Support for Students Policy
Contents
Summary
The University is committed to ensuring its students are provided with the support and resources required to assist them to be successful in their studies.
Objectives
This policy aims to:
- outline the support available to students to assist them to complete their studies
- set out a framework for ensuring that students are aware of these support options
- comply with the University’s obligations under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth), Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.
Scope
This policy applies to all Swinburne students and all academic and professional staff providing services to students.
1. Principles
The University is committed to providing a high-quality teaching and learning experience to its students. The University recognises that individual students may require support to successfully complete their studies and will:
- offer an environment that is conducive to learning
- ensure that students have an awareness of and access to support services while enrolled in units at Swinburne.
The University will provide support to students that enables them to:
- achieve satisfactory academic progress
- achieve their learning goals
- have positive and engaging learning experiences.
The University will ensure that student support is:
- accessible and responsive
- provided at no additional cost to students
- offered proactively
- available when students request support
- fair, inclusive, equitable, ethical and respectful.
When students are identified as being at risk of not successfully completing their units, the University will ensure that they are made aware of services available to them to assist in completing their course of study.
2. Support services available to students
The University will publish on the University website and in publications for students a list of available academic and personal support services for students to assist them to successful complete their courses. Swinburne’s academic partners will list all student support services on their individual websites.
Roles and Responsibilities (VC delegation)
| Role/Decision/Action |
Responsibility* | Conditions and limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Provision of academic support services to students | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education, Experience and Employability) | Must be consistent with the above principles. Support services must be published on the relevant student support website |
Provision of personal support services to students |
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education, Experience and Employability) |
Must be consistent with the above principles. Support services must be published on the relevant student support website |
Provision of health and wellbeing and student safety services |
Chief Operating Officer |
Must be consistent with the above principles. Support services must be published on the relevant student support website, including: |
Provision of Indigenous student services |
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) |
Must be consistent with the above principles. Support services must be published on the relevant student support website |
*(Staff holding, acting in or performing the responsible position or office)
3. Pro-active provision of support
The university will use student data to identify students who may become at risk at any point in their studies and proactively provide support for identified students. Particular emphasis will be placed on first-year students at all AQF levels.
4. Complaints, reviews and appeals
Students who are dissatisfied with a decision made under University legislation and policies may lodge a complaint, subject to the requirements of the complaints, review and appeals provision of the People Culture and Integrity Policy and the Review and Appeals Regulations 2012.
| Version | Date | Approver | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| V 1.0 | 20 December 2023 |
Vice-Chancellor |
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Experience and Employability |
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To find out about our other policies, regulations and resources, head to the main policies section.