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Course progress

Course progress stages

There are ‘three’ stages to course progress

  1. Referral: The first stage of the Course Progress Policy is 'Referral'. Referral means: 'the University has identified an enrolment as being at risk as the student has not passed more than 50% of the credit points attempted in the last study period (excluding Summer session)'.
  2. Restricted: The second stage is ‘Restricted’. Restricted means ‘the University has identified an enrolment as being at risk because a student has not passed more than 50% of the credit points attempted in the last two (2) study periods (excluding Summer session)’.
  3. Exclusion: The final stage of Course Progress is 'Exclusion', and is a serious matter. Where a student is Excluded, the student will not be permitted to enrol at the University of Wollongong for an initial period of (1) year.

Helpful links

This is the first stage of the Course Progress Requirements.

When your course status is changed to 'Referral' it is important you seek assistance with your studies.

This means that the University has identified your enrolment as being at risk because you have not passed more than 50% of your credit points last study period (excluding Summer session).

What action do I need to take?

Firstly, it is important for you to identify what has affected your studies and seek the support and advice you need.

1. Academic difficulties

If you are experiencing academic difficulties, you will need to contact your Course Progress Advisor for an appointment. They will be able to assist you in the following ways:

  • (a) Identify the issues contributing to your academic results
  • (b) Provide very useful advice, and;
  • (c) Point you to an appropriate support service.

You should bring along to your appointment, a written statement explaining the following:

  • (a) What you believe is the cause of your poor academic progress.
  • (b) Which support services you have accessed/intend to access to assist you, and;
  • (c) What your study plan is to succeed in your studies.

This is a very important part of an intervention strategy.

2. Non-academic difficulties

If you are experiencing non-academic difficulties then you are able to seek support from the University’s many support services. The University would like to support you to be successful in your studies.

What happens next?

Now you have been placed on Referral (stage 1), the results you obtain in your next study period (excluding Summer session) will determine if you progress to Restricted (stage 2) or back to Active.

  • If you do not pass more than 50% of your credit points in the following or subsequent study period (excluding Summer session), you will be placed on Restricted (stage 2).
  • If you pass more than 50% of your credit points in the following or subsequent study period (excluding Summer session), your course status will return to Active.

Late withdrawal without academic penalty

If you have exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a Late Withdrawal without Academic Penalty. The application form is available from the Student Forms and Documents website. It is best to discuss this option with your Course Progress Advisor before submitting the Late Withdrawal without Academic Penalty form to your faculty.

This is the second stage of the Course Progress Requirements.

This means that the University has identified your enrolment as being at risk because you have not passed more than 50% of your credit points in the last two (2) study periods (excluding Summer session).

Your enrolment has now been restricted and your credit point’s limits have been set to zero. You have also been withdrawn from subjects if you were already enrolled in a future session.

What action do I need to take?

Firstly, it is important for you to identify what has affected your studies.

1. Academic difficulties

If you are experiencing academic difficulties, you will need to contact your Course Progress Advisor for an appointment.

They will be able to assist you in the following ways:

  • (a) Identify the issues contributing to your academic results
  • (b) Provide very useful advice and;
  • (c) Point you to an appropriate support service.

You should bring along to your appointment, a written statement explaining the following:

  • (a) What you believe is the cause of your poor academic progress
  • (b) Which support services you have accessed/intend to access to assist you, and;
  • (c) What your study plan is to succeed in your studies.

This is a very important part of an intervention strategy.

2. Non-academic difficulties

If you are experiencing non-academic difficulties then you are able to seek support from the University’s many support services. The University would like to support you to be successful in your studies.

Secondly you need to:

  • Make an appointment to see your Course Progress Advisor via your Faculty Central.
  • Discuss and complete your Intervention Strategy and Restricted Status Notification form with your Course Progress Advisor at your meeting.
  • Your credit point limit will be changed to the agreed limit.
  • You will be notified via SOLS of the change and you will then be able to enrol into subjects within that limit.

List of Course Progress Advisors (PDF)

Information about intervention strategy

What happens next?

Now you have been placed on Restricted (stage 2), the results you obtain in your next study period (excluding summer session) will determine if you progress to Excluded (stage 3) or return to Referral (stage 1).

  • If you do not pass more than 50% of your credit points in the following or subsequent study period, (excluding Summer session) you will be placed on Excluded (stage 3).
  • If you pass more than 50% of your credit points in the following or subsequent study period, (excluding Summer session) your course status will return to Referral.

Being Excluded is serious. Should you be Excluded, this means you will not be permitted to enrol at the University of Wollongong for a period of one (1) year as per the UOW Coursework Rules – Course Progress Requirements.

  • If you pass more than 50% of your credit points in the following or subsequent study period, (excluding Summer session) your course status will return to Referral.

Late withdrawal without Academic Penalty

If you have exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a Late Withdrawal without Academic Penalty. The application form is available from the Student Forms and applications website.

It is best to discuss this option with your Course Progress Advisor before submitting the form to your faculty.

How to contact Course Progress Advisors

 

Exclusion is the final stage of the Course Progress Policy. Exclusion means that a student has not passed more than 50% of the credit points attempted in the last three (3) study periods.  As such:

  • The student is no longer able to enrol at the University of Wollongong, and;
  • The student can submit a new application for admission to the University of Wollongong after a one (1) year exclusion period.

What’s next?

Firstly, if Exclusion has been applied, the student will need to consider whether they agree or disagree with the ‘status’.  Where it is ‘disagreed’, students may consider an appeal.  In these instances, it is advised the student book an appointment with their Student Support Advisor (or Course Progress Advisor) to help assist in identifying the issues contributing to the final results.

Appealing a decision

Students should first consider the circumstances surrounding the exclusion.  If a student does not wish to appeal the decision:

  • The students enrolment status will be Excluded for a period of one (1) year; and
  • The student may submit a new application to study after this exclusion period.

How to appeal?

Appeal applications must include:

How to applySupporting Evidence

An Exclusion Appeal Form (including all subjects you wish to be enrolled in for the current or following study period).  Appeals will also require a statement from the student, explaining:

  1. What the student believes is the cause of your poor academic progress?
  2. Which support services the student accessed/intend to access to assist you?
  3. What study plan was in place to try and prevent an Excluded status?
  4. What the study plan to now succeed looks like. 

Be supported by appropriate documentary evidence, some examples may be:

  • Financial documentation
  • A letter from an employer on company letterhead
  • A letter from the armed forces on relevant letterhead
  • Medical documentation
  • A Police report or event number
  • A report from a registered Counsellor or psychologist  
  • A Death Certificate; or  
  • Any other documentary evidence that supports the appeal application.

For more document evidence information, please refer to the Course Progress Policy (Section 11.4).  

For more document evidence information, please refer to the Course Progress Policy (Section 11.4).  Appeals must be submitted to Student Operations via student-ops@uow.edu.au (within 20 working days from the date of the notification).

What happens next?  

  1. The student will receive a confirmation email that the appeal has been received.
  2. The course status will be changed from Excluded to Pending (allowing you access to SOLS).
  3. The student will receive a SOLS mail confirming which subjects have been enrolled (provided appeal has been received within standard enrolment timeframes, see last date to self-enrol for the relevant session of study).
  4. The Faculty Exclusion Appeals Committee will meet to assess your appeal and make a decision (generally within two (2) weeks of the appeal closing date).
  5. The student will be notified (by SOLSMail) and a formal letter (sent via email to your UOWMail) of your appeal outcome.

Appeal outcomes

The Faculty Exclusion Appeals Committee will make one of the following decisions regarding an appeal:

Approved

Suspended

Declined

Students are permitted to re-enrol with a course status of Stage 1 – Referral, or Stage 2 - Restricted.

Students must meet with their Course Progress Advisor to activate an Intervention Strategy (study plan) as soon as possible,

Students are permitted to re-enrol with a course status of Active.

Students are suspended from the University for a period of up to twelve (12) months.

 

 

The exclusion stands for one (1) year.  The student may apply for re-admission to the University after this period.

 

What if a student is dissatisfied with the outcome?

As per the correspondence sent to the student via SOLS, students will also receive a formal letter with a right to appeal the decision (with the Coursework Exclusion Appeals Committee) if the student believes:

  • Due process has not been adhered in the appeals process; or
  • Relevant new and substantial information is now available.

What if the student attended an interview with the Coursework Exclusions Appeal Committee and remains dissatisfied with the decision?

If a student remains dissatisfied with the decision of the Coursework Exclusion Appeals Committee, there is no further avenue of appeal and students are advised to appeal to an external agency, for example the NSW Ombudsman where there is evidence of Maladministration by the University of Wollongong.

If a student decides to make a submission to the NSW Ombudsman or other external agency, the student should notify the University of their intention to further appeal externally within ten (10) working days of being notified of the University’s decision.