Coursework Courses and Units Accreditation Procedure

Parent Policy

Coursework Courses and Units Accreditation Policy

Scope

These procedures apply to all Monash campuses.  At the Sunway campus, the Course Accreditation Business Rule is applied also.

Proposal for the Introduction of a New Course or Major Amendment to a Course

1. Expressions of interest for the introduction or amendment of courses are first considered by managing faculty boards or delegated committee(s), with the guidance of the Dean and Associate Dean (Education) on alignment with the educational priorities of the Faculty and University and academic standards, and resources strategy, as demonstrated through completion and consideration of the University's course costing template.

2. If endorsed, expressions of interest are submitted for Education Committee consideration via ap@monash.edu.  Expressions of interest are submitted on the University's proforma in line with scheduled dates .

3. The expression of interest is forwarded to Education Committee for consideration over a period of 14 working days, in line with the educational priorities of the University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

4. If endorsed by majority, Faculty Board will be notified of the request for submission of a full proposal for a new coursework course, or major amendment to a coursework course. If endorsed by Faculty Board, full proposals are submitted for Education Committee consideration via ap@monash.edu. Full proposals are submitted on the University's proforma in line with scheduled dates .

5. If endorsed by Education Committee by at least a 75% majority, the expression of interest and a link to the full application are submitted for Academic Board Accreditation. Academic Board considers the accreditation of courses in line with the educational priorities of the University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

6. Once accredited by Academic Board, the University Solicitor's Office will be instructed by the Pro Vice‐Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) to draft course regulations for approval by Academic Board. 

Proposal for the Introduction of a Course Where 90% or More of Units Already Exist, or the Combination of Two Existing Courses in a New Double Degree Course

1. Proposals for the introduction of courses constituted by 90% or more of units that already exist, or the combination of two existing courses in a new double degree are first considered by managing faculty boards or a delegated committee(s), with the guidance of the Dean and Associate Dean (Education) on alignment with the educational priorities of the Faculty and University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy, and resources strategy.

2. If endorsed, proposals are submitted for Education Committee consideration via ap@monash.edu. Proposals are submitted on the University's proforma in line with scheduled dates .

3. If endorsed by Education Committee by at least a 75% majority, the proposal is submitted for Academic Board Accreditation. Academic Board considers the accreditation of courses in line with the educational priorities of the University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

Change of Course Code or Course Title

1. From time to time, changes to the administrative requirements of a course (such as the need to change a course title to meet government requirements or a change to the funding/scholarship arrangements associated with a course) can only be facilitated by changing the course code or course title. Such changes do not affect the course requirements or learning outcomes of that course.

2. Where proposals are being submitted to address administrative requirements and there are no variations to the course requirements and learning outcomes of the courses, the degree awarding faculty may request an exemption from the usual documentation requirements by writing to the Chair of Education Committee and the President of Academic Board. Where an exemption is granted, the faculty must provide a memo to Education Committee and Academic Board, which outlines the administrative need, how the proposal is consistent with educational priorities and resource requirements of the University and address key risk points such as budgetary implications and student load requirements.

Reaccreditation of Courses

1. Each of the University's award courses must be reviewed at least every five years following the process set out in the Coursework Course Review Procedures.

2. Each faculty must publicise on its website the schedule of course reviews planned during the 5 year cycle.

3. If a course is not reviewed within the published timeframe, the managing Faculty must provide a rationale to Academic Board as to why the course's current accreditation term should be extended, explaining why the review has not been completed according to the schedule.

4. If a review is deferred more than twice without reasons accepted by Academic Board, or a faculty fails to provide a rationale for the non‐review of a course, Academic Board will direct the managing faculty to cease any new intake/commencing enrolments into the course until the review has been completed.

5. To apply for course reaccreditation following a review, the managing faculty must submit a copy of the course review implementation plan with a covering memo requesting that Academic Board re‐accredit the course.

 Proposal for the Disestablishment of a Course or Conversion of a Course to a Major or Specialisation Within a Generic Degree

1. Proposals for the disestablishment of a course, the disestablishment of a course via conversion into a major or specialisation, are first considered by the degree‐awarding faculty board or delegated committee(s), with the guidance of the Dean and Associate Dean (Education) on alignment with the educational priorities of the Faculty and University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

2. If endorsed, proposals are submitted for Education Committee consideration via ap@monash.edu. Proposals are submitted on the University's proforma in line with scheduled dates .

3. If endorsed by Education Committee by majority, the proposal is submitted for Academic Board consideration.  Academic Board considers the disestablishment of courses in line with the educational priorities of the University and in line with academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

4. If any of two components of a double degree course is disestablished, then the double degree course must also be disestablished. 

Proposal for the Establishment or Disestablishment of Passport Units or Cross‐Listed Units

1. Proposals for the establishment or disestablishment of Passport units or cross‐listed units, are first considered by owning faculty boards or delegated committee(s), with the guidance of the Dean and Associate Dean (Education) on alignment with the educational priorities of the Faculty and University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy, and resources strategy.

2. If endorsed, proposals are submitted for Education Committee consideration via ap@monash.edu. Proposals are submitted on the University's proforma in line with scheduled dates.

3. If endorsed by Education Committee by majority, the proposal is submitted for Academic Board accreditation.  Academic Board considers the establishment or disestablishment of Passport units or cross‐listed units in line with the educational priorities of the University and academic standards, as articulated in University policy.

Responsibility for Implementation 

Academic Board has responsibility for endorsing the introduction, major amendment to, or disestablishment of courses, and the introduction or disestablishment of Passport or cross‐listed units. It also endorses the University's educational priorities, and academic standards, as articulated in University policy. It has responsibility for monitoring the University's coursework course and units accreditation framework to ensure quality assurance for academic standards, and the identification of opportunities for quality enhancement as part of the Monash quality cycle.

 Deputy Vice‐Chancellor (Education) has responsibility for monitoring and reporting to Academic Board on the University's coursework course and units accreditation framework, including its contribution to internationalisation of education, to ensure quality assurance for academic standards, the proposal of University educational priorities, and the identification and implementation of opportunities for quality enhancement of the University's coursework course and unit accreditation framework as part of the Monash quality cycle.

 Pro Vice‐Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) has responsibility for management of proposals submitted for Education Committee and Academic Board consideration, monitoring of the University's coursework course and unit offerings, and the identification and implementation of opportunities for quality enhancement of the University's coursework course and unit accreditation framework as part of the Monash quality cycle.

 Pro Vice‐Chancellor (Planning and Quality) has responsibility for management of course reaccreditation reports submitted for Academic Board, monitoring of the University's course review activities, and the identification and implementation of opportunities for quality enhancement of the course reaccreditation component of the University's coursework course and unit accreditation framework as part of the Monash quality cycle.

 Deans have responsibility for ensuring that proposals are in line with University and faculty educational priorities, academic standards as expressed in University policy and faculty resource strategy before they are submitted for Education Committee and Academic Board accreditation.

 Education Committee has responsibility for endorsing for Academic Board the introduction, major amendment to, or disestablishment of courses, and the introduction or disestablishment of Passport or cross‐listed units. Members of Education Committee consider coursework course and unit proposals against criteria provided in checklists, and in line with committee protocols. Education Committee has responsibility for monitoring the University's coursework course and units accreditation process and recommending and reviewing improvements to that process.

 Associate Deans (Education) have responsibility for ensuring that proposals are fully completed, in line with University and faculty educational priorities and academic standards as expressed in University policy and supported by documentation before they are submitted for Education Committee and Academic Board consideration. They are also responsible for ensuring that changes approved by Academic Board are implemented, and for communicating opportunities to improve the University's coursework course and unit accreditation policy and associated procedures to Education Committee.

 Academic and Professional Staff completing proposals have responsibility for ensuring that proposals are fully completed, in line with University and faculty educational priorities and academic standards as expressed in University policy and supported by documentation before they are submitted to the Associate Dean (Education). They are also responsible for ensuring that changes approved by Academic Board are implemented.

 University Solicitor's Office have responsibility for drafting award and degree regulation, once the course has received accreditation from Academic Board.

 FiRM have responsibility for providing and updating the University's course costing model template, and for providing advice to Faculties on its completion.

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