Comments

Document Feedback - 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 recieve 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. The system will email you a copy of your comments so you can identify where you were up to and add to them later.

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

 

Appropriate Workplace Behaviour - Staff-Authored Texts Procedure

Section 1 - Summary

(1) The Procedure is intended to support academic staff and Colleges in decision-making where a perceived or actual conflict of interest may reasonably be anticipated. It also reflects expected good practice in institutions across Australia and internationally.

(2) The Procedure sets out the University expectations for the use of staff-authored texts and other resources that are provided on a commercial (for-profit) basis, and that are required and/or recommended as learning resources for students.

Top of Page

Section 2 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(3) HESF: Standards 3.3 Learning Resources and Educational Support (specifically 3.3.1; 3.3.3)

(4) Standards for RTOs (2015): Standard 1 (specifically 1.1)

(5) ESOS National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018: Standard 2 (specifically 2.1; 2.1.7)

Top of Page

Section 3 - Scope

(6) This Procedure applies to all Higher Education and TAFE teaching staff employed by the University in any capacity, or employed by VU Online in any capacity, ie ongoing, sessional, contract.

(7) This Procedure does not apply to texts and resources authored by staff that are provided free of charge to students.

Top of Page

Section 4 - Definitions

(8) Training and assessment strategies and practices

Top of Page

Section 5 - Policy/Regulation

(9) Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy

Top of Page

Section 6 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Roles Responsibilities
Executive Dean (or equivalent)  Implementation of the process.
College Course Advisory Group (or equivalent) Peer–review and recommendations for the inclusion of staff authored texts or resources as required or recommended materials.
Academic Quality and Standards Periodic monitoring of compliance with the Procedure. 

Part B - Procedures

(10) Teaching and research staff are supported and encouraged to develop, both alone and in collaboration with others, materials to support excellence in teaching. Where these materials are published it validates and confirms the expertise of the staff involved and highlights the skill of the staff member/s.

(11) Where a staff member or an individual with whom the staff member has a close relationship is likely to benefit financially from the inclusion of a particular text or resource in a required or recommended list of study materials for a unit of study at Victoria University, selection must include a process of peer review and approval.

(12) Executive Deans are accountable for the implementation and monitoring of the following process.

(13) Staff must declare any potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest in relation to texts or resources to be included as required or recommended materials in units, as outlined in clause (11).

(14) Such conflicts of interest should be presented to the College Course Advisory Group (or equivalent). This should include a justification for inclusion of the text or resource in the named unit(s), and details regarding;

  1. the academic rationale for the selection of the text or resource and why it is more suitable than alternatives;
  2. an explanation of the alignment with the learning outcomes of the unit of study;
  3. the activities and tasks that students will undertake that require the use of this text or resource;
  4. evidence that the teaching team has been consulted and agree with the selection;
  5. a list of materials currently used at other institutions in similar or equivalent units of study;
  6. evidence of inclusion of the text in the library collection;
  7. the cost of the materials to students.

(15) The College Course Advisory Group (or equivalent) considers the texts or resources in relation to the provided supporting evidence, and makes a recommendation to the Executive Dean.

(16) Recommendations may;

  1. approve the materials for required use, with an associated CAMS update to be reflected in the the Unit of Study Guide;
  2. approve the materials for recommended student use rather than required use;
  3. require further external advice on the suitability of the materials, or alternatives for required use;
  4. require selection of one or more alternate materials.

(17) A record of the discussion and decision made is included in the minutes and kept for the duration of the use of the materials.

Part C - CAMS and Academic Quality and Standards

(18) Following approval by the Executive Dean, any required changes are to be immediately made in CAMS.

(19) Colleges have the responsibility to monitor SEU’s of all units of study, including those where staff authored texts or resources are included as required or recommended materials in units.

(20) All required and recommended texts or resources are re-evaluated by the College Course Advisory Group (or equivalent) when a course, following Comprehensive Course Review is submitted for re-accreditation. 

(21) Academic Quality and Standards may periodically monitor compliance with the Procedure.