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Coursework Course Review Procedures

Parent Policy

Coursework Courses and Units Accreditation Policy

It is envisaged that faculties will review cluster programs together (e.g.: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and the Masters).

Reviews of single degrees will need to incorporate double degrees within their reviews. For example, when the Bachelor of Science is reviewed, it must also consider data on all the double degree programs that include the Bachelor of Science (e.g. Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts and so on).

1. Review Schedule

Academic Board is responsible for reaccrediting or disestablishing all coursework courses following a course review. Coursework courses are reviewed every five years. The review cycle is approved annually by Academic Board and listed in the Coursework Course Review Schedule (hyperlink forthcoming). 

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Quality) submits the Coursework Course Review Schedule to Academic Board for approval each year and the Office of Planning and Quality administers the Review Schedule on behalf of the Board.

Responsibility

Academic Board
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Quality)

2. Terms of Reference

The following Terms of Reference establish the minimum set of requirements for a course review.  The Terms of Reference may be expanded should there be a need to address specific issues not covered by the terms. The Terms of Reference (detailed) Table provides the framework for preparing the self-review portfolio.

2.1  Alignment to the strategic direction

Describe how the course aligns to the strategic direction of the University as outlined in Monash Directions 2025, the Monash Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015, Education Strategy and the Faculty/President-led operational plans.

2.2  Business Case

a)  Complete the Course Profitability model and provide an analysis on the financial performance of the course.

b)  Discuss the demand and load trends over the last five years.

2.3 Curriculum

a) Review the objectives, structure and content of the course with reference to:

  • maintaining and exceeding national and international academic standards.
  • preparing graduates to be responsible and effective global citizens and critical and creative scholars as outlined in the Monash Graduate Attributes Policy.
  • alignment with the Curriculum Design Policy, which includes, AQF, Bologna and Research Skills Development Framework and the Course Structure Policy where applicable.

b) Consider the ability and preparedness of students entering the course and their progression through to completion of the course.

c) Consider the effectiveness of the teaching approaches employed across the curriculum.

d) Consider the effectiveness of the assessment approaches employed across the curriculum.

e) Consider the destinations and graduate outcomes for those who complete the course.

f) Review the perceptions about the quality of the course held by stakeholder groups including current students and recent graduates, prospective employers and professional bodies.

2.4 Course Management

a)   Review the academic and support services available to students including orientation and transition, course advice, fee information, career advice, information and learning support services, counselling and health services.

b)   Review the issues associated with the management of the course, for example:

  • Governance
  • Compliance

Responsibility

Course review team

3. Steps in the review process

3.1 Self-review
Self-review is the first phase of the review process.  The purpose of the self-review stage is to examine and report on the course in terms of curriculum, teaching, assessment, student learning, graduate outcomes and course management as well as taking into account how the future delivery of the course aligns to the strategic direction of the University.  

The Dean in consultation with the Associate Dean (Education), course coordinator and Campus President and PVC (if appropriate) will appoint a self-review team to lead the self-review process and produce a self-review portfolio. 

A six to twelve month timeframe should be considered for this phase.  The self-review process is collegial and consultative.  It is designed to engage all staff associated with the delivery and management of the course in a process of critical reflection.  The self-review portfolio is the evidence-based outcome of the critical peer review discussions, interpretation and analysis of course data, benchmarking activities and evaluation of key stakeholder perceptions.

The Terms of Reference (detailed) Table provides a framework in which to address the terms of reference. Appendices to the self-review portfolio must include information about course approval or previous course review and external reaccreditation reports where applicable. 

Responsibility

Dean
Associate Dean (Education)
Course coordinator
Course review team

3.2.1 Constitution of the Review Panel

The members of the External Review Panel are nominated by the Dean in consultation with the Associate Dean (Education) and the Campus President and PVC (if appropriate). 

The External Review Panel nominations are forwarded to the Monash Quality Unit for approval by the DVC (Education)'s nominee, the PVC (Planning and Quality).

Selection of panel members is based on their experience, expertise and impartiality. Panels normally include the following: 

  • two senior academics from relevant areas, but external to Monash University (an international perspective is encouraged);
  • a senior staff member of the faculty, but from outside the course under review;
  • a panel chair, who must not have any direct involvement with the course;
  • one member of a relevant professional, industry or employer group; and
  • one senior student or recent graduate.

The Executive Officer to the External Review Panel is an appropriately trained Monash member of professional staff, normally nominated by of the faculty manager.

Responsibility

Dean
Associate Dean (Education)
Campus President and Pro Vice-Chancellor
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Quality)

3.2.2 Call for submissions

A call for submissions will be made by the Executive Officer for the self-review portfolio.

The Executive Officer under a separate call will invite all current students and recent graduates to make a submission to the External Review Panel and invite them to apply to be selected to meet with Panel members during their on campus visit.  However the Panel will determine with whom they will speak to.

Submissions will be made via the Monash portal and will be open for at least one month.

Responsibility

Executive Officer
External Review Panel

3.2.3 Before the External Review Panel visit

At least one month before the on campus visit, the Executive Officer will forward to all of the members of the External Review Panel, the self-review portfolio including appendices, submissions and other relevant documentation. The External Review Panel members will have the opportunity to request further relevant information before the visit to have certain information available at the time of the visit.

It is essential that students, graduates and employers have the opportunity to discuss their experiences of the course with the members of the External Review Panel.  

Therefore, it will be important to provide these groups with sufficient advance notice of the times when they are scheduled to meet with the External Review Panel. 

Where reviews involve teaching activities on more than one campus or teaching programs facilitated by partner organisations, the Chair of the External Review Panel will determine in consultation with the Dean, the need to travel to locations other than the administrative centre of the academic area. Video-conferencing is encouraged.

Responsibility

Executive Officer
Chair, External Review Panel

3.2.4 External Review Panel Visit

The role of the External Review Panel is to consider each of the recommendations and associated rationale outlined in the self-review portfolio in order to determine whether it is valid in light of the supporting evidence provided.  Therefore, during the visit the panel will meet with students, alumni, employer groups and other interested parties.

The External Review Panel members will have the opportunity to meet with teaching staff and tour the facilities also and if appropriate meet with the Campus President and Pro Vice-Chancellor. Generally, the External Review Panel on campus visit will be no longer than two days.

At the end of the visit, the Panel will present preliminary findings to the Dean, Associate Dean (Education) and the Course Coordinator and if appropriate consult the Campus President and Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Responsibility

External Review Panel

3.3 External Review Panel Report

The Chair of the External review panel works closely with the Executive Officer to prepare the review report which must be submitted to the Dean within six weeks of the on campus visit.

The External Panel Review report addresses the evidence presented in the self-review portfolio as well as the findings from the on campus visit.  The External Panel Review will conclude their report with a recommendation on the future of the course.

The final recommendation will be one of the following:

The course is recommended for

  • Reaccreditation - no conditions
  • Reaccreditation - with conditions
  • No further intake until conditions are met
  • Disestablishment

Responsibility

External Review Panel

4. Submission of the Report to Academic Board

Within four weeks of receiving the External Review Panel's Report, the Dean in consultation with the Associate Dean (Education) and Course Coordinator:

  • reviews the findings and recommendations; and
  • submit findings and recommendations to faculty board for approval.

Within three weeks of receiving faculty board approval, the Dean:

Responsibility

Dean
Associate Dean (Education)
Course coordinator

5. Academic Board Decision

Academic Board having considered the External Review Panel's Report together with the summary advice statement will decide upon one of the following outcomes:

  • To reaccredit the course with no conditions
  • To reaccredit the course with specified conditions
  • To stop further intakes until specified conditions are met
  • To disestablish the course effective from xxxx

The decision of Academic Board will be recorded on the Accreditation site.

Responsibility

Academic Board
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)

6. Alternative arrangements for professionally accredited courses

This provision applies to whole courses only, not courses where a major study or sequence of units is professionally accredited.

Programs subject to professional accreditation are exempted from the standard provisions for course review documentation and the requirement for an external panel and will be managed as follows:

  • Submit documentation prepared for the accrediting body together with a separate document addressing any gaps between the university's requirements and those of the accrediting body.
  • An external panel is not required by the University in these cases. The course documentation and the report of the accrediting body will be considered by the Education Committee.

The university expects that the five year cycle is adhered to for professionally accredited courses and any variation to the cycle must be considered by the Education Committee.

Responsibility

Dean
Associate Dean (Education)

7. Monitoring of course improvement

The Academic Board decision is communicated to Faculty Board which has ongoing responsibility to monitor the implementation of the course improvement plan if reaccreditation is approved or monitor the teach-out plan if the course is to be disestablished.

Responsibility

Academic Board
Faculty Board

Content Enquiries: PVC Landt