Policy Register Glossary

A

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Is a person who is of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identifies as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and is accepted and known as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by the community in which they have lived.

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Is a person who is of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identifies as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and is accepted and known as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by the community in which they have lived.

  • Academic Board

Is the principal academic governance body of the University and reports directly to the University Council.

  • Academic Dress

Is the gown, hood or stole and cap, or combination thereof, worn by persons who are entitled to wear them by virtue of their completion of a University award, or hold a status that entitles them to assume them.

  • Academic Freedom

Academic Freedom  includes:

  • the freedom of academic staff to teach, discuss, and research and to disseminate and publish the results of their research;
  • the freedom of academic staff and students to engage in intellectual inquiry, to express their opinions and beliefs, and to contribute to public debate, in relation to their subjects of study and research;
  • the freedom of academic staff and students to express their opinions in relation to the higher education provider in which they work or are enrolled;
  • the freedom of academic staff to participate in professional or representative academic bodies;
  • the freedom of students to participate in student societies and associations;
  • the autonomy of the higher education provider in relation to the choice of academic courses and offerings, the ways in which they are taught and the choices of research activities and the ways in which they are conducted.

Academic Freedom is supported at UNE by the Freedom of Speech Principles and Academic Freedom Statement and Policy, and this definition should be read in conjunction with those documents.

  • Academic Governance

Means the framework of policies, structures, relationships, systems and processes that collectively provide leadership to and oversight of the University’s academic activities (teaching, learning and scholarship, and research and research training) at an institutional level.

  • Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the practice of acting with honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility in learning, teaching and research. UNE is committed to promoting the principles of academic integrity and taking action to prevent and address breaches of academic integrity.

  • Academic Judgement

(Student (Related) Grievance Handling Policy)

Means all decisions regarding admission and readmission, enrolment, assessment, advanced standing, intermission, exclusion for insufficient progress and eligibility to graduate, made under course rules and the relevant rules, policies and procedures of the University and delegated to the jurisdiction of designated members of the academic staff.

  • Academic Misconduct

Please refer to the Student Academic Integrity Policy.

  • Academic Record (Transcript)

Is the official record of a student's academic history at the University including enrolment in al courses and units, the academic results, recognition of prior learning and prizes/scholarships awarded.

  • Achievement Relative to Opportunity (ARtO)

is an evaluative framework that assesses the overall quality and impact of achievements relative to the opportunities available to a staff member. ARtO recognises two distinct categories of opportunity:
(1) Workload-related opportunity refers to the structural and institutional context in which a staff member's work is performed, including teaching and administrative load, access to research facilities, funding and support, supervision, mentoring and research leadership opportunities, and research environment and institutional resourcing.
(2) Personal and circumstantial opportunity refers to factors affecting a staff member's capacity that arise outside the institutional environment, including personal circumstances (e.g., parental leave, caring responsibilities, illness, disability), professional circumstances (e.g., part-time work, late entry to academia, career interruptions), systemic and structural factors (e.g., systemic inequities and barriers to opportunity, cultural load and unpaid workplace demands), and other factors outside the staff member's control (e.g., natural disasters, global health events, policy changes affecting research funding or workload).
ARtO is not about providing 'special consideration' or expecting lesser standards. Rather, it ensures equitable assessment by recognising that capacity, productivity, and contribution should be evaluated in context. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, ARtO acknowledges that cultural labour and systemic barriers are institutional responsibilities, not individual deficits.

  • Admission

The process of assessment of an application leading to entitlement to enrol as a student in a course leading to an award of the University.

  • Admitted HDR Candidate

Means a candidate who has been admitted to an HDR course at UNE and who is entitled to enrol in candidature or has completed candidature in an HDR program, and is under examination.

  • Advanced Standing

Credit granted toward a UNE course in recognition of prior learning. Eligible prior learning may include formal study, informal study or experiential learning. Advanced standing may be specified in terms of particular UNE units, or it may be granted as a number of unspecified credit points, or as block advanced standing at an appropriate level.

  • Advancement

Advancement includes all Alumni relations, philanthropic and fundraising activities and initiatives across the University.

  • Aegrotat Award

Is an award of a University course awarded without classification (such as 'with Credit' or 'with First Class Honours') as a result of a Student being unable to complete their course by reason of a permanent, incapacitating illness or injury.

  • Afrophobia

Means racism that targets people of African descent. Afrophobia manifests itself through acts of racial discrimination (direct, indirect and structural) and violence, including hate speech, targeting Black people. It can take many different forms: dislike, personal antipathy, bias, bigotry, prejudice, oppression, racism, structural and institutional discrimination, racial and ethnic profiling, enslavement, xenophobia, societal marginalisation and exclusion, systematic violence, hate speech and hate crime (European Network Against Racism).

  • Aggregate Mark

Is the final numerical mark computed for a student on the basis of combining the outcomes from two or more assessment tasks. Aggregate combining rules may be based on either a simple averaging principle (all tasks counting equally) or a weighted averaging principle.

  • Allegation

An allegation is a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.

  • Alumni

Means graduates or diplomats of the University of New England and its antecedent institutions: New England University College (NEUC), University of New England (Northern Rivers), Armidale Teachers' College (ATC) and Armidale College of Advanced Education (ACAE) and includes other members of Convocation.

  • Ambassador

Is a Student undertaking an outbound Mobility Program who is expected to comply with all relevant University rules, policies and the Statement of Responsibilities for Students Participating in a UNE Overseas Mobility Program (which refer to the Student representing the University appropriately and not bringing it into disrepute with inappropriate behaviour, or ongoing failure to follow reasonable instructions in relation to the overseas study). (Student International Mobility Rule)

  • Amortisation

The systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an intangible asset over its useful life.

  • Antisemitism

Means discrimination, prejudice, harassment, exclusion, vilification, intimidation or violence that impedes Jews’ ability to participate as equals in educational, political, religious, cultural, economic or social life. It can manifest in a range of ways including negative, dehumanising, or stereotypical narratives about Jews. Further, it includes hate speech, epithets, caricatures, stereotypes, tropes, Holocaust denial, and antisemitic symbols. Targeting Jews based on their Jewish identities alone is discriminatory and antisemitic.
Criticism of the policies and practices of the Israeli government or state is not in and of itself antisemitic. However, criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions. It can be antisemitic to make assumptions about what Jewish individuals think based only on the fact that they are Jewish.
All peoples, including Jews, have the right to self-determination. For most, but not all Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity. Substituting the word “Zionist’’ for ‘’Jew’’ does not eliminate the possibility of speech being antisemitic. (Universities Australia)
Antisemitism is a form of prejudice that leads to discrimination and antisemitic language can end in violence or death.

  • Approval

A statement to indicate the official acceptance of a proposal, recommendation, or other matter. It is a function of the role/committee with delegated authority to do so.

  • Approved Users and Entities

Means individuals and entities to whom the University has given explicit permission to utilise the University's ICT infrastructure for either a definite or indefinite period. (relevant Information Technology Directorate Rules and Procedures)

  • AQF

Means the Australian Qualifications Framework.

  • Archives

Means records that have been selected for indefinite retention on the basis of their continuing value for legal, administrative, financial or historical purposes, but are no longer required for current use.

  • Assessment

Is the process whereby evaluative judgements are made in relation to a student's achievements against the learning outcomes of a unit of study.

  • Assessment Criteria

Are the statements that express in explicit terms how student performance against the desired learning outcomes is demonstrated.

  • Assessment Literacy

Is a student's ability to read, understand, comply with and learn from course and unit assessment requirements, criteria and standards, to produce work of a designated standard.

  • Assessment Task

Are compulsory or optional activities or exercises, which have an explicit intent to assess and guide student progress or learning achievement in a unit of study. Assessment tasks can be designed for diagnostic, formative, summative, evaluative or informative purposes.

  • Asset

A resource controlled by the University as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the University.

  • ATAR

Stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It is a score (expressed as a rank from 99 — 0) allocated by a Studies Authority to represent the educational order of merit of an applicant who has completed Year 12 and is used by the University (either on its own or in conjunction with other selection criteria) to rank applicants for selection into courses. The ATAR may rise and fall between years as demand for courses changes.

  • Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS)

The AHEGS provides a description of the nature, level, context and status of the studies that were pursued by the graduate named on the statement.

  • Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

Is the national guidelines that establishes standards for Australian qualifications. Qualifications are given a level based on the depth of learning.

  • Authorship

Authorship is defined as substantial contributions in a combination of the following:

  • conception and design of the project;
  • analysis and interpretation of research data; and
  • drafting significant parts of the work or critically revising it so as to contribute to the interpretation.
  • Award

Is a recognised qualification from UNE including diploma, degree, Master or PhD.

B

  • Bachelor

Is the main higher education degree course at undergraduate level most commonly of three or four years and may include combined or double Bachelor degrees, graduate entry degrees, and the Bachelor with Honours degree.

  • Behavioural Misconduct

Is defined under the Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules.

  • Benchmark

Means to evaluate processes, practices and outcomes by comparison with sector and discipline norms. (Assessment Rule)

  • Bequest

Is the act of giving or bequeathing property both real and personal and including cash and funds, by way of testament or will.

  • Board of Examiners

Reviews and ratifies the final marks, grades and grade distributions for all units offered by the School in the teaching period.

  • Bribe

The act of paying a secret commission to another individual. It is also used to describe the secret commission itself.

  • Business Units

Are all units, including Schools, Directorates, Departments and Centres, with financial operations under a University of New England cost centre.

C

  • Casual Staff

Means casual academic staff, professional staff and English Language Teachers who:

  • are engaged as such and notified in writing of the fact;
  • are paid on an hourly or sessional basis; and
  • normally work irregular hours.
  • CCTV

Means Closed Circuit Television.

  • CCTV System

Means the totality of surveillance items comprising cameras and associated equipment for monitoring, transmission and controlling purposes for use in a defined security zone.

  • Census Date

Means a date within each trimester specified in the Principal Dates on which a student’s enrolment in a unit is officially recorded and reported and the final date by which tuition fees or the student contribution is incurred or any other fee or charge that is applicable.

  • Centre

A narrower and generally smaller (relative to Institutes) entity, focusing on specialised and / or thematic research, education, and external engagement and impact activities. A Centre comprises a significant group of leading researchers working collaboratively in a clearly defined field of inquiry that is aligned to the University’s strategic intent, and to the interests of governments, industry and/or communities. It enables the development of critical mass and promotes this focus and research strength externally. Research Centres are part of the Faculty and do not operate as a separate business unit.

  • Challenge Examination

Is an examination which a School requires an applicant to successfully complete before granting Advanced Standing on the basis of non-Formal Learning for a specific UNE unit.

  • Chancellor

Means the Chancellor of the University, with functions conferred or imposed upon him/her by or under Section 10 of the UNE Act.

  • Change Management

Irrespective of the way the change originates, change management is the process of taking a planned and structured approach to help align an organisation with organisational change.

  • Child

In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is defined as a person under 18 years of age — unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. For the purposes of any contact with children associated with AusAID activities, a child is defined as a person under 18 years of age, regardless of the age of consent in country.

  • Code of Conduct

A document (variously referred to as a 'Code of Ethics', 'Code of Behaviour' and various other titles) broadly communicated within the entity setting out the entity's expected standards of behaviour.

  • Collection (of personal information)

Means the way the university acquires the information, for example:a written form, a verbal conversation, an online form, or taking a picture with a camera.

  • Combined Degree

A Bachelor course which includes significant components of two other Bachelor courses and which leads to a single award of the University.

  • Commercial Activity

A commercial activity is any activity engaged in, by, or on behalf of the University in the exercise of commercial functions of the University; and any other activity comprising the promotion of, establishment of, or participation in any partnership, trust, company, or other incorporated bodies, or joint venture, by or on behalf of the University, that is for the time being declared to be a commercial activity.

Examples of a commercial activity include: being a member or holding securities of another legal entity; holding academic partnerships and collaborations with other organisations; articulation and pathway arrangements with other organisations; research commercialisation (with the exception of research conducted for the University by a member of the University’s academic staff); leases and other occupancy agreements (with the exception of study centre premises); and, legal agreements with another party, excluding Students, under which the University agrees to provide goods or services.

The following activities are not considered to be commercial activities:  the delivery by University staff of the University’s academic programs to its Students; and, the Joint Medical Program delivered by the School of Rural Medicine and the University of Newcastle.

  • Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Is a place that is subsidised by the Australian Government and only available to domestic students. In a CSP students only pay the student contribution amount set by the University, for their units of study.

  • Complaint

A complaint is defined as a statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.

  • Compliance Commitment

Means a requirement that the University chooses to comply with This includes: University rules and policies; principles or codes of practice; contractual obligations; agreements; environmental commitments; industry standards; etc

  • Compliance Management System (CMS)

Is the set of interacting elements established to achieve all the University's compliance obligations.

  • Compliance Obligation

Means a requirement that the University chooses to comply with which includes University rules and policies; principles or codes of practice; contractual obligations; agreements; environmental commitments; industry standards; etc

  • Compliance Register System

Is a component of the Compliance Management System (CMS) and the University specific tool relied upon to inform, record, manage and report upon the University's compliance obligations.

  • Compliance Requirements

Means a requirement that the University has to comply with. This includes: laws and regulations; permits and licences; regulator guidance; court judgements; treaties and conventions; etc. Compliance Requirements are known as Compliance Drivers in the Compliance Register System.

  • Conferral

Is the act of officially bestowing an award, where a graduand's academic achievement is recognised. Students are not considered to have graduated from a course until the University has officially conferred the award at a graduation ceremony, either in person, or in absentia.

  • Conflicts of Interest

A UNE Representative will have a conflict of interest where they have a material interest in a decision or matter, and/or their interest appears to raise a conflict with the proper performance of their duties (e.g. avoiding personal losses as well as gaining personal advantage — whether financial or otherwise).

  • Constructed-Response Questions

Are open-ended and require the student to construct their own answer by way of response.

  • Continuing Employment

Means all employment other than fixed-term or casual. Continuing employment may be full-time or part-time.

  • Controlled Entity

Means a person, group of persons or body of which the University or Council has control within the meaning of a standard referred to in Section 39(1A) or 45A(1A) of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983.

  • Convocation

Consists of graduates (alumni) of the University; members and past members of UNE Council (or antecedent governing bodies); present and past full time academic members of the University and other members admitted under the by-laws

  • Copyright

Is a legal concept that gives the creator of an original work, exclusive rights to exploit the work for a limited time and prevent others from copying the work.

  • Core Learning Resources

Comprises the minimum learning resources the student must engage with in order to complete the assessment requirements for a unit.

  • Core Unit

Is a unit that is compulsory for a student to complete in order to satisfy the course rules. Core Units do not count towards a Major. Core Units would not normally be substituted for any other unit.

  • Corequisite Unit

A unit that must be studied before or at the same time as another unit.

  • Corporate Gifts

These are Gifts received or given on behalf of the University.

  • Cost Centre

Is the relevant Faculty, Directorate or other business unit.

  • Council

Means the Council of the University of New England, being the governing body of the University.

  • Course

Course means a syllabus, a curriculum, a training package, units of study, or structured workplace learning, the successful completion of which leads to the conferral of an award on the student by the University (including but not limited to a regulated qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework).

  • Course Coordinator

Is an academic member of staff with responsibility for the leading and managing of a course.

  • Course Review

Is the in-depth evaluation of an academic program, including the course structure and alignment of learning objectives to learning outcomes, in the context of the University's strategic priorities, the currency of the curriculum, changes to the discipline, quality of teaching and learning including assessment, student perceptions and feedback, and feedback from relevant professional, accrediting and employer groups.

  • Credit Point

A credit point is an indicator of the amount of work required in a unit and represents a workload of approximately twenty-five hours per teaching period. This means that a six credit-point unit, for example, is estimated to require a total workload of approximately 150 hours.

  • CRICOS

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is a register of Australian education providers approved to offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas and a list of the courses offered.

  • Criminal Record Check

A check of an individual's criminal history record.

  • Criterion-Referenced Assessment

Evaluates the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes of a unit, measured against specified assessment criteria.

D

  • Dependant

Means spouse, partner, child or other financial dependant.

  • Deposit Licence

Is the licence between the UNE Author and the University by which research outputs are deposited in e-publications@UNE.

  • Depreciation

The systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of a tangible asset over its useful life.

  • Dictionary Attacks

Means a method of breaking into a password-protected computer or server by systematically entering every word in a dictionary as a password. Dictionaries include multi language and types, for example a dictionary of science fiction, biography, economics, philosophy, music etc.

  • Disclosure

Refers to the provision of personal information to a party or person external to the University. Provision of personal information internally may also be considered a disclosure where the personal information is about a staff member, or the information is health information.

  • Discrimination

Can occur by doing or omitting to do an act either alone or with any other person, and can be direct or indirect. Motive is irrelevant to discrimination. Direct discrimination is when a person treats, or proposes to treat, someone unfavourably because that person has a protected attribute. Direct discrimination can occur when a person makes an unfair assumption about what another person with certain attributes can and cannot do, and so treats them unfavourably. Indirect discrimination occurs when an unreasonable requirement is imposed that disadvantages a person with a protected attribute. Indirect discrimination happens when a workplace or educational institution’s policy, practice or behaviour seems to treat all workers the same way, but it actually unfairly disadvantages someone because of a protected attribute.

  • Dissertation

Is a substantial piece of scholarly written work that may form the entire requirement of a unit.  A dissertation may require independent scholarly investigation or supervised research at a level appropriate to the award.

  • Diversity

Refers to the mix of people in an organisation – that is, all the differences between people in how they identify in relation to their:
*    Social identity e.g., Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, age, gender, caring responsibilities, LGBTIQ+ status, culture or faith.
*    Professional identity e.g., profession, education, organisational level, location.
These aspects come together in a unique way for each individual and shape the way they view and perceive their world and workplace. (Diversity Council Australia, Diversity Definition, Sydney, DCA, 2025)

  • Domestic Applicant

Is an applicant who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or holder of an Australian humanitarian visa or citizens of New Zealand and who is eligible to be a Commonwealth-supported student.

  • Domestic Violence

Involves a person in a family or domestic situation being subjected to patterns of behaviour that include: physical and or sexual assault, verbal abuse and insults, social isolation, economic deprivation, emotional abuse, threats and intimidation, harassment and stalking.

  • Double Degree

A degree course which includes substantial components of two courses and which leads to two separate awards of the University.

  • Draft Timetable

Means the Timetable in draft form produced and made available to Unit Coordinators for review and comment before the release of the Published Timetable to students.

E

  • Effective Date

means the Rule/Policy takes effect on the day on which it is published, or such later day as may be specified in the policy document.

  • Elective Unit

Means a non-compulsory unit offered in a course.

  • Elite Athlete

Is a student who is identified and recognised by one of the following organisations as an Elite Athlete representing Australia, or a State or Territory of Australia:

Australian Institute of Sport
State Institutes or Academies of Sport
Australian Cricketers' Association
Rugby Union Players' Association
AFL Players Association
Rugby Union Players' Association
Rugby League Professionals' Association
Australian Professional Footballers' Association
alternatively, they must be a national squad member from Australian Sports Commission funded sports

  • Email

Means electronic mail.

  • Emergency Service Volunteer

Is any staff member or student who is registered as a member of any formally endorsed state, territory or federal emergency services or humanitarian organisation or other competent authority under a State Disaster Plan.

  • Enabling Course

Is a program of study to qualify for admission to a course but not an award in itself.

  • Endorse

A statement to indicate the official support of a proposal, recommendation, or other matter by a person/committee with authority (direct, or delegated) to do so, and at the appropriate point(s) in a decision making or approval process.

  • Entity

A corporation, government agency, not-for-profit organisation or other entity engaged in business activity or transacting with other entities in a business-like setting.

  • Equity

Refers to fairness and impartiality. Distinguished from equality, which means providing the same to all, equity appreciates that everyone has unique circumstances and we do not all start from the same place, and therefore we must acknowledge imbalances and make adjustments accordingly. The process of achieving equity is ongoing and requires regular adjustment to ensure the ongoing identification and overcoming of barriers.

  • ESOS (Educational Services for Overseas Students Act 2000)

Sets out the legal framework governing delivery of education to overseas students studying in Australia on a student visa.

  • Exclusion or Excluded

Means a student, for a fixed period of time, is denied enrolment at the University in a unit and/or a course and/or the University and/or they are excluded from entering the University's premises or any defined part of the University premises or engaging in an activity as a student. Excluded students do not have an automatic right of re-admission.

  • Exemption

(Advanced Standing Policy) Is applied when a student has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the relevant School or Course Coordinator competence in the subject matter of a particular UNE unit such that the student is not required to complete that unit. Exemption may be granted when the previous learning would not attract advanced standing or where the rules of the particular award do not allow for advanced standing. Exemption does not count as advanced standing towards a course and has no credit point value.

  • Expulsion or Expelled

Is the permanent separation of a student from the University.

  • External Visiting Speaker

External Visiting Speaker is any person who is not an invited visiting speaker and for whom permission is sought to speak on the university’s land or facilities.

F

  • Faculty

An organisational unit consisting of a group of related Schools, which is responsible for coordinating the management and quality of the teaching and research conducted by those Schools.

  • Fair Value

The price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at measurement date.

  • Festal Gown

Is a gown used at graduation ceremonies and special occasions which are coloured rather than the usual black for Bachelor and Master's gowns. Doctorate candidates are authorised to wear garments of brighter colours ie scarlet.

  • Fixed-Term Employment

Means employment for a specified term or ascertainable period, for which the instrument of engagement will specify the starting and finishing dates of that employment, (or lieu of a finishing date, will specify the circumstance(s) or contingency relating to a specific tasks or project, upon the occurrence of which the term of the employment shall expire), and for which, during the term of employment, the contract is not terminable, by the University, other than during a probationary period, or for cause based upon serious or wilful misconduct. Fixed-term employment may be full-time or part-time.

  • Formal Learning

Is the learning that takes place through a structured program of learning that leads to the full or partial achievement of an officially accredited qualification.

  • Formal Research Collaborations

Are those which are likely to involve the need for institutional approvals for the lodgement of funding applications or other formal agreements with third parties, or which may involve the expenditure of funds or the use of resources beyond the normal discretion of individual academics to make as part of their research activities. Research collaboration between individual academics to produce scholarly outputs are not considered to be formal research collaborations for the purpose of this policy.

  • Formative Assessment

Refers to a range of formal and informal assessment components evaluated in order for the unit coordinator to modify teaching and learning support to improve student attainment during a unit. Purely formative assessment does not carry any weighting towards a student's aggregate mark and final grade in the unit.

  • Fraud

Means an intentional act by one or more individuals involving the use of deception to obtain an unjust or illegal advantage.

G

  • Genuine Student

is defined by the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) as:

  • the student is reasonably engaged in the course
  • the student has been provided with information about the requirements for the course, and the cost and duration of the course
  • the student has satisfied course requirements for the course or participated in assessment activities for the course
  • if the course is an online course, the number of times a student has logged on to view course material
  • the student has provided up-to-date contact details that would allow the department to verify their enrolment
  • if the student is enrolled in another course, whether their concurrent enrolments would make successful completion of a course by the student impossible or highly improbable
  • Genuine Temporary Entrant

Is a person whose circumstances indicate that their intention is for a temporary stay in Australia. (Coursework Admission Procedures and International Student Transfer Procedure)

  • Gift

Means any grant or transfer of property or funds to the University where there is:

  • an intention to give (evidenced in writing or by another act);
  • a transfer of all right, title, and interest in the property or funds to the University
  • Grade

Is the final letter conversion of the aggregate mark attained by a student undertaking a unit. The letter conversion translates the numerical aggregate mark into a statement of level of achievement.

  • Grade Point Average (GPA)

Is a numeral score that is the sum of the points derived from the grade point scale achieved in each unit, multiplied by the credit point value of the corresponding unit and divided by the total credit points attempted in a course and is used to calculate a students average rate of progress through a course.

  • Graduand

A student who has completed all the requirements of an award but who has not had the award conferred.

  • Graduate

Is a person who has completed the requirements for a course and has had their award conferred on them by the University Council.

  • Graduate Certificate

Is a postgraduate course typically requiring completion of an approved program of study of at least 24 credit points.

  • Graduate Diploma

Is a postgraduate course typically requiring completion of an approved program of study of at least 48 credit points.

  • Graduation Officer

Is the staff member responsible for the coordination of graduation ceremonies at the University.

H

  • Hazard

Anything with the potential to cause harm, injury or illness to a person.

  • Hazing

Is any behaviour or initiation practice that involves humiliation, degradation, or abuse.

  • HDR Candidate

Means a Higher Degree Research student.

  • HDR Student

Means an HDR candidate who is enrolled in an higher degree research program at UNE.

  • Head of Cost Centre

Normally means the Dean of Faculty or Director (as the case may be) of the relevant Faculty or Directorate. Where it is not appropriate for the Dean or Director to act, or where the circumstances relate to a position reporting directly to a Senior Executive, the Head of Cost Centre will be taken to mean the relevant Senior Executive. Where the matter relates to a Senior Executive, the Head of Cost Centre will be the Vice- Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer.

  • Head of Residence

Means the Master/Principal/Head of a Residential College.

  • HECS-HELP

Higher Education Contribution Scheme – Higher Education Loan Program  is an Australian Government loan program that helps eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution amounts.

  • Holding of Personal Information

The University will be considered to be 'holding' personal information if it is in the University's possession or control, or if it is held by a contractor or service provider on our behalf. Most of the privacy principles apply to when the University is 'holding' personal information, which means we remain responsible for what our contractors or service providers do on our behalf.

  • Host Institution

Is the institution where the Outbound Student will undertake their mobility program if they are not participating in an Exchange Program in which case it is the Partner Institution.

I

  • IELTS

Means International English Language Testing System.

  • Image Authenticaton

Means a method of providing proof that images presented as evidence have not been tampered with.

  • Image Verification

Means a method of verifying images and associated data so that the origin, date and time can be used to support its credibility and acceptability in a legal process.

  • Immediate Family Member

Includes a child (including an adult child, grandchild, adopted child, step child or child for whom the employee is a legal guardian or equivalent), spouse, partner (including same sex partner), former spouse or partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, sibling or other family or household member.

  • Impairment Loss

(of an Asset) The amount by which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount.

  • In Absentia

Is when an award is conferred on a student without their presence at a Graduation Ceremony.

  • In Person

Means physically co-located or present by electronic means.

  • In Writing

Means by letter, email or fax.

  • Inbound Student

Is an international student participating in a Student Mobility Program at UNE.

  • Incident

An event that has led to or could have led to (near miss) an injury or illness.

  • Inclusion

Refers to getting the mix of people in an organisation to work together to improve performance and wellbeing. Inclusion in a workplace is achieved when a diversity of people (e.g. ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, perspectives) feel that they are:
*    Respected for who they are and able to be themselves;
*    Connected to their colleagues and feel they belong;
*    Contributing their perspectives and talents to the workplace; and
*    Progressing in their career at work (i.e. have equal access to opportunities and resources)
(Diversity Council Australia, Inclusion Model, Sydney, DCA, 2025)

  • Informal Learning

Is learning gained through work, social, family or leisure activities and experiences. Unlike Formal or non-Formal learning, Informal Learning is not organised or externally structured in terms of objectives, time or learning support

  • Inherent Requirements

Are the fundamental parts of a course or unit that must be met by all students.  They are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete a course.

  • Institute

An Institute is a prominent, large scale, multi-disciplinary research grouping that embodies research excellence, and undertakes world-leading research in support of its mission. Research Institutes will have strategic external relationships with international and domestic universities, industry, and government partners. Institutes will have their own cost-centre. The Director of an Institute will report directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

  • Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual Freedom as a meaning corresponding with Academic Freedom

  • Intensive School

Is a mode of teaching and learning that brings students together at a particular physical or virtual location for a period of intensive interactive learning experiences. This term encompasses all types of Intensive School, whether held on or off campus or online.

  • Intensive School Timetable

Means the schedule of teaching and learning activities for an Intensive School as distinct from all other timetables.

  • Intermission

An approved leave of absence of up to two years from a course. Students who apply for intermission before the census date will not have that trimester counted for the student's maximum period of candidature.

  • International Applicant

Is an applicant for admission to the University who is not an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident or the holder of an Australian Humanitarian visa.

  • International Student

An international student is a student that is not an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, or an Australian Permanent Resident or the holder of an Australian humanitarian visa.

  • Invited Visiting Speaker

Invited Visiting Speaker is any person who has been invited by the University or by a student society.

  • Islamophobia

Is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.

  • ITD Server Rooms

Means the server rooms maintained by the Information Technology Directorate and includes the IT building server rooms, the T.C. Lamble building server room, the Austin College server room and the Booth Block basement PABX room.

L

  • Lawful Purpose

Means a purpose that is not forbidden by law.

  • Learning Management System (LMS)

Is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic educational technology teaching and learning programs.

  • Learning Outcomes

Is the expression of the set of knowledge, skills and the application of the knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate as a result of learning.

  • Learning Resources

Comprise the sum of 'UNE-Authored Learning Resources' and 'Third Party Copyright and Licensed Materials' that are made available to students to achieve learning outcomes and complete assessment requirements for a unit.

  • Leave of Absence

See Intermission.

  • Level (unit)

A numeric code usually describing the level of learning outcomes to be achieved in the unit/and or the unit’s positioning inside the course structure. 100-level indicates units at the introductory level with higher numbers indicating higher learning outcomes.

  • Levels (AQF)

AQF levels are an indication of the relative complexity and/or depth of achievement and the autonomy required to demonstrate that achievement.  AQF level 1 has the lowest complexity and AQF level 10 has the highest complexity.

  • Library Resources

Include resources and licensed materials that are managed and made accessible by the University Library (including the electronic reserve collection) to support teaching and learning activities.

M

  • Major Course Amendment

Means a change to one-third or more of the course rules, content or curriculum.

  • Mandatory Intensive School

Is an Intensive School that provides learning outcomes that cannot be achieved in any other way. All students enrolled in a unit or course must attend, exemption is possible under the most limited of circumstances

  • Metadata

Are descriptions of research data and/or research material sets in accordance with established metadata schema.

  • Metadata Store

Is a system which enables the gathering, storage and curation of metadata about research data, materials and collections, and facilitates their discovery.

  • Microcredential

A microcredential is a certification of assessed learning or competency, associated with a UNE short course/s, that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a component part of an AQF award qualification.�<

  • Minimum Pass Mark

Normally an aggregate mark of 50% although a specific assessment task may have a minimum pass mark greater than 50%. This means a student must pass that specific assessment at the higher level in order to pass the entire unit.  Irrespective of whether the unit’s aggregate mark exceeds the minimum pass mark.

  • Minor Course Amendments

Means a change to less than one-third or more of the course rules, content or curriculum.

  • Mobility Program

Is any program approved and coordinated by the University that involves students undertaking an overseas experience.

  • Mode

A term commonly used to describe the way a course is delivered e.g. on-campus, online.

  • Moderation

Is the process of ensuring that different markers of the same assessment task consistently apply assessment criteria in a marking scheme, and that marks are allocated consistently with reference to how well the stipulated criteria are met.

  • Museum

A museum helps people understand the world by using objects and ideas to interpret the past and present and explore the future.  A museum preserves and researches collections, and makes objects and information accessible in actual and virtual environments.  Museums are established in the public interest as permanent, not-for-profit organisations that contribute long-term value to communities (Museums Australia Constitution – 2002).

Museums Australia recognises that museums may be designated by other names (eg. Gallery, Keeping Place,).  The following may also qualify as museums for the purposes of this definition:  (a) natural, archaeological and ethnographic monuments,/sites and historical monuments/sites that acquire, conserve and communicate material evidence of people and their environment; (b) institutions holding collections of and displaying specimens of plants and animals, such as botanical and zoological gardens, herbaria, aquaria and vivaria; (c) science centres; (d) cultural centres and other entitles facilitating the preservation, continuation and management of tangible or intangible heritage resources (living heritage and digital creative activity); and such other institutions as the [Museums Australia National] Council considers as having some or all of the characteristics of a museum.

In its Code of Ethics [2013] the International Council of Museums (ICOM) describes a museum as: a non-profit making permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits for the purposes of study, education and enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment.

(Primary source document for these definitions: National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries, 2016)

N

  • Nested Awards

Is a sequence of courses offered at different levels which enables a student to progress from a lower level qualification into a higher level qualification to enable multiple entry and exit points.

  • Non-Award

A type of enrolment by students in units that are not part of a program of study leading to an award of the University.  It usually requires enrolment as a full-fee student.

  • Non-Current Asset

An asset with a life of one year or greater.

  • Non-Formal Learning

Is learning that takes place through a structured program of learning but does not lead to an officially accredited qualification.

  • Non-Mandatory Intensive School

Is an Intensive School that provides an alternative way of achieving learning outcomes. Students enrolled in a unit or course may either attend voluntarily, or be provided with substitute activities that achieve the same learning outcomes.

  • Non-Pecuniary Interest

These interests do not have a financial component but may arise from Personal or Family Relationships or involvement in sporting, social or cultural activities. They include any factor which would predispose the UNE Representative towards favor or prejudice resulting from friendship, animosity or other personal involvement that could bias the UNE Representative's judgment or decisions.

  • NOOSR

Is the "National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition" within Australian Education International. NOOSR manages international qualifications recognition including educational and professional recognition information services and support.

  • Normal Business Hours

Normal business hours are between the hours of 9am and 5pm on week days excluding public holidays and the University Christmas break.

  • Normally

Where the word 'normally' is used in a rule, policy, procedure or guideline, it means that it is the default position that must be followed unless exceptional circumstances exist that require a departure from the default position, as determined by the Rule Administrator acting reasonably.

  • Note

An official record to recognise the receipt of an approval, endorsement, proposal, report, recommendation or other matter.

O

  • Offer

Is an invitation to enrol after a successful application for admission. Offers reflect the number of places available in a course and are made either directly through a Tertiary Admission Centre or the University. (Admission Rule)

  • Official University Business

Means activities directly associated with the functions of the University including but not limited to teaching & learning, research, conference, consultancy, administrative and other official duties undertaken on behalf of the University.

  • On Campus Mode

Means a Student who is enrolled by this mode is required to attend the University for regular ongoing face-to-face lectures, tutorials, practical classes etc. as determined by the individual unit requirements.

  • Online Mode

Means a Student who is enrolled by this mode is not required to attend the University or under University supervised examinations. Unit materials will be made available through the University Learning Management System

  • Operating Expenditure

Is the day to day expenditure incurred in the normal operation of the University and includes such items as travel, printing and stationery, scholarships, consultants' fees, etc. This expenditure appears in the University's Profit and Loss as Expenditure.

  • Outbound Student

Is a UNE student participating in an international mobility program.

  • Overdue Account

Means an account where the amount owing remains unpaid one day after the due date.

  • Owning School

The School that has the lead management for the design and delivery of the courses within its responsibility.

P

  • Parent

As defined in the National Law (NSW), in relation to a child, includes:

a guardian of the child; and
a person who has parental responsibility for the child under a decision or order of a court.

  • Parental Leave

May be paid or unpaid, and includes maternity/primary carer leave, partner leave, adoption leave, foster leave child rearing leave.

  • Parking Permit

Means a voucher, card or similar article issued by the university in electronic or physical form as evidence of the prepayment of a parking fee.

  • Parking Ticket

Means a ticket issued by the university (by means of a parking ticket machine) for display in or on a vehicle as evidence of the pre-payment of a parking fee.

  • Partner

Means spouse, former partner, de facto or same sex partner.

  • Partner Institution

Is a university in a country other than Australia with which UNE has signed a formal document of co-operation. (Student International Mobility Rule)

  • Pecuniary Interest

These are interests that involve an actual or potential financial gain or loss. They may result from the UNE Representative or a related party owning property, holding shares or a position in a company bidding for government work, accepting gifts or hospitality, or receiving an income from a second job. Money does not need to actually change hands for an interest to be pecuniary.

  • Penalty Unit (Student Behavioural Misconduct Rule)

Is a cash value that comprises a fine, the UNE Council sets the penalty unit cash value.

  • Performance Indicators

Are qualitative and quantitative data measures that provide a framework for measuring the extent to which performance objectives are being achieved on an on-going basis.

  • Permission to Enrol Elsewhere

Is pre-approved studies undertaken by a student enrolled in a University of New England course at another University, for Advanced Standing towards the University of New England course.

  • Personal Information

Has the meaning given to it in accordance with Section 4 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).

  • Personal or Family Relationship

Means a relationship between an employee and a relative, a financially dependent person, a person where there is a financially connected relationship, a close friend, a de facto partner or any person with whom there is currently, or has been, an intimate or an agonistic relationship. This does not include a working relationship which exists due to ordinary collegiate collaboration, where colleagues are not relatives, financially dependent, de facto or intimate partners.

  • Placement

Is a clinical placement, practicum, internship and any other like form of professional, industrial or vocational experience included in a course or required for a program.

  • Placement Coordinator

Means a member of staff with responsibilities as set out in the Work Integrated Learning Procedure. The Placement Coordinator may be the Course or Unit coordinator.

  • Placement Provider

Is an individual or organisation with which a Student is undertaking a Work Integrated Learning Placement.

  • Placement Supervisor

Means a member of staff of a Placement Provider who is responsible for supervising and/or contributing to the assessment of students on WIL Placement.

  • Plagiarism

Is a form of Academic Misconduct and is the use of another person's work without appropriate acknowledgement and includes:

the use of close paraphrasing of ideas, concepts, words, data or work of others without acknowledgement of sources;

presenting extracts from sources without accurate and appropriate referencing;

colluding with others to produce work that is presented misleadingly as the Student's own work;

presenting under the Student's own name, work substantially written by someone else (e.g. using a ghost writer, purchasing work from someone or an electronic site, or using work obtained freely from a person or an electronic site); and/or

failing to acknowledge work primarily produced by a collaborator.

  • Political Donation

Means a donation, monetary or otherwise, that is directed to support a political purpose and includes a donation to:

  • political parties or affiliates;
  • an elected member of parliament or of a local council;
  • a candidate or group of candidates of a political party; and/or
  • a third party campaigner in respect of a political issue.
  • Portfolio

Most commonly a collection of material assembled by an applicant usually as part of an admission or advanced standing application.

  • Postgraduate

Relates to a course or a student in that course leading to the award of Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master or Doctor.

  • Posthumous Award

May be conferred upon a Student who has died before completing the requirements for their award or who has completed the requirements for their award and died before they are able to graduate.

  • Prerequisite

Commonly a unit that must be completed before its associated unit can be enrolled in.  It may also be used to define a prior academic background (qualification)  required before enrolment is permitted in a course.

  • Prescribed Unit

Means a unit that is part of a Major and is compulsory for a Student to pass in order to complete the Major to satisfy the course rules. Prescribed Units would not normally be substituted for any other unit.

  • Primary Researcher

Refers to the lead or chief investigator.

  • Principal Course

Is the main course of study undertaken by an international on-shore Student where the student visa has been issued for multiple courses of study. The Principal Course will normally be the final course of study and that which leads to the highest qualification in a package of courses.

  • Principal Dates

The official list of dates for University activities approved by the UNE Council and published annually on the University website.  The list includes the official dates of teaching periods, examination periods, graduation days and the  deadlines for enrolment in, and withdrawal from, unit and courses.

  • Principal Supervisor

Means the UNE staff member or adjunct or honorary staff member who has principal responsibility for the research candidature of a HDR Student.

  • Principles of Natural Justice

Means procedural fairness of the processes by which an outcome is reached and not the outcome itself and requires that a respondent to a complaint must be provided with:

  • the relevant details of the complaint to enable the respondent to formulate a response;
  • information about processes by which the matter is to be resolved; and
  • an opportunity to put their case and respond to the complaint.
  • Private Paid Outside Work

Means work that a staff member of the University undertakes for remuneration, which is outside their normal duties, and where the University is not a party to the contract under which the work is undertaken. By way of example, this may include a consultancy or the commission of a particular piece of work.

  • Privileged Account

Means a login ID on a system or application which has more privileges than a normal user. Privileged accounts are normally used by system administrators to manage the system, or to run services on that system, or by one application to connect to another .

  • Prize

Is an award usually made on the basis of academic performance. The benefit is usually financial but may include a certificate or some other form of recognition.

  • Probation

(Student Behavioural Misconduct Rule and Student Academic Misconduct Rule) Is when the student who has received a Reprimand is advised, in writing, that if found guilty of further acts of Academic and/or Behavioural Misconduct during a specified period not exceeding three years, a specific penalty will be applied.

  • Professional Staff

Means all employees of the University who are employed at Higher Education Officer Level 1 to 10.

  • Public Art

Includes sculptures, murals, mosaics and fountains. It may be located in public places such as the grounds and on the outside of buildings in UNE's Campuses and Colleges or incorporated into the public areas of buildings such as libraries, administration and student centres, lecture theatres, foyers and corridors.

  • Published Timetable

Means the version of the Timetable that is available to students.

Q

  • QTAC

Stands for Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre. This is an agency similar  that provides university admission processing services for universities

  • Quality Assurance

Is the ongoing, internal process of assessing a university's outcomes against its aims.

  • Quality Improvement

Is the use of tracking processes on agreed quantitative and qualitative measures in order to identify processes that are working well and those that may be enhanced.

  • Quality Management

Is a system that integrates effective strategic planning with quality assurance and quality improvement activities to monitor a university's performance against its plans.

R

  • Racism

Happens when a person or organisation uses their power to discriminate, oppress or limit the rights of others because of their race. Racism often takes the form of actions, attitudes, systems and policies that treat people unfairly. Racism can be interpersonal, expressed as individual thoughts, beliefs or actions. It can come in the form of harassment, abuse or humiliation, violence or intimidating behaviour. However, racism also exists in systems and institutions where laws, policies, and barriers create inequality for people based on their race. Systemic racism is what often gives license to interpersonal racism. Racism impacts different Australian communities in different ways over time. For example, Asian-Australian people experienced a spike in racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have borne the brunt of European colonisation and have a unique experience of racism. The process of colonisation, and the beliefs that underpin it, continue to shape our society today. (Australian Human Rights Commission)

  • Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning is a process that involves assessment of an individual’s relevant prior learning (including Formal, Informal and non-Formal learning) to determine the outcomes of an application for Advanced Standing and/or Exemption. Recognition can take the form of a reduced Volume of Learning or credit points that count towards a course or an Exemption of a requirement to undertake a core, prescribed or pre-requisite unit of study.

  • Record

Records are a part of and result from business activities and provide evidence of those activities. Any document or other source of information compiled, recorded or stored in written form or on film, or by electronic process, or in any other manner or by any other means (State Records Act 1998 (NSW). Records may include, but are not limited to, any staff member's paper based records, emails, or electronic documents stored at UNE or on UNE equipment. A record does not include personal and/or private documents that are not part of official UNE business records.

  • Recorded Information

Means any data recorded on any recording medium (eg electronic, magnetic or optical) that contains information of events and camera views that have happened in the past.

  • Records Disposal

Is any method of removing records from the University's control, such as archiving or destruction.

  • Records Management Program

Is the management framework, the people and the recordkeeping systems required to manage full and accurate records over time. It covers all records and recordkeeping systems and includes the identification and protection of records that may be required as State archives (see State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

  • Records Management System (RMS)

The University of New England installation of TRIM (Content Manager), or equivalent replacement system, under the control of the Records Management Office.

  • Recoverable Amount

The higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell, and its value in use.

  • Registered Provider

The process whereby a provider is recommended by the relevant ESOS Agency for registration under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 to provide a specified course/s to overseas students.

  • Registered Wildlife Carer

A wildlife carer registered with a recognised Australian wildlife rehabilitation organisation.

  • Release

Granted by a Provider via PRISMS to allow a student to transfer from one institution to another. (international Student Transfer Rule)

  • Reprimand

Is an official warning confirming the fact that a finding of Academic or Behavioural Misconduct has been sustained, issued in writing to the student coupled with a caution against repeating the conduct.

  • Research

Is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative (defined by the Australian Research Council).

  • Research Data

Means data as facts, observations, computer results, measurements or experiences on which an argument, theory or test is based. Data may be numerical, descriptive or visual. Data may be raw or analysed, experimental or observational. Data include records that are necessary for the reconstruction and evaluation of reported results of research and the events and processes leading to those results, regardless of the form or the media on which they may be recorded.

  • Research Funding Bodies

Are public or private organisations in Australia and internationally, which fund research.

  • Research Materials

Are defined as primary materials which are physical objects such as biological samples, mineral samples, survey questionnaires, measurements, recordings, texts and computer notes, from which research data may be derived.

  • Research misconduct

Research misconduct is a serious breach of the Code(s) which is also intentional, reckless or negligent.

  • Research Outputs

Means scholarly and research literature, including articles, conference papers, and selected creative works created by a UNE author.

  • Research Trainee

Is any higher degree research (HDR) student (whose degree is comprised of at least two-thirds research), a postdoctoral research fellow or an early career researcher (within 5 years of obtaining PhD).

  • Residential College

Includes any on-campus residential accommodation. This includes separate accommodation facilities associated with a college, such as on-campus houses and/or flats that are used by residents, affiliates and Students as well as the buildings, blocks, floors, courts, grounds and parking areas associated with these buildings.

  • Residual Value

The estimated amount that would be obtained from the disposal of the asset after deducting any estimated costs of disposal.

  • Restricted Parking Area

Means the roads indicated on the maps that are available for inspection at each vehicular entrance to the University of New England campus.

  • Restricted Period

Six calendar months from the date that the student commences the Principal Course of study.  Where a Student has had a break from their studies due to deferment or suspension, the break is not counted for the purposes of determining if the Student has completed six months of their Principal Course. (International Student Transfer Rule)

  • Revocation of Award

Is the cancellation of a University of New England award by the University.

  • Risk Management

Means coordinated activities to direct and control an organisation with regard to its management of corporate risk.

  • Room Booking

Means a non-teaching related booking in a UNE space made through the online room booking system or the Scheduling team. JMP teaching activities are exempt.

  • Rural Properties

Areas of UNE sites that belong to the Rural Properties category. As listed on UNE's Rural Properties website.

S

  • Scholarly Standards

Scholarly Standards are the University’s expectation of academic quality and integrity and may consider factors including:

a. academic and research ethics;

b. scientific and disciplinary specific methods and knowledge;

c. evidence or reasoning at an appropriate advanced level to demonstrate academic merit;

d. observation of norms of lawful and public dialogue; and e. professional conduct acting in good faith.

  • Scholarship (Prizes and Scholarship Rule)

Is any scholarship or bursary and is an award usually made on the basis of academic merit and/or equity providing a benefit to a student undertaking a course of study. The benefit is usually financial and may include full or partial remission of fees, costs associated with studying and/or living allowance or stipend.

  • Scholarship (Special Studies Program Policy)

Means academic study or achievement; learning at a high level.

  • School

Is an organisational unit comprising academic staff in related fields of study who are responsible for teaching and research in those academic fields together with support staff.

  • School HDR Coordinator

Means the Higher Degree Research (HDR) Coordinator in the School in which a HDR student is enrolled.

  • School Review

Is an assessment of a School's academic performance, management and planning, incorporating a review of the discipline/s that are integral to the academic activities of the School.

  • Secret Commission

A payment in money or in kind which will or is intended to cause a person to act in a way that is contrary to the interests of his or her principal or employer, is contrary to the principal's or employer's policy on a given issue or is against the public interest. Secret commissions, by definition, will typically be paid without the knowledge or express or implicit agreement of the principal or employer and include payments intended to influence the outcome of a specific action or event as well as the actions generally over a period of time.

  • Secure and Encrypted Communications

Means the transmission of data over communication channels which protect against the interception or modification of the data by a 3rd party. For web based communications, this generally refers to using HTTPS, a secure form of the HTTP protocol, which encrypts the data being sent between the user's web browser and remote web server. For email communications, common solutions include using PGP encryption or it can be as simple as sending sensitive data in an attachment which has been encrypted or password protected. For more details on secure communications and recommended software packages, contact the Technology and Digital Services.

  • Selected-Response Assessment Tasks

Constrain the student to provide a brief specific answer (a name, year, title, missing word, etc.) or require the student to choose the correct answer from two or more options.

  • Senior Executive

Means the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Transition and Executive Director Future Students, Engagement & Technologies.

  • Senior Management

Means staff at Dean/Director level and above

  • Sensitive Personal Information

Relates to information about a person's racial or ethnic origin, political perspectives, religious/philosophical beliefs, sexual activities or union membership.

  • Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Is an agreement between two parties for a service with defined metrics around its delivery and cost.

  • Service Teaching Unit

Means a unit that is offered by one School and taken as Core, Listed or Prescribed unit by Students enrolled in courses owned by other Schools.

  • Sexual Assault

Is a broad term describing all sexual offences against adults and children. It also describes a specific offence when a person has sexual intercourse with another person without their consent.

  • Sexual Harassment

Means an unwelcome sexual advance or unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the person harassed in circumstances in which a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated or intimidated.  Sexual harassment can be obvious or indirect, physical or verbal, repeated or one-off and perpetrated against people of the same or opposite sex.  Sexual harassment may include:

  • staring or leering, wolf whistles;
  • unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against you or unwelcome touching;
  • suggestive comments or jokes;
  • insults or taunts of a sexual nature;
  • intrusive questions or statements about your private life;
  • displaying posters, magazines or screen savers of a sexual nature;
  • sending sexually explicit emails or text messages;
  • inappropriate advances on social networking sites;
  • accessing sexually explicit internet sites;
  • requests for sex or repeated unwanted requests to go out on dates;
  • behaviour that may also be considered to be an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications (http://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/guides/sexual-harassment#sh2).
  • Short Course

A short course is any learning programme or recognition of learning of between one and 100 hours in duration that assesses learning outcomes and results in a certificate (i.e. microcredential) bearing the UNE name, logo or crest and is not recognised as a qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

  • Short Term Mobility Program

Consists of:

Outbound Students undertaking an overseas experience for a period of time less than a trimester which will count towards their UNE course or unit e.g. clinical placements, professional experience, practicum, study tours, and in-country language units; or
Inbound Students studying at UNE for less than one trimester e.g. internships, study tours.C

  • Social Media

Social media s electronic media that enables user-generated content, collaboration, exchange and the development of social relationships across an interactive, digital space from and to a variety of technological devices and platforms. The definition of social media continues to evolve. Social media content can take many forms including text, images, audio, video and other multimedia communications. Types of social media include but are not limited to:

  • networks (eg. Facebook, LInkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Google Plus);
  • chat-based platforms (eg. WeChat, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp);
  • industry specific information sharing sites (eg. ResearchGate, Academia.edu);
  • bookmarking sites (eg. Delicious, Pinterest);
  • blogs (including those hosted by UNE and personal blogs where the blogger is represented as an employee of the University);
  • online forums and discussion groups (eg. Reddit); and
  • other websites allowing users and organisations to post and share information about the University using simple publishing tools (eg. Moodle).
  • Space

Means a particular closed or contained area, in which activities performed by the University are undertaken, which in turn is managed as a physical asset.

  • Special Consideration

means that if a student attended an exam or submitted an assessment by the submission date and their performance was affected due to circumstances beyond their control, those circumstances may be taken into account when the exam/assessment is marked. Special consideration is worth up to 3% of total assessment in the unit.

  • Special Examination

is an equivalent exam to be administered by Examinations, Results and Timetabling in the next relevant examination period.

  • Special Extension of Time

is an extension on assessment submission until the last day of the teaching period immediately following the teaching period in which the Student was enrolled in the unit or for completion of compulsory practical experience/practicum/praxis, is the last day of the third teaching period after the original enrolment.

  • Specialised Teaching Space

Means a teaching space that is designed for specific purposes, e.g. scientific laboratories, computer laboratories, wet and dry laboratories.

  • Specified Advanced Standing

Is granted where prior learning is regarded as having met the learning outcomes of a specific UNE unit. Specified Advanced Standing is granted using the UNE unit code and credit point value.

  • Speech

(Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom)

Speech extends to all forms of expressive conduct including oral speech and written, artistic, musical and performing works and activity; the word ‘speak’ has a corresponding meaning.

  • Spyware

Is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else.

  • Standard

Is an agreed specification or other criterion used as a rule, guidelines or definition of a level of performance or achievement.

  • STAT (Special Tertiary Admission Test)

The Test is used by the University for admission applications for certain aplpicants. It is normally used by admission applicants who did not complete school, or completed some years ago and/or have no formal education or training since leaving school.

  • State Record

Is defined in Part One, Section Three of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW), as any record made and kept, or received and kept, by any person in the course of the exercise of official functions in a public office, or for any purpose of a public office, or for the use of a public office. All records obtained through the course of University operations are State Records and are controlled by the University of New England as University Records.

  • Statutory Census Date

Is the date prescribed in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Commonwealth) at which registration in a unit of study is officially counted as an enrolment and the date by which fees or the Student contribution must be paid or deferred as published by the University as a principal date from time to time.

  • Student

Is an admitted student or an enrolled student, at the relevant time:

1. an admitted student is a student who has been admitted to a UNE course of study and who is entitled to enrol in a unit of study or who has completed all of the units in the UNE course of study;

2. an enrolled student is a student who is enrolled in a unit of study at UNE.

  • Student Casual

Means a person that meets the definition of a student and is engaged under the same terms as casual staff.

  • Student Exchange Program

Consists of:

Outbound Students enrolling at, and paying tuition fees to, UNE during the period of an overseas exchange at a Partner Institution for which they will receive advanced standing for those studies towards their UNE course; or
Inbound Students studying on a non-award basis at UNE whilst remaining enrolled with, and paying tuition fees to, their home institution for which they will receive advanced standing for those studies towards their course at their home institution.

  • Student Visa Holder

Is an international student studying in Australia on an appropriate visa.

  • Study Abroad Program

Consists of:

Outbound Students studying for a period of time on a fee-paying basis at an overseas institution for which they will receive advanced standing towards their UNE course; or
Inbound Students studying on a full-fee paying, non-award basis at UNE for a minimum of one trimester or a maximum of one academic year.

  • Summative Assessment

Is evaluating a student's achievement of learning outcomes through the formal assessment components of a unit to calculate a student's aggregate mark and final grade in the unit.

T

  • Teaching Period

The time period (including examination period) in which a unit is being offered.

  • Teaching Space

Means the teaching facilities at the University including lecture and tutorial rooms, laboratories and other Specialised Teaching Spaces used for teaching and other related activities. Any changes to the designation of these venues can only be made with the authorisation of the Director, Estate and Built Environment .

  • Tertiary Study

For admission requirements. Means completion of at least one trimester/semester (or equivalent part-time) of a recognised degree, or a completed Associate Diploma, Diploma or Certificate IV course.

  • Testamur

The official certificate issued by the University to graduates when they have their award conferred. It is a legal document imprinted with the University Seal.

  • Third Party Copyright and Licensed Materials

Comprise materials for which the copyright is held by the author or publisher (not the University) or obtained through a services aggregator and for which the requirements of Australian copyright law or licensing agreements with the aggregator services must be adhered to.

  • Timetable

Means the schedule of teaching and learning activities for students.

  • Timetable Data Collection System

Means the online data collection system for staff to provide teaching delivery requirements for each On Campus Mode offering to appear on the Timetable.

  • TOEFL

Means Test of English as a Foreign Language.

  • TRACKS

Is the Tertiary Preparation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates.

  • Transfer

Movement of an international student on an Australian student visa between Registered Providers. (International Student Mobility Rule)

  • Trimester

the period over which a unit is usually taught.  The majority of coursework units are one trimester in length.

U

  • UAC

Stands for University Admissions Centre. UAC acts on behalf of the University to process some undergraduate and postgraduate admissions.

  • Undergraduate

Relates to a course or a student enrolled in that course leading to an award of Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree or a Bachelor.

  • UNE Act

Is the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW).

  • UNE Art Collection

Means all original 2 and 3 dimensional works of art, limited edition prints and fine art reproductions and Public Art purchased, commissioned, donated or bequested to UNE and its predecessor institutions, the New England University College, the Armidale Teacher's College and the Armidale College of Advanced Education, which have been formally accessioned into the collection and for which title has been transferred to the University.

  • UNE By-law

Means the University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW).

  • UNE By-laws

Means the University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW).

  • UNE Course Handbook

This means the listing of Courses and units offered by UNE and is available digitally via une.edu.au

  • UNE Network

Means the UNE owned and Information Technology Directorate administered communications infrastructure including, but not limited to:

Optic fibre cable and patch leads;
Copper cable and associated jumpering (connections);
UTP cable and patch leads;
Patch panels, racks and cabinets;
Switches;
Routers;
Servers;
Firewalls;
Wireless access points;
Microwave links.

  • UNE Wireless Network

Means a telecommunications network that relies upon radio waves instead of copper or fibre optic cable, in the delivery and receipt of information signals. In a wireless network, a device transmits a radio signal through an antenna.

  • UNE-Authored Learning Resources

Comprise assignment topics, worksheets, journals and other materials created by University staff which can be distributed to enrolled students without infringing the copyright of others.

  • Unit

Is a part of a course with a code, title and credit point value for which a result is recorded on a student's academic record.

  • Unit and Course Monitoring

Is the annual consideration of quantitative data and qualitative information for the purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of the University's units and courses. Data includes the student profile, demand, student feedback, assessment outcomes, resources, graduate outcomes, evaluations by students and graduates, and peer reviews. Monitoring also provides the opportunity to address the strengths and weaknesses of a course or unit through annual enhancement plans.

  • Unit Coordinator

Is an academic member of staff with management responsibility for the design, teaching and assessment of a unit.

  • Unit Outline

The formal description of the unit which appears in the Courses and Unit Catalogue.

  • Unit Review

Is the in-depth evaluation of a unit, including currency of content and learning outcomes, relevance for the courses that it relates to, quality of teaching and learning including assessment, student perceptions and feedback, EFTSL load, assessment practices and alignment of assessment to learning outcomes.

  • University Collection

A University Collection is a coherent group of items that have historic, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, research or social significance to the University or its teaching program, where ownership is clearly vested in the University, and which has been approved for entry on the University Collections Register. Note: Research Materials are covered by separate policy and are not deemed a collection for the purposes of UNE’s Collection Principles and Guidelines.

  • University Premises

Includes all land, buildings, facilities, residential colleges, and other property (including University grounds, adjacent streets, footpaths and bicycle paths) in the possession of or owned, used or controlled by the University.

  • University Records

Are any records (regardless of format) made and kept, or received and kept, by any person in the course of the exercise of official functions in the University, or for any purpose of the University, or for the use of the University [Part 1, State Records Act 1998 (NSW)]. This includes records in any format such as paper, electronic (email, spreadsheets, word processing documents, images etc), audio or video cassettes, film, photographs, publications and microfilm/fiche.

  • University Representative

means a University staff member, contractor, agent, affiliate, residential staff member, UNE Council member, Council committee member, employee of a controlled entity, director of a controlled entity and any other person engaged by the University to undertake some activity for or on behalf of the University. It includes corporations, affiliated organisations and other bodies falling into one or more of these categories.

  • Unsolicited Personal Information

Is information that the University receives, but has taken no active steps to collect. For example: an employment application sent to the University on an individual's own initiative and not in response to an advertised vacancy.

  • Unspecified Advanced Standing

Isgranted where the prior learning is deemed broadly consistent with the learning outcomes of the course being undertaken without it being directly equivalent to the learning outcomes of specific UNE units. Unspecified advanced standing is granted as a total number of credit points and may be designated as meeting part(s) of a course (typically elective requirements) according to the course rules.

  • Useful Life (of an Asset)

The period over which an asset is expected to be available for use.

V

  • Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer

Means the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the University, with functions conferred or imposed upon him/her by or under Section 12 of the UNE Act.

  • Visitor

Means any person who is not a student or UNE representative.

  • Vital Records

Are records that are essential for the ongoing business of the University, and without which the University could not continue to function effectively. The identification and protection of such records is a primary object of records management, risk management and disaster management planning. Each organisational unit is responsible for identifying and managing vital records in consultation with the Records Management Office.

  • Volume of Learning

Is a dimension of the complexity of a qualification. It is used with the level criteria and qualification type descriptor to determine the depth and breadth of the learning outcomes of a qualification. The volume of learning identifies the notional duration of all activities required for the achievement of the learning outcomes specified for a particular AQF qualification type. It is expressed in equivalent full-time years.

W

  • Wireless Access Point (WAP)

Is a device that connects wireless devices (by their radio waves) to a wired network. The access point normally connects to a wired Ethernet connection, and then provides wireless connections for other devices in the area (eg. Wireless routers). WPA2 -Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) - are two security protocols and security certification programs developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer networks.

  • Withdrawal of Services

Is the withdrawal of specified services to a student for a designated period as follows:

UNE libraries — loss of access to electronic resources, other library resources and borrowing rights for a period not exceeding three years;

computer facilities — loss of user rights and access for a period not exceeding three years; and/or

loss of access to specified buildings and precincts for a period not exceeding three years.

  • Withdrawn Course

Is a course that the University has agreed to discontinue permanently, and in which current students will be allowed to complete under specific teach-out provisions that have a final end-date.

  • Work Integrated Learning

Is an activity that integrates academic learning with its application in the workplace.

  • Working Day

Means Monday to Friday, excluding Public Holidays and the University Christmas break.

  • Working With Children Check

Is a requirement for people who work or volunteer in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct.

  • Workplace

Means a place (including vehicle, vessel aircraft or other mobile structure) where work is carried out for a business or undertaking and includes any place a worker goes or is likely to go while at work.

X

  • Xenophobia

Attitudes, prejudices or behaviors which reject, exclude and often vilify individuals in the community, society or national identity, based on the perception that they are outsiders or foreigners. (The UN Refugee Agency)

Please contact the Policies if you require further information.