Appealing Grades and Special Considerations in the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry

Appeals

If you want to appeal a mark, the first step is to contact the Unit of Study Coordinator in writing to arrange for a time to discuss the mark. This should normally happen within fifteen working days of marks being made available to students.

If the Unit of Study Coordinator is not available you should contact the Chair of Department. Normally this consultative process is productive and the student is satisfied with the outcome achieved at this point.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion with the coordinator or chair, then you may appeal formally against the grade awarded.

Before beginning a formal appeal at the Faculty level you should first read the Academic Board Resolution on 'Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions'. You need to lodge the appeal within fifteen working days of the outcome of discussions at department level as outlined above.

The appeal must be lodged through the Faculty Office (attention Dean of the Faculty of Arts) and include the following:

• A completed results appeal form;
• A written statement outlining the reasons for appeal. The written statement should draw attention to such matters as perceived injustice in terms of bias or inconsistent application of the grade descriptors published by the Department;
• Any additional supporting documentation.

For more details please go to the Faculty of Arts information about Appeals Against a Result.

Special consideration: illness or misadventure

The School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry assesses student requests for special consideration in accordance with the principles set out in Part 5 of the Academic Board policy on Assessment and Examination of Coursework. Students intending to submit an application for special consideration should make themselves familiar with the full details of this policy.

Generally, serious illness or misadventure will be taken into account when considering a student's academic performance in a course or units of study. There is, however, a clear distinction between longstanding illness or difficulties which prevent students from attending classes or completing required work or which seriously interfere with their capacity to study for long periods and short-term illness or misadventure that may prevent an otherwise well-prepared student from sitting for an examination or completing a particular assessment.

Students who, because of serious illness or misadventure, are prevented from attending classes for prolonged periods should seek an interview with the Head of School. Even if they do not exceed the specified permitted period of absence, they may need to consider whether their best academic interests are served by discontinuing with permission from the course until they are able to resume their studies effectively.

It should be noted that only well-attested serious illness or misadventure during a semester or occurring at the time of an examination will warrant special consideration for academic performance. Occasional brief or trivial illness would not normally be regarded as sufficient to explain an absence or a poor performance and students are discouraged from submitting certificates for absences totalling less than one week, although frequently recurrent short absences would need documentation.

Applying for special consideration

All applications for Special Consideration are made via an online system. To access this system please go to:

http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/current_students/online_application.shtml

If you miss an exam because of illness or misadventure you should first notify the department concerned and then apply for Special Consideration using the online system.

Applications must be received no less than one week from the end of the period for which consideration is sought (i.e. within one week of the date of the assessment). Students must retain their stamped receipt. Students will be notified of the academic judgement concerning their special consideration application by the relevant unit coordinator.