Assessment

Supplementary Assessment Procedure

Policy code: LT2032
Policy owner: Dean, Learning and Teaching
Approval authority: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Approval date: 24 August 2018
Next review date: 29 September 2025

Purpose
Scope
Legislative Context
Definitions
Actions
1. Checking whether a course may offer supplementary assessment
2. Determining whether a student is eligible for supplementary assessment
3. Notifying student of opportunity to complete supplementary assessment
4. Timing and grading supplementary assessments
Supporting Documents
Responsibility
Promulgation
Implementation
Records Management

Purpose

Supplementary assessment provides students with an additional opportunity to demonstrate they have achieved the academic standard required for a Pass level in a course where they have marginally failed a previous examination/assessment. This additional assessment allows the student to demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge of fundamental concepts and essential skills to meet the course learning outcomes.

This procedure articulates the eligibility criteria and process to be followed for supplementary assessment at Federation University.

Scope

This procedure applies to eligible higher education coursework courses.

Legislative Context

  • Federation University Australia Act 2010
  • The Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015

Definitions

For the purpose of this procedure, supplementary assessment is defined as an assessment or examination that provides eligible students with a further opportunity to demonstrate that they have achieved the required learning outcomes of a course.

Actions

1. Checking whether a course may offer supplementary assessment

  ACTIVITY RESPONSIBILITY STEPS
A. Checking whether a course may offer supplementary assessment Course Coordinator
  1. Check the Course Description that will specify if supplementary assessment is available for a particular course. All Higher Education course-work courses of the University may offer students supplementary assessment except where it is specifically excluded in the rules applicable to that program/course.
  2. The following types of courses may be exempt from offering supplementary assessment:
    • An identified dissertation or project course
    • Placements or work integrated learning courses 
    • Some fieldwork or laboratory-based courses
    • Where the grade for the course is specified as S/U(Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
    • A course available only in Honours Degrees.
  3. All exemptions must be approved by the Curriculum Committee via the School/Institute Board and noted in the Course Description.

2. Determining whether a student is eligible for supplementary assessment

  ACTIVITY RESPONSIBILITY STEPS
A. Identifying which students meet the eligibility criteria Executive Dean/Dean or nominee such as Program Coordinator
  1. Supplementary assessment is available to students who have failed a course but have gained at least 45 per cent for that course. The student must have:
    1. Been studying a course that allows supplementary assessment in its Course Description (see above).
    2. Have failed overall in the course but gained a final course mark of 45 per cent or above.
    3. Completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Course Description.
    4. Is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.

NOTE: A student found guilty of academic misconduct is still eligible for supplementary assessment if their final course mark inclusive of any penalty imposed for academic misconduct is 45 per cent or above.
B. Grading students eligible for supplementary assessment Course Coordinator
  1. Record a ZN grade (Supplementary assessment to be completed within 3 months) for students eligible for supplementary assessment in the university-approved student management system.
C. Determining type of supplementary assessment task Course Coordinator
  1. Determines the type of supplementary assessment task.

3. Notifying student of opportunity to complete supplementary assessment

  ACTIVITY RESPONSIBILITY STEPS
A. Notify student Student HQ/GPS
  1. Send an email (with a copy to the Course Coordinator and Examinations) to the student’s University address notifying them of the opportunity to complete a supplementary assessment:
    • Immediately upon the release of end of semester grades.
    • Detailing the type of assessment (i.e. examination or non-invigilated assessment)
    • For non-invigilated assessments, the type of assessment (e.g. essay) and the contact details of their Course/Academic Coordinator
  2. For examinations, advise that further details will be emailed by the Examinations Office. Students must be given a minimum of five (5) working days notice for a supplementary examination. In the case of a non-invigilated assessment, the designated due date would normally be before the close of the official deferred examination period.
B. Notify staff Student HQ/GPS
  1. For domestic and international students studying at main Federation campuses, send a copy of the email to the Course Coordinator. In the case of a supplementary examination, also send a copy to the Examinations Office
  2. For partner students, send a copy to the Course Coordinator, Partner Liaison and the Partner Academic Coordinator.
C. Advising students of time and location of supplementary examinations Examinations Office
  1. Email the time and location details to the student.

4. Timing and grading supplementary assessments

  ACTIVITY RESPONSIBILITY STEPS
A. Grade non-respondents Student HQ
  1. The grades of students who do not respond to the offer of a supplementary assessment will revert to that originally recorded (MF).
B. Establish the timing of a supplementary assessment Institute/School/Student
  1. If a student cannot complete a supplementary assessment in the normal time-period specified above, an outcome will be negotiated that both reflects natural justice and is reasonable to all parties and is consistent with all University policies and procedures.  In the case of an examination, a supplementary examination may be scheduled at a mutually convenient time, or defer it until the end of the next semester in which that course runs. All extensions of time for the completion of supplementary assessment must be in accordance with the Higher Education Special Consideration Procedure and use the appropriate form. Wherever possible, supplementary examinations will be completed in the published differed examination period.
  2. Results must be lodged within ten (10) working days of the submission or completion of the supplementary task.
C. Record the supplementary assessment grade Institute/School
  1. The supplementary assessment task is marked on a Pass/Fail basis only.  If the student fails to achieve a pass mark on the supplementary task, the original MF (Marginal Fail) grade will be reinstated in the university-approved student management system. This should normally be finalised within 1 week (i.e. 7 calendar days) of the supplementary task being submitted.
  2. Generate a Course Result Amendment (CRA) for approval.
  3. Executive Dean/Dean or nominee approves the CRA.
  4. All CRAs are noted at the next appropriate Institute/School Board meeting.
  5. Annual report to Academic Board on appropriate statistics of the procedure including uptake of supplementary opportunities, success and student retention.
D. Reporting grade to student Student HQ/GPS
  1. Publish the final grade on the official student management system.
E. Appealing grades Student
  1. Students may appeal against a grade in accordance with the Student Appeals Procedure.

Supporting Documents

Higher Education Assessment Policy

Higher Education Assessment Procedure

Higher Education Examinations Procedure

Higher Education Special Consideration Procedure

Responsibility

  • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (as the Approval Authority) is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure.
  • Dean, Learning and Teaching (as the Document Owner) is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
  • Policy Writer is responsible for the administration support for the maintenance of this procedure as directed by the Dean, Learning and Teaching.

Promulgation

The Supplementary Assessment Procedure will be communicated throughout the University community in the form of:

  1. An Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure.
  2. Distribution of e-mails as appropriate.

Implementation

The Supplementary Assessment Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:

  1. An Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure.

Records Management

Document Title Location Responsible Officer Minimum Retention Period
Higher Education supplementary assessment Institute/Schools and Partners Registrar Two years after conclusion of use
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Approval Authority: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Original Issue 24/08/2018
Policy Sponsor: Dean, Learning and Teaching Current Version: 17/01/2023
CRICOS Provider Number 00103D Review Date: 29/09/2025
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12151 Provider Category: Australian University
RTO Code 4909 Policy Code LT2032