2. General information and use of the handbook

Use of this handbook

The Economics and Business handbook is designed to provide a complete overview of the Faculty of Economics and Business and a guide to its academic programs.

For Undergraduate students: information regarding the available courses and requirements can be found in chapters 4 through to 14. Final Honours Year information can be found in Chapter 11.

For Postgraduate coursework students: information regarding the available courses and requirements can be found in chapters 15 through to 34.

For Postgraduate research students: details relating to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) can be found in Chapter 35.

The remaining chapters provide information about the faculty and the University, including Senate Resolutions, scholarship and prizes, faculty staff listings, other regulations, available services, where to find further information and definitions of commonly used terms.

Terminology used in this handbook

There are a number of different terms used throughout this handbook which students may be unfamiliar with. Students should consult the 'Glossary' located at the back of the handbook if they require clarification on terms used.

Administration manual for students

The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Manual for Students contains information on all student administration policies and procedures. It can be viewed online at the faculty website: www.econ.usyd.edu.au/studentmanual.

Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this manual.

Attendance at classes

Most units of study have prescribed attendance requirements which must be adhered to for satisfactory completion of the unit. Unit of study outlines provide information on attendance requirements.

Appeals

A student may appeal against a mark or grade given for either a single assessment task, or the final assessment for a whole unit of study. The University has a comprehensive appeals process, which allows the student the opportunity first to attempt a resolution of the matter informally with the lecturer concerned, then if necessary take the matter through a series of formal stages within the faculty and ultimately, in certain circumstances, to the University's Student Appeals Body.

To find out about the procedures which need to be followed to lodge an appeal, please refer to the Administration Manual for Students or contact the Student Information Office (www.econ.usyd.edu.au/sio).

Satisfactory progression

Students who do not pass more than 50 per cent of their credit points in any one semester, or fail a unit of study more than once, will be deemed to be not making satisfactory progression and may be asked to 'Show Cause' why they should be permitted to continue with their studies.

For more information see the appropriate [section 2] faculty resolutions chapter's ‘Satisfactory progress’ section. This can be found in chapter 12 for undergraduate degrees, and chapter 33 for postgraduate courses.

Computer accounts

All students in the Faculty of Economics and Business are entitled to a computer account, which gives access to word processing packages, electronic library searching, spreadsheet packages, statistical packages and other software programs.

Many lecturers use computer-based teaching programs, and many classes are conducted in computer laboratories. Computer accounts are issued free of charge to enrolled students. Laser printing and access to the internet are available on a user-pays basis.

Further information is available on the faculty website:
www.econ.usyd.edu.au/currentstudents/student_information/it_services.

Computer laboratories

Computer laboratories are located in the following buildings:

• Economics and Business Building (H69) - 5 Labs on the first floor of the Economics and Business Building
• Merewether Building (H04) - 3 General Labs and 1 Econometrics Lab in the Wolstoneholme Study Centre (Level 1)
• Burren Street (C37) - 1 Lab

These are accessible to all faculty students when not being used for teaching. For details of the software available in the labs, please refer to the 'Computer Lab Services' information on the faculty website.

Internet access

Access to University sites is available on all faculty computers, and students can access external sites from these, by paying via the 'Extro' service. Wireless internet is available in faculty buildings and courtyards.

Hours during teaching periods

The computer labs in the Economics and Business Building (H69) are open:

• Monday to Friday: 7.30am to 9pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm

Students should contact the faculty IT Department on +61 2 9351 5409 for opening hours during non-teaching periods. In addition, a 24-hour computer lab is available in the Merewether Building (Wolstoneholme Study Centre), which is accessible via a swipe card after hours. Information about obtaining a swipe card is available from the Student Information Office.

Special consideration

The Faculty of Economics and Business recognises that the performance of students may be adversely affected by serious illness or other misadventure, and makes appropriate provisions through the special consideration procedure.

Any student who believes that his/her performance may be adversely affected by an occurrence of serious illness or misadventure may request that the faculty grant special consideration. All such requests must:

• include the completion of a special consideration application form available from the Student Information Office of the faculty, the faculty website or the main Student Centre located in the Jane Foss Russell Building
• be supplied as soon as possible, before the due date of an assignment or presentation whenever possible, and no later than seven days from the due date of an exam
• be accompanied by an appropriate Professional Practitioners Certificate or other relevant documentary evidence, apart from the student’s own submission.

For guidelines on what constitutes satisfactory documentation, please refer to the 'Administration Manual for Students'.

The faculty’s approach to special consideration allows students to attempt to complete assessment when they are well and the assessment is likely to reflect their true competence in a unit of study. It does not allow for arbitrary adjustments to marks for completed assessments, or any measures which disadvantage other students.

It is important for students to understand that non-attendance at an examination – even when an accompanying Professional Practitioners Certificate is supplied – does not guarantee that further assessment will take place.

Students with a serious disability or long-term illness likely to affect a high proportion of their end-of semester examinations are advised to contact Disability Services (www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/disability) for a personalised academic assessment plan.

Students who intend to apply for special consideration should refer to the 'Administration Manual for Students' or consult the Student Information Office on the appropriate procedure.

Special arrangements

Special arrangements may be made available for students unable to meet assessment requirements or attend examinations because of one or more of the following situations:

• essential religious commitments or essential beliefs (including cultural and ceremonial commitments)
• compulsory legal absence (such as jury duty, court summons)
• sporting or cultural commitments, including political/union commitments, where the student is representing the University, state or nation
• birth or adoption of a child
• Australian defence force or emergency service commitments (including Army Reserve).

Any student who wishes to seek special arrangements for assessment or examination must advise the faculty which administers the unit of study affected by the request:

• as soon as possible with regard to being absent from the University, as this may have an impact on the types of assessment and/or examination they can undertake
• of their notice of intent to apply for special arrangements with regard to an examination, to be received within two weeks of the publication of the examination timetable.

The full application and all supporting documentation must be lodged within one week of submitting notice of intent to apply for special arrangements. Special arrangements for units of study that are from another faculty should be submitted to that faculty office.

For more information about special arrangements and procedures, refer to the 'Administration Manual for Students' or contact the Student Information Office.

Student responsibilities

Each student is responsible for ensuring that their enrolment is correct and that progress in their course is in accordance with the Resolutions of the Senate and Resolutions of the Faculty of Economics and Business. While the faculty makes every effort to provide advice and information, the onus is on students to ensure that deadlines and award course requirements are met.

The most up to date information on changes/amendments to courses, majors and units of study throughout the year is available on the faculty's website (www.econ.usyd.edu.au). It is recommended that students check the website each semester for any changes that may affect them.

Each student is required to check prerequisites and corequisites for each unit of study. If a student is enrolled in a unit and they have not met the prerequisites/corequisites for that unit they must withdraw immediately from the unit in question.

There are many University procedures to accommodate students who experience personal problems, illness and misadventure (such as special consideration and student counselling). It is important for students to familiarise themselves with the regulations for their chosen course and with the services available at the University.

The University's rules are published in the University of Sydney Calendar and on the University website (www.usyd.edu.au). Faculty and course resolutions are published in this handbook.

If you require advice about University rules and procedures, please contact the Student Information Office (www.econ.usyd.edu.au/sio).

University correspondence

It is important that students read all information sent to them by the University, via both postal mail and email. Students must ensure they keep their contact details up to date and should check their student email account on a regular basis.

Variations of enrolment

The key dates at the beginning of this handbook set out the deadlines by which variations of enrolment must be made. For more information, see www.econ.usyd.edu.au/enrolment_variation_dates.

Commonwealth-supported students

If a student withdraws from a unit of study prior to the census date, the unit of study will not appear on their academic transcript and they will not be charged the student contribution amount for the unit.

If a student discontinues a unit of study after the census date, the unit will appear on their transcript along with the date the unit was discontinued.

In some circumstances, the faculty may consider that a unit of study can be discontinued with permission after the relevant date, if there is evidence of serious illness or misadventure. Students should contact the Student Information Office for further information.

Local fee-paying and FEE-HELP loan students

If a student withdraws from a unit of study prior to the census date, the unit of study will not appear on their academic transcript.

If a student discontinues a unit of study after the census date, the unit will appear on their transcript along with the date the unit was discontinued.

Students who withdraw will either receive a full refund of the fee for the unit, or not be charged the FEE-HELP fee for the unit. Students who discontinue will receive no refund.

In some circumstances the faculty may consider that a unit of study can be discontinued with permission after the relevant date, if there is evidence of serious illness or misadventure. Students should contact the Student Information Office for further information.

International students

If a student withdraws from a unit of study prior to the census date, the unit of study will not appear on their academic transcript.

If a student discontinues a unit of study after the census date, the unit will appear on their transcript with the date the unit was discontinued.

Students who withdraw will receive a full refund of the fee for the unit. Students who discontinue will receive no refund.

In some circumstances, the faculty may consider that a unit of study can be discontinued with permission after the relevant date, if there is evidence of serious illness or misadventure. Students should contact the Student Information Office for further information.

Lecture and seminar rooms

As far as possible, lectures and tutorials provided by the Faculty of Economics and Business are held in the Institute Building or the Merewether Building. However, some lectures and tutorials are held elsewhere in the University.

The following information describes the location of the main lecture theatres and rooms used by the Faculty of Economics and Business. Students are reminded that there is a map of the main campus of the University at the end of this handbook.

Lectures and tutorials may also be held in lecture theatres, auditoriums or seminar rooms in the following venues:

• Civil Engineering Building, Maze Crescent (Darlington Campus)
• Edward Ford Building (e.g. Norman Gregg or Marjorie Oldfield lecture theatres), corner of Physics and Fisher Roads (Camperdown Campus)
• New Law School Building, Eastern Avenue (Camperdown Campus)
• Old Teacher’s College (e.g. Assembly Hall), Manning Road (Camperdown Campus)
• Wallace Lecture Theatre, corner of Science Road and Western Avenue (Camperdown Campus)
• Electrical Engineering Building (e.g. Madsen Theatre), Maze Crescent (Darlington Campus)
• Quadrangle Building (e.g. Latin, Philosophy, Oriental and McRae rooms), Quadrangle (Camperdown Campus)
• Medical Foundation Auditorium (Medical Foundation Building), Parramatta Road
• J.D. Stewart Building (e.g. Clunies Lecture Theatre), Regimental Crescent (Camperdown Campus)
• Wilkinson Building (e.g. Architecture Lecture Theatres), City Road (Darlington Campus)
• School of Information Technologies Building, Cleveland Street (Darlington Campus)
• Physics Building (e.g. Slade Lecture Theatre), Physics Road (Camperdown Campus)
• Mechanical Engineering Building, Shepherd Street (Darlington Campus)
• Biochemistry and Microbiology Building (e.g. Biochemistry Lecture Theatres), Butlin Avenue (Darlington Campus)
• Chemistry Building, Eastern Avenue (Camperdown Campus)
• Chemical Engineering Building, Maze Crescent (Darlington Campus)

A Map of all University of Sydney Building Locations can be accessed here:db.auth.usyd.edu.au/directories/index.stm