Our Student Advocacy Support Service is available to all enrolled students and provides free and confidential advice, support and representation to assist students to successfully progress through their program of study at Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT). Our aim is to work solely in the best interests of the student by either preparing students to represent themselves or by representing their views with regard to:

• Preparing for an academic progress meeting, hearing or appeal.
• Special consideration and / or grade disputes - when a student wants to request that some of their work be re-assessed.
• Student misconduct (academic or non-academic) specifically in cases of disciplinary hearings when a student has been accused of cheating in an examination or plagiarism.
• The student complaint / grievance resolution process.
• Assisting students with an understanding of MIT’s academic and procedural rules and to support students in applying those rules as they relate to them.

The headings below refer to the more common issues that students may address in the areas of advocacy assistance.

If you have a complaint or grievance please book an appointment with one of our advocacy staff members so they can assist you. To book an appointment either present to Level 2M and speak to our friendly reception staff or call 86006700. Please refer to the complaints and grievances policy which can be found on the below link: http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/Complaint-Policy-Procedure

Student Academic Progress

MIT is committed to ensuring that appropriate student support is available to all students to facilitate their transition into academic life. Where students experience difficulties or obstacles in achieving their learning goals, MIT will counsel students and provide support. In order to facilitate the above, MIT will monitor the academic progress of each student against MIT’s academic progress requirements. Refer to: http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/student-academic-progress-policy-and-procedure.

Briefly, if you are concerned about your progress in a unit of study during the trimester or need further advice when results are released, we recommend that you:

• Email your unit of study lecturer or tutor and ask for their assistance
• Follow up with your Course Coordinator/Head of School if you are not able to resolve your problem in the first instance
• Contact the Student Advocacy Services

Melbourne Campus: Email: counsellor@mit.edu.au. Phone 03 8600 6700
Sydney Campus: Email: counsellor.syd@mit.edu.au. Phone: 02 8267 1400

If you have failed 50 percent or more of your units of study in a trimester, or failed the same unit twice or more, you will be sent official notification via your MIT email. A letter will also be posted to your residential address provided that you have made unsatisfactory academic performance for the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time in your program. It is important to follow the instructions provided and respond accordingly in writing.

• 1st time (Stage 1): you will be asked to make time to attend a formal meeting with the Head of School in order to be placed on an academic intervention plan to assist you to improve your academic performance.
• 2nd time (Stage 2): read and respond to the Stage 2 Show-Cause letter in writing providing reasons for your unsatisfactory academic performance, including any relevant supporting documentation to your Show-Cause response to support your case. It is essential that you respond to the Show-Cause Letter as failure to do so may result in you being excluded or cancelled from your program. At any time throughout this process, you can contact the academic services or the Student Advocacy Services for assistance in responding to the Show-Cause Letterr. You are advised to email your Show-Cause response to Academic Coordinator as per the contact information provided in your Show-Cause Letter.
• 3rd time (Stage 3): contact the Student Advocacy Services for assistance in responding to the notification of intention to report you for failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Student Advocacy will advise you of your entitlement to appeal the decision in accordance with the Institute’s Appeals Policy and Procedure including the deadline to submit an appeal. Once you have appealed (internally) you will be advised to attend an appeal hearing with the MIT Academic appeals committee. The outcome of your appeal will be notified to you via your MIT email and a letter posted to your residential postal address.

MIT encourages you to review the Student Academic Progress Policy and Procedure published at: http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/student-academic-progress-policy-and-procedure for further details on the procedures adopted if you DO NOT meet the Institute’s academic progression requirements.

Special Consideration

If you are experiencing unexpected circumstances which are impacting on your ability to complete your studies within the expected time-frame you can submit a special consideration application on-line via AMS. This can be for any form of assessment such as:

• Extensions of the due date for an assessment task, other than an examination
• Special Consideration (Special Consideration in relation to a Completed Assessment Task, including an end-of-unit Examination)
• A Deferment of an examination

An application for special consideration submitted on-line will then be directed to the appropriate Head of School, not later than three working days after the date of submission of the component of the assessment.

Deferral of an examination should be sought when you are aware you will be unable to attend an examination at least three days prior to the date of the examination (as a result of severe illness or other cause).

If you would like to make an application for Special Consideration, please complete the Application for Special Consideration Form available on AMS as per the special consideration and deferment guidelines published at: http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/special-considerationdeferment.

Your School will look at the reasons why you are experiencing difficulties, therefore we recommend you attach supporting documentation such as a Health Care Professional Certificate where special consideration is sought on medical grounds, or other appropriate evidence. Any Health Care Professional Certificate or other evidence must include sufficient specific detailed information to allow the application to be assessed. Contact Student Advocacy Services if you would like further advice as to whether your circumstances may be considered exceptional.

If it is impossible for you to submit the application within the three-day time limit, you or your representative must contact the Academic Services Department at Level 6 within three days or you will risk failing the subject.

You will be notified of the outcome of your special consideration application via your MIT email address within five working days of the decision being made. You have the right to appeal this decision to the Head of School.

Academic and General Misconduct

Student misconduct is defined as being charged with breaking the academic and / or general rules of the Institute. Depending on the nature, seriousness and whether it is a first or repeat offence, a student may be asked to:

• Attend a meeting with their Unit Coordinator or Head of School or
• Attend a misconduct hearing by the Discipline Committee to explain their actions.

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the student misconduct policy by referring to http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/MIT-Student-General-Misconduct-Policy-Procedure

Depending on the nature, seriousness and whether it is a first or repeat offence, the penalty varies greatly. Academic Services Department will contact you via phone and email to advise you regarding your Disciplinary committee hearing and will inform you about the hearing date, time and venue. You can Contact Student Advocacy Services or Academic Services Department for confidential advice and support in preparing for the disciplinary committee meeting or hearing.

You will be notified about the outcome within 5 working days of the disciplinary committee hearing via email and a letter sent to your residential address.

You have a right to appeal this decision to the Chair of the Academic appeals committee.

Complaint Resolution Process

MIT has four separate complaint resolution processes dependent upon the nature of the complaint and who is making the complaint. All four processes however, adhere to three-step student complaint resolution process:

• Step 1: informal resolution
• Step 2: formal resolution
• Step 3: appeals process

Contact Student Advocacy Services to help you:

• Determine which complaint resolution process to follow and
• Prepare and present your own views when you are seeking a fair outcome to your complaint.

For further information on complaint Resolution process refer to the following URLs:

MIT Student Complaints Policy and Procedure

Further academic and procedural rules that apply to students refer to:

http://www.mit.edu.au/about-us/governance/institute-rules-policies-and-plans/policies-procedures-and-guidelines

This will take you to the MIT’s rules, policies, procedures and guidelines from which the following can be accessed.

• Admission
• Credit Transfer
• Examinations
• Supplementary and Deferred Examinations
• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Appeals against a grade
• Exclusion [and Show-Cause]

Student Advocacy Services

MIT Melbourne Campus: Email: counsellor@mit.edu.au. Phone 03 8600 6700

MIT Sydney Campus: Email: studentservices.syd@mit.edu.au. Phone: 02 8267 1400