Advice for students: Academic Progression and the Staying on Track program
The University of Sydney is continuously developing policies and procedures that promote the welfare and academic success of students at the University.
In order to help students perform to their academic potential, the University has designed the Staying on Track program. The program allows the University to recognise when students are experiencing difficulty meeting the minimum academic progression requirements for their degree and provides students with a wide range of support services to assist with their ongoing studies.
The University regularly searches for students who do not achieve a minimum rate of academic progression and offers assistance by placing students on the Staying on Track program. The Staying on Track program is structured to help students identify issues specific to their situation and to introduce them to a range of support services within the University.
The Staying on Track program is outlined in the Policy and Procedure for Identifying and Supporting Students at Risk and was approved by the Academic Board on 13 December 2006, for commencement on 1 January 2007.
This Policy and Procedure states the University of Sydney's commitment to the early identification and support of students at academic risk by:
- regularly and effectively advising students of academic progress requirements
- identifying students not meeting the faculty’s academic progression requirements
- alerting students not meeting the faculty’s academic progression requirements for the second time
- providing assistance and support by placing students on the Staying on Track program, and
- regularly checking the progress of students after they are placed on the Staying on Track program.
In order to progress through an award course, students are required to:
- achieve a minimum rate of academic progression, as specified by the faculty
- pass the number of units of study specified by the faculty as the minimum for a defined period, and
- pass any field or clinical work, practicum, or other unit of study mandated by the faculty.
The University monitors academic progression by searching academic records for every student's:
- progression rate
- progress towards completion, and
- completion of, or failure to complete, a mandated unit of study, field or clinical work, or practicum.
Faculties determine a student’s academic progression by any or all of the following means:
- student attendance at compulsory teaching and assessment components of a unit of study
- failure of a student to pass a number of units of study set as the required target towards their degree
- over-enrolment in an attempt to catch up on failed units of study
- significant negative variations in a student’s academic performance
- other progress requirements specific to the faculty.
While there are stages of early intervention and support from the University for students on the Staying on Track program, the consequences of not achieving a minimum rate of academic progression over a long term period can have serious implications for a student's enrolment. Further information about the implications can be found at Stage 3 in the section below.
At the end of each semester faculties produce a report listing all students within that faculty who do not meet the faculty's academic progression requirements based on the following triggers:
- not successfully completing more than 50 per cent of the credit points for which the student was enrolled in the semester or year (as appropriate) just completed
- not achieving a satisfactory Weighted Average Mark (WAM) in the award course over a defined period, as specified by the faculty
- not completing a mandated unit of study, field or clinical work, or practicum, as appropriate
- not passing the same unit of study
- having an unsatisfactory student attendance record if mandated, or
- inability to complete a degree within the maximum permitted time while carrying a normal student load.
Staying on Track Program: Stage 1
The faculty will write to all students who have not satisfactorily achieved academic progression requirements for the first time, providing the following information and advice:
- that the student has been identified as not meeting the faculty’s academic progression requirements and has been placed on the Staying on Track program
- how the student has been identified as not meeting the faculty’s academic progression requirements
- that the student is required to complete a Staying on Track Survey (PDF or WORD) for their own self-reflection
- that the student is required to attend a Staying on Track Information Session, which will cover study skills and introduce the student to remedial learning services, counselling services and relevant student association representatives
- that all correspondence relating to the student's status in the Staying on Track program will be recorded on their Progression Profile.
Faculties may also require students to consult an academic advisor in their faculty. An academic advisor is nominated by the Dean of a faculty to provide advice on matters of student academic progression.
A student who is enrolled in an award course of two years or less (full-time) duration and is listed on an academic progression report for the first time will be advised that they are required to:
- consult an academic advisor in their faculty, and
- attend a Staying on Track Information Session.
Staying on Track Program: Stage 2
The faculty will write to all students listed on an academic progression report for the second time, providing the following information and advice (except for students enrolled in an award program of two years or less (full-time) duration and listed on academic progression report for the second time - please see below):
- that the student has been identified as not meeting the faculty’s academic progression requirements for the second time and has been placed on Stage 2 of the Staying on Track program
- how the student has been identified as not meeting the faculty’s
academic progression requirements for the second time - that all correspondence and documents relating to the student’s academic progression status will be recorded on their progression profile.
- that they are required to complete a Staying on Track Survey 2 (PDF or WORD) for their own self-reflection,
- that they are required to consult an academic adviser in their faculty, and
- that they are required to attend a Staying on Track Information Session, if they have not already done so.
Students enrolled in award programs of two years or less (full time) duration who are listed on an academic progression report for the second time should proceed directly to Stage 3.
The faculty will write to the following students asking them to show good cause why they should not be excluded from their degree course:
- all students listed on an academic progression report for the third time, or
- all students enrolled in an award course of two years or less (full-time) duration and listed on an academic progression report for the second time.
The faculty will consider and rule on whether a student has shown good cause in accordance with Division 6 of the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (as amended).
Where a student has not established good cause, a Dean may, in accordance with clause 16 of the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (as amended):
- exclude the student from the award course, or
- permit the student to re-enrol in the award course subject to restrictions on units of study, which may include:
– completion of a unit or units of study within a specified time
– exclusion from a unit or units of study, and
– specification of the earliest date on which a student may re-enrol in a unit or units of study.
The faculty will normally provide reasons for their decisions in their advice to the student, and record those reasons on the progression profile.
For further information about 'good cause' please refer to the 'Have you been asked to show good cause?' page.
The faculty will automatically exclude the following students from their degree:
- all students listed on an academic progression report for a fourth time after having been asked to show cause and permitted to re-enrol
- all students enrolled in award programs of two years or less (full-time) duration) and listed on an academic progression report for the third time after having been asked to Show Cause and permitted to re-enrol.
A two level appeals process will be available to students.
1. Faculty level appeal:
A student who:
- has been listed on an academic progression report for the third time and who has been excluded from their degree (Stage 3), or
- has been listed on an academic progression report for the fourth time and automatically excluded (Stage 4),
will be entitled to appeal against the decision of the faculty in accordance with the following Resolutions of the Academic Board:
- Student appeals against academic decisions:
- Principles for Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions
- Procedures for Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coursework Awards
- Procedures for Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions for Postgraduate Research Awards (Under review).
2. University level appeal:
For final resolution of any appeal against a faculty determination, a student is entitled to appeal to the Student Appeals Body in accordance with the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006.
Students who submit a University appeal are permitted to re-enrol pending the resolution of the appeal, and should continue to attend classes until further notification.
