Independent Study Contracts
PREAMBLE
This document is designed to assist
those wishing to undertake or supervise an Independent Study Contract. Independent
Study Contracts (ISCs) have been available at Murdoch University since 1975
and are an integral component of academic culture.
DEFINITION
| Independent Study Contract: |
An ‘Independent
Study Contract’ (ISC) is a unit of independent study on a topic
or subject that is not available as a structured unit within the University,
or any other institution for which credit toward a degree may be obtained. |
PRINCIPLES
Murdoch University values the unique
contribution of ISCs to the learning opportunity available to students.
POLICY
Availability
| 1. |
ISCs are
available only to students enrolled for a degree at Murdoch University
who have achieved an academic record of a credit average or higher.
Study Abroad students are only permitted to undertake an ISC if they
have identified a potential project and supervisor before they submit
their Study Abroad application form. |
| |
|
| 2. |
The availability of
an individual ISC is subject to the availability of an appropriate supervisor
and resources.
The University recognises the workload implications of ISCs and academic
staff may decline to supervise an ISC. |
| |
|
| 3. |
An ISC may be either
two, three or four points in value. |
| |
|
| 4. |
A maximum of two ISCs
totalling a maximum of 8 points are permitted per degree, excluding the
Honours year. Students enrolled in the Doctor of Psychology may complete
up to 9 points of ISCs with the permission of the Unit Coordinator and
the Program Chair. |
| |
|
| 5. |
ISCs may be undertaken
at any stage of a Murdoch degree. However, ISCs would usually
be undertaken from Part II onwards. |
ISC Application Form and Guide to Applications
| 7. |
The current
version of the ISC Application
Form (available in Adobe PDF
and MS Word
format) and Guide for Applications
shall be attached to the electronic version of this policy published on
the Web. |
| |
|
| 8. |
The Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Academic) shall approve the ISC Application Form and Guide for Applications
and any amendments to them. All amendments must be reported to Academic
Council. |
| |
|
| 9. |
The ISC application
form requires sections to be completed by the Student, the Supervisor,
Divisional Executive Officer/Student Administration Manager and the
Head of School, and, where the ISC will be used in place of a Core or
Specified Elective, the relevant Program Chair. |
Supervision
| 10. |
It is the
student’s responsibility to find a supervisor for their proposed
ISC. |
| |
|
| 11. |
The supervisor of an
ISC must be a member of Murdoch University’s full time or fractional
full time academic staff. |
| |
|
| 12. |
Additional supervision
may be provided by an associate supervisor who is not an academic employed
by Murdoch University. If there is to be any payment to an associate supervisor
this must be approved by the Head of School. |
| |
|
| 13. |
The supervisor and,
if appropriate, the associate supervisor, must be approved by the Head
of School. |
| |
|
| 14. |
The supervisor and School
must be able to provide the resources (including academic time) required
for the student to undertake an ISC. |
| |
|
| 15. |
The number of ISCs an
academic may supervise is not prescribed but shall be governed by the
availability of resources. The Head of School is responsible for regulating
this. |
Approval
| 16. |
A student
wishing to undertake an ISC must complete the attached
approved ISC application form. |
| |
|
| 17. |
Where applicable, students
undertaking an ISC must conform to any University policy on Workplace
Learning. |
| |
|
| 18. |
Where applicable, all
required permits, licenses and approvals must be obtained before the parts
of the ISC that require these approvals commence. |
| |
|
| 19. |
Heads of School are
responsible for approving ISCs. This includes that necessary resources
are available, the supervisor has expertise in the area of the ISC and
the supervision and assessment arrangements are appropriate. |
Assessment
| 20. |
Assessment must be in accordance with the University’s
Assessment Policy. |
| |
|
| 21. |
The supervisor
will provide a grade to the Division Office which will subsequently be
reported to the relevant Board of Examiners for ratification, in line
with the Assessment Policy. |
| |
|
| 22. |
A copy of the work on which students are assessed from all ISCs
will be kept in line with the University’s Retention & Disposal
Schedules of University Records policy. |
| |
|
| 23. |
ISC titles will appear
on the student’s academic transcript. |
| |
|
| 24. |
Appeals against final
grades awarded to ISCs shall be considered by the same Appeals Committee
that considers appeals against other unit grades. |
Quality Assurance
| 25. |
The ISC
contract and results will be provided to the Board of Examiners annually,
or at other times as appropriate on all ISCs. This report must contain
information on the title of the ISC, its content, points value, assessment
requirements, supervisor(s) and assessment results. |
| |
|
| 26. |
In order to have some
central oversight of ISCs, each Division shall provide a report each January
to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic). The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)
shall report any issues arising from these reports to Academic Council
at its March meeting. |
| RESPONSIBILITIES: |
| Responsible Officer |
Secretary Academic Council |
| Implementation Officers |
Divisional Executive Officers / Student Administration
Managers
Heads of School
Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) |
| Information Contact Officer |
Secretary Academic Council |
| RELATED MATERIALS / POLICIES: |
|
AC/552/1977
AC/93/1999(a)
Bachelor Degree Regulations
Assessment Policy
Retention & Disposal Schedules of University Records
Policy
Unit Offerings Policy
Workplace Learning Policy |
| REVISION HISTORY: |
| Approved / Amended / Rescinded |
Date |
Committee |
Resolution Number |
| Approved |
11 August 1976 |
Academic Council |
AC/462/1976 |
| Amended |
6 April 1976 |
Academic Council |
AC/45/1977 (a) |
| Amended |
8 November 1978 |
Academic Council |
AC/142/1978 (e) |
| Amended |
12 March 1979 |
Academic Council |
AC/26/1979 |
| Amended |
14 September 1980 |
Academic Council |
AC/82/1980 |
| Amended |
6 March 1996 |
Academic Council |
AC/35/1996 (w) |
| Amended |
26 November 1997 |
Academic Council |
AC/148/1997 (c-i) |
| All the above resolutions rescinded |
19 May 2004 |
Academic Council |
AC/97/2004 |
| Amended |
13 September 2006 |
Academic Council |
AC/120/2006 |
|
