Changes Under Delegated Authority
Definition
The Academic Board has delegated to faculties and graduate schools authority to make certain changes in a timely manner. (For late changes made under delegated authority, see late changes). These include:
- all changes to elective subjects;
- all changes to compulsory subjects that do not affect the points requirements or level of subjects to complete the program;
- changing up to 25% of the subjects in any year of any program (stream/major/specialisation), provided that the configuration of compulsory and elective points remains the same and the changes do not affect the structure or mode of delivery of the entire course;
- all changes to mode of delivery of subjects, except when it is proposed to change the mode of delivery of the whole course;
- all changes to non-core breadth subjects and changes to University breadth subjects that do not affect the contributions from different disciplines;
- changes in delivery from normal semesters to intensive or summer semester;
- changes in semester dates;
Changes made under delegated authority will be included in course reports.
Changes requiring the approval of the Academic Board are considered major changes.
Please note: Certain subject changes (such as semester of offer, study format, dates, fees or weight) must meet DEEWR compliance requirements, and the University must seek DEEWR approval before the change can be implemented. These requirements are legislated through the Higher Education Support Act (2003), and primarily aim to protect students from disadvantage through untimely changes to subjects.
Requested changes will be reviewed and where necessary may be adjusted in consultation with the faculty in order to comply.
Approval Process
Changes made under delegated authority are submitted by a nominated faculty contact via the designated web form, attaching the appropriate forms (Major Change form, New Subject Proposal form, Subject Change Proposal form, etc.).
All changes made under delegated authority must be reported in course reports.
Timeline for Approval
Changes made to courses under delegated authority for implementation in the following year must be submitted to the Student System by 15 June 2012 in order to enable implementation in the System for publication in the Handbook by the end of October. Changes submitted after the submission deadline as stated in the timelines may not be able to be implemented in time to be offered the following year.
For changes under delegated authority made after the publication of the Handbook, see Late Changes under Delegated Authority.
Forms
A change to a course made under delegated authority will require a course change form. In addition, it may require some or all of the forms listed below.
ACADEMIC APPROVAL
- Major Change Form
- Subject Proposal Form
- Subject Change Form
- Volunteer Subject Form
- Internship Subject Form
Reporting Changes Made under Delegated Authority
A report on each course providing the course structure (as outlined in the current University Handbook) and noting any significant developments within it must be submitted to the Academic Programs Committee annually for undergraduate programs and biennially for graduate programs. Reports must be submitted to the Academic Programs Committee by 31 October each year. Further information about what is required, including a list of graduate programs to be examined in 2011, will be provided closer to the deadline.
A report on each course as outlined above including all subject descriptions must be submitted to the Academic Programs Committee every four years commencing in 2012. Through this mechanism, the Academic Programs Committee will monitor changes made under delegated authority. The Committee will examine subjects for consistency with University guidelines. The role of shepherds in assessing the reports is yet to be confirmed.