MUGSU provides services and representation for all students.
Programs include:
Womyn's room
10 MUGSU/Monash Off Campus prizes of $750
Student survival week
Health and safe sex week
Blue stocking week
Environmental awareness programs
Have you received a Notice of Referral to Hearing Letter from your faculty? This means that you may need to appear in front of a panel to explain why you should be allowed to continue in your course.
Why did I receive this Letter? • Failed a core unit twice • Failed more than 50% of your enrolment for the year • Failed to meet the terms & conditions imposed by a previous Academic Progress Committee (APC)
What is an Academic Progress Committee? An Academic Progress Committee is made up of a panel of members (academics, admin support & a student representative) who review your case in a hearing and make a decision to either: 1. Allow you to continue your studies as normal as they believe you’ve ‘fixed the problem’ 2. Allow you to continue but with conditions, as they are concerned about your situation. For example the committee may set a condition that you only take on 1 unit per semester as they believe you’d benefit from a reduced workload in order to succeed 3. Exclude you from the course, faculty or university for a set period of time, where you cannot apply for your position again until you have shown some form of ‘academic rehabilitation’ and a set time period has passed (usually 12 months)
What should I do? -Speak with a Student Rights Officer Sandy or David 03 5122 6248 or email cassandra.webb@mugsu.monash.edu.au or david.law@mugsu.monash.edu.au -Respond to the letter ! (CLICK for Response help/letter template) There will be a form you need to complete and return by the due date given, it is important that you respond (the sooner the better)! Write a letter to the faculty explaining what has happened that has affected your ability to study and attach any evidence you may have that will strengthen your case, i.e. doctors certificate etc.
After I have sent the Letter to the Faculty...then what? You will receive a letter from the faculty stating one of the below: 1. you may continue your enrolment; or 2. you may continue your enrolment with conditions in 2010; or (1 & 2 may mean that faculty is satisfied with your explanation in the letter) 3. you may be advised of the time, date and venue the APC Hearing (hearings are usually held sometime in Jan-Feb). (3 may mean that faculty isn't satisfied with your explanation or needs further information)
At the Hearing.... You can take one support person in with you to your hearing, be it a Student Rights Officer, a friend or family member or a lawyer (so long as you notify the faculty prior to the day). (CLICK here Outline of Hearing procedure & Cue card) The more relevant information that you give the faculty, the better they will understand your situation and how you've been able to improve it for 2010 and be able to succeed.
There are 3 possible outcomes from the hearing: 1. Allow you to continue 2. Allow you to continue with conditions 3. Exclude you from the course, faculty or university for a set period of time, where you cannot apply for your position again until you have shown some form of ‘academic rehabilitation’ and a set time period has passed (usually 12 months)
APC's can be a stressful time so remember to utilise the free support services available to you...
MUGSU's Student Rights Officers 0351 226 248 Sandy Webb or David Law cassandra.webb@mugsu.monash.edu.au david.law@mugsu.monash.edu.au
Health Wellbeing & Development/HUB 0351 226 425 Counsellors Disability Liaison Unit Chaplain International Student Adviser Financial Adviser Nurse
IMPORTANT CONTACTS: If you’re on campus & have concerns for your safety or the safety of others please call: Monash Gippsland Campus Security: Emergencies - ext 333 or (03) 51 226 999
General Security – (03) 51 226 662 Located at 3W238
If you’re off campus & have concerns for your safety or the safety of others please call: Local Police: 6 Switchback Rd, Churchill, VIC 3842 (03) 51 221 790
Emergency: 000 (Police / Fire / Ambulance)
Community Care Line: For help in non-urgent situations, students can call to seek assistance in managing situations where their wellbeing is affected by inappropriate, threatening or concerning behaviours or events.
9am-5pm Monday-Friday (03) 9905 1599 communitycare@adm.monash.edu.au Drop in: Mondays 10.30-11.30am HWD 3N-102
Local Medical Centre: Hazelwood Health Centre (03) 51 222 555 9 Georgina Place, Churchill, VIC 3842
What is it? An Early Warning Letter is a letter from your faculty to warn you that you have/or are on track to: • Fail a core unit twice • Fail more than 50% of your enrolment for the year • Fail to meet the terms & conditions imposed by a previous Academic Progress Committee (APC)
What this means? This letter means that if you continue to struggle with your grades, you may enter into the APC process unless you can improve &/or put steps in place to improve your academic progress. What is an Academic Progress Committee? An Academic Progress Committee is made up of a panel of members (academics, admin support & a student representative) who review your case in a hearing and make a decision to either:
Allow you to continue your studies as normal as they believe you’ve ‘fixed the problem’
Allow you to continue but with conditions, as they are concerned about your situation. For example the committee may set a condition that you only take on 1 unit per semester as they believe you’d benefit from a reduced workload in order to succeed
Exclude you from the course, faculty or university for a set period of time, where you cannot apply for your position again until you have shown some form of ‘academic rehabilitation’ and a set time period has passed (usually 12 months)
What should I do? Review your situation.
Do you understand the units you are enrolled in?
Are you having problems with the topic/s?
Are you struggling with the work load?
Are you working too much?
Are there external factors (i.e. illness, family, living arrangements etc) impacting on your ability to study?
Are you burnt out?
See if you can reduce any unnecessary stress factors or take steps to ensure you are still able to dedicate the necessary time to study.
Review your priorities.
There may be other factors affecting you that are outside of your control which means that you may not be focused on your studies at the moment. This can happen and it’s not the end of the world. Maybe you could consider deferring your studies for a little while, or if necessary withdraw from a unit to reduce your workload or even withdraw from your course. It may seem harsh but think about it, you are paying a lot of money to be studying, so why go into debt for a fail or for problems etc
What can be done? SPEAK WITH A GIPPSLAND STUDENT RIGHTS OFFICER (SRO) SRO’s can assist you in identifying the problem, some possible solutions, discuss your options with you &/or refer you to the appropriate support service.
Call or visit MUGZOO Central (opposite the café) 0351 226 248
Speaking with your lecturer is a good start if you are having problems with a particular topic/unit. They understand your workload and the expectations on you, and they can help you determine what problems you are having with the course and help you work out possible solutions.
If you are struggling with things like studying, writing reports or referencing, a Language Skills Adviser can help you either in a drop in session or via an appointment. Sebastian Borutta & Margot Porter 0351 226 165 Caitilin Punshon 0351 226 166 Drop in sessions in the library:
Monday 12-1pm
Tuesday 12-2pm
Wednesday 3-4pm
Thursday 9-10am
Friday 10-11am
Or for online support resources see http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/
Visit the library more often. Read the prescribed readers, textbooks, articles and recommended readings/articles. Do past exams.
If you are struggling with personal factors, you may benefit from speaking with a counselor. To make an appointment call 0351 226 425 or visit HWD opposite the student lounge. Health Wellbeing and Development (HWD) is available for you and can help you with:
If you are enrolled at Monash and have a disability defined under the Disability Discrimination Act or a chronic medical condition that affects your ability to study, you may be eligible for help from the Disability Liaison Unit (DLU) in Health Wellbeing and Development at the Gippsland campus.
University can be a very challenging time in your life, particularly at first. As well as the academic side of uni, which involves a lot more self-reliance than school, you will face lots of challenges in life, particularly if you have moved away from home to study. If you know where to look for help when you need it, however, you can make your uni experience a lot easier and more rewarding — you're not alone in feeling a bit lost.
This information is about services for you in and out of uni.
