Course Delivery Policy

Purpose

This policy outlines the general principles guiding delivery of Alphacrucis College (AC) courses.

Scope

All campuses
All VET and HE courses of study

Policy

AC will deliver the requirements of its courses so that the candidates of those awards can meet the requirements to graduate.

Teaching Space Guidelines

It is a general rule that in allocating teaching space an allowance will be made for two square metres per student.

Student Orientation and Induction

Each new student is expected to participate in AC’s orientation program, usually a combination of an online induction program and a campus specific orientation event.  The student is expected to complete this orientation no later than two weeks after the commencement of studies at AC. This process is coordinated by the Director of Student Services.

Principles of Course Delivery

The following principles frame the delivery of all AC courses of study:

• equity and clarity of course content, assessment, workload, learning experience and outcomes across all delivery modes and delivery sites;
• common learning management system;
• timely and appropriate support of AC personnel and tutors;
• timely and appropriate assessment feedback before the next assessment item is due;
• flexibility in pedagogical approaches and scaffolding of student learning;
• student access to the necessary resources to meet course requirements (as a condition of admission, students are required to have access to appropriate computer technology and the internet), especially those defined “at risk” who must be able to access academic support mechanisms;
• a variety of assessment that caters to different learning styles;
• appropriately and adequately educated and skilled faculty and trainers;
• appropriate benchmarking, review and continuous improvement.

Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Course Delivery

LOTE Course Delivery is permitted at AC if the following conditions are met:

• the relevant course has been approved for LOTE delivery by Academic Board;
• support systems for students are available in the language of delivery; and
• the specific subjects being delivered have been translated, the translation has been verified, and evidence of that verification has been submitted to the Learning and Teaching Committee.

The following principles apply to all courses delivered in LOTE:

• all students enrolling in subjects delivered in LOTE must demonstrate capacity in the language of instruction prior to commencement; this is not required if the language of instruction is the first language of the student;
• where there is an equivalent English subject or course available in the College, the development of a subject or course in LOTE shall be based on and dynamically equivalent to the existing English subject or course in: admission; pre-requisites; assessment; grading; learning outcomes; resources; student information and services; internal monitoring; and external moderation;
• all courses and subjects will comply with AQF/AQTF requirements, and other state and federal quality criteria as required;
• all AC testamurs and transcripts of results will be produced in English. AC testamurs and transcripts of results for courses delivered entirely in LOTE will include a clear statement that identifies the language of instruction and assessment;
• all staff and learning resources must be of an equivalent standard as an English equivalent;
• AC faculty involved in LOTE delivery must normally be fluent in both English and the language of delivery and assessment as well as be competent in the discipline area of the course. Where it is proposed that translators or interpreters be appointed, details of such arrangements must be included in the relevant course approval and quality assurance documentation;
• functionally bilingual staff are tasked to assist students progress and have adequate digital and printed documentation to support their tasks, which are of an equivalent standard to those provided for students studying in English medium.

Provisions related to LOTE

• Assessment conditions shall be the same for all students at AC. No provision for special concessions will be made for students undertaking assessment in those subjects solely on the basis of LOTE study.
• Students for whom the language of instruction is their second language are permitted to take a hard copy, unmarked bi-lingual dictionary (direct translation only) into an examination. The dictionary must be presented to the examination invigilator for inspection prior to the examination. In the case of theological subjects or courses, provision may be made for dictionaries or lexicons in the target language.
• Standard English and electronic dictionaries are not permitted to be taken into any examination by any student unless specifically approved.
• The lecturer may approve, on application, reasonable assessment concessions for students from language backgrounds other than English.

Students from language backgrounds other than English who wish to apply for assessment concessions will be expected to present their application early in the first semester to their lecturer.

Responsible for implementation

Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee

Key stakeholders

All staff and students

Procedures

Course Delivery Procedures