Bulletin Board - Document Comments

Bulletin Board - Review and Comment

Step 1 of 4: Comment on Document

How to make a comment?

1. Use this Protected Document to open a comment box for your chosen Section, Part, Heading or clause.

2. Type your feedback into the comments box and then click "save comment" button located in the lower-right of the comment box.

3. Do not open more than one comment box at the same time.

4. When you have finished making comments proceed to the next stage by clicking on the "Continue to Step 2" button at the very bottom of this page.

 

Important Information

During the comment process you are connected to a database. Like internet banking, the session that connects you to the database may time-out due to inactivity. If you do not have JavaScript running you will receive a message to advise you of the length of time before the time-out. If you have JavaScript enabled, the time-out is lengthy and should not cause difficulty, however you should note the following tips to avoid losing your comments or corrupting your entries:

  1. DO NOT jump between web pages/applications while logging comments.

  2. DO NOT log comments for more than one document at a time. Complete and submit all comments for one document before commenting on another.

  3. DO NOT leave your submission half way through. If you need to take a break, submit your current set of comments, take a note of where you up to and return later to make a further submission.

  4. DO NOT exit from the interface until you have completed all three stages of the submission process.

  5. If you would like a copy of the comments you made via the Bulletin Board, please email policy@rmit.edu.au and specify which document you provided feedback on and a copy of your submission will be emailed to you.

 

Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Procedure

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This procedure:

  1. provides a clear pathway for receiving, assessing, and resolving complaints about potential breaches of academic freedom and freedom of speech, and
  2. aligns with RMIT’s Complaints Governance Policy.
Top of Page

Section 2 - Authority

(2) Authority for this document is established by the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy.

Top of Page

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This procedure applies to all staff, students, and visitors within the scope of the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy.

(4) This procedure does not apply to complaints made solely about matters such as bullying, discrimination, misconduct, research integrity and other matters already dealt with under existing complaints processes set out in the RMIT Complaints Governance Policy.

Top of Page

Section 4 - Procedure

Intake and triage

(5) As per the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy, complaints related to the expression of academic freedom or freedom of speech must be submitted via RMIT’s Central Complaints and Investigations Unit.

(6) The Unit will undertake a preliminary assessment of the complaint and where an academic freedom or freedom of speech issue is identified, will refer the complaint to the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Panel via the pathway established below.

Preliminary Assessment

(7) Upon receipt of a referred complaint from the Unit, the University Secretary and Academic Registrar will assign an Assessment Officer (AO) to conduct a preliminary assessment.

(8) The purpose of this preliminary assessment is to gather and evaluate facts to determine if the matter:

  1. falls within the Policy, and
  2. warrants investigation.

(9) The AO will recommend to the University Secretary and Academic Registrar to:

  1. refer the complaint to an alternative pathway under the Complaints Governance Policy if no academic freedom or freedom of speech issue is identified
  2. seek to resolve the issue locally, or
  3. refer the complaint for formal investigation.

Panel Investigation

(10) If the AO refers the complaint for formal investigation, the University Secretary and Academic Registrar will convene a Panel.

(11) The Panel’s core composition consists of:

  1. Chair, Academic Board (or nominee), as Panel Chair
  2. one academic member with expertise in academic governance or with prior experience of academic freedom assessments, and
  3. one academic member with legal expertise.

(12) The Panel may appoint an external or internal member (or members) where independence and/or expertise in an area related to the issue is required.

(13) Panel members must be free of any conflict of interest.

(14) The Panel will:

  1. review evidence, interview parties, and seek expertise advice as required
  2. apply a balance of probabilities standard in determining its findings, and
  3. prepare written findings and recommendations.

Decision and Outcomes

(15) The Panel may find:

  1. no breach of the Policy, with or without corrective or educational actions as needed
  2. referral to other complaints processes under the Complaints Governance Policy, or
  3. a breach of the Policy, with corrective or educational actions.

(16) The Panel will report its findings to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education (or delegate) and Academic Board.

(17) Systemic issues identified must be referred to the Academic Board to inform its annual review of the effectiveness of, and compliance with, the Policy.

Review

(18) The complainant may request a review of the Panel’s findings on grounds of procedural fairness.

(19) Such reviews will be conducted by a Review Officer nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, who is independent of the original process.

(20) The outcomes of the review are final.

Recordkeeping

(21) Complaints, deliberations and outcomes will be recorded in accordance with RMIT’s Complaints Governance Policy.

Top of Page

Section 5 - Compliance

(22) Provide details of how compliance is monitored and whether there is a specific role or team dedicated to monitoring compliance.

(23) Provide details of how breaches are managed e.g. ‘Breaches of this procedure can be reported through the Organisational Breach Reporting Form and are managed in accordance with the Compliance Breach Management Procedure.

(24)  Provide details if there is a compliance reporting regime specific to this subject matter, e.g. biannual reporting to ARMC by a particular senior officer. 

Top of Page

Section 6 - Schedules

(25) A breach of this procedure can be reported through the Organisational Breach Reporting Form and are managed in accordance with the Compliance Breach Management Procedure.