James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

CEREMONIAL

ACADEMIC DRESS

GRADUATION PROCEDURES

Notification of intention to graduate

Students who have completed the requirements for their course and wish to be awarded a degree, diploma or certificate, should complete a ‘Finalisation of an Award’ form. This form is available at Examinations and Ceremonies (contact details on page 49) or at each Faculty office.

Graduation Ceremonies

Information regarding Graduation Ceremonies will be forwarded to graduands no later than three weeks before the date of their ceremony. Graduands may attend the relevant ceremony in either Townsville or Cairns.

Graduation dates are shown in Important Dates inside the front cover.

Students with outstanding debts are not permitted to graduate.

Any student who does not wish to attend a Graduation Ceremony can have their award conferred in absentia at a University Council meeting.

Academic Dress

James Cook University academic dress must be worn at the ceremony. All enquiries to the Student Association Shop (07 4781 6396). Doctoral academic dress may be purchased or hired from Examinations and Ceremonies (07 4781 4246).

UNIVERSITY MEDALS

A. CONDITIONS

1.  Each year the Council may award a University Medal to each person who satisfies the four criteria listed below:

1. a first class level A honours rank, as in the data provided by the Heads of Schools to the Board of Postgraduate Studies Committee to inform the ranking of students for Australian Postgraduate Awards and James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships;
2. a weighted average score of at least 3.6 calculated as outlined below;
3. a recommendation for award from the appropriate Faculty Executive Committee; and
4. is in the top 10% of students graduating with first class honours.

In normal circumstances, not more than ten percent of students graduating with first class honours may be awarded a University Medal each year. If the number of nominees for a University Medal exceeds 10% of students across the University graduating with first class honours, the eligibility will be restricted to the top 10% of nominees ranked according to their weighted average score.

2.  A recommendation for the award of a Medal shall be made by the appropriate Faculty to the Standing Committee of the Academic Board.

3.  A faculty may recommend the award of a Medal only if the person concerned

• has completed while enrolled at the University at least the second half of the degree course;
• has shown a high quality of performance throughout the course; and
• has shown outstanding merit in the field of specialisation.

4.  A faculty may recommend the award of a Medal to a person who normally has taken no more than one year more than the minimum time to complete a degree course provided that the extra time was due to circumstances other than academic failure.

5.  A faculty may recommend the award of a Medal to two or more persons who have studied in the same School in the same year.

6.  A faculty may recommend the award of a Medal to a person who has qualified for a second bachelor degree with first class honours and who otherwise fulfils these conditions.

7.  In considering recommendations from the faculties, the Standing Committee shall maintain, as far as possible, uniformity of practice. Each recommendation of which the Committee approves shall be transmitted to the Academic Board for further recommendation to Council.

B. PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING NOMINATIONS

1.  The Graduate Research School will forward a list of students who have received first class, level A honours to Examinations.

2.  Examinations will calculate the weighted average score for each of these students.

3.  Examinations will send a list of relevant students, and their weighted average score, to each of the Executive Deans informing them that these students are eligible to be nominated to receive a University Medal.

4.  The Executive Deans will consult the relevant Heads of Schools as to their support of any nomination.

5.  The nominations will then be considered by the appropriate Faculty or Faculty Committee as soon as practicable.

6.  The Faculty’s recommendations for the award of University Medals will be submitted for consideration by the Standing Committee as soon as practicable and in sufficient time for the Standing Committee to make its own recommendations to the March meeting of the Academic Board.

Recommendations to the Standing Committee will include the weighted average score of the nominee, the academic record of the nominee and the justification for the award of a Medal.

7.  The Standing Committee regards 3.6 as the weighted average score below which a candidate would not normally be considered eligible – exceptional circumstances which would merit consideration of a candidate with a slightly lower score would include clear evidence of outstanding distinction in final honours result, or evidence that the weighted score fell below 3.6 solely because of illness affecting results in one subject.

C. FORMULA FOR CALCULATION OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE SCORE

1.  The purpose of the formula is to convert into a single score the overall grades obtained by a person being considered for a medal. In the case of a person who undertakes honours after completing the requirements of a three year degree, the WAS is calculated on the basis of the grades obtained in the first three years of study in subjects which have contributed to the honours degree. In the case of a person undertaking a four year professional degree, the WAS is calculated on the basis of the grades obtained in the four years of the degree.

In calculating the score, no account is taken of:

1. subjects superfluous to the honours degree;
2. subjects in a different course not credited to the honours degree; and
3. honours subject(s).

Account is, however, taken of subjects taken at another University and credited to the honours degree (see Condition 3.)

2.  A result in a deferred or special examination is treated as though obtained in the corresponding mid-year or end-of-year examination.

3.  Results in a supplementary examination are ignored; the original failure is regarded as the result for the subject concerned.

4.  The Weighted Average Score (referred to as WAS and calculated to two decimal places) is arrived at by the following formula:

WAS = sum (GUY) / sum (UY)

Where:

1. G = grading according to the following scale: HD = 4; D = 3; C = 2; P = 1; P-, PC, N = 0;
2. U = unit value of subject;
3. Y = year of subject as indicated by first digit in numerical part of subject code.