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Academic Review ProceduresParent PolicyEach faculty and academic area must publicise on its website the schedule of academic reviews planned during the 5-year review cycle and provide the link to the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) for the OPVC(L&T) review website. Assistance in briefing staff who will be involved in reviews is available from the OPVC(L&T). The academic review process aims to ensure that academic areas meet the requirements of, and are aligned with, university strategic planning and policy documents, and the audit framework of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (see the AUQA audit manual, in particular Section 7.4 Thematic Areas for Audit) and Appendix E: Framework for Standards, Evidence and Outcomes. Note that reviews may include other areas or issues not covered in the standard terms of reference. Academic reviews often focus on an academic unit within faculties, but reviews can also be undertaken of disciplinary or cross-disciplinary academic areas. Self-review reportSelf-review is the first phase of the review process. The academic area under review documents its directions, progress, achievements and strengths, as well as areas for development and improvement, in relation to:
These constitute the terms of reference for review of an academic area. The review must be publicised throughout the university, and to external stakeholders, together with a call for submissions to be directed to the secretary to the panel. The deadline for submissions is set by the secretary in consultation with the dean, for reviews within faculties, or head of academic area. The self-review report forms the basis for the review that will follow. The report can be up to 7,000 words in length, with additional appendices, and is structured to reflect the terms of reference outlined above. Links to relevant information and resources can be found at the OPVC(L&T) website. Additional information about self-review processes can be found at the AUQA Self-Review for Higher Education Institutions (pdf 491kb). ResponsibilityDean Selection of review panelReview panels for academic areas are selected by the dean, if within faculties, or head of academic area and are approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). Selection of panel members is based on their experience and expertise with regard to the terms of reference. Panels normally include the following:
The dean or head of academic area nominates the chair of the review panel and additional members as appropriate. The secretary to the committee may be the faculty manager, his or her internal nominee, or an externally appointed person. ResponsibilityVice-Chancellor’s Group Review processThe secretary to the panel provides the review panel members with the self-review report and other necessary support documentation, with an invitation to request any additional documentation they may require. The secretary to the panel convenes the review visit in consultation with the dean or head of the academic area and panel members. During the visit the panel will meet with interested parties, tour facilities, receive submissions and requests for interviews, and at the end of the visit, present preliminary findings. A sample calendar of events can be obtained through the OPVC(L&T). Where reviews involve teaching activities or research on more than one campus, or teaching programs facilitated by partner organisations, the review panel will determine in consultation with the dean or head of the academic area the need to travel to locations other than the administrative centre of the academic area. ResponsibilityDean Review reportThe chair of the review panel works closely with the secretary to draft the review report which must be submitted to the dean or head of academic area within two months of the review visit. The review report can be up to 7,000 words in length, beginning with an executive summary including a prioritised list of recommendations. Additional appendices may be included. A template for a standard review report can be obtained through the OPVC(L&T). ResponsibilityChair of review panel Review action planOn receiving the review report, the dean or head of academic area:
The final action plan is submitted by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) to Academic Board for approval for academic matters and to the Vice-Chancellor’s Group for other matters. A template for a standard action plan can be obtained through the OPVC(L&T). ResponsibilityVice-Chancellor’s Group Review reportingThe review secretary must lodge with the OPVC(L&T) within two weeks of development of the action plan, the review report and action plan for uploading to the Academic Review Database. The dean or head of academic area has ongoing consultation with relevant members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group and the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) concerning implementation of the plan. The Associate Dean (Education) and Associate Dean (Research) provide reports on implementation of the action plan to the Education Committee and Monash Research Committee, respectively. Twelve months following the review, the dean or head of the area must provide a report on the implementation of the review to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), and the review secretary must lodge the follow-up report with the OPVC(L&T) for uploading to the Academic Review Database. ResponsibilityVice-Chancellor’s Group Content Enquiries: Academic Programs University Policy Use Only:
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