AMENDMENTS TO COURSES, MAJORS, MINORS AND UNITS

POLICY

1. Amendments to Academic Offerings

Schools are able to request amendments to Courses, Majors, Minors and Units. The bulk of these will be requested during the main academic planning amendment round. There is a provision for late amendments but these are only for minor corrections. Faculties must notify Academic Council of amendment requests for approval.

2. Amending a Course or Major

2.1		Academic planning amendments to existing Courses or Majors should occur during the main academic planning amendment round. Changes must be made in the relevant Academic Planning database.
2.2		Structures for amended Courses and Majors are recommended by School Boards are reviewed by the Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees who will recommend to the relevant Faculty Dean thence to Academic Council.
2.3		If amendments constitute a substantial revision of the structure of the Course or Major, a new Course or Major with a new title should be introduced and the existing Course or Major discontinued.
	2.3.1	A substantial revision involves a change of title and structure, especially a change to the total points value of the Course or Major, or to more than 25% of the Part II requirements.
	2.3.2	Where a substantial revision is primarily intended to attract a new cohort of students to the University; requires new staff or new resources (eg is being offered on a new campus; is changing delivery method or requires new library resources or facilities) it should be treated as a new proposal and develop a business case.
	2.3.3	Where a Course or Major is being discontinued to bring on a new Course or Major in the same area as the discontinued course (i.e. utilising the same staff, a similar suite of units and directed towards an established cohort of students), a clear and considered rationale must be provided. That rationale should address the benefits to the university of such a restructure; the impact on existing and future student cohorts, and any transition arrangements that will be put into place to move from old to new versions of the Course or Major.
	2.3A	Substantial revisions should not be achieved through piecemeal cumulative change. An established Course or Major should not expect to undergo a substantial restructure more frequently than at 3 yearly intervals and preferably should occur in response to a School Review/School Development process.
2.4		Adequate consideration must be given to the potential effects the amendments to existing Courses or Majors may have. The home School must consult with affected parties to ensure there are no unintended consequences.
2.5		The School is responsible for ensuring students are not disadvantaged by amendments to Courses or Majors.
2.6		A student’s progress towards completing the core and specified elective Units of their degree should not be affected by major amendments.
2.7		When an amendment is made to replace or remove core Units; or require students to complete more or less points than the current structure the School together with responsible Faculty Officer is responsible for ensuring that students currently enrolled in the Course or Major are advised of these options in writing. This advice must be provided no later than the end of October in time for re-enrolments for the following year. The advice must include: The date the amendment is effective; Options in relation to completing the Course and/or Major; and The names of contact persons to help students determine how to complete the Course and/or Major core and specified elective Unit requirements.
2.8		Any students not already enrolled in the Course or Major at the time of amendment will be required to complete the Unit requirements of the Course or Major as published in the Handbook at the time they enrol or any subsequent version.

3.1	Academic planning amendments to existing Minors should occur during the main academic planning amendment round. Changes must be made in the relevant Academic Planning database.
3.2	Structures for amended Minors that are recommended by School Boards are reviewed by the Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees who will recommend to the relevant Faculty Dean thence to Academic Council.
3.3	If any title changes also involve substantial revision of the structure of the Minor, a new Minor should be introduced and the existing Minor discontinued.
3.4	When an amendment is made to replace or remove core Units; or require students to complete more or less points than the current structure, the School together with responsible Faculty Officer is responsible for ensuring that students currently enrolled in the Minor are advised of these options in writing. This advice must be provided no later than the end of October in time for re-enrolments for the following year. The advice must include: The date the amendment is effective; Options in relation to completing the Minor; and The names of contact persons to help students determine how to complete the requirements of the Minor.
3.5	Any students not already enrolled in the Minor at the time of amendment will be required to complete the Unit requirements of the Minor as published in the Handbook at the time they enrol.

4.1	Unit amendments that require School Board recommendation include amendments to Unit codes, Unit titles, points value, enrolment options, handbook description and contact hours.
4.2	Unit amendments must be approved within timeframes which allow the University to meet compliance reporting requirements.
4.3	Amendments are entered directly into the Academic Planning Database.
4.4	Where a Unit is a core Unit or a specified elective in any Course, Major or Minor, adequate consideration must be given to the potential effects the amendments may have. The School must consult with affected parties to ensure there are no unintended consequences.
4.5	Using the Academic Planning Database, the responsible Faculty Officer must prepare a summary list of all amended Units to be submitted to Academic Council for noting.
4.6	Requests to double code Units require approval by Academic Council.