Procedure
NOTE: Effective from Trimester 1 2024
Academic Progress
1.0 Purpose
2.0 Scope
3.0 Procedure
3.1 Academic progress during at teaching term | 3.2 Academic progress at the end of a teaching
term | 3.3 Exclusion | 3.4 Review and appeal against exclusion | 3.5 Academic progress record |
3.6 Readmission following exclusion
4.0 Definitions
5.0 Information
6.0 Related policy documents and supporting documents
1.0 Purpose
This Procedure supports the Enrolment Policy and outlines the process to be used when reviewing a
student’s academic progress to ensure appropriate support is in place to assist students to succeed in their
study. Its purpose is to ensure a consistent approach to the management of students’ academic progress in
accordance with the policy.
2.0 Scope
This Procedure applies to all students undertaking undergraduate studies or postgraduate coursework
studies. It does not apply to students undertaking end-on Bachelor (Honours) degree programs, higher
degree research (HDR) programs or non-award studies. The policy comes into effect once a student is
enrolled in at least 20 credit points of study at undergraduate or postgraduate career level.
3.0 Procedure
To ensure students are successful in their studies, the University will monitor their academic progress and
offer support when needed. Students are encouraged and expected to take responsibility for their learning
and engage with the support and advice offered.
3.1 Academic progress during a teaching term
During a teaching term and from as early as Week 2, student engagement and achievement
information will be monitored using the available analytics to determine whether students are making
satisfactory progress in their current courses, and consequently their program. This assessment will
be conducted within the Academic Group that hosts the student’s program of enrolment and the
relevant Dean (Learning & Teaching) is responsible for its conduct and consistency within the
recommended approach. Identified students will be contacted by the relevant staff and supported to
improve their progression, which may include referral to the most appropriate sources of assistance,
such as:
• an appropriate Student Support service
• support provided by the academic staff responsible for the program and courses in which the
student is enrolled
• an International Student Advisory (international students only).
3.2 Academic progress at the end of a teaching term
There are two (2) end of teaching term progress review periods per calendar year, one in June-July
(Trimester 1) and one in November-January (Trimester 2), in which the academic progress of students
will be systematically measured and reported on using a colour-coded status of Green, Yellow,
Orange or Red, as outlined below. For Accelerated Online students this applies to the end of their
1
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
Teaching Periods 3 and 6, while for the Open Universities Australia (OUA) programs the official review
periods capture Study Period 1/Study Session 1 and Study Period 3/Student Session 2. The process
is coordinated centrally and occurs as soon as practicable after the grade publication deadline for the
related teaching terms.
ACADEMIC
CRITERIA ACTION/S
PROGRESS STATUS
GREEN Good • Student has passed more than • A progress status of Green will not be
academic 50% of the courses in which they recorded in the Student System or
progress are enrolled in the most recent displayed to students.
teaching term and has a program
GPA greater than 3.5.
YELLOW Low risk • Student has a program GPA • Notification to students encouraging
to good greater than or equal to 3.5 but that they seek relevant support and/or
academic less than 4, and their term GPA advice.
progress for the most recent teaching term
• A progress status of Yellow will be
is less than or equal to 3.5; OR
recorded in the Student System and
• Student has failed 50% of their myGriffith but will not be visible on the
courses in the most recent student's Official Academic Transcript.
teaching term and has a program
GPA greater than or equal to 3.5.
ORANGE Medium risk • Student has a program GPA of • Notification to students advising they
to good less than 3.5; OR are required to complete a Student
academic Success Plan as well as seek relevant
progress • Student has failed the same
support and/or advice.
course two (2) times; OR
• Student’s enrolment may be restricted
• Student has passed all courses in
to a maximum of 30 credit points in the
the most recent teaching term, but
next teaching term and/or to specified
has a program GPA of less than
courses. Enrolment may be restricted
3.5 and one previous Orange
further if academic progress does not
status within the current program.
improve.
• A progress status of Orange will be
recorded in the Student System and
myGriffith but not be visible on the
student's Official Academic Transcript.
RED Under • Student has failed a designated • Temporary status applied while eligible
consideration course; OR students are considered by the
for exclusion Program Director for either exclusion or
• Student has failed the same
return to Orange status.
course three (3) times; OR
• A progress status of Red will
• Student has not passed all
temporarily be recorded in the Student
courses in the most recent
System and myGriffith but not be visible
teaching term, has a program
on the student's Official Academic
GPA of less than 3.5 and at least
Transcript.
one previous Orange status within
the current program.
2
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
3.3 Exclusion
In each academic progress review period, students with a status of Red will be considered for either
return to Orange status or exclusion. The Program Director and relevant Dean (Learning & Teaching)
will have an opportunity to recognise exceptional or compassionate circumstances they believe to
have been the cause of the student’s poor academic progress. Based on those circumstances, as well
as any existing Student Success Plans, the Program Director may recommend to the relevant Dean
(Learning & Teaching) that a student with a Red status be placed on Orange instead of being
excluded. The Dean (Learning & Teaching) in accepting this recommendation may impose restrictions
on the number or type of courses in which the student is permitted to enrol in the next
trimester/teaching period. These enrolment restrictions must be advised in writing to the student as
well as be recorded accordingly.
A student who is excluded is not permitted to attend classes or undertake study:
• in the program from which they were excluded; or
• in any other program; or
• to take study on a non-award basis within the University, with the exception of English Language
Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) offered by the Griffith English Language
Institute (GELI).
A period of exclusion is effective for two (2) standard trimesters or nine (9) calendar months,
whichever is longer. Trimester 3 does not count towards the serving of an exclusion period.
A student who progresses to exclusion may request to graduate from an alternative award. Eligibility to
take an early exit with an alternative award is subject to the student meeting the degree requirements
of the alternative award, along with any requirements as outlined under the Graduations Procedure.
In consultation with the relevant Dean (Learning & Teaching), the Program Director may also review
students eligible for exclusion based on failing a designated course or the same course three (3) times
outside of the main academic progress review periods.
3.4 Review and appeal against exclusion
A student who is excluded may apply for review of this decision as per the University’s Student Review
and Appeals Policy and Student Review and Appeals Procedure. If the student is dissatisfied with the
outcome of the review, they may lodge an appeal by the date specified in the email notification of
exclusion in order for the student to continue to study in the next trimester/teaching period.
3.5 Academic progress record
All academic progress statuses are recorded and retained on the Student System in perpetuity.
Academic progress statuses (Yellow, Orange or Red) including:
• exclusion for failing a course three times
• exclusion for designated course failure
• exclusion for academic reasons
are recorded on a student’s Unofficial Academic Transcript during their period of enrolment and
retained for a period of five (5) years after the student has graduated or terminated their enrolment
with the University.
3.6 Readmission following exclusion
Students who are excluded may apply for readmission to the program from which they were excluded
or for admission into a new program as outlined in the Admission Procedure. An application may be
3
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
lodged before the exclusion period has elapsed to meet University or other closing dates, but the
student shall not be able to recommence their studies until the period of exclusion has elapsed.
4.0 Definitions
For the purposes of this policy and related policy documents, the following definitions apply:
TERM DEFINITION
COURSE A course is a component of a qualification in which the student enrols and on
completion of which the student is awarded a grade (such grades appearing on a
student's academic record). Learning outcomes, assessment tasks and
achievement standards are specified for each course appropriate to a level and
qualification type.
CREDIT POINT Refers to the value of a course. This term is used to provide students with a guide to
the amount of work a course may entail; indicate a student's enrolment load; define
the requirements for an award of the University; quantify recognition of prior
learning; and indicate the amount of work a student has successfully completed
towards an award of the University.
DEAN (LEARNING The academic staff member, appointed by the University Council, who is
& TEACHING) responsible for handling a range of program, student and assessment matters.
DESIGNATED Some programs classify one or more of their core courses as designated courses,
COURSE as the learning outcomes are critical to graduate competence, and it is impractical
for the student to continue in the program without meeting a satisfactory level of
competence. A designated course is normally a performance-based or work
integrated learning course, or a course requiring the development of particular
practical skills and/or demonstration of certain personal qualities. A student may be
eligible for exclusion on the basis of failure in one or more designated courses. The
designated courses are specified in the program requirements and a schedule of
designated courses is maintained on the Programs and Courses website.
EXCLUSION A period of exclusion is effective for two (2) standard trimesters or nine (9) calendar
PERIOD months, whichever is longer. Trimester 3 does not count towards the serving of an
exclusion period.
PROGRAM A program is an approved course of study leading to an award of the University. A
student is admitted to a program, and on successful completion of all program
requirements is awarded the degree to which the program relates.
PROGRAM An academically qualified staff member of the relevant Academic Group that is the
DIRECTOR host of the program, appointed by the Deans (Learning & Teaching). Responsible
for the program and for assuring the overall pattern of assessment, to which
individual Course Assessment Plans within the relevant Course Profiles contribute,
achieves the stated outcomes of the program.
PROGRAM GPA The weighted average for all course grades that reflects their relative contribution to
a program of study based on their credit value.
STUDENT A person who has an active enrolment status in a course at Griffith.
4
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
STUDENT A Student Success Plan is sent to a student who is placed on a status of Orange. It
SUCCESS PLAN is designed to assist a student to reflect on any circumstances that are impacting
their studies and sets out strategies to improve their academic progression. It
provides access to resources, support services and key University contacts, and
may also outline any restrictions placed on a student's enrolment.
TRIMESTER AND The standard academic year is comprised of three standard trimesters, Trimester 1,
TEACHING Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 as designated in the University’s Academic Calendar.
PERIODS Other teaching periods may be designated in the academic calendar and may be
used for the offering of certain courses.
5.0 Information
Title Academic Progress Procedure
Document number 2024/0000035
Purpose This Procedure sets out the process to be used when reviewing a
student’s academic progress to ensure appropriate support is in place to
assist students to succeed in their study.
Audience Students; Staff
Category Academic
Subcategory Learning & Teaching
Approval date 3 May 2024
Effective date Trimester 1 2024
Review date 2028
Policy advisor Senior Manager, Exams and Timetabling
Approving authority Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education)
6.0 Related Policy Documents and Supporting Documents
Legislation Higher Education Support Act 2003
5
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021
Policy Admission Policy
Enrolment Policy
Student Review and Appeals Policy
Procedure Enrolment Procedure
Student Review and Appeals Procedure
Calculation of Grade Point Average Local Protocol
Admission Procedure
Graduations Procedure
6
Academic Progress Procedure | May 2024
Document number: 2024/0000035
Griffith University - CRICOS Provider Number 00233E
