Academic board
February 2006
by Peter Cardwell
Voluntary student unionism - changes to academic policies
Academic Board approved a number of changes to existing academic policies to reflect the Commonwealth Government’s abolition of compulsory student services and amenities fees, effective July 1 2006. The Commonwealth legislation means that domestic students cannot be charged a compulsory amenities fee.
The policies, procedures and guidelines that have been amended are the Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual, Confidentiality of Students’ Personal Information (A-46), Enrolment (A-48), Student Fees (A-47), Student Fees and Charges Guidelines and Application for UniSA Academic Policies to Short Programs Guidelines.
The Board noted that from July 1 the University has agreed to provide the Students’ Association with financial assistance to support a minimum level of services including student representation and governance, student cultural activities, sport and recreation groups and activities, and communication through the student newspaper, as well as student support including academic advice and advocacy, which involves the employment of four student advisory officers.
The President of the Students’ Association, Mr Justin Lee, told the Board
that from
July 1 Association services will be able to be accessed in person only at
City East campus, or by phone at a service point located at City West,
Mawson Lakes, Magill and Whyalla campuses.
While Students’ Association staff, including student advisory officers, will be based at City East campus, they will still operate across other campuses with meeting rooms available on campus for students to meet with representatives and advisory officers for advice and assistance.
The Association’s offices will in future be attended by voluntary student representatives during limited hours for representation purposes only.
Student services previously provided over the counter at Association campus offices will cease from July 1, including photocopying, short courses and the second-hand book exchange.
Revised higher degrees by research programs policy
The Board approved the amalgamation of the existing Masters by Research Policy (RES 10) and the Doctoral Degrees by Research Policy (RES 11) into a single Higher Degrees by Research Programs Policy, as well as a revised set of regulations to support the policy, which combine Academic Regulations that separately cover the Masters by Research, Doctor of Philosophy and Research Professional Doctorate programs.
The revised policy is more user-friendly and reduces repetition. Besides combining the two policies, a number of changes have also been made including incorporation of jointly badged PhD programs and academic integrity provisions previously approved by Academic Board.
Other changes are a separate section on Research Degree Graduate Qualities, more explicit regulations on the duration of enrolment, more specific regulations on concurrent enrolment, a new section on requirements for students studying away from the University, incorporation of co-supervisors and replacement of supervisors, revised specifications for acceptable thesis format, and more specific criteria for the selection of examiners.
Ian Davey research thesis prize
Approval was granted for the establishment of the Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize fund, which will acknowledge the most outstanding research thesis by a University of South Australia research student leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
The fund has been made possible by the generosity of Emeritus Professor Ian Davey, the former Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), and the prize will bear his name.
The first prize will be awarded at the April 2007 graduations ceremony of the University of South Australia.
The purpose of the award will be to encourage the recipient to travel overseas to undertake further research.