(1) This Procedure outlines the conditions under which adjustments may be sought and granted for assessment arrangements and outcomes. (2) Refer to the Assessment Policy. (3) Provisions for adjustments to marks as an outcome of a student request for a review are outlined in the Assessment Procedure - Validation and Moderation. (4) This Procedure forms part of the Assessment Policy suite which governs its application. (5) All students may initiate an application for the following adjustments when their performance in assessment tasks will be or has been impacted by short-term adverse circumstances: (6) Academic staff and Student Advisors may also recommend that individual students deemed to be academically at risk apply for adjustments to assessment, at the same time as referring them to appropriate support services. (7) Other adjustments, such as Supplementary Assessments and Conceded Passes, are initiated by the University in defined circumstances when a student’s academic progress is impacted by the outcomes of assessment. (8) The University provides modified assessment arrangements, known as Reasonable Adjustments, to accommodate students: (9) Reasonable Adjustments to assessment conditions for students with appropriate circumstances are established as part of a Learning Access Plan (LAP) with Student Advisors. (10) Where students with a LAP require any of the adjustments outlined in this Procedure, they must apply through the processes outlined in this Procedure and attach their LAP as supporting evidence. Adjustments will be granted in accordance with this Procedure and their LAP. Where further evidence is required, this will be stated in the evidence requirements on the relevant web pages and forms. (11) Assessment tasks must be submitted by 11.59 pm (Melbourne time) on the due date (or 12.00am where systems do not allow 11.59pm). Exceptions to this include performative and point-in-time assessments (such as presentations, practical classes, and examinations), where students are required to submit materials during or at the conclusion of an event. (12) Short Extensions of three calendar days are available for students experiencing short-term difficult circumstances that impact the completion of eligible assessment tasks (see Definition section). (13) Students with a LAP that provides for additional extension time as an adjustment are entitled to an extension of seven (7) calendar days. Where required, and where provided for in their LAP, students may apply for an additional extension for an extra seven (7) calendar days. Extensions are calculated from the original due date, or in the case of a second extension, from the adjusted date (see also Late Applications). (14) Extensions of time to a new date are normally not allowable for performative or point-in-time assessments, such as observed practice or live presentations. Students who require an alternative time or date for a point-in-time scheduled assessment event to be held during a teaching period should in the first instance discuss options available to them with their Subject Coordinator. If no alternative options are available, they should consider whether their circumstances warrant an application for Special Consideration. (15) A Short Extension can only be granted once for each task for students who do not have a LAP with relevant provisions. Any additional extension requests for the same assessment task from students who do not have a LAP require an application for Special Consideration where the circumstances are appropriate. (16) Applications for Short Extensions must be submitted by all students, using the Adjustments Form, no later than 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the due date of the assessment. (17) Students without a LAP are not required to submit supporting evidence with the Short Extension application. Students with a LAP that includes extensions to submission dates are required to provide a copy of their LAP as part of any application for an extension that is greater than three days. (18) Late applications for Short Extensions are not accepted from students who do not have a LAP. Students who require an extension who have failed to apply before the due date are directed through the Adjustments Form to consider applying for Special Consideration where their circumstances are appropriate. (19) Students with a LAP with relevant adjustments who apply for an extension after the due date of their assessment will be granted the seven(7)-calendar-day extension. The extension will apply from the original due date of their assessment (e.g., an application that is submitted five (5) calendar days late will be granted a two(2)-calendar-day extension). (20) Short Extensions are granted automatically. Students receive system-generated advice of the new due date for their assessment to their Student Online account immediately on successful submission of their application. (21) Reports of extensions granted are issued daily to Subject Coordinators who then manually update any new due date for relevant students in the Learning Management System. (22) The standard penalty for the late submission of an assessment task without or beyond an approved Short Extension will be five per cent of the total possible mark for the task (ie 5% of 100%) per calendar day that the task is overdue. Where a student is subsequently granted Special Consideration the penalty is removed. (23) Work will not be assessed if the submission is overdue by more than five (5) calendar days after: (24) Students may experience circumstances that require an adjustment other than a Short Extension. When students experience unforeseen circumstances of a more serious and acute nature that have impacted or will impact the execution of an assessment task, or have specific obligations that clash with a scheduled examination, they may need Special Consideration or a Replacement Examination Date. (25) Such circumstances must: (26) Eligible and ineligible circumstances for these adjustments are outlined in Appendix One. (27) The options for adjustment to assessment in such circumstances include: (28) Students with a LAP may apply for Special Consideration or a Replacement Examination Date where they believe their circumstances warrant an adjustment not provided for in their LAP. This includes when they experience: (29) Students must normally consider their need for Special Consideration in the period leading up to the due date of their assessment. An application for Special Consideration submitted any time up to 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the due date is considered a timely application. (30) Students who initiate a timely application for Special Consideration will be reminded to apply for a Short Extension if they have not already done so. Those students who believe they need more than a Short Extension can still apply for Special Consideration following the granting of a Short Extension. Any extension subsequently granted for an eligible Special Consideration application will take into account any Short Extension already granted. (31) Students cannot apply for a Short Extension after the due date of their assessment. Students who require an extension after the due date for their assignment has passed can only apply for Special Consideration. (32) An application for Special Consideration submitted after the due date of the assessment task (apart from those who have attempted a point-in-time task or examination) is considered late. In these circumstances students are required to outline and provide evidence for the exceptional circumstances that prevented them from applying on time. (33) Exceptional circumstances must have occurred during the period in which an application would normally be made and be accompanied by evidence for the delay. The circumstances must have been experienced directly by the student, or, if not, students must be able to demonstrate how they have been impacted. Such circumstances are limited to: (34) Applications for Special Consideration cannot be accepted where the results for a subject have already been released. (35) Students that have a LAP should submit an application for Special Consideration where their existing circumstances have been exacerbated, or for new circumstances that require further adjustments that are not stipulated in their LAP. (36) Students are not eligible for Special Consideration if, at the time of application, they have already submitted the relevant assessment task for marking (this does not include a point-in-time assessment or examination - see below). (37) Students who have submitted an application for Special Consideration (for tasks other than an examination or point-in-time assessment) are advised to continue working on their assessment task and, where possible, to submit the task while they are awaiting the outcome of their application. Students should note that any extension granted as an outcome of their application will take into account any elapsed time that has passed during the processing of the application. (38) Students may submit an application for Special Consideration for an examination or a point-in-time assessment task (such as a presentation or a lab), where they can demonstrate that their performance was impacted by illness or an unforeseen circumstance. (39) All applications for Special Consideration must be accompanied by supporting evidence (see webpage). All supporting evidence must clearly demonstrate the impact the circumstances had on the student’s ability to undertake the assessment task and be submitted: (40) Where students with a LAP apply for Special Consideration for an exacerbation of their condition or other eligible circumstances they must provide a personal statement in addition to their LAP. (41) Applications for Special Consideration will undergo preliminary screening by Academic Services to confirm students’ eligibility, normally within five (5) business days of receipt. Evidence submitted with applications is assessed to determine the severity of the circumstances impacting the student. (42) An application can be declined for failure to meet eligibility criteria (see Appendix One) or for any of the following reasons: (43) Where an application is declined Academic Services will advise the student of the reasons for the rejection and that they have five(5) calendar days to provide more information. If students do not respond within that period their application will be closed. In these circumstances students can submit a new application with any additional information where appropriate. (44) If an application for Special Consideration for an incomplete examination is declined, the original exam paper will be assessed as usual. (45) Additional Special Consideration may only be granted for the same assessment task one further time, and only where extraordinary circumstances have made it impossible for the student to complete their assessment task. In these circumstances a student needs to provide additional evidence of incapacitation or hospitalisation at the time a special assessment task was scheduled. (46) Applications for additional Special Consideration for the same task are assessed by the Manager, Academic Services or nominee, in consultation with Student Advisors as required. (47) Academic Services submits applications that have been assessed as eligible to the relevant Subject Coordinator who then considers the following in determining an outcome for an eligible application: (48) Special Consideration outcomes are normally provided by the Subject Coordinator or relevant staff member within five (5) business days of receiving the application from Academic Services. The possible outcomes of a successful application are as follows: (49) Where the outcome of an application for Special Consideration is for the student to sit a Supplementary Examination in the next scheduled special examination period after an initial attempt of the examination was made, the results of the first examination will not be taken into consideration. (50) When a Special Consideration outcome is granted, and this impacts final results for the subject for the student, the Subject Coordinator is responsible for applying the appropriate Administrative Code on the student’s record in the Student Information System in accordance with the Assessment Schedule - Grades and Administrative Codes. (51) No mark or final grade for the affected subject will be released to the student until any required re-submission or substitute assessment has been completed within agreed timelines. (52) The results of any assessment task awarded under this section should normally be finalised no more than fifteen (15) business days after completion of the assessment task. (53) Students should be aware of the potential impact of an extension of time on other assessment tasks and on the results for the subject(s). This includes Honours and Masters coursework students who may experience a delay in the examination of their thesis when granted an extension of time for submission of their thesis as an outcome of a Special Consideration application. (54) If an application for Special Consideration is rejected at this point the Subject Coordinator notifies the student of the reason for the decision and, where appropriate, any other options available in their circumstances. (55) In extreme circumstances the relevant Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) may approve an extension beyond the end of the Final Assessment Period. An extension in these circumstances may not extend beyond ninety (90) calendar days of the results release date of the applicable teaching period. (56) If a student is dissatisfied with the outcome of their application for Special Consideration, and they have grounds to believe that this Procedure has not been correctly applied, they may seek a review within five (5) calendar days of receiving the decision, as follows: (57) Students are expected to undertake scheduled examinations or assessments at the designated time and date regardless of their other commitments, including but not limited to any ongoing work and carer duties, and personal travel or social arrangements. (58) This section describes processes for students to follow when they have an unavoidable commitment that prevents them from participating in an assessment or examination to be held during the Final Assessment Period held following each teaching period (see Short Extension section for assessments held during the teaching period). (59) When a student cannot sit a scheduled examination or assessment in the Final Assessment Period because of special and foreseeable circumstances beyond their control (see Appendix One), they may apply for a Replacement Examination Date using the Adjustment Form. (60) Students who have an examination or assessment scheduled on a Saturday in the Final Assessment Period may also apply for a Replacement Examination Date where they do not have access to their normal caring arrangements. (61) An application for a Replacement Examination Date should normally be lodged as follows: (62) When any student (including a student with a LAP) is unable to attend a scheduled examination or assessment due to an acute medical or unavoidable, unforeseen life event they should apply for Special Consideration through the Adjustment Form. (63) Students with a LAP may already have Reasonable Adjustments in place for assessment or examinations held during the Final Assessment Period. These students should still apply for a Replacement Examination Date where any of the clashes outlined in Appendix One apply. (64) A student may seek a review of a decision in relation to an application for a Replacement Examination Date where they believe they have grounds that this Procedure has not been correctly applied. The application for review must be submitted via written response to the decline email within five calendar days of receiving the decision. (65) Requests for review will be assessed by the Manager, Academic Services or a nominee who is independent of the original decision. (66) This Part outlines the adjustments to assessment arrangements and grades that may be made by the University, within specific parameters, when a student’s academic progress is at risk due to their performance in certain tasks or subjects. (67) This part does not apply to thesis subjects. (68) A student who has received a pass for a subject (that is who has obtained a minimum grade of 50% or whatever grade is deemed a pass in a particular subject) but has failed a compulsory (hurdle) requirement for that subject may be granted a Supplementary Assessment. (69) In these circumstances a temporary Administrative Code will be applied pending the outcome of the supplementary assessment. (70) If it is impractical for the student to undertake an additional assessment task, such as when the failed hurdle is for a workplace-based assessment, the student is given an ungraded fail (F). (71) Eligible students are given a minimum of five (5) business days’ notice of the additional assessment opportunity. (72) Additional assessment is normally undertaken no later than the end of the progression period or the teaching period in which the subject is undertaken unless the hurdle is a point-in-time task that cannot be held within this time frame. The majority of tasks are finalised (results recorded in the Student Information System) no more than five (5) business days following the week in which central special examinations conclude. (73) The final grade for the subject shall not increase as a result of a student passing a second attempt at a hurdle assessment. (74) Assessments that are predominantly workplace-based and those unable to be replicated via supplementary activities are not eligible for Supplementary Assessment. (75) In all other cases where a student has failed a subject that is the final subject to complete for the course, an additional assessment to allow the student a second opportunity to pass the subject will be offered, where they: (76) A temporary Administrative Code will be applied to the subject pending the outcome of the Supplementary Assessment. (77) If a student passes the additional assessment awarded under this section, the final grade for the subject will be 50D; if the student fails the further assessment, the original Fail result will stand. (78) Arrangements for additional assessment will be managed by the relevant Subject Coordinator. The timing, terms and conditions of the assessment must be communicated clearly to the student at least five (5) business days before the assessment task is held (if the assessment is an event, such as an examination or test). If the assessment requires an output such as an essay, reasonable time must be allowed for completion of the task. (79) A student may seek a review of a decision in relation to a supplementary assessment where they believe they have grounds that this Procedure has not been correctly applied. Students should apply in writing within five (5) calendar days of the decision to the Subject Coordinator, or if they were the original decision maker, to the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching). (80) This section sets out the circumstances under which the University may adjust a student’s grade for a subject to a Conceded Pass, and the process for doing so. (81) A Conceded Pass (NC) may be granted for a single coursework subject of 15 or fewer credit points when the following conditions are met: (82) Where a course consists of only 60 credit points in total students may be awarded a Conceded Pass for any eligible subject where all other conditions have been met. (83) Academic Services will provide Subject Coordinators with relevant reports and ask them to confirm that all conditions for the award of a Conceded Pass have been met before the grade is applied to the relevant students’ records by Academic Services. (84) All conceded passes are terminal and may not be used to satisfy course prerequisites (for example for a subsequent honours year) or requirements for professional accreditation. (85) Students who are granted a Conceded Pass for a subject may not request a review of any other assessment within the subject. Following the release of results, students may choose to decline the Conceded Pass through a request to Academic Services and re-enrol in the subject. (86) Where a student has been granted a Conceded Pass for any subject within the last 60 credit points of their course, they become ineligible for any further Conceded Passes. (87) Students who have pursued reviews of decisions made under this Procedure and still believe they have grounds that this Procedure has not been correctly followed may lodge a complaint under the provisions of the Student Complaints Management Policy. (88) Where any complaint is escalated the University Ombudsman may only conduct an investigation into whether the correct procedures were followed in the making of any decision in relation to assessment. (89) The circumstances which may lead to a need to apply for Special Consideration or a Replacement Examination Date include, but are not limited to: (90) The determination of eligibility for these adjustments, and the requirements for associated evidence, will take into account cultural context where appropriate, such as recognition of activities associated with Sorry Business for Indigenous students. (91) The responsibilities and workload associated with holding the office of President of a Recognised Student Organisation are recognised as grounds for obtaining such adjustments. (92) Special Consideration or Replacement Examination Dates are not granted for: (93) For the purposes of this Policy and Procedure: (94) This Procedure is made under the La Trobe University Act 2009. (95) Associated information includes:Assessment Procedure - Adjustments (including Special Consideration)
Section 1 - Key Information
Top of Page
Policy Type and Approval Body
Academic – Academic Board
Accountable Executive – Policy
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Responsible Manager – Policy
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)
Review Date
4 December 2027
Section 2 - Purpose
Section 3 - Scope
Section 4 - Key Decisions
Top of Page
Key Decisions
Role
Granting of short extensions
Automatic via StudentOnLine
Application of late penalties
Relevant assessor (academic)
Eligibility for Special Consideration
Academic Services
Review of Special Consideration eligibility decision
Manager, Academic Services
Outcome of eligible applications for Special Consideration
Subject Coordinator
Review of Special Consideration Outcome
Course Coordinator or ADLT
Granting of a Replacement Examination Date
Academic Services
Review of a decision in relation to a Replacement Examination Date
Manager, Academic Services
Eligibility for a Conceded Pass
Subject Coordinator
Section 5 - Policy Statement
Section 6 - Procedures
Part A - Overview
Part B - Reasonable Adjustments
Part C - Submission of Assessments
Part D - Short Extensions of Time
Conditions
Applications
Closing Date and Evidence
Late Applications – Students Without a LAP
Late Applications - Students With a LAP That Includes Provisions for Extensions
Granting of Extensions
Overdue Submission of Assessment Tasks
Part E - Other Student-Initiated Adjustments
Overview
Students with a LAP
Part F - Special Consideration
Applications
Late Applications
Supporting Evidence Requirements
Stage One - Assessment of Eligibility
Additional Special Consideration for the Same Task
Stage Two - Outcomes of Eligible Applications
Extensions Beyond the End of the Scheduled Final Assessment Period
Requests for Review
Part G - Replacement Examination Dates
Students with a LAP
Requests for Review
Part H - Adjustments for Academic Progress
Supplementary Assessment
Supplementary Assessment for Failed Hurdle Tasks
Supplementary Assessment for Failed Final Subjects
Requests for Review
Conceded Passes
Part I - Requests for Further Review
Part J - Appendix One
Eligible Circumstances
Ineligible Circumstances
Top of PageSection 7 - Definitions
Top of Page
Section 8 - Authority and Associated Information
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This Procedure is applicable from 3 March 2025.