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Student Participation and Communications Policy

Reviewed Jun 2019, Dec 2019, Updated Mar 2020, Reviewed Jun 2020, Dec 2020, Jun 2021, Updated Dec 2021; Reviewed Jun 2022

Student Participation and Communications Policy Statement

To be effective in delivering quality training and assessment ACCM College 

  • Has established a minimum Student Participation Standard that publishes the expectations to students enrolling in College programs
  • Requires that students interact with ACCM College and respond to ACCM College communications in a professional manner
  • Requires a range of student contact points
  • Offers assistance and support to students by phone and email (if suitable) within standard business hours (9am - 5pm EST)
  • Initiates contact with students to motivate their course progress
  • Sets subject assessment due dates and maximum course completion dates
  • Requires appropriate conduct from students in interactions with all ACCM College staff and other students.

 

Student Participation Standards

  • Why are Student Participation Standards Necessary

    a) The Student Participation Standards advise prospective students or the nature and level of interaction involved to successfully undertake their course before they commit to their enrolment.

    b) The standards have been established as ACCM College past experience shows that students who actively interact with ACCM College, and make regular progress on their course, have a greater level of course completion

    We also recognise that one of the dangers in "distance or online" learning is that people can procrastinate and incorrectly feel they can "do it all in one go". This also means they lose motivation.

     

  • The Student Participation Standards
    Level of Course Contact the College Assessment Submission Estimated Study Time*
    Certificate II or III subjects Contact us approximately every 2 weeks for 20 minutes Every 4-6 weeks submit a completed assessment 2 - 4 hrs pw
    Certificate IV subjects Every 6-8 weeks submit a completed assessment 4 - 5 hrs pw
    Diploma subjects Contact us approximately every 4 weeks for 30 minutes Every 6-9 weeks submit a completed assessment 4 - 5 hrs pw
  • Implications If Students Do Not Meet the Participation Standards

    a) ACCM College, at its discretion, may discontinue a students enrolment at any stage, where they are not meeting the Student Participation Standards.

    b) Employers of students and trainees will also be advised where an employee/ trainee is not meeting the Participation Standards.

Student Communication and Contact Policy Details

  • Issue of Formal Notices to Students

    a) ACCM College is from time to time required to issue formal notices to students. All official contact and notices with students will be sent by email or be issued via WebclassM.

    Any required attachments will be in word or pdf format.

    b) The date of notice will be deemed as 2 working days after sending or publishing on WebclassM.

    c) If ACCM College receives a bounce back message suggesting that the email was not received, or that WebclassM has not been accessed, it may at its discretion send the notice by post, but is not obliged to do so.

    The notice date will be legally deemed to be the original notice date of the notice issued under WebclassM or email.

  • Student Obligations To Provide Contact Details

    It is the students obligation to

    a) provide an email address and phone number at enrolment and

    b) advise ACCM College of any email address or phone number changes and

    c) have a software program capable of accessing word or pdf attachments and

    d) check their email regularly and accept ACCM College phone calls and

    e) regularly logon to WebclassM and

    f) generally facilitate communication methods to allow interaction with ACCM College and receipt of notices.

  • Advice and Support Contact Options for Students

    a) Students can contact their Student Adviser for assistance with course content and administrative matters. Contact can be by phone or email, using the contact details as published on the ACCM College website.

    b) All reasonable efforts will be made to assist students seeking assistance and support, including by arrangement allocating times after normal business hours (9am - 5pm EST).

    c) Assistance will be provided immediately, or where all qualified Student Advisers are unavailable, no later than 24 hours after the request.

    d) The main contact methods will be phone and email. Students who email may be asked to contact us by phone to improve communication about a specific issue.

  • Requesting Assistance from College Student Advisers

    When emailing asking about tasks:

    • clearly indicate what subject and what question number you are asking about
    • include both your first name and last name
    • ensure your email explains any attachments e.g. that they are questions you would like reviewed or help with or to be formally marked

     When calling in to talk to your ACCM College Student Adviser:

    • introduce yourself with your first and last name
    • briefly explain what you would like help with so that they can identify if they can help you or if someone else would be better to assist you

     Ensure that your communication is courteous and business like.

     

College Code of Conduct and Required Student Behaviour

  • General Conduct Requirements

    Students when interacting with College staff and other students should:

    • act and communicate in a professional and business like manner
    • be co-operative and considerate to others
    • refrain from swearing and using aggressive language or conduct
    • raise any concerns in an appropriate manner using the approved procedures for raising concerns and complaints
    • ensure their behaviour does not negatively impact the study experience of other students.

     

    Of course, our staff are required to meet this Code of Conduct too!

  • Academic Conduct Obligations

    Students enrolling agree to:

    • Make every possible effort to meet course module due dates.
    • Make regular progress and complete the qualification within the course time frame and to the Student Participation Standards.
    • Participate in any workplace training provided by your employer or the College.
    • Attend any training or progress meetings with the College.
    • Notify your employer and the College if you are having any difficulties completing the tasks or workbooks.
    • Notify the College if you leave your employer during the term of a traineeship.

     

    Students To Submit Their Own Original Work

    All work must be your own work.

    In all Colleges and Universities, submitting work that is not yours is regarded as a serious offence that can result in your disqualification from completing the course.

    As a minimum you and any others involved will be required to re-do a new assessment task.

    Where enrolled through your employer, your employer will also be notified of the breach verbally and by a formal letter.

    If you work with others in study groups, ensure that your submissions are your own work, reflect your own opinions and are written in your own words.

    Copy and Paste from the Internet or Workbook

     Answers obtained directly from the internet or study workbooks (unless this is specifically required in the assessment activity) will be failed and are a breach of Academic Conduct. 

    Quiz Completion

    Quiz completion by guessing randomly is a breach of academic policy. The quiz will be locked after 2 attempts and where the fail result is in the view of the College due to random guesses, an alternative assessment activity will be allocated.

     

  • Student Disciplinary Procedures

    If the College has any concerns about the behaviour of a student, including any breach of College Policies, or behaviour that is regarded as not meeting the Code of Conduct, the College will fully and fairly investigate the issue.

    The student/s involved will be given full details of the Colleges concerns and the opportunity to address and explain the issue prior to any decision about disciplinary action being taken.

    The College will then communicate to the student/s the outcome and consequences of its investigations.

    Where disciplinary action is warranted the College may take action up to and including withdrawing students from their course, without refund or a result being issued. The disciplinary action will reflect the seriousness of the misconduct taken by the student.

    Appeals are allowed where the student disputes the disciplinary action.

Academic Appeals Process

  • Assessment Appeals Process

    Students have the right to Appeal an assessment decision.

    If you are advised that a subject result is Not Yet Competent, but you believe you really do have the required degree of competency; and you have provided reasonable proof of this to the College, you may appeal that result.

    To appeal a decision you should ask your College Student Adviser to have your work remarked by another Trainer/Assessor; or send this request via the Enquiry page on the website.

    You may be asked to provide a “fresh” copy of your original assessment. The task will be given to another assessor to mark. They will not be told it has already been marked and found to be Not Yet Competent.

    The second assessors result will be the official result. For internal development purposes, after this exercise the two marked assessments will be compared for consistency.

    If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, you may appeal again. You will be asked to explain the reasons for the appeal. In this instance the College will ask for an independent Assessor to review your assessment.

    You will be advised if any costs will be applicable for external review.

  • Supplementary Assessments

    The College will ask students to complete “supplementary” or additional assessments from time to time. For example we may phone students and arrange a time to ask them some questions about their Assessment Task or set additional questions or activities. 

    This process is intended to allow the College to validate the assessment methods it uses, to be flexible in the way it assesses students, and to ensure authenticity of student work. A student asked to cooperate in this way, will be regarded as not having completed their Assessment Task until the supplementary assessment is completed to the satisfaction of the College.

  • Appeals for Other Decisions

    Non-academic appeals are treated in accordance with the College Complaints processes.