Faculty of Arts : Guide to courses
2. General information

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2. General information
    2.1. The Faculty of Arts Office
    2.2. The Handbook
    2.3. The web
    2.4. Email
    2.5. Student support schemes
        2.5.1. Study group program
        2.5.2. Tutorials in arts
        2.5.3. Students at Risk Program
        2.5.4. Disability Liaison Office
        2.5.5. Transition web site
    2.6. The award of grades

2. General information

Students should be aware of their rights and obligations while at the University. Essential information on matters such as enrolment, assessment, and special consideration in the event of illness is contained in this Handbook and in the Student Diary which is issued to every student upon enrolment.

2.1. The Faculty of Arts Office

The Faculty of Arts Office is located on the ground floor of the Old Arts Building (Room 116).

The office coordinates the formal requirements of a student's course and, in particular, provides information to students about degree structures and regulations via email, over the counter, or by appointment with a course advisers.

Consult the Faculty of Arts office for assistance with:

course entry and subject selection advice
credit for previous studies
subject levels, points, prerequisites and codes
changes to subject enrolment (adding subjects or withdrawing from subjects, overloads)
changes to course enrolment (deferment, leave of absence, discontinuation)
special consideration
course planning and re-enrolment
study abroad opportunities
complementary course enrolment
referral to another section of the University

When making an email enquiry, be sure to fully outline your circumstances, proposed course structure, and any other information related to the nature of your query in detail.

Faculty of Arts
Ground Floor, Old Arts Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: + 61 3 8344 5235
Fax: +61 3 9347 0424
Email: arts-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au

2.2. The Handbook

Students are expected to read carefully:

the General information (What are my responsibilities as a student?) section at the front of this Handbook which explains the regulations and services that apply across the University;
the Faculty of Arts introductory section, and in particular the specific course information (eg. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work, BA combined courses, etc.);
the area of study entries (eg. history, creative arts, etc.), which detail requirements for majors and honours programs, prerequisites, subject descriptions, and other information necessary for course planning.

The most up-to-date version of this Handbook is available on-line at http://www.unimelb.edu.au/HB/.

2.3. The web

Visit the Faculty of Arts web site for the latest course and subject information, arts projects, and links to all arts area of study homepages.

Links to admissions and enrolment information for undergraduate students provide information to complement the course requirements outlined in the Handbook.

To log on to our web site from the University home page, select Arts from the Quick Find: Faculties and Schools menu, or go directly to http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/.

2.4. Email

Each student must set up a University of Melbourne email account as part of the enrolment process. Your University of Melbourne email account is the primary means by which the Faculty of Arts and Student administration will contact you to make you aware of important dates and things that you must do. Therefore, you should get in the habit of checking your email account regularly. There are often negative consequences if you do not act on advice sent to you by email. For example, if you do not enrol by the date outlined an email about course planning you could face enrolment fines or have your enrolment terminated. Failure to check your email account or being unable to receive mail because your account is full are not valid reasons for avoiding the negative consequences of not acting on email advice.

2.5. Student support schemes

The Faculty of Arts runs a number of programs which are designed to help students with their transition to university studies. These programs are aimed at reducing some of the problems typically experienced by first-year students, for example adapting to different methods of teaching and learning; making connections with fellow students and staff; and knowing where to go to for help in relation to both study and other matters.

2.5.1. Study group program

The Faculty runs a study group program for students enrolled in first-year subjects in several departments. Students attend a series of introductory lectures that provide information on new skills for successful university study. They are allocated to small study groups which meet weekly during semester one. The purpose of the study groups is to provide a forum for discussion of issues that arise in lectures, tutorials, essays and exams. The Faculty is working towards making this program available to all student in the next few years.

Information on the study group program can be found on the web at http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/courses/ugs/firstyear.html.

2.5.2. Tutorials in arts

All new tutors in the Faculty are fully briefed on the kinds of difficulties faced by new students. The Faculty's Tutor Induction Program ensures that front-line teaching staff have up-to-date information on identifying students at risk and on the referral services available within the University.

2.5.3. Students at Risk Program

The Student at Risk Program aims to assist first year students who have failed one subject or more in their first semester of study. Students are asked to meet with a course adviser to discuss their situation and to work out strategies to help improve their academic performance.

2.5.4. Disability Liaison Office

The Faculty employs a course adviser who specialises in assisting students with disabilities: the faculty disability contact officer. This adviser works with the student, the University Disability Liaison Unit and teaching staff to assist students with their special requirements.

2.5.5. Transition web site

The University's transition web site is an excellent resource for new students with practical information on all kinds issues relating to starting out as a student at the University. Further deatils on Arts' Transition Program can be found at http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/sss/transition/index.html.

2.6. The award of grades

The Faculty of Arts has a policy on the award of marks that is aimed at promoting fairness and consistency in grading across all departments.

The grading of student work is 'criteria-based' (ie. students are assessed according to their performance against the assessment criteria) and 'norm-referenced' (ie. students are also ranked according to their performance among peers).

Faculty policy requires departments to maintain a specified average mark and a distribution of grades across their entire cohort at each year level.

In the awarding of grades in any department, the average of all marks should be:

70% of the first-year cohort
72% of the second year cohort
74% of the third year cohort

A year cohort is the term used for all students at a particular year level within one discipline or department. The University's standard grading system for subjects is detailed on Subject grades and marks of this Handbook.

Students wishing to obtain more information on the award of grades within the Faculty of Arts should contact individual departments or the Faculty of Arts Office.