Before the hearing
There are a couple of things you need to do before your hearing:
- check the time and place of your hearing
- prepare to talk about your circumstances and answer the committee’s questions.
You may also, optionally:
- provide the committee with the name of your support person (if you’re intending to have someone other than a person on the list below)
- provide documentary evidence to the committee in advance of the hearing
- apply to attend remotely
- request an adjournment
- let the committee know if you decide you don't want a student member on the committee
- apply to transfer to another course or for an alternative exit (you may also request this at your hearing).
Reflect on your circumstances
It’s likely you’ll be asked about your performance and study habits, so it’s a good idea to prepare for these questions. You should also be ready to be open and honest about your circumstances.
Possible questions could include:
- What challenges were you facing?
- What issues interfered with your study?
- How many hours did you study each week?
- Did you go to all your lectures and tutorials?
- Did you hand in all your assignments?
- Were you part of a study group?
- How many hours did you spend doing paid work?
- What other activities took you away from study?
- Are you involved in any extra-curricular activities such as volunteering? (Successful students usually have a good balance of activities.)
- What steps have you taken during the year?
- Did you talk to your course adviser, lecturer or tutor? If not, why not?
- Did you see a learning skills adviser, a counsellor or anyone else for advice?
It’s perfectly natural to feel a bit nervous at the hearing, so beforehand, it will help if you think about how you’ll answer the panel's questions and practise what you’re going to say. If you need more help, you can also talk to a counsellor.
Arrange a support person
You can bring someone to the hearing with you as support, but they can’t represent you – they can prompt you, but they can only speak to the APC panel members if they’re invited by the chair.
The support person can be:
- a staff member of a recognised Monash student association
- a Monash student
- a Monash staff member
- a close family member or friend.
If you would like a support person other than a person referred to above, you need to provide their details to the APC executive officer at least two working days before the hearing.
Provide documentary evidence
It’s a good idea to bring supporting evidence with you to the hearing (but you need to submit this to the committee ahead of time). You can submit documentary evidence up to two working days before the hearing. If your documentation is not available by that date, you can request permission to submit further evidence at the hearing.
If the APC uses any documents in the hearing, they will be provided to you at least two working days beforehand so you can provide a written or oral response at the hearing.
For more information, see supporting documents.
Transferring courses
If you want to transfer to another course you must get written permission from your managing faculty before the hearing. If you’re granted permission, you must provide a copy to the APC executive officer.
Hearing locations and attendance
Hearings are normally held at your campus.
Attending by teleconference or by video link
If you’re unable to physically attend an APC hearing, or if your mode of study doesn’t require you to be on campus, you can ask the APC chair for approval to attend by teleconference or videoconference.
Requesting an adjournment
You can ask the APC chair to adjourn the hearing if there are exceptional circumstances. You need to make the request before the hearing (in writing) or orally at the beginning of the hearing.
Exceptional circumstances include:
- serious illness requiring hospitalisation
- death of a close family member or person with whom you had a significant relationship
- major political upheaval or natural disaster in your home country
- emergency travel to your home country
- any other incident of equivalent seriousness.
If you don’t attend the APC hearing, your academic progress will be assessed, and the outcome determined by the panel, in your absence.
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