Policies and Procedures

Course Requirements

It is the policy of the UFT that students enrolled in its courses are expected to meet the requirements laid down for those courses, irrespective of whether the student is also a candidate for examination of the MCD or other bodies.

Students are advised to take careful note of any essays, assignments, papers or examinations set down in this Handbook for individual units. In addition, lecturers may set class exercises.

Where assessment consists of more than one element, candidates will not be granted a pass unless they demonstrate competence across the broad range of the assessment.

Students may need to buy booklets of readings, which will be provided by the class lecturer at cost.

Units offered at varying Levels will be assessed at a standard appropriate to that Level.

Attendance

Attendance at all classes (lectures, tutorials, seminars etc.) is compulsory. Incomplete attendance may result in exclusion from final examinations and/or automatic failure. When for some reason you are unable to attend, an apology should be sent by email to the lecturer. Attendance at the first class of any unit is particularly important.

Overseas students should note the government requires evidence of attendance and failure to attend may lead to cancellation of a visa.

Prerequisites

Students cannot enter a second or third level unit without the appropriate prerequisites or an approved equivalent.

Student Progress

The UFT may terminate the candidature of students who have failed the majority of their total assessments in two consecutive semesters.

Copyright Regulations

The attention of members of faculty and students is drawn to the regulations imposed by the Copyright Act.

Use of Mobile Phones

Students and staff are requested to switch off phones when in class or in a meeting.

In a genuine emergency, provided permission is sought in advance from the teacher(s) or chairperson, a phone may be switched on, preferably for non-audible reception of calls.

Academic Misconduct

The most common forms of academic misconduct are: cheating and plagiarism.

Cheating involves obtaining an unfair advantage over other students in any way. By plagiarism is meant the copying and use of the work of another person without proper acknowledgment. Further details are given in the UFT Guidelines for Essays.

There are strict penalties for both cheating and plagiarism:

suspension of candidature for the degree, or

failure of the unit for which the written work or examination was undertaken, or

the loss of all marks for the written work or examination.

Essays and Assignments

Submission of Essays and Assignments

Guidelines on the presentation of essays and assignments are available in the UFT office and on the website. Students will also find a useful Style Manual compiled by Lawrence D McIntosh, available in the library. All assignments must be submitted with a cover sheet declaring that the assignment is the original work of the student. These cover sheets are obtainable from the UFT Office and on the website. UFT assignments MUST NOT be lodged by Fax or Email.

Normally assignments should be handed in to the UFT office, but individual lecturers may use their discretion regarding means of collection of assignments. Assignments handed in at the office will be date stamped and a receipt will be given.

All postgraduate (Level 4) assignments must be submitted in duplicate to the UFT Office.

Students are required to keep copies of their assignments in case of loss or the need for further moderation.

Return of Assignments

The time for return of assignments will be indicated by teachers when students are advised of assignment topics and their due date of submission. Normally, major essays will be graded

and returned within three weeks, and shorter pieces within two weeks. Where an extension is granted, the lecturer is not bound by this time frame. Grades given on assignments are provisional and for student guidance.

Extension of Time for Assignments

In conformity with the MCD policy extensions may be granted by a lecturer provided that:

Where there are medical or serious pastoral grounds for an extension to be granted beyond the end of semester, the student is to contact the UFT Dean, who may grant an extension provided that:

Students granted a Dean’s extension must submit their completed assignments to the UFT office. Until the work has been submitted and marked an ‘E’ will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

Late Work

A student who submits an assignment after the due date without an extension will normally be penalised by a reduction in the recorded grade.

Students experiencing difficulties should see the Dean.

Assessment

Grading System

In common with other Recognised Teaching Institutions of the MCD, grades are given according to the following system –

HD = High Distinction = 85% +

D = Distinction = 75% - 84%

C = Credit = 65% - 74%

P = Pass = 50% - 64%

F = Fail

Pp = Pass where marked on Pass/Fail basis only

W = Withdrawn

E = Extension

MCD Academic Grievance Policy

An appeal against grades in coursework is to be made in writing to the Coursework coordinator of the RTI where the unit was offered, within five days of the result in writing being served.

For further details on this and other academic grievance procedures see the MCD website.

MCD Student’s Rights

UFT students enrol in the academic awards of the Melbourne College of Divinity. All MCD students have the following rights:

First, you have the right to privacy. All personal information, which you give the MCD (including your RTI or college) will be treated in confidence, and only used for the purpose for which it was given. Your file and computer database entries, only accessed by people who are entitled to do so – for example, lecturers having a class list with names and emails. No one associated with the MCD is permitted to share your personal information with anyone not entitled to it.

Secondly, you have the right to the highest standards of teaching and learning. In order to protect the high academic standing of your MCD degree or diploma, all forms of cheating, plagiarism or other academic fraud (including illegitimate use of internet resources) are strictly forbidden, and anyone found engaging in them faces serious consequences. To assist with this, you are required to state on each assignment that it is your own work.

Thirdly, you have the right to be treated fairly in all academic and administrative matters. If you have a grievance about an administrative procedure or academic issue, you have five working days (longer for some serious matters) to lodge a complaint with the dean of your RTI, or with the MCD Registrar. You will not be disadvantaged by doing this, and in most cases can expect a resolution within ten working days.

Fourthly, you have the right to be safe, and to feel safe, in MCD environments. Harassment in any form – spiritual, sexual or discriminatory (e.g. on the grounds of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, theological outlook) – is wrong, and not permitted. Procedures are in place to deal promptly with situations that may arise. Each college has Peer Contact Officers (PCOs) available to be contacted in confidence if you feel harassed.

Finally, once you have commenced a degree or diploma with the MCD, you are assured that MCD educational and financial resources are in place to see you through to its completion. If the highly unlikely situation arises that the MCD cannot deliver a course for which you have paid fees, these will be refunded, or you can transfer to another provider, nominated for this purpose by the MCD.

Detailed policies and procedures governing these matters can be found on the MCD website, www.mcd.unimelb.edu.au under ‘Grievances’.

Harassment Policy

As a Christian community, the UFT is committed to providing an environment which is free of all forms of discrimination or harassment. There are procedures for dealing confidentially, effectively, and justly with any situations that arise. The UFT Policy concerning Harassment is available on the website HERE and in the UFT office. Any member of the UFT who feels that they are or have been subject to harassment should contact the Dean or a Peer Contact Officer (PCO). In 2008 PCOs are: Phillip Moller Tel: 9341 5854, Dorothy Lee Tel: 9348 7129, Geoffrey King Tel: 9341 5800.

Privacy Policy

The United Faculty of Theology, supports and endorses the National Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 and will comply with these principles whenever personal information is collected by us. In accordance with the National Privacy Principles

§ We will only collect personal information from you with your prior knowledge and consent;

§ We will only use personal information provided by you for the purposes for which it was collected;

§ We will not disclose your personal information to a third party without your consent;

§ We will not disclose your personal information to other institutions and authorities except if required by law or other regulation;

§ We will remove personal information from our records when it is no longer required (except where archiving is required);

§ We have processes and policies to protect the personal information that we have under our control from:

§ unauthorised access;

§ improper use;

§ alteration;

§ unlawful or accidental destruction and accidental loss.

UFT information is shared with member colleges and UFT TSA where appropriate.

Because UFT students are enrolled in MCD degree and diploma programmes, a certain amount of information needs to be exchanged between the UFT office and the MCD, and on occasions other RTIs of the MCD.