Need assistance?
MUGSU is here to help you no matter what your situation...

Student Support...

MUGSU Student Rights Officers (SRO’s) can assist enrolled Monash Gippsland students with any student experience issues!

We offer a warm, confidential environment, are able to assist face to face, via email or over the phone. Contact MUGSU reception 0351 226 248 or 1800 816 620, located opposite the cafe.

Key Dates:

Semester 1

  • Supplementary & Deferred Exams January 17th - 20th
  • Sem 1 starts February 27th
  • Census Date March 31st - Last Day to discontinue Sem 1 units w/out WD on academic record or incurring fee's.
  • Mid-Sem Break April 6th-13th
  • Exam Timetable Published April 23rd
  • Swot Vac May 28th - June 1st
  • Exams June 4th - 22nd
  • Results Released July 9th

Semester 2

  • Sem 2 starts July 23rd
  • Supplementary & Deferred Exams August 6th - 10th
  • Last day to discontinue Sem 2 units with WD on academic record
  • Census Date August 31st - Last Day to discontinue Sem 2 units w/out incurring fee's.
  • Exam Timetable Published September 17th
  • Mid-Sem Break September 24th-28th
  • Daylight Savings Begins October 7th (Turn clocks forward 1 hour)
  • Swot Vac October 22nd - 25th
  • Exams October 29th - November 16th
  • Results Released December 3rd

Other Support Services:

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’m not sure who to talk to, where should I start?

Answer:

Start with talking to a MUGSU SRO, as they can help you work out the best people to talk to, to get your problem resolved.

When I meet with a Student Rights Officer, will what I talk about be kept private?

Answer:

Yes all meetings with a SRO will be treated sensitively and confidentially unless otherwise stated.

Grievances...

Complaint? Academic related issue? Where to from here?

SRO’s can assist you identify the issue and support you throughout the process to help you find a resolution. It can be a lengthy and time consuming process as there’s a formal process you need to follow in handling a grievance.

Firstly, you must try to resolve the issue informally, and if that doesn’t help you can take a formal approach.

  • Informal Process – speak with your lecturer or unit coordinator
  • Formal Process- write a letter to your faculties’ grievance officer, clearly outlining what the grievance is, why it’s a grievance and attach any evidence that you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I have a grievance and have setup a meeting but am nervous to go and don’t know what I would say?

Answer:

SRO’s can attend such meetings with you for support, and can assist you in preparing for the meeting.

I have approached the person, and I’m not satisfied with the outcome, what do I do?

Answer:

SRO’s can assist and support you in identifying the next step.

Special Consideration...

Do you feel you have grounds for Special Consideration? Speak to a Student Rights Officer to for more information.

If you’ve been affected by exceptional circumstances beyond your control (i.e. acute illness, bereavement, hardship) you may be eligible for Special Consideration (Spec Con).

There are two types of Spec Con you can apply for:

  • In semester – assessment tasks
  • End of semester – final assessment

You need to apply asap by submitting a Spec Con form and attach evidence, which you can get from your faculty or download from the below site:
http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html

Note: Mark adjustment shall not be made in any circumstance.


For assistance

Contact 0351 226 248 during business hours
or you can email cassandra.hegarty@monash.edu, and we will attempt to respond as soon as possible.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does Special Consideration do?

Answer:

You may be able to get consideration, for example in the form of an extension for an assignment or a deferred exam.

What type of evidence would I need to supply with my application?

Answer:

Evidence such as medical certificates, letters from professionals (i.e. psychologist/lawyer), death notice/certificate, police report or statutory declarations.

Have you received an Early Warning Letter?

What is it and how does it affect your time at Monash University Gippsland?

What is it?
An Early Warning Letter is a letter from your faculty to warn you that you have/or are on
track to:

  • Fail a core unit twice
  • Fail more than 50% of your enrolment for the year
  • Fail to meet the terms & conditions imposed by a previous Academic Progress Committee (APC)

What this means?
This letter means that if you continue to struggle with your grades, you may enter into the APC process unless you can improve &/or put steps in place to improve your academic progress.

What is an Academic Progress Committee?
An Academic Progress Committee is made up of a panel of members (academics, admin support & a student representative) who review your case in a hearing and make a decision to either:

  1. Allow you to continue your studies as normal as they believe you’ve ‘fixed theproblem’.
  2. Allow you to continue but with conditions, as they are concerned about your situation. For example the committee may set a condition that you only take on 1unit per semester as they believe you’d benefit from a reduced workload in orderto succeed.
  3. Exclude you from the course, faculty or university for a set period of time,where you cannot apply for your position again until you have shown some formof ‘academic rehabilitation’ and a set time period has passed (usually 12 months).

What should I do?
Review your situation:

  • Do you understand the units you are enrolled in?
  • Are you having problems with the topic/s?
  • Are you struggling with the work load?
  • Are you working too much?
  • Are there external factors (i.e. illness, family, living arrangements etc) impacting on your ability to study?
  • Are you burnt out?

See if you can reduce any unnecessary stress factors or take steps to ensure you are still able to dedicate the necessary time to study.

Review your priorities:

  • There may be other factors affecting you that are outside of your control whichmeans that you may not be focused on your studies at the moment. This can happen and it’s not the end of the world.
  • Maybe you could consider deferring your studies for a little while, or if necessary withdraw from a unit to reduce your workload or even withdraw from yourcourse. It may seem harsh but think about it, you are paying a lot of money to bestudying, so why go into debt for a fail or for problems etc.

What can be done?
SPEAK WITH A GIPPSLAND STUDENT RIGHTS OFFICER (SRO)
SRO’s can assist you in identifying the problem, some possible solutions, discuss your options with you &/or refer you to the appropriate support service.

Call or visit MUGZOO Central (opposite the café) 0351 226 248

Sandy Hegarty
cassandra.webb@monash.edu

Speaking with your lecturer is a good start if you are having problems with a particular topic/unit. They understand your workload and the expectations on you, and they can help you determine what problems you are having with the course and can help you work out possible solutions.

If you are struggling with things like studying, writing reports or referencing, a Learning Skills Adviser can help you either in a drop in session or via an appointment.
Sebastian Borutta & Rachel Daniel 0351 226 165 or 0351 226 166
Drop in sessions in the library: Monday – Friday 1-2pm

For online support resources see http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/

Visit the library more often. Read the prescribed readers, textbooks, articles and recommended readings/articles. Do past exams.

If you are struggling with personal factors, you may benefit from speaking with a counselor. To make an appointment call 0351 226 425 or visit the HUB opposite the student lounge. The Health & Wellbeing HUB has free services available for Gippsland students which include:

  • Counselling
  • Financial Advice
  • Nurse
  • Careers
  • Disabilities Liaison Unit

Academic Progress...

What is it and how does it affect your time at Monash University Gippsland?

Unsatisfactory academic progress shall result in your entering the Academic Progress Committee (APC) process as outlined below.

Gippsland Student Rights Officer (SRO) Sandy Hegarty is here to assist you at every step of the process.
See below for contact details.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I ignore the letters?

Answer:

Chances are your case will go before an APC hearing and you are likely to be excluded as the committee only has your transcript to go off. If you take action when you receive the first letter, you may avoid the process all together. Early intervention is the key.

What do I put in the letter?

Answer:

Your letter needs to be concise and to the point outlining what happened in the past year, how it affected your studies, and what has changed for the next year that will enable you to study, and attach any evidence that may support your case.

It is very important that your letter is received by the faculty prior to the due date. We recommend express/registered post or hand delivery.  A SRO can assist you with writing the letter.

What happens if I can’t attend the hearing?

Answer:

You need to contact the faculty as soon as possible if there is a problem with that date or if an emergency arises on the day. It is highly important that you contact the faculty as soon as possible if there are any problems or concerns.

What happens at the hearing?

Answer:

You get to take a support person in with you to meet with the APC panel. The Panel consists of – Chair, Secretary, Members, Student Rep. The chair will give an overview of the hearing, and invite you to discuss your situation. The panel will ask some questions. You have the right to a 5 minute break where you can consider withdrawing from the course, if you choose to withdraw the hearing is concluded, if you choose not to withdraw and continue with the hearing the panel will ask you to leave the room while they make a decision. You will then be invited back into the hearing and advised of the outcome which will be either:

-Continue (this is as per usual)
-Continue with Conditions (cond’s such as restricted enrolment etc)
-Exclusion (usually for 12months where re-entry is not guaranteed)

International students need to consider VISA complications, speak with Jo Matthews for more information.
Phone: 03 5122 6425 or 03 9902 6425

Can I bring someone with me?

Answer:

Yes you can bring along 1 support person, who can either be a SRO, a friend/relative, or a lawyer (with advanced notice to the faculty).

What if I’m interstate or overseas at the time of the hearing?

Answer:

In your response letter you can note this. You can request a teleconference by communicating with the faculty.

Exams...

The things you need to know and where to get more information.

Check your timetable! If you miss you’re exam due to misreading the timetable you will not get the opportunity to sit the exam again.

If there is a exam clash, the Examinations Unit should contact you to make arrangements, if you do not hear from them by the day before your exam, contact them.

You can only bring authorised materials into the exam venue, each unit materials vary, refer to your faculty. You must take your student ID card. Do not take unauthorised materials such as notes or mobile phones, as this may result in a fine or further action.

If any problems occur before, during or after your exam, seek SRO help immediately.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I am accused of cheating?

Answer:

In brief you have the right to complete your exam. Request SRO assistance immediately. You do not have to answer questions, although it is better that you co-operate. This is likely to result in a discipline hearing.

What if I’m sick on the day of the exam?

Answer:

If you cannot attend the exam you should apply for Spec Con in the hopes of gaining a deferred exam. However, you need to be certain you have sufficient evidence and cause as a deferred exam is not guaranteed. You are best to contact your faculty immediately.

I deferred my exam as I’ve been sick, but I’m still sick, can I defer my deferred exam?

Answer:

Unfortunately no, exams can only be deferred once. You could however speak with your lecturer asap to see if any alternate arrangements are possible.

I was sick when I sat my exam, am I eligible for Spec Con?

Answer:

Short answer no if you completed the exam, as there is no such thing as mark adjustment any more. If you left during the exam due to being ill or did not attend due to being ill, you need to complete a Spec Con form, attach any evidence you may have (i.e. doc cert) and return it to your faculty reception immediately (must be within 48hrs) as you may be eligible for a deferred exam, although there is no guarantee.

Discipline...

Need assistance with an academic situation, visit your SRO, we're here to help.

There are three types of misconduct that could result in a discipline hearing:

  • General Misconduct – behaviour that’s likely to cause injury or damage etc
  • Academic Misconduct – cheating etc
  • Research Misconduct – reckless or negligent etc

The point of a discipline hearing is to give you the opportunity to give your side of the story about the alleged misconduct.

Discipline hearings have a very formal and serious nature, it is important that you seek support (SRO’s, counsellor, staff, friends etc) as soon as possible as a number of penalties can apply, such as reprimand, fine, suspension or exclusion.

For more information, see a SRO or visit the below link: http://www.adm.monash.edu/execserv/discipline/index.html

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

I’ve been called to a discipline hearing, how serious is this?

Answer:

It is serious - the outcomes can be detrimental - but we can help you.  SROs can assist you in preparation for the hearing and support you throughout.

Thinking of quitting uni?

University can be a challenging time, both academically & in dealing with life changes generally.

It is important to know what your options are if you are unhappy with the course you are studying. It is also
important to speak with someone to get all the information you can to help you with your decision.

Some Options:

Before making a decision, it’s important to chat to someone to get all the information you can:

  • Contact Your Faculty’s Course Adviser
    - Art & Design 0351 226 261
    - Arts (SAMSS) 0351 226 339
    - Bus & Eco 0351 226 380
    - Education 0351 226 375
    - Info Tech0351 226 835
    - Medicine0351 226 445
    - Nursing0351 226 454
    - Science & Eng 0351 226 453
  • MUGSU Student Rights Officers Sandy & David can help you discuss your options further and can help you work out
    the best people to talk to.
    P: 0351 226 248
    E: visit the contact us page.
  • The Health & Wellbeing HUB offer counselling, financial advice and careers & employment advice.
    P: 0351 226 425 (Opposite the MUGSU lounge).
  • Learning Skills Advisers - Visit the library
    http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/learning-skills/

Whatever you decide, it is important to take action prior to the census date, August 31st to avoid incurring fee’s & withdrawn appearing on your transcript.

 

Note: Policies change regularly, whilst we aim to provide up to date information this may not always be possible,
hence why it is important to see an SRO for up to date and specific information.


  • Share on Facebook

Copyright © 2012 MUGSU Inc. All rights reserved.
Web Statistics