Intervention Strategy Introduction
The guidelines for Murdoch University staff and students is to comply with the legislative requirements of the ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code 2007, in specific to comply with Standard 10: Monitoring Course Progress. The changes to the ESOS Act came into affect on July 1 2007.
An Intervention Strategy (IS) is a plan to assist students who have been identified as not having met academic progress rules for their course of study or at risk. An IS is designed to assist a student in managing their studies successfully and maintaining satisfactory academic progress. The IS aims to help the student to get their studies on track and complete within their visa duration, or provide useful strategies to assist the student in developing a new and more appropriate study plan to complete their program. An IS can consist of various components depending upon your situation, needs and willingness to engage with the strategy. As outlined below, the IS may include a specified enrolment (included approved Part-time enrolment), Teaching and Learning workshops and activities, a modified study plan, Health & Counselling recommendations or other steps to take into account the student’s current situation and future needs.
An Intervention Strategy can be one of three formats:
1. Standard
An IS at a minimum is deemed to have been implemented with the distribution of relevant information on support services and activities to students as part of the course progression activities at the end of each study period. This is usually as a result of the academic performance being assessed at a Board of Examiners meeting and the student being placed on ‘Probation’.
2. Personal (Negotiated)
Where a student responds to the university correspondence and indicates that there are issues affecting their academic performance a negotiated Personal plan will be implemented. The IS takes the shape of an agreed individual strategy between the student, Murdoch International Student Support, Health & Counselling or a Program Chair. The IS may involve a specified enrolment or ongoing support from the Teaching & Learning Centre or Health & Counselling in order to best address the individual issues affecting a students’ academic performance.
3. Performance Contract
A Performance Contract is a mandatory IS that the student must undertake in order to maintain their current enrolment and must meet the terms of the contract in order to continue any future enrolment. The Performance Contract usually stipulates a required enrolment that must be passed in order for the student to continue. A Performance Contract is usually issued to students who have been excluded from the University but are successful in their appeal or students who have been identified as having poor academic performance over a number of semesters but have not been excluded from the university.
Implementations
Standard
A Standard IS will be implemented at the end of every semester and after Board of Examiners have met to monitor academic performance. All international students who have been issued with a ‘Probation’ status for failing to meet the requirements with their current semester’s enrolment will be issued with letters from the Examinations Office confirming the Probation status, and from Murdoch International outlining their status and information on support services or activities available to address their situation. A Standard IS will considered to have been implemented once a letter has been sent to the student.
A Standard IS will be recorded on the student’s file by Murdoch International.
Personal (Negotiated)
A Personal (Negotiated) IS will be implemented upon a meeting with the affected student and other appropriate staff within the university. The Personal IS may result from a meeting with the student after they have received a Warning letter and contacted Murdoch International or after referral to Murdoch International, by another service.
A Personal (Negotiated) IS will considered to have been implemented once the student has signed the strategy and all relevant supporting documentation (Program Chair, Health & Counselling) has been submitted to Murdoch International.
A Personal (Negotiated) IS will be recorded on the student’s file by Murdoch International and where appropriate a Note recorded on the Student Management System.
Performance Contract
A Performance Contract IS will be implemented upon review of the affected student’s enrolment and appeal to the Program Chair. A performance contract is a mandatory intervention strategy that will be re-assessed at the end of the subsequent enrolment period to assess compliance.
A Performance Contract will be considered to have been implemented upon official notice being sent to the student by their Divisional Office and recorded as a Note on the Student Management System.
For more information on Intervention Strategies please contact Murdoch International Student Support.
Nicolas Castagnette
Murdoch International Student Support
Murdoch International
PH: (61-8) 9360 6777
Email: nicolas.castagnette@murdoch.edu.au
