• Section 1 - Purpose / Objectives
• Section 2 - Scope / Application
• Section 3 - Definitions
• Section 4 - Policy Statement
• Section 5 - Procedures
• Part A - Roles and Responsibilities
• Part B - Informal Discussion
• Part C - Review: Course Coordinator or equivalent
• Part D - Managing Conflict of Interest
• Part E - VU Partner students
• Section 6 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose / Objectives

(1) This procedure provides a process by which students may request a review of an assessment outcome.

Section 2 - Scope / Application

(2) This procedure applies to all graded assessments carried out in higher education coursework courses.

(3) This procedure does not apply to higher degree by research dissertation assessment appeals or to reviews of assessment outcomes in Vocational Education units or courses.

Section 3 - Definitions

(4) Nil

Section 4 - Policy Statement

(5) See Student Assessment for Learning Policy.

Section 5 - Procedures

Part A - Roles and Responsibilities

(6) Students who disagree with the outcome of an assessment are entitled to have their concerns addressed through the following process.

(7) All written assessments (eg examination papers) must be retained by the University for the period prescribed by the Public Records Standard for Higher Education and Vocational Education Records (PROS 02/01) section 11.2.2. This period is 6 months after the finalisation of results for the unit within which the assessment took place.

1. Non-examination written assessments (eg assignments and essays) are generally returned to students after marking, and their retention is then the responsibility of the student. If for any reason they remain in the custody of the College (eg student non-collection), they must also be retained for 6 months after the finalisation of results in the relevant unit.

(8) For the purposes of this procedure, the assessment result is the original decision that is capable of review.

Part B - Informal Discussion

(9) Students are generally encouraged to review feedback and discuss in-semester assessment results with their lecturer, teacher, assessor or tutor during semester, in order to get greater insight into the basis of their assessment outcome.

Part C - Review: Course Coordinator or equivalent

(10) Students may choose to raise substantive concerns or disputes regarding grades with the relevant Course Coordinator or equivalent, if they have grounds to believe that:

1. There was bias on the part of the assessor;
2. The assessment was inappropriately constructed or an inadequate basis was provided for completing it;
3. The assessment was of a scale or degree of difficulty not commensurate with the level and weighting of the unit; or
4. The assessor made an error of fact in assessing the content of the submitted work.

(11) This must be done in writing within five (5) working days of the assessment result being published.

(12) A student may seek advice and assistance from Student Advocacy in preparing for, and raising, their concerns with their assessor.

(13) The Course Coordinator will, within five (5) working days of having received notice of a concern or dispute:

1. Make relevant enquiries into the matter, which may include, but is not limited to, discussing the result and the feedback with the student and the assessor;
2. Determine that either:
   1. The result stands without amendment; or
   2. A new assessment should be performed by an alternative assessor; or
   3. An amended result is appropriate and should be recorded.
3. Communicate their decision to the student, the assessor and any other relevant person (i.e. results administrators) as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(14) The determination made by the Course Coordinator or equivalent is final.

Part D - Managing Conflict of Interest

(15) In the instance that the Course Coordinator was the original assessor of the disputed piece of assessment, the review will be performed by the Director Teaching and Learning or other nominee of the Dean.

Part E - VU Partner students

(16) Students studying VU courses with VU partners are entitled to pursue a review of individual assessment outcomes following the same process outlined above.

(17) In this case, the VU Site Coordinator will also be involved and may perform the first review in lieu of the Course Coordinator or equivalent.

Section 6 - Guidelines

(18) Nil