Advocates are employed by UniLife to provide students with independent information, advice and assistance with a wide range of academic problems and grievances. This service is free of charge to all UniSA students. As UniLife is a separate entity from the University, Advocates have a duty to maintain confidentiality on all issues discussed with students. Some of the most common problems that UniLife Advocates can help students with include:
Extensions to assessment deadlines
An extension may be requested when a student is unable to meet a deadline for an assessment task. Extensions are granted on medical or compassionate grounds, or other special circumstances. An example of a valid request for an extension is if a student has a serious illness or health problem on or before the day of an assessment task deadline.
See Section 3 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Assessment Re-mark
Re-marking is where an assessment task is marked again by a second assessor, without any further work by the student. The second assessor is not provided with details of the student’s original mark. The second mark stands, whether it is higher or lower. No further re-marking will be permitted.
Students who consider that an assessment task has been unfairly or inappropriately marked can request a re-mark following the procedures set out in the relevant section of the Manual.
See Section 5 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
*Assessment Re-submission *
Re-submission is where a student is permitted to make substantial alterations, additions or amendments to an assessment task which they have failed. The assessment is then re-submitted to the original assessor within a specified timeframe.
A student can request an assessment resubmission following the procedures set out in the relevant section of the Manual.
See Section 5 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Deferred Assessment
Deferred assessment is a form of secondary assessment which is granted to students who have been unable to complete the final assessment/examination. Students may apply for deferred assessment if they can demonstrate, with supporting evidence, that due to unexpected or exceptional circumstances they are unable to sit the final examination or submit the final assessment by the due date. Students must demonstrate that the unexpected or exceptional circumstances occurred in a period of time directly related to attendance at the examination, or the deadline for submission of the final assessment. Students may apply following the procedures set out in the relevant section of the Manual.
See Section 7 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Special Consideration
Special consideration is a form of secondary assessment which is granted to enable students to improve their final grade for a course. Special consideration may be granted by a Course Coordinator if a student can demonstrate, with supporting evidence, that their performance in the final examination or assessment was affected by unexpected or exceptional circumstances. The circumstances should have occurred either during the examination, or during the preparation time leading to the examination or deadline for submission of the final assessment. Students may apply following the procedures set out in the relevant section of the Manual.
See Section 7 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Appealing a Final Grade
If a student does not agree with the mark he/she received for a final grade, he/she can initiate an appeal following the procedures set out in the relevant section of the Manual. Disputes about final grades will be resolved in accordance with the University policy and procedure.
See Section 8 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Academic Integrity
If a student is asked to attend a meeting with an Academic Integrity Officer (AIO) it may be because the AIO is concerned that the student has included the work of another person without properly acknowledging it, which may be considered a form of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct includes a range of actions from plagiarism (ie copying text from an article without referencing in properly) to including material in a student’s work that has involved significant assistance from another person, where this assistance is not permitted in the course information booklet. Students may seek advice or assistance from an Advocate if they are required to see an AIO.
See Section 9 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Academic Review (including Notification 3 or Preclusion)
At the end of each academic review period, each student’s results are assessed against the criteria used to identify students who have made unsatisfactory progress. It is important that students take action whenever they receive a letter from the University about their progress. However, if a student receives a Notification 3 or Preclusion letter they are strongly encouraged to contact a UNILIFE Advocate for advice.
See Section 10 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual
Making a Complaint
The Student Grievances Resolution policy provides students with a clear set of guidelines for dealing with and resolving complaints. Complaints are separated into three areas according to the nature of the grievance - academic programs, decisions of committees, and administrative operations.
See Student Grievances Resolution