• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Policy
• Design of Assessment
• Students and Assessment
• Academic Integrity
• Responsibilities in Assessment
• Assessment Flexibility
• Academic Progress
• Supplementary Assessment
• Processes
• Section 4 - Procedures and Resources
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) To ensure:

1. Relevant and authentic assessment that supports and enables students to demonstrate evidence of learning at the appropriate level of study.
2. Flexible, equitable and inclusive assessment with a commitment to caring for students whose circumstances require assessment flexibility.
3. Quality and effectiveness of assessment where methods of assessment are consistent with learning outcomes, contribute to desired graduate outcomes and support transition into professional practice.
4. Fairness and transparency in assessment design, moderation, feedback and clear articulation of assessment criteria to students. Assessment practice is continuously monitored and reviewed for academic quality, equivalence and comparability, and to maximise academic integrity.

Section 2 - Scope

(2) This policy is made pursuant to the Assessment, Academic Progress and Appeals Regulations. Except where otherwise stated it applies to all courses and programs offered by RMIT in the following categories of award:

1. Higher Degree by Research
2. RMIT accredited programs
3. Vocational Education Programs
4. Foundation Studies

(3) For students of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL): Assessment, Special Consideration, Extensions and Alternative Assessment Arrangements are regulated under the provisions of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).

Section 3 - Policy

Design of Assessment

(4) Learning outcomes are a central focus for design, quality and standards in assessment.

(5) All learning outcomes in a course are specified in the course guide and are assessed.

(6) Assessment tasks are appropriately designed to measure student achievement of learning outcomes.

(7) Assessment provides evidence to make consistent academic judgements about students’ achievement of learning outcomes.

(8) To enable consistent judgements, a variety of assessment methods and tasks are used.

(9) There is a balance between:

1. early or formative assessment to provide helpful feedback during the learning experience; and
2. summative assessment of the learning achieved.

(10) For higher education programs, the weighting of individual pieces of assessment within a course will be balanced.

(11) Hurdle assessments are used in a higher education course only where they are required by safety or professional accreditation, registration or licensing requirements. Hurdle assessment tasks must be clearly identified in the course guide and, where the course is a core course within a program, in the program guide. A student who fails a hurdle assessment fails the course regardless of the overall course mark they achieve.

(12) In view of the wide range of contexts within which the same programs are delivered and assessment tasks are undertaken by students, the design of assessment is adapted to the opportunities and necessities of:

1. face to face delivery
2. online delivery
3. blended delivery
4. the different teaching and learning platforms used within the RMIT Group
5. WIL experiences involving professional and industry personnel in the assessment process
6. countries with different cultural, legal and political contexts.

(13) Moderation processes are applied systematically to achieve consistency of marking of individual assessors within the same course:

1. in one location
2. across different locations
3. across different modes of delivery.

(14) Vocational education

1. Assessment is implemented in accordance with Training Package and Accredited Course requirements, particularly the principles of assessment and rules of evidence.
2. Validation of assessment in Vocational Education is undertaken in accordance with the validation of assessment: Vocational Education section of the assessment processes.

Students and Assessment

(15) Course guides specify all assessment requirements for a course and the weightings of each assessment task, if applicable.

(16) Information provided to students on assessment tasks state the performance standards so that students understand the level of attainment required.

(17) Students receive timely feedback on each piece of assessment submitted that supports their learning and how they can improve.

(18) Students retain a copy of all work submitted for assessment until a final result for a course is formally released by the university.

(19) A student may request a review of an assessment result or appeal a final course grade in accordance with the conduct of assessment and appeals section of the Assessment Processes.

(20) A student can request a copy of a marked assessment for which a review is sought where this has not been returned.

(21) Changes to assessment tasks after commencement of the teaching period can only be made following consultation with affected students and must be approved by the Dean/Head of School. Any such changes must be reflected in the course guide.

(22) The Dean/Head of School may vary the assessment task where they are satisfied that the integrity of an assessment task has been undermined.

Academic Integrity

(23) Students demonstrate academic integrity in their assessment practices by:

1. engaging with assessment activities in an honest way
2. providing accountability for the authorship and originality of work submitted
3. acknowledging the work of others and the re-use of original work.

(24) Staff take an educative approach with students on academic integrity.

(25) Academic misconduct is addressed in accordance with the Student Conduct Policy.

(26) Assessment involving research with human participants, their information or their tissue, or animal subjects is carried out in accordance with the Research Policy.

Responsibilities in Assessment

(27) Deans/Heads of School are responsible for:

1. applying university assessment policy and processes in their school or centre;
2. convening course assessment committees and program assessment boards for each program in accordance with the membership and terms of reference in the relevant section of the assessment processes;
3. submission of results for courses in accordance with the schedule set by the Academic Registrar;
4. in higher education courses, ensuring that moderation processes are conducted systematically in accordance with the course assessment committees, program assessment boards and moderation sections of the Assessment Processes
5. ensuring that validation of assessment in vocational education is undertaken in accordance with the validation of assessment: Vocational Education section of the assessment processes.
6. These responsibilities apply irrespective of delivery mode and location.

(28) Course assessment committees review and approve results for courses.

(29) Program assessment boards review and manage academic progress of students at the end of each formal period of study in accordance with the academic progress and program assessment board sections of the assessment processes.

(30) The Academic Registrar is responsible for the schedule of grades used in the university in accordance with the management of results section of the assessment processes.

(31) The Academic Registrar determines the processes and schedules for formal examinations.

(32) The Academic Registrar sets schedules for:

1. timely submission of results
2. publication of results
3. conversion of missing or interim results to fail grades.
4. auditing of results, Course Assessment Committees and Program Assessment Boards.

Assessment Flexibility

(33) The purpose of special consideration, extensions and individual assessment arrangements is to ensure that students experiencing extenuating circumstances or who have specific needs are appropriately supported and can seek assessment arrangements that provide the best circumstances for ongoing success in their program. Assessment flexibility is addressed in clauses 34 to 66. Both discretion and flexibility are used in managing applications.

Extensions

(34) Extensions are available for unforeseen circumstances of a short-term nature.

(35) Applications are submitted to the school at least one working day before the due date for an assessment.

(36) Extensions can be approved for up to one week (seven calendar days) after the due date for an assessment. (Where students need an extension exceeding one week they must instead apply for special consideration.)

(37) The evidence in an application clearly supports the period for which an extension is sought.

(38) The school will notify the student of the outcome of an application within two working days of an application being submitted.

(39) Applications are approved by the responsible staff member in the school as determined by the Dean/Head of School.

(40) Where an application is approved, students meet the new assessment due date for submission of work or to undertake the assessment where attendance is required.

Special Consideration

(41) Special consideration is available for unexpected circumstances outside students’ control. These include but are not limited to unexpected short-term ill health, and unavoidable family, work, cultural or religious commitments.

(42) An application for special consideration is made in advance of an assessment wherever possible, but normally within five working days after the assessment date.

(43) Where, however, a student is applying for late course withdrawal without academic penalty, they may apply up to one year after the date of their withdrawal from the course or, if they did not withdraw, within one year from the course end-date.

(44) Course coordinators decide the form of equivalent assessment tasks where these are granted.

(45) Students provide all relevant information with their application.

(46) The University will determine one of the following outcomes for applications for special consideration:

1. an equivalent assessment
2. an extension of time (exceeding seven calendar days)
3. a deferred assessment
4. other arrangements deemed appropriate to the circumstances of the student and the course concerned
5. a late course withdrawal without academic penalty
6. special consideration is denied
7. cancellation of the application for lateness or incompleteness
8. application withdrawn.

(47) If the application is denied, the reasons for this will be provided in writing.

(48) The evidence supporting an application applies to the dates for which special consideration is sought.

(49) Students are notified if their application is incomplete and will have five working days to submit missing information or documentary evidence.

(50) Applications lodged more than five working days after the due date are not considered unless the student can, with the application, provide compelling or compassionate reasons and evidence. Refer to the definition of compassionate or compelling circumstances used in the DEEWR – DIAC Course Progress Policy when submitting a late application.

(51) Complete applications that include supporting documentation and evidence are considered and responded to within 10 working days.

(52) A student may withdraw an application for special consideration at any time.

(53) A student may appeal a decision to deny them special consideration for an assessment by the process set out in the appeals section of the assessment processes, and in Part 4, Section 13 (1) University Appeals Committee of the Assessment, Academic Progress and Appeals Regulations.

Equitable Assessment Arrangements

(54) Equitable assessment arrangements provide for a student’s foreseeable needs or circumstances related (but not limited) to:

1. living with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition
2. primary carer responsibility for a person living with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental health condition.

(55) An equitable assessment arrangement is an alteration to the standard conditions or format of an assessment. It can apply to any formal assessment task or examination described in the course guide.

(56) Students apply to Equitable Learning Services for equitable assessment arrangements.

(57) Applications include supporting documentation from a treating health practitioner who is registered with a recognised professional accreditation body: for example, a doctor, psychologist or social worker.

(58) Applications and supporting documents are treated confidentially in accordance with the RMIT Privacy Policy and other relevant State and Federal information handling Acts, Regulations and Statutes. Such information is not placed on the academic student file but is stored centrally and managed by the staff responsible for administering the process.

(59) An equitable assessment arrangement provides flexibility for students in meeting the academic standards being assessed.

(60) Program managers are responsible for ensuring that staff teaching in the program provide the adjustments stated in students’ equitable assessment arrangements.

(61) Students are still required to meet the inherent requirements of the program.

(62) Depending on a student’s circumstances an equitable assessment arrangement may include:

1. flexible conduct and supervision arrangements
2. use of ergonomic furniture or special seating arrangements
3. use of a computer for a traditionally paper-based examination
4. use of assistive technology
5. alternative format examination materials (e.g. large print, audio, Braille, electronic)
6. additional reading and/or assessment time
7. rest breaks
8. enabling assistance (e.g., scribe, AUSLAN interpreters)
9. alternative forms of assessment
10. flexible timeframes for submission of work or attendance for assessment tasks.

(63) The University makes every effort to accommodate students but cannot guarantee provision of a full range of assessment options. The time-frame, resource constraints and professional body registration requirements may affect the options available. In addition, the availability of options may vary from country to country and be subject to law in those countries.

(64) The process for applying for an equitable assessment arrangement is outlined on the Equitable Learning Services webpage.

(65) A student may appeal a decision to deny them an equitable assessment arrangement, or the conditions of a granted equitable assessment arrangement, by the process set out in the appeals section of the assessment processes.

(66) For students undertaking the Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Adult Learning, the equivalent of an equitable assessment arrangement is special provision. Special provision is administered in accordance with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s administrative instructions to schools.

Academic Progress

(67) Chairs of program assessment boards are responsible for:

1. reviewing the progress of students in accordance with the academic progress (coursework programs) section of the assessment processes;
2. determining the stage of unsatisfactory progress of students:
   1. First stage – at risk of unsatisfactory academic progress
   2. Final stage – established unacceptable academic progress in more than one teaching period;
3. ensuring that where a student is identified as at risk of unsatisfactory academic progress there is an intervention to offer the student academic advice and support to improve their performance.

(68) Where a student is identified as at risk final stage the program assessment board will require them to show cause why they should be permitted to continue in the program. The board will then decide whether to:

1. permit the student to continue in the program with a classification of at risk and a further intervention to offer them academic advice and support, or
2. recommend to the Dean/Head of School that a student be excluded from their program for established unsatisfactory academic progress.

(69) Any decision to exclude a student is made by the deadline set by the Academic Registrar.

(70) The Academic Registrar writes to students recommended for exclusion, advising of the exclusion and right of appeal.

(71) The Academic Registrar may decline to action a decision to exclude a student if it is not compliant with this policy and/or the academic progress (coursework programs) section of the assessment processes.

(72) The Academic Registrar approves the schedule of criteria for identifying students as at risk of unsatisfactory academic progress, and as having established unacceptable academic progress.

(73) A student may appeal a decision to exclude them for established unacceptable academic progress.

(74) The appeal process is detailed in the appeals section of the assessment processes.

Supplementary Assessment

(75) Supplementary assessment is approved by:

1. course assessment committees for courses in programs the school delivers
2. program managers for courses delivered by another school
3. program assessment boards where a student has narrowly failed one course in the last teaching period to complete their program.

(76) Supplementary assessment is approved in accordance with the supplementary assessment section of the assessment processes.

(77) A college appeals committee or the University Appeals Committee has discretion to award a supplementary assessment as part of the outcome of an appeal.

Processes

(78) The Academic Registrar maintains the assessment processes for RMIT University.

(79) The Chief Executive Officer, RMIT Training maintains the assessment processes for RMIT Training.

(80) The Executive Director, Vocational Education maintains the vocational education compliance processes.

Section 4 - Procedures and Resources

(81) Refer to the following documents which are established in accordance with this policy:

1. Assessment Processes
2. Student Administration Resources
3. COVID-19 Assessment Flexibility Approach

Section 5 - Definitions