Monash University - Faculty of Arts

HelpMe!

Course Information

1. What is the deadline for.?
2. I don't understand the forms I have been asked to fill out.
3. There's no way I'm going to finish my essay in time. What should I do?
4. What is plagiarism?
5. Who May Apply For Special Consideration/Deferred Examination, And What Is It?
6. I'm struggling with the work, what can I do?
7. I am having trouble with writing and I don't think that my written expression is of a high enough standard, what can I do?
8. I have just had my assignment returned and I am unhappy with the mark, what can I do?
9. How do I find the right person to answer my question?
10. I am not enjoying University - I dislike the course and am unhappy. Should university life be like this?
11. I'm now in my second year of my degree - how do I know that I'm correctly fulfilling the course requirements?
12. I need to complete a field trip as part of my unit requirements, however, owing to religious reasons I need to be at home during the weekends. What should I do?
13. Where can I find information regarding scholarships?
14. I have just found out that a unit I really wanted to study has been cancelled. What should I do?
15. Where can I find my examination timetable?
16. I've completed my course, what do I need to do to graduate?

1. What is the deadline for.?

Most deadlines can be found on the Monash Web Site,

OR- in the Student Resource Guide,
OR- ask at the Arts Faculty Office,
OR- ask the relevant School/Service.

For example:

Q:" I want to find out when the last day is for dropping my HSY1020 unit without it costing me anything?

A: Ask at the Arts Faculty Office, OR CENSUS dates are in the Student Resource Guide and on the Web

See Arts Administrative Information for further information.

2. I don't understand the forms I have been asked to fill out.

This is a very common problem, and one that can make you feel frustrated and a bit stupid.

The best thing to do is speak with the school/department/service who gave you the form.

They are there to help, and given that the consequences of some forms can be financial, it is always worth asking.

If the form has legal consequences, or you feel that the school/service/department haven't been able to help, you can approach Student Welfare for advice regarding the meaning and repercussions of the form.

And don't worry, we all have to ask from time to time.

See Arts Contacts for further information.

3. There's no way I'm going to finish my essay in time. What should I do?

(OR: I can't meet a deadline for assessment due to work commitments, what can I do?)
(OR: I have been ill or had personal problems and I can't meet a deadline for assessment, what can I do?)

One of the hardest things to do, but in truth the most straightforward, is to talk to your tutor or lecturer. Extensions for essays and other assessment tasks can mostly be done on an informal basis between you and your tutor/lecture, and do not require any paperwork. Note: some schools may have an application for extension form that you need to fill out, organise an extension, and then attach to your work.

Unlike Secondary School your teachers are aware that sometimes renegotiating of deadlines is necessary. Before approaching your tutor/lecturer:

1. Identify why you will need an extension. Personal reasons DO count, so do work commitments, BUT you MUST approach your tutor/lecturer as EARLY as possible, and generally BEFORE the deadline.
2. Ask for a specific time length, one that is achievable and realistic.

An extension beyond the end of the teaching period can be more complex, BUT it is ALWAYS worth discussing with your tutor what your options are.

4. What is plagiarism?

The type of essay expectated at university is generally quite different to the essays that you wrote at secondary school. One of the major differences is that you are now expected to "research" the topic and draw information from a range of different sources. This is often a difficult thing to do at first but it becomes easier with practice. Most schools will have an essay writing guide. Make sure that you read the relevant guide before you submit any work as it will outline just what is expected.

Plagiarism is when you use information and fail to acknowledge its source. Monash views plagiarism as a form of theft and considers it a serious offence. The faculty will consider that plagiarism has occurred in any of the following circumstances:

• when phrases and passages are used verbatim without quotation marks and without a reference to the author;
• when an author's work is paraphrased and presented without a reference;
• when other students' work is copied or partly copied;
• when items for assessment are written in conjunction with other students (without prior permission of the relevant staff member); or
• when a piece of work has already been submitted or assessed in another unit.

Every school has clear guidelines relating to essay writing and plagiarism, and most will have an essay writing guide. Please ensure that you get a guide from EACH school you are taking units in as the essay writing requirements will vary from school to school.

See Policies and Regulations for further information.

5. Who May Apply For Special Consideration/Deferred Examination, And What Is It?

You may apply for special consideration/deferred examination if you are experiencing hardships or difficulties that affect your performance during semester (e.g. illness, serious personal/family problems, etc.). You may apply for a deferred examination if you are prevented from attending an exam scheduled by the University Examination & Certification Branch, and which is on the official University Examination Timetable (i.e., not an internal/ in-class exam), due to illness, serious personal or family problems, etc.

Special consideration can take a variety of forms and each school has responsibility for determining the outcome of your application. For example, a school may allow an extension of time on a piece of assessment, pass you on the work already submitted, or arrange a special school/centre test.

Your application must be received no later than 48 hours after the last examination scheduled for the Faculty of Arts in each Semester.

The form must be lodged with the relevant School/Department/Centre.

See Arts Administrative Information for further information.

6. I'm struggling with the work, what can I do?

There are a number of options for dealing with this sort of problem, and your solution may require a combination of approaches.

• One source of information that can be of use is the Monash Transition Program's web-site. Primarily designed to deal with issues surrounding the transition from Secondary School to University, this site has a lot of information that can be relevant to any student having problems adjusting to University study and life. Alternatively, email TaSP (Transition and Student Progress) and they may be able to help you (tasp@monash.edu.au ).
• If you are falling behind because you are finding the work too difficult there are a number of Support Services that may help (see below).
• Talk to your lecturer or tutor, they may be able to suggest a different approach to the work.
• Consider getting in touch with the Language and Learning or discussing your overall enrolment/course options with a Faculty Course Adviser
• Other options to consider include going Part Time, or taking an Intermission from your course to allow you to reassess your goals or work load.

Part Time:

Any enrolment under 18 points per semester (36 points for a full year) is considered a Part Time loading.

Warning: Before enrolling at a Part Time level, seek the advice of the Arts Office as it may affect your eligibility for government grants and your overall course progression. Please note: International Students must seek advice before altering enrolment load to ensure they still meet all Visa requirements.

See Arts Current Students (Course Information ) for further information.

7. I am having trouble with writing and I don't think that my written expression is of a high enough standard, what can I do?

'Academic Writing' is a style all of its own, and to complicate matters further you will often find that the desired structures and vocabulary can differ from discipline to discipline.

Like any other skill writing, whether it is essays, reports, or bibliographical exercises (to name but a few), requires practice and sometimes someone to explain it.

The Language and Learning (LL-ARTS) assists students with problems concerned with study, learning, and the use of English in the Faculty. They offer individual sessions, on-line tutorials and information, as well as courses on a variety of language and writing based aspects of learning.

See Arts Current Students (Study Resources) for further information.

8. I have just had my assignment returned and I am unhappy with the mark, what can I do?

There is an official process within the Faculty that allows for you to request a re-mark of a piece of assessment within 4 weeks of the return of the work.

Before you officially request a second marking it is a good idea to first discuss the matter with your tutor or the subject co-ordinator (who is usually the lecturer). Asking them to discuss with you the reasons behind the mark may help you understand why the work received the grade that it did.

However, if you still disagree with the mark after discussing it, or you don't think you can speak with your tutor or subject co-ordinator, then you should approach the Undergraduate Studies Co-ordinator or the Head of School to request a re-marking.

See Policies and Regulations for further information.

9. How do I find the right person to answer my question?

The first step is to remember that you are a member of:

1. Monash University
2. Monash University - specific Campus
3. The Arts Faculty - specific Campus
4. The various Schools/Departments that run your subjects/units

This means when you have a question or problem you will most likely have to visit MORE THAN ONE PLACE.

You aren't being 'given the run-around' it is simply that more than one area will need to be spoken with/contacted.

Arts Faculty Office staff will be able to help and, if not, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

REMEMBER: You may not be asking the question you think you are. LISTEN to the advice of the staff. Think about what you need in terms of OUTCOMES.

Each School has a 'general office' of sorts that may also be a good place to start.

If the problem has legal consequences, or you feel that the service/department/faculty haven't been able to help, STUDENT WELFARE can act as an advocate on your behalf.

See Arts Current Students (Contact Us and Student Resources) for further information.

10. I am not enjoying University - I dislike the course and am unhappy. Should university life be like this?

Life and education often collide at University. Sometimes in such a way as to make everything in general seem pointless and distressing.

Any number of problems can come up during your Degree that make you dislike the University, the Degree, and your decision to undertake Tertiary education in general.

Before making any decisions about changing your course, or Institution, there are a number of Support Services provided by the University that you should consider contacting.

Through Community Services you can organise to see a Counsellor, a Chaplain (there are a number of denominations connected with Monash), or a Doctor.

From a more academic point of view you can contact a Course Adviser through the Arts Faculty Office and discuss your educational options.

Another source of information that can be of use is the Monash Transition Program's web-site. Primarily designed to deal with issues surrounding the transition from Secondary School to University, this site has a lot of information that can be relevant to ANY student having problems with University study and life. Alternatively, email TaSP on tasp@arts.monash.edu.au with any queries you might have.

Also, never underestimate the importance of talking through your options with a trusted friend or family member.

See Arts Current Students (Support Services) for further information.

11. I'm now in my second year of my degree - how do I know that I'm correctly fulfilling the course requirements?

Studying in the Faculty of Arts can sometimes seem like a real can of worms, and it can be confusing as to whether students are fulfilling the requirements of the numerous courses. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you see a course advisor whilst studying for your degree. The course advisor will help ensure that you complete all of the requirements of the Faculty of Arts, and guide you through the maze of majors, minors and make sense of points! To make an appointment just call the Arts Faculty Office at your campus.

The Arts Course and Unit information section of this website has all the information you will need to understand your course structure - including on on-line course progression check facility and contact details for course advisers

The web address will provide you with general information, however, it should be noted that the web site is not intended to replace course advisors

See Course and Unit information for further information.

12. I need to complete a field trip as part of my unit requirements, but I need to be at home during the weekends. What should I do?

In this instance it is generally best to approach the lecturer or unit co-ordinator. For some units it may be possible to complete an alternative form of assessment, however, other units may consider field attendance a crucial part of your learning and assessment. This type of information is generally provided in the unit handbook or unit outline, so read it carefully. If you can't find information there, then approach the lecturer or unit co-ordinator. Remember that you can only pick up a new unit during the first two weeks of semester, so if you need to get out of the field unit do it promptly!

See Schools and Centres for further information.

13. Where can I find information regarding scholarships?

A range of scholarships are available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. You can ask at the Coursework Scholarships Office about scholarship information, but the best thing to do is go Web surfing.

See Arts Current Students (Fees and Scholarships) for further information.

14. I have just found out that a unit I really wanted to study has been cancelled. What should I do?

Occasionally, the University finds that it can't teach an advertised unit because of low enrolments, or unforeseeable circumstances with teaching staff.

If you are enrolled in a unit that has been cancelled, you will be advised in writing, normally not less than one week prior to the commencement of teaching. You will also be automatically discontinued from that unit.

You should enrol in another unit.

See Arts Contacts for further information.

15. Where can I find my examination timetable?

(OR: How do I access my end of semester results on line?)

You can get information about exam timetables, applying for special consideration, deferred and supplementary exams, obtaining your end of semester results either via web or SMS, plus a whole lot more from this site.

See Arts Current Students (Timetable and Classlisting) for further information.

16. I've completed my course, what do I need to do to graduate?

(OR: I'm an international student, can I graduate in South-East Asia?)

Congratulations! Now, to graduate, you need to fill in the application form.

You should not wait until results are published before you lodge your application.

See Arts Administrative Information for further information.