Students call for academic assessment amended for the times. The existing method stays management replies
The Uni Melbourne Student Union and supporters want the university to make virus allowance in assessments this semester. One suggestion is for management to follow the Uni Adelaide, where one relaxation of the rules is that semester one fails will be classed as withdrawals and not included in GPAs, (CMM April 2). “Universities around the country are supporting their students by changing the way they are calculating weighted average marks. Uni Melb refuses to,” UMSU says. CMM asked the university if this is so, and management responded;
“The university will include percentage marks for subjects undertaken in Semester One in the calculation of WAMs using the existing method. We will closely monitor grade and percentage mark distributions after the completion of Semester 1 assessment and prior to the award of final grades. We will communicate to our student community if any universal changes to the calculation of WAMs are warranted. The university’s policy and procedures for Special Consideration will continue to apply.”
Macquarie U announces its Student Success Support Package
Vice Chancellor S Bruce Dowton announces funding, “which complements” academic assistance already in-place. There is, “access” to emergency financial support, financial grants and loans. MQ U also announces “options” for students to defer paying tuition fees, with the student services and amenities fee deferred until September. There is no word on how much is in the kitty.
“Extra academic and financial support” to cope with COViD-19 at USQ
The University of Southern Queensland announces a $5m student support fund, include IT and learning tech payments and a $500 per fortnight payment, for up to three months. There is also academic support, including assessment “consideration” and failing marks not impacting Grade Point Average.
CQU provides $500 payments to 415 students in Queensland and 50 plus more across the country
The money is for general support and technology to keep studying.
Monash U targets student support
A learned reader points out Monash U’s $15m student support package is not as liberal as appears. Certainly “current students enrolled” are eligible for COVID-19 support (CMM, yesterday). Except, that is, for any receiving Centrelink payments, “such as Austudy and Youth Allowance.”