Academic progress - The process

If you are deemed at risk of unsatisfactory academic progress, your Faculty Academic Progress and Discipline Committee (FAPDC) or School Academic Progress Committee (APC) will meet and determine appropriate action.

The FAPDC/APC will notify you in writing of their proposal to implement a strategy to assist you in better managing your academic progress.

The consequences of unsatisfactory academic progress can be serious and may include a structured intervention to assist you to improve your academic performance such as:

• a warning that you are at risk with directions to follow and an indication that if your progress does not improve in the coming Trimester, you could be at risk of exclusion or restriction
• a proposal to restrict your enrolment such as that you must enrol in and pass specific units or that you are precluded from taking certain units   

It is important that you read Faculty letters carefully and comply with any directions given to you to improve your academic performance. You may face automatic exclusion if you have accepted the Faculty's decision and do not comply with Faculty or School restrictions, or exclusion from your course for at least one year if your unsatisfactory progress continues.

You will be invited to explain your circumstances to the FAPDC or APC at a hearing (show cause) if your results have not improved. Make sure that you respond to any show cause invitations.

The FAPDC and APC secretaries are there to help you understand the content of the letter/s and the steps you must take to meet restrictions and avoid being excluded from your course. DUSA advocates can also provide guidance.

The academic progress timelines are set out in the Academic Progress: Show Cause and Appeals Schedule and show the last date you can lodge an appeal to the Appeals Subcommittee.

What happens if your progress is unsatisfactory?

If you meet the criteria for unsatisfactory progress, there is a clear process that is followed by all Faculties and Schools across the University.

Find our more about the process and what you need to do at each stage.

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