Rights and Responsibilities

Unless you know your rights, and are confident to assert them, the University’s many policies may be meaningless. With all rights come responsibilities too, so make sure you know what the University expects from you or you might get caught out. Check out the lists below and talk to your Student Rights Officer if you feel one or more have been ignored or violated.

1. Introduction
2. Responsibilities of Students
3. Responsibilities of Staff
4. How can Student Rights Officers help?
5. Where can I find out about Monash policies?

1. Introduction

Monash University does not have an explicit charter of rights for students, as many other universities do. Instead, your rights are scattered throughout several hundred policies, procedures, regulations and other documents at both university and faculty level. This can make it difficult to know whether your rights are being protected or violated by the university. The university also tends to couch talk of “rights” in terms of reciprocal “responsibilities”, which is important in that it reminds us that rights do not exist in isolation, but it further compounds the difficulties that students have in identifying if or when their rights are being violated.

The university’s seminal policy that outlines the key responsibilities of staff (which in turn indicate your rights), is the “Codes of Practice for Teaching and Learning” Policy. The responsibilities outlined in this policy that Monash expects both its staff and students to shoulder follow below, and a link to the full policy is given at the end. .

2. Responsibilities of Students *

Students of the university have the following responsibilities:

to apply themselves to their studies to the best of their abilities;
to become familiar with the rules and regulations governing the degree in which they are enrolled, and to ensure that the units selected meet the degree requirements;
to be aware of the policies and practices of the university and of any faculty and department in which they are enrolled and which are contained in the materials and information made available to them;
to be aware of the rules and regulations concerning the use of university computing, library and other facilities, as set out in published material;
to meet deadlines for work to be submitted;
to take the initiative and consult appropriately when problems arise;
to submit original work for assessment without plagiarising or cheating;
for on-campus students, to attend lectures, tutorials and seminars for each unit in which they are enrolled and, for distance education students, to consider thoroughly all course materials and participate in all prescribed residential schools;
to accept joint responsibility for their own learning;
to contribute to the development of university programs and policies by participating in consultative and deliberative processes in a responsible and ethical manner;
to be aware of the university's commitment to equal opportunity and to demonstrate tolerance and respect for all members of the university community;
to respect the right of staff members to express views and opinions;
to respect the working environment of others in all areas of the university

* taken directly from the Monash University “Codes of Teaching and Learning”

3. Responsibilities of Staff *

Staff of the university have the following responsibilities:

to ensure the publication and distribution to students of clear, accurate and timely information concerning relevant regulations, policies, procedures and expectations, and on other matters affecting their studies;
to develop students' knowledge, understandings, skills and attitudes as defined in the objectives of the university, course, major and unit, by providing them with teaching programs, course materials, activities and tasks appropriate to the development of these attributes;
to provide students with opportunities to be involved in the structuring of their own learning experiences, and encourage them to take joint responsibility for their own learning;
to take into account the prior knowledge, abilities and backgrounds of students in planning teaching activities;
to assist students to learn from assessment tasks by providing them with timely and constructive feedback;
to be available to discuss assessment results with students or to arrange for a fully briefed delegate to be available for that purpose;
to encourage and enable students to evaluate their own and each other's work critically;
to make time available for giving advice to and for supervising individual students;
to strive for excellence in their teaching, and to seek and pay attention to feedback from students about the effectiveness and appropriateness of teaching programs;
to implement university policy on equal opportunity to ensure that all students, regardless of their background or characteristics, have an equal opportunity to learn and to demonstrate that learning;
to respect students' right to express views and opinions;
to demonstrate concern for the welfare and progress of individual students;
to ensure that they are not engaged in assessing or supervising the research of students with whom they have a relationship which could give rise to undue advantage or disadvantage.

* taken directly from the Monash University “Codes of Teaching and Learning”

4. How can Student Rights Officers help?

SROs can help you locate and understand university policy and determine whether your rights have been violated and advocate on your behalf in situations that are difficult or uncertain.
You have the right to query an academic decision and to seek an appeal if necessary. SROs are available with general queries about academic decisions and can help with representation to individual lecturers/tutors and various grievance committees.
If you are accused of cheating in an exam or of plagiarizing a piece of work, you are entitled to the assistance of an SRO at the initial interview stage and in front of the Discipline Committee.
If you face exclusion from your course, SROs can explain the procedures involved and can help make representations to Unsatisfactory Progress committees.
SROs can assist students who have been sexually or physically harassed.
SROs are also available for general queries, i.e. special consideration, withdrawal of subjects, quality of University services, enquiries of a general nature about University courses and lecturers, and any other issues that students feel are impacting on their studies. Common course complaints include those relating to assessment criteria, university fees, staffing, timetabling, access to facilities, and quality of teaching.
SROs also work on improving university policy as it relates to students. Examples include the University Discipline Statutes, remarking policy, and the University’s policies of grievances. Students are encouraged to approach their SROs with information about how a policy has affected them and requesting the SRO to try and have the policy amended.

Drop in to the Student Rights Office or make an appointment to enquire about your rights, avenues of appeal, or any issue related to your welfare at University.

5. Where can I find out about Monash policies?

There are many places that are useful for finding policies. Try your faculty office or website first to see if your faculty has a specific policy, or you can check out the following websites and publications for more detailed Monash policies:

Student Resource Guide
This handbook is your best guide to everything (undergraduate) students are likely to need to know about the university. It is sent to all undergraduates at the beginning of the year and is available from the Student Services Centre. It is also on-line at:
http://www.monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/srg/

Monash Research Graduate School Documents
http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/forms/handbooks.html

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please email your Student Rights Officer at
studentrights.msa @adm.monash.edu.au


	Rights and Responsibilities Unless you know your rights, and are confident to assert them, the University’s many policies may be meaningless. With all rights come responsibilities too, so make sure you know what the University expects from you or you might get caught out. Check out the lists below and talk to your Student Rights Officer if you feel one or more have been ignored or violated. 1. Introduction 2. Responsibilities of Students 3. Responsibilities of Staff 4. How can Student Rights Officers help? 5. Where can I find out about Monash policies? 1. Introduction Monash University does not have an explicit charter of rights for students, as many other universities do. Instead, your rights are scattered throughout several hundred policies, procedures, regulations and other documents at both university and faculty level. This can make it difficult to know whether your rights are being protected or violated by the university. The university also tends to couch talk of “rights” in terms of reciprocal “responsibilities”, which is important in that it reminds us that rights do not exist in isolation, but it further compounds the difficulties that students have in identifying if or when their rights are being violated. The university’s seminal policy that outlines the key responsibilities of staff (which in turn indicate your rights), is the “Codes of Practice for Teaching and Learning” Policy. The responsibilities outlined in this policy that Monash expects both its staff and students to shoulder follow below, and a link to the full policy is given at the end. . 2. Responsibilities of Students * Students of the university have the following responsibilities: to apply themselves to their studies to the best of their abilities; to become familiar with the rules and regulations governing the degree in which they are enrolled, and to ensure that the units selected meet the degree requirements; to be aware of the policies and practices of the university and of any faculty and department in which they are enrolled and which are contained in the materials and information made available to them; to be aware of the rules and regulations concerning the use of university computing, library and other facilities, as set out in published material; to meet deadlines for work to be submitted; to take the initiative and consult appropriately when problems arise; to submit original work for assessment without plagiarising or cheating; for on-campus students, to attend lectures, tutorials and seminars for each unit in which they are enrolled and, for distance education students, to consider thoroughly all course materials and participate in all prescribed residential schools; to accept joint responsibility for their own learning; to contribute to the development of university programs and policies by participating in consultative and deliberative processes in a responsible and ethical manner; to be aware of the university's commitment to equal opportunity and to demonstrate tolerance and respect for all members of the university community; to respect the right of staff members to express views and opinions; to respect the working environment of others in all areas of the university * taken directly from the Monash University “Codes of Teaching and Learning” 3. Responsibilities of Staff * Staff of the university have the following responsibilities: to ensure the publication and distribution to students of clear, accurate and timely information concerning relevant regulations, policies, procedures and expectations, and on other matters affecting their studies; to develop students' knowledge, understandings, skills and attitudes as defined in the objectives of the university, course, major and unit, by providing them with teaching programs, course materials, activities and tasks appropriate to the development of these attributes; to provide students with opportunities to be involved in the structuring of their own learning experiences, and encourage them to take joint responsibility for their own learning; to take into account the prior knowledge, abilities and backgrounds of students in planning teaching activities; to assist students to learn from assessment tasks by providing them with timely and constructive feedback; to be available to discuss assessment results with students or to arrange for a fully briefed delegate to be available for that purpose; to encourage and enable students to evaluate their own and each other's work critically; to make time available for giving advice to and for supervising individual students; to strive for excellence in their teaching, and to seek and pay attention to feedback from students about the effectiveness and appropriateness of teaching programs; to implement university policy on equal opportunity to ensure that all students, regardless of their background or characteristics, have an equal opportunity to learn and to demonstrate that learning; to respect students' right to express views and opinions; to demonstrate concern for the welfare and progress of individual students; to ensure that they are not engaged in assessing or supervising the research of students with whom they have a relationship which could give rise to undue advantage or disadvantage. * taken directly from the Monash University “Codes of Teaching and Learning” 4. How can Student Rights Officers help? SROs can help you locate and understand university policy and determine whether your rights have been violated and advocate on your behalf in situations that are difficult or uncertain. You have the right to query an academic decision and to seek an appeal if necessary. SROs are available with general queries about academic decisions and can help with representation to individual lecturers/tutors and various grievance committees. If you are accused of cheating in an exam or of plagiarizing a piece of work, you are entitled to the assistance of an SRO at the initial interview stage and in front of the Discipline Committee. If you face exclusion from your course, SROs can explain the procedures involved and can help make representations to Unsatisfactory Progress committees. SROs can assist students who have been sexually or physically harassed. SROs are also available for general queries, i.e. special consideration, withdrawal of subjects, quality of University services, enquiries of a general nature about University courses and lecturers, and any other issues that students feel are impacting on their studies. Common course complaints include those relating to assessment criteria, university fees, staffing, timetabling, access to facilities, and quality of teaching. SROs also work on improving university policy as it relates to students. Examples include the University Discipline Statutes, remarking policy, and the University’s policies of grievances. Students are encouraged to approach their SROs with information about how a policy has affected them and requesting the SRO to try and have the policy amended. Drop in to the Student Rights Office or make an appointment to enquire about your rights, avenues of appeal, or any issue related to your welfare at University. 5. Where can I find out about Monash policies? There are many places that are useful for finding policies. Try your faculty office or website first to see if your faculty has a specific policy, or you can check out the following websites and publications for more detailed Monash policies: Codes of Practice for Teaching and Learning Policy Alphabetical Index of Monash Policies Student Resource Guide This handbook is your best guide to everything (undergraduate) students are likely to need to know about the university. It is sent to all undergraduates at the beginning of the year and is available from the Student Services Centre. It is also on-line at: http://www.monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/srg/ Monash Research Graduate School Documents http://www.monash.edu.au/phdschol/forms/handbooks.html If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please email your Student Rights Officer at studentrights.msa @adm.monash.edu.au