.

5 Flexibility in Application of Course Rules for Transitioning Students

5.1 Transitioning students enrolled in the new undergraduate degree course are permitted to:

5.1.1 Carry forward credit achieved in a pre-2012 unit, in cases where the pre-2012 unit has been used to redevelop a unit, including a complementary unit that is incompatible to the precedent unit and, is offered at a different level within a degree-specific major.

5.1.2 Not complete a thirteenth Level 1 unit if it is a complementary unit meant for the development of discipline-specific oral and/or written communication skills.

5.2 Transitioning students must satisfy the broadening requirements of the new undergraduate degree course as follows:

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