Termination & Appeals
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Termination & Appeals Toolkit
It is important for candidates, supervisors and the University to closely monitor that key milestones are met and that progress is at the level expected for the period of enrolment. Supervisors should take prompt action if the candidate is not making the progress expected in a research degree.
The HDR and MRes Termination of Candidature Procedure establishes the steps by which HDR or MRes candidature can be terminated, due to unsatisfactory performance. The associated toolkits for Candidates, Supervisors and Administrators are available below.
Resources for supervisors
- Making Satisfactory Progress: an Overview and Guide for Supervisors
- Supervisor Guide for Managing Drops in HDR Performance
- Candidate Action Plan - An Example
- Supervisor Decision Tree Matrix
- Supervisor Information for Launching Formal Review in Tracker
- Notification to Candidate of Student Wellbeing Services
Resources for candidates
Candidates are encouraged to access the support services provided by the University's Student Wellbeing Student Advocacy and Support office for additional support and independent advice regarding the University's rules, procedures and related matters. Questions about this process can also be directed to the Office of Higher Degree Research Training and Partnerships on hdrcurrent@mq.edu.au
Resources for administrators
- Notification to Candidate of Unsatisfactory Progress and Formal Review Process
- Formal Review Executive Dean Memo to HDRO template
- Letter that decision is NOT to terminate
- Letter to candidate that decision to terminate
- Letter to Executive Dean from Panel Chair
- Tracker Form – HDR and MRes Termination of Candidature Procedure Fact Sheet
Campus Wellbeing Support
Campus Wellbeing and Support Services offers support and care for currently enrolled students. A range of services are available, including counselling (for support in personal, emotional or psychological matters), welfare (for support in relation to academic or financial matters or other matters of day-to-day student life), disability support (support with temporary or permanent health conditions) and advocacy and support services. Students may access services by initiating contact with Campus Wellbeing’s desk team (sometimes after being referred from other areas of the university).
In some cases, Campus Wellbeing and Support Services is alerted by a university staff member that a student may need assistance or support. This may result in a clinician, the Student Wellbeing Emergency Care Manager or a Student Advocate making contact with the student directly and offering support. It is then the perogative of the student to book an appointment with the relevant service if so desired. Students are not compelled to receive support or assistance and respect for the student’s privacy must be maintained throughout.
Campus Wellbeing and Support Service’s role in the HDR Terminations and Appeals process is as follows:
Formal Review Stage
- Information (including contact details) regarding Campus Wellbeing and Support Service will be included in any communications initiating the Formal Review process (including within the text of the formal notification, on the tracker response form and as a separate information sheet);
- Campus Wellbeing and Support Service to be provided with the names of candidates asked to undergo Formal Review by relevant Associate Deans (HDR);
- Manager, Allied Health (or nominated delegate) may undertake a risk assessment if candidate is identified as a service user or as appropriate in the circumstances (if risk factors present). This assessment may be based on the information received from Associate Dean (HDR) and any necessary follow up;
- Campus Wellbeing and Support Service may contact any identified candidate who has utilised a service in the past – again, only if deemed appropriate in the circumstances;
- Campus Wellbeing and Support Service will not generally contact candidates undergoing a Formal Review who have not had any prior contact with the service.
Post Termination
- If a student is terminated, they are no longer an enrolled student of the university and is no longer eligible to access the counselling or welfare services. Campus Wellbeing and Support Services is able to provide information regarding external referral options for counselling and welfare related support;
- The Student Advocacy service can continue to assist former candidates in appealing a decision to terminate their candidature;
- Information about Student Advocacy and relevant contact details can be provided to former candidates in the formal notification of their termination and right to appeal.
Appeals
To lodge an appeal against a decision to terminate, candidates must identify where the Faculty has incorrectly followed its own policy or procedure or be able to demonstrate that procedural fairness was not properly afforded to them.
It is important to note that an appeal is not a new consideration of whether the candidature should be terminated or not. Rather, an appeal considers and evaluates the process involved in reaching the decision.
The rules and the procedures for appeal against termination are detailed in the Higher Degree Research Rules which can be accessed at: http://www.universitycouncil.mq.edu.au/legislation.html
Throughout the entirety of this process, candidates can seek support and advice from the Student Advocacy and Support Service and the Counselling Service at Campus Wellbeing and Support Services.