Unit, Core Unit, Specified Elective, General Elective, Cancelled, Discontinued, Small Unit, Special Topic Units, Generic Special Topic, Cross-Institutional Enrolment, Unit Code, Triple Alpha, Triple Numeric, Field of Education, Unit Base Code

PREAMBLE

This policy combines the previous Double Coding of Units and Small Units policies, Guidelines on Special Topics, and triple alpha/triple numeric codes. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Bachelor Degree Regulations, Amendments to Courses, Majors, Minors and Units policy, Discontinuation of Courses, Majors, Minors and Units policy and the Independent Study Contracts in Undergraduate Degrees policy.

A change to improve or edit a unit offered by Murdoch University.

A unit which was indicated as being offered in a specified teaching period and is subsequently not offered in that teaching period, but is intended to be offered in a subsequent teaching period.

A unit offered by another institution, that may be taken by a Murdoch student for credit.

A discontinued unit is one which will no longer be offered by the University. Once a unit has been discontinued no further enrolments shall be accepted.

A unit that has content applicable at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level and is offered under two codes, with substantial differences in learning objectives, assessment and content explicitly described in the Unit Information and Learning Guide.

A unit of independent study on a topic or subject that is not available as a structured unit within the University for which credit toward a degree may be obtained.

A unit that is offered under only one triple alpha / triple numeric unit code.

A unit with student enrolments below the minimum enrolment thresholds.

A Part II or postgraduate level temporary specialty subject offered as either a Generic Special Topic Unit or individual Special Topic Unit.

A unit is the basic component of study, normally completed over a period of one semester. A combination of required units (core units plus specified elective units) and general elective units make up a course, major, minor or specialisation.

A compulsory unit in an approved course, major, minor or specialisation.

A compulsory elective unit in an approved course, major, minor or specialisation. A student is required to select a specific number of specified elective units from an approved list.

A unit of a student's free choice.

Each unit is assigned a triple alpha/triple numeric code with the triple alpha aligned with the general broad discipline area. Please refer to the Schedule of Approved Triple Alpha Codes as attached.

1.

Authority to Offer Units

Academic Council may over-rule any decision made by a Division on unit offerings where, in its view, this is against the interests of the University overall.

2.

Unit Approvals

New units are approved as part of the annual academic planning process in accordance with the Bachelor Degree Regulations and prevailing Academic Planning Guidelines.

2.1

Single-coded units and Special Topic units

Single-coded units and Special Topic units are approved by School Committees and Divisional Boards. [School Committees approve the content, pre-requisites, and teaching and assessment methods; and Divisional Boards approve the title, points value and enrolment option(s).]

2.2

Unit codes

Unit codes are approved in accordance with the following principles:

(i)

Unit codes should be selected with a view to long-term stability of the code.

(ii)

Where possible, the triple alpha code should be aligned with the general broad discipline area.

(iii)

Where the same alpha code is requested by more than one Division, the President of Academic Council will decide on the final allocation.

(iv)

New unit proposals should include the preferred triple alpha.

(v)

Where possible, existing unit numbers should be maintained.

(vi)

Enabling (bridging and supplementary) courses which do not carry credit into University level studies have a triple numeric code commencing with the numeral 0 (zero).

2.3

Double-coded units

Double-coded units are approved by the Academic Policy Committee on the recommendation of the Divisional Board in accordance with the following provisions:

(i)

Double coding be allowed only when there is a substantive reason for doing so (to ensure there is not a proliferation of such units).

(ii)

Units at 200 level and above be eligible for double coding only if they are appropriate (in an enhanced form) between corresponding undergraduate/postgraduate courses, or between levels of articulating postgraduate courses, and only where they are integral to both courses.

(iii)

Double coded units must provide a clearly different learning experience for the different cohorts of students. This must be demonstrated by clearly stated higher-level learning objectives, differentiated assessment with higher expected levels of student performance, and extended learning activities and content for the higher level student cohort. Differences must be explicitly set out in unit learning and information guides. Several examples of how double coded units might meet these requirements are provided in Attachment X:

(iv)

Students at the graduate, postgraduate or honours level are required to enrol in the higher level unit as appropriate. Undergraduate students are required to enrol in the lower level coded unit.

(v)

Students who have completed the lower level version of a double-coded unit may not normally subsequently enrol in the higher level version. The Handbook entry for the unit must state clearly if this is possible.

(vi)

Where a student undertakes a subsequent course that requires a double-coded unit at the higher level, and where the student has already successfully completed the unit at a lower level, the student must take and pass an alternative unit approved by the Program Chair in order to complete the course. No credit will be granted towards the higher level version of double-coded units in subsequent courses on the basis of successful completion of the corresponding lower level unit in a previous course.

(vii)

Units with double coding will be assigned one Field of Education Code, one HECS band and one Murdoch funding cluster, unless the points of difference are clearly enunciated in the unit description published in the Handbook. Executive Deans are advised to consult with the Director of Policy and Planning regarding the possible funding and HECS implications of double coding units.

(viii)

As part of the academic planning approval process, the Executive Dean of the Division recommending the double coding must provide a written assurance that the unit offered at the higher level complies with this policy in terms of the differentiated learning experience.

2.4

Special Topic Units

Special Topic units are designed to allow flexibility in teaching arrangements and unit offerings according to the availability of special expertise among members of the academic staff in a given year, in particular to utilise the expertise of visiting academics. They can be used to pilot possible new units where student demand is uncertain.

It is important to distinguish between the Generic Special Topic Unit (ongoing umbrella unit with a generic title, e.g. EVR230 Special Topics in Environmental Science), and the individual Special Topic (temporary specialty subject offered under that umbrella, e.g. Environmental Technology). It is possible to offer a number of Special Topics with different titles under a single Generic Special Topic Unit.

Special Topics are approved in accordance with the following provisions:

(i)

In any School, the points value of Part II (undergraduate) Special Topics on offer per year shall not be greater than four points per eight established academic staff positions. [These limits on Special Topics do not apply to Special Assignments in the Veterinary School.] Double-coded units will be treated as a single unit in terms of calculating the points per 8 established academic staff positions. The points value will be that of the highest coded unit of the two units.

(ii)

Schools be permitted to offer one Special Topic per postgraduate course per year.

(iii)

The minimum enrolment for a Special Topic offering to proceed shall be as prescribed in Clause 3.1b below.

Independent Study Contracts (ISCs) are designed to provide students with the opportunity to research a topic of special interest, subject to there being staff available and willing to supervise. ISCs are individually approved by the Head of School in which the supervisor is located.

ISC's are only available to students enrolled for a degree at Murdoch University who have achieved an academic record of a credit average or higher. Normally they are undertaken from Part II.

Only one ISC may be undertaken by a student in any given teaching period.

An ISC may be either two, three or four points in value. A maximum of 8 points of ISCs are permitted per undergraduate degree, excluding the honours year.

Cross-institutional enrolments allow Murdoch students to undertake a unit from another institution. If the unit is not an option within the structure of a course, enrolment in the unit must be approved by the Program Chair.

Cross-institutional units must be equivalent in points value and academic content to Murdoch University units.

A result of an ungraded pass shall be reported for cross-institutional enrolments where the student has undertaken the unit for credit towards the Murdoch University degree. The academic transcript shall record the name of the institution the student took the unit from and the result awarded by it.

Where a unit offered by another institution is required by the major or listed as part of it, and the grading system is the same as that of Murdoch University, the grade awarded by the other institution shall be recorded as the Murdoch University grade. Cross-institutional enrolments for international students must be approved by the Managing Director, Office of Central Student Administration, or a relevant delegate, as part of the compliance requirements under the ESOS Act, 2001.

3.

Minimum Unit Enrolments

3.1

In order to avoid uneconomic unit offerings, unit enrolments are expected to meet minimum enrolment thresholds or be discontinued. When averaged over the past two offerings, the unit should attract an enrolment of not less than:

(a)

for Part I and Part II units (except Special Topics): 

• 2 EFTSU if offered in one teaching mode [e.g. 16 enrolments for a 3 point Part I unit, 12 for 4 point Part II units] 

• 3 EFTSU if offered in two teaching modes [e.g. 24 enrolments for a Part I unit, 18 for 4 point Part II units] 

• 4 EFTSU if offered in three teaching modes [e.g. 32 enrolments for a Part I unit, 24 for 4 point Part II units]

(b)

for 400/500/600 level units and all Special Topics: 

1.5 EFTSU [e.g. 9 enrolments for a 4 point unit]

where a teaching mode is defined to be either internal or external. [Note: 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Unit (EFTSU) = 6 enrolments for a 4-point unit, and 8 enrolments for a 3-point unit.]

A unit not meeting the threshold may be discontinued or, in order to meet the above threshold, the number of teaching modes may be reduced.

These thresholds do not apply to the Rockingham and Peel campuses or to Offshore offerings. They also do not apply to honours units, practicums, special assignments, independent study contracts, practical placements, study abroad units, and thesis/dissertation/project units.

3.2

The Executive Dean can grant exceptions to, Minimum Unit Enrolments in the following circumstances:

• The unit is a required unit for a course, major or minor which is recommended for continuation, or is a required part of a collaborative agreement with another educational provider. In cases where a course, major or minor is to be radically restructured, an exemption may be granted for up to three years for small units.

• The unit is substantially funded by external sources (e.g. lectureship funded by industry). 

• The unit should attract an enrolment above the threshold when next offered (e.g. because it is becoming an elective for a large course or has been offered once only). 

• The unit is taught jointly with another larger unit (e.g. sharing all lectures), requiring little extra staff contact hours.

• The Executive Dean believes that it is in the strategic interest of the University to retain the unit, after consultation with Senior Executive. 

• The cancellation of the unit, possibly in conjunction with other units with low enrolments, makes the course, major or minor no longer academically viable. In any such situation the Executive Dean shall review whether the course, major or minor concerned should be discontinued before deciding to retain the unit.

4.

Unit Cancellations

4.1

A unit may be cancelled because of (a) low enrolments, or (b) the resignation or incapacity of the Unit Coordinator, where there is not another staff member available with the expertise to teach the unit.

4.2

Divisions are encouraged to cancel any unit, or the internal enrolment option, where the enrolment is small and the unit is not a compulsory unit. Divisions should review unit enrolments well in advance of each semester, so that such decisions can be made as early as possible. Options available include cancellation of the unit; reducing contact hours; and transferring students to the external enrolment option (if available).

4.3

A unit or enrolment option of a unit shall not be cancelled later than two weeks before the start of the semester concerned, unless this has the consent of all students enrolled in it, or it is a consequence of unavailability of staff and occurs no later than the end of week 2 of semester.

4.4

The cancellation of a unit will not prevent or delay the graduation of any student enrolled in it.

4.5

When a unit is cancelled, all students enrolled in the unit shall be notified in writing and be assisted in making an alternative enrolment. The Division shall notify the Office of Central Student Administration.

5.

Discontinuing a Unit

5.1

As part of the annual academic planning exercise, Divisions may approve the discontinuation of particular units. The following issues must be taken into account when discontinuing a unit:

(i)

If the unit is a core or specified elective unit, a revised course, major or minor structure must be submitted in accordance with the prevailing Academic Planning Guidelines.

(ii)

When there is a change to the requirements of a course, major or minor, the students enrolled in it shall not be subject to any additional requirements. Therefore consideration must be given to appropriate transitional arrangements. The home Division must consult with affected parties to ensure there are no unintended consequences and that replacement units are available where appropriate.

5.2

Divisions may have to delay discontinuing certain units to accommodate the requirement that students are entitled to complete course, major and minor structures in which they initially enrolled. Please refer to the Discontinuation of Courses, Majors, Minors and Units policy.

6.1

Core units must be offered each year. Where courses are of less than one year's duration and offered more than once a year, core units must be offered once during each course offering.

6.2

Specified elective units must be offered at least each alternate year, with a sufficient number offered in any course cycle to provide full-time students with a choice in the units they select to fulfil their course/major requirements.

6.3

General elective units must be offered at least each alternate year.

6.4

Divisions should provide justification to make any unit not available for two consecutive years, rather than discontinuing it.

Secretary to Academic Council

Executive Deans

Secretary to Academic Council