Updated Course Accreditation, Amendment and Review Policy

Academic Board has approved the Course Accreditation, Amendment and Review Policy, Course Accreditation and Amendment Procedures and Course Review Procedures, which took effect from 1 September 2022.

Summary

Following a scheduled review of the Course Approval Amendment Review and Discontinuation Policy, a rename of the policy and significant amendments have been made.

New Course Accreditation and Amendment Procedures and Course Review Procedures have been developed and will replace the existing guidelines.

Background

As part of the ongoing cycle of review of course and student-related policies, the responsible officer convened a working party to review the Course Approval, Amendment, Review and Discontinuation (CAARD) Policy.

The policy was revised, and new procedures developed based on:

• recommendations from the Winchester review of Academic Governance
• the Provost-led Course Innovation Project
• feedback from stakeholders across ACU
• external advice, including advice sourced as part of ACU’s preparation for the renewal of our registration with TEQSA.

The Course Accreditation, Amendment and Review Policy and associated procedures are designed to prioritise the student experience, strengthen our curriculum’s alignment to our mission and strategy, streamline governance approvals, and ensure we deliver on our obligations under the Higher Education Standards Framework.

There will be a need for a period of transition after the approval of the revised policy to allow the completion of course development or reviews which are underway.

Consultation

Consultation was undertaken which included the executive deans, faculty managers, heads of schools, Office of the Provost, Global and Education Pathways, relevant directors and Student Administration associate directors and national managers.

Summary of substantive amendments to the policy

• change to policy title in line with sector
• development of a of set of policy principles
• change to review cycle from five years to six years in step with sector/legislative requirements
• clarification of requirements for strategic/management approval and academic approval
• inclusion of micro credentials and short courses in the policy and procedures
• development of two distinct sets of procedures for accreditation and amendment and for review, rather than guidelines
• amendments to what constitutes a major and minor change
• defining processes for suspension and discontinuation
• formalising the process for annual monitoring exercises and revising the process for cyclical course reviews
• updates in line with system and process improvements throughout the policy and procedures
• addition of new relevant definitions.

Any questions?

Please refer questions to the Policy Team in the Office of the Academic Registrar:

• Gerard Goodwin Moore, National Manager, Student Policy and Appeals, gerard.goodwin-moore@acu.edu.au, phone 02 9739 2250
• Kerry Blair, Policy and Projects Officer (Monday–Wednesday), kerry.blair@acu.edu.au, phone 02 9465 9096
• Catherine McKiver, Policy and Projects Officer (Wednesday–Friday), catherine.mckiver@acu.edu.au, phone 02 9465 909