Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. You may find of particular interest those which can be found in the Learning and Teaching category.

Academic honesty

 Academic Honesty is key to the core values and principles that underpin the University’s Ethics Statement (see the policy at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.htm). The procedures for Academic Honesty as well as the Assessment – Code of  Practice outlines the responsibility of students (and staff) in academic endeavours.  Please consult these documents (available through Policy central: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/all.html )

 One breach of academic honesty is plagiarism, defined in the Academic Honesty glossary as follows: "Plagiarism involves using the work or ideas of another person and presenting it as one's own without clear acknowledgement of the source of the work or ideas". Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties.  Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.

 Grading

 Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F.  Each assignment uses a standards-based approach to assessment where performance is assessed against specified criteria.  These are described in the feedback sheets that will be distributed in hard copy. You will NOT be notified of a numerical mark for awarded for specific assessment tasks.

 Your final unit grade  (HD to F) will be accompanied by an SNG (Standardised Numerical Grade) The SNG reflects the extent to which you have met the overall grade descriptors  eg an SNG of 73  (ie closer to D than Cr) means your work shows evidence of meeting the Credit descriptors and has some characteristics of the Distinction descriptors.

Appeals against Grades

University regulations allow for students to appeal a final grade if they feel they have been disadvantaged.

Grading appeals can be lodged on the following grounds:

·        The unit coordinator did not provide the outline as required;

·        Assessment requirements as specified in the unit outline were varied in an unreasonable way;

·        A clerical error has occurred in the computation of the grade;

·        Due regard has not been paid to the evidence of illness or misadventure that was submitted by the specified date;

·        I have been disadvantaged in some way due to the conduct of the final examination; and

·        The examiner’s judgement was not objectively applied because of prejudice against the individual.

Information relating to grading appeals can be found at: [http://www.deanofstudents.mq.edu.au/grades.htm]

Appeals must be lodged on the appropriate university form. This can be accessed at:

[http://www.registrar.mq.edu.au/academic-index.htm]

 Special Consideration

The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability.

The Special Consideration provision to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.

The University recognises that at times an event or set of circumstances may occur that:

·        could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student;

·        was beyond the student’s control;

·        caused substantial disruption to the student’s capacity for effective study and/or completion of required work;

·        substantially interfered with the otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of unit or program requirements and

·        was of at least three (3) consecutive days duration within a study period and/or prevented completion of a formal examination.

For information about Special Consideration go to: [http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html]

The relevant application form can be found at the same site.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://www.mq.edu.au/currentstudents/.

Student Enquiry Service

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

Equity Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Unit who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Annual registration with the Disability Support Unit is required for all disability/health conditions.

Contact persons:

Karen Gregory, Academic Disability Liaison Officer, Department of Education,

Ph: 9850 8619

Nicole Saunders, Administration Co-ordinator, Student Well-Being

Tel: 02 9850 6494 fax: 02 9850 6063 TTY: 02 9850 6493 email: disability@mq.edu.au

In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A), Macquarie University

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/.

UniWISE provides:

• Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.mq.edu.au/learning_skills/
• Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
• The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
• Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Wellbeing

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.

Special Consideration Policy

The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability. This policy supports students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level.

http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html   for further advice.

Advice for International Students

Macquarie International is the first point of contact for international students.

http://www.international.mq.edu.au/  See also http://www.international.mq.edu.au/studentservices/index.aspx

International students can make individual or small group appointments to see the Study Skills Adviser, or drop-in for quick questions to E3A, Level 1. Don’t forget to bring your unit outlines with you to your appointment.

Study Skills Support Unit

Assistance is provided through a range of programs for students.

See: http://www.mq.edu.au/studyskillssupport/

http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/support/writing_skills/index.htm

Writing Skills:

Unit staff are not expected to help you with basic writing advice. Further, in fairness to other students, unit staff will not provide you with information and advice concerning assessments, which is not readily available to all students in the unit.

Macquarie University offers a number of courses and services to help students with writing problems, whether they be first or second language speakers of English.  If you find writing difficult, you are advised to:

- Visit the Macquarie Gateway site (http://online.mq.edu.au/pub/EDUCGATEWAY) where you will find detailed help and advice related to writing skills

- Contact Sue Spinks, Writing Skills Coordinator, Department of Linguistics, W6A531.  Telephone: 9850 8770

- Contact the Writing Skills Adviser, Centre for Open Education, X5B.  Tel: 9850 7470.

- See also: Peters, P. (1985).  Strategies for student writers.  Brisbane: John Wiley.

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Unit who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Advice for students with disabilities/ health conditions

The Disability Support Unit provides support and assistance to students with a disability/ health condition to enable them to achieve their academic potential. Service provision is tailored to individual need following an interview and the provision of supporting documentation.

Students who are enrolled at Macquarie University can register with the Disability Support Unit by downloading and returning an Advice of Disability/Health Condition form from

www.registrar.mq.edu/academic-index.htm and making an appointment to see a Disability Advisor.

Annual registration with the Disability Support Unit is required for all disability/health conditions.

Karen Gregory, Academic Disability Liaison Officer, Department of Education,

Ph: 9850 8619 karen.gregory@mq.edu.au

Nicole Saunders, Administrative Assistant, Disability Support Unit ph 9850 6494   email: disability@mq.edu.au         

Sondra Wibberley, Disability Services Co-ordinator, Counselling & Health Services students with Disabilities. Student Services Building, Ph: 9850 7490

In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A). www.sss.mq.edu.au/equity

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.