Policies To Protect You

Victoria University's (VUW) academic policies are guidelines that inform you of your rights as a student, as well as outline the university administration's hopes for a successful student experience and their official plan-of-action for student-related issues. Your experience here will encompass many fulfilling things, such as taking and successfully completing coursework and developing rewarding relationships with mentors and peers. Although it is our wish that your time at Victoria is overwhelmingly positive, you may also encounter unfortunate situations, such as dealing with unsatisfactory marks or making an academic complaint. Whatever your experience may be, the university's academic policies will point you in the right direction.

VUW Academic Policy:
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/home/about/policy/academic.aspx

Above is the link to the official university policy page. Below you'll find Victoria International's summarised explanations of each topic. The link below each topic will direct you to the topic's PDF document on the policy webpage. Each document contains a contact person for the relevant policy. You'll also find a link to Helpful Glossary at the end of this page that provides help with challenging words.

Explanations to Help You*

Academic Progress Statute
If you are not doing well in your courses, and are concerned about what action the university may take, this document addresses what the administration may/can do for unsatisfactory academic progress, for one trimester or more. It also provides information about how to appeal (see Glossary) the administration's decision.
Academic Progress Statute

Academic Transcripts Policy
This policy defines the many forms of official documentation the university can issue to students, from transcripts to certificates, and describes eligibility to receive them.
Academic Transcripts Policy

Admission Statute
This section outlines the requirements for university admission and matriculated and non-matriculated enrolment (see Glossary). It also describes the different types of admission, with Section 4.7 specifically tailored to international students.
Admission Statute

Awarding of Qualifications Posthumously Policy
If a student dies during their programme and was nearing programme completion, the university may, under certain circumstances as outlined in the policy, grant the deceased student a qualification.
Awarding of Qualifications Posthumously Policy

Credit Transfer Statute
Are you interested in transferring credit from another institution to Victoria University? This document focuses on the circumstances under which transfer credit may be awarded, how you would "see" the credit (for example, as identified as a course code or to satisfy a particular requirement) and how it is assessed (or how credit value is determined). It also mentions circumstances under which credit is not awarded, and how, if already awarded, may be cancelled.
Credit Transfer Statute

Dealing with Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines
These guidelines reinforce what the first policy "Academic Progress Statute" states about how you will be identified as needing academic support, and introduce the university's academic reporting system Banner, which generates a list of students who earn unsatisfactory marks for a particular period of time. You will learn what to expect from university support when your academic progress has been considered unsatisfactory, as well as what actions the university may take if your status does not improve.
Dealing with Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines

Enrolment Statute
This statute (see Glossary) outlines the enrolment process for standard courses and programmes, and others requiring additional documentation. It lists application deadlines, tells you how you will be informed of the university's decision and indicates when the university may refuse or cancel enrolment of a student.
Enrolment Statute

Fees Statute
This document tells you all you need to know about paying for your studies and related expenses at Victoria University. It begins by explaining when you become obligated to pay fees, what kind of fees you will be charged (such as tuition, student services fee, etc.) depending on your status (domestic, international, exchange, etc.) and by when you must pay them. If you fail to pay your fees, you may not be able to attend lectures, receive grades and/or attain a degree. There are certain situations where you would not be held responsible for paying fees (such as withdrawing from courses in the methods the policy states) and in some cases, students may be eligible for refunds. Section 4.14 applies specifically to international students. Appendices (see Glossary) list exact fee amounts as well as withdrawal deadline dates.
Fees Statute

Graduation Statute
In order to formally graduate, you will need to submit an application to the appropriate administration office, as outlined in the statute, by a certain date. It is your responsibility to make sure that everything is completed (such as fulfilling all outstanding/remaining obligations to the university) in order to graduate. The statute also reminds students that only one original qualification will be issued. Students can apply for a replacement if necessary.
Graduation Statute

Recognition of Prior Formal Learning (RPL) Policy
In some cases, the university may grant academic credit to knowledge gained in a non-formal setting prior to Victoria University studies. This policy addresses what kind of learning qualifies for this type of credit, who approves credit proposals, and how prior learning is assessed. It also provides guidelines for departments interested in issuing credit for this type of learning.
Prior Formal Learning Policy

 

Assessment Statute
How well you perform academically at Victoria University is not only determined by course testing, but also by other factors, as outlined at the beginning of each course. This policy outlines what types of assessments (see Glossary) students may have to engage in, what is expected of them in order to pass a course, and guidelines for students who are not satisfied with an academic mark and would like to appeal the assessment. It also describes conditions under which students could pass a course if their performance was affected by unusual circumstances (such as an illness, death in the family, etc.).
Assessment Statute

For a more extensive description of the university's policy on assessment, see below.
Assessment Handbook

Academic Grievance Policy
Students who feel that they have been treated unfairly (aggrieved) academically are provided with a means to address with the issue. The grievance (see Glossary) policy encourages students to first try to deal with their grievance informally, by speaking with relevant tutors and lecturers. If the problem can not be resolved by informal means, students then have the right to make a formal complaint by sharing it with a grievances committee. In the case that a student is not satisfied with the committee's decision, they can challenge it with the appeals committee.
Academic Grievance Policy

Blackboard Guidelines
Blackboard is the university's online learning tool. These guidelines mainly advise university staff on what to consider when choosing to use Blackboard, etc. It does mention, however, the level of support students can expect to receive from the Blackboard support team.
Blackboard Guidelines

Class Representative Policy
In order for students' ideas and concerns to be collectively shared with university staff and Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association (VUWSA), a class representative is chosen for each undergraduate course. This policy outlines how a class representative is chosen, the responsibilities of that representative, as well as those of the course coordinator and VUWSA representative.
Class Representative Policy

Dealing with Student Plagiarism and Related Academic Misconduct Procedure
Plagiarism (see Glossary) is strictly prohibited at Victoria University. This document is primarily intended to help academic staff in dealing with suspected plagiarism and other academic misconduct (see Glossary), by outlining various processes and their deadlines.
Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

Penalties for misconduct are outlined in the "Student Conduct Statute."
Student Conduct Statute

Meeting the Needs of Students with Impairments Policy
For students with impairments, the university takes steps to ensure that those students are provided the necessary support and accommodation they need. Disability Support Services is the primary office on campus to assist with this. This policy outlines the responsibilities of academic staff and of students with impairments, as well as the appeals process for students who challenge the impairments policy.
Students with Impairments Policy
.
Recording by Students of Lectures and other Teaching Policy
At Victoria University, students, with permission from the lecturer, may record (by tape recorder) a lecture as long as they meet certain conditions, such as agreeing to use the recording only for purposes of reviewing class material.
Recording by Students

The Use of Te Reo Maori for Assessment Policy
This policy explains under what conditions students may be assessed in Te Reo Maori and provides guidelines for students, faculty managers and translators involved in the process. A list of specific contacts in each faculty is provided.
Use of Te Reo Maori for Assessment

Cancellation of Course Offerings Policy
Although Victoria University strives to deliver to students all the courses it advertises, under certain circumstances as outlined in the policy, courses may be cancelled. This document describes those circumstances, the university's responsibility in minimising the negative effects of canceling a course, as well as the cancellation approval process. For those courses that are cancelled, students will receive refunds.
Cancellation of Course Offerings

Cancellation of Programme Intakes Policy
Just as courses may be cancelled under certain circumstances, so too can programme intakes (see Glossary). This policy describes when programme intakes can be cancelled, and what the university administration considers when making this decision.
Cancellation of Programme Intakes Policy

Changing Mode of Delivery of Existing Courses Policy
Major changes to the way a course is taught must be approved by university administration. This documents provides guidelines for teaching staff wanting to modify the current method of teaching, outlines the staff's responsibilities, as well as the rights of students. Despite changes to the delivery style, learning material is still subject to teaching and learning standards.
Changing Mode of Delivery of Existing Courses

Deletion of Qualifications, Majors, Subjects and Courses Policy
This policy states under what conditions qualifications, majors, subjects and courses can be deleted, and outlines the procedures academic staff should follow.
Deletion of Qualifications, Majors, Subjects and Courses

Limitations on Courses and Programmes Statute
Under certain conditions, such as having insufficient resources, the university may limit enrolment for courses and programmes. This statute offers procedures for academic staff setting these limitations. In addition, an appendix is provided with a list of degree programmes and their enrolment limitations.
Limitations on Courses and Programmes