PURPOSE
Leaders Institute (LI) defines standard and maximum durations for all courses. Unless there are exceptional circumstances beyond a student’s control, all students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress in their studies. Where a student is at risk of failing to make satisfactory academic progress, LI is committed to providing appropriate academic support. Where a student is unable or unwilling to respond to support, a period of suspension or exclusion allows a student a period of reflection and/or learning skills acquisition. This policy sets out LI’s approach to progression and exclusion.
POLICY
PRINCIPLES
- LI is committed to the preservation of academic standards and quality graduate outcomes for all its courses.
- Students are expected to maintain a satisfactory level of academic performance to be permitted to continue to progress through their chosen course:
o satisfactory academic progress is deemed to be completing successfully at least 50% of the units in which a student is enrolled in any trimester.
o in addition, a student who has failed the same unit three times will be deemed to not have made satisfactory academic progress.
- Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress will be identified and offered advice and support and may be required to show cause why they should be permitted to continue in their course
o Unsatisfactory academic progress may have consequences for students, including conditional enrolment or a period of suspension or exclusion from a course:
- During a period of suspension or exclusion, a student is not eligible to access resources or premises of LI.
- The maximum period of suspension shall be one year.
iii. The maximum period of exclusion shall be two years.
o LI will adhere to principles of due process when making decisions about academic progress, including providing students with clear, timely information about any unsatisfactory progress.
- A student who is subject to conditional enrolment or a period of suspension or exclusion has the right to access the Student Grievance and Appeals Policy.
o An appeal must be made in writing within 10 working days of the original decision.
DEFINITIONS
| At risk | An attribute of student performance that indicates a high likelihood that the student will not meet the requirement for satisfactory academic progress. At risk indicators include not meeting an 80% attendance record in scheduled classes, failing the ‘reasonable attempt’ standard with respect to one or more assessment items, and failing to engage with online learning resources. |
| Conditional enrolment | Limits on enrolment that may be expressed in terms of the total number of units of enrolment permitted in a teaching period and/or a requirement that a minimum number of units be passed in a teaching period. |
| Exclusion | Withdrawing a student’s right to enrol in units for a specified period up to two years. At the conclusion of a period of exclusion, a student must apply to resume their enrolment. During a period of exclusion, the student is not eligible to access resources or premises of LI. |
| Satisfactory academic progress | An academic standard measured by achievement of passing grades in at least 50% of units in a teaching period for which a student is enrolled. |
| Show cause | A statement by a student that responds to a LI invitation to explain their unsatisfactory progress and demonstrate why they should not be subject to a period of suspension or exclusion. |
| Suspension | Withdrawing a student’s right to enrol in units for a specified period. At the conclusion of a period of suspension, a student has an automatic right to resume their enrolment. During a period of suspension, a student is not eligible to access resources or premises of LI. |
| Unsatisfactory academic progress | Failing to maintain a pass rate of at least 50% of units in a teaching period for which the student is enrolled OR failing the same unit three times. |
GUIDELINES
Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress will be identified at the Examiners Committee meeting at the end of each teaching period.
Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress will be classified as a level 1, level 2 or level 3 breach.
- A level 1 breach occurs when a student fails no more than 50% of the units in which they are enrolled in a trimester and it is their first breach or when a student fails a unit for the third time and it is their first breach.
- A level 2 breach occurs when a student fails more than 50% but less than 75% of the units in which they are enrolled in a trimester.
- A level 3 breach occurs when a student fails more than 75% of the units in which they are enrolled in a trimester, or when they fail the same unit four or more times, or when the breach is subsequent to the student’s first breach, or when a student does not meet the terms agreed to at a compulsory Academic Progress Review.
- A level 1 breach will normally be addressed by providing additional academic support and placing one or more conditions on enrolment. Where a student does not attend a compulsory Academic Progress Review meeting a period of suspension may be imposed.
A level 2 breach will normally be addressed by providing additional academic support and placing one or more conditions on enrolment or by imposing a period of suspension.
- Where a student does not attend a compulsory Academic Progress Review meeting a period of suspension may be imposed.
- Before a period of suspension is imposed the student will be given an opportunity to show cause.
A level 3 breach will normally be addressed by suspension or exclusion.
- Where a student does not attend a compulsory Academic Progress Review meeting a period of exclusion may be imposed.
- Before a period of suspension or exclusion is imposed the student will be given an opportunity to show cause.
Students have the right to appeal against a decision in relation to their academic progress by accessing the Student Grievance and Appeals policy. An appeal must be lodged within 10 working days of the original decision and must be accompanied by supporting documentation.
Scope
All students
Key Stakeholder
All staff and students
Procedures
The relevant Program Director will contact, via their LI email address, students who have been identified at the Examiners Committee meeting within five working days of the official release of results providing details of their breach and advising them of a compulsory Academic Progress Review meeting. The purpose of the Academic Progress Review meeting is to establish reasons for the student’s breach and to develop a plan to improve academic progress. The Program Director will record the meeting details on the Academic Progress Intervention Agreement which will be signed by both the student and Program Director.
If the student does not attend the compulsory Academic Progress Review meeting and does not provide evidence of extenuating circumstances beyond their control prior to the meeting, a period of suspension or exclusion will be imposed as per the relevant paragraph in the Guidelines above.
If a student does not fulfil the terms of their Academic Progress Intervention Agreement, they shall be followed up by the Program Coordinator within five working days.
A student who repeatedly defaults on the terms of the Academic Intervention Agreement will be reported to the Examiners Committee meeting at the end of the teaching period.