Glossary

This glossary describes terminology in use at Bond University.

- A -

Academic Action

A student who is placed on warning or excluded as per assessment regulations.

Academic Adviser

The person appointed by the Dean and/or Associate Dean of a faculty who is responsible for the provision of program advice as per University policy and regulations to students.

Academic Excellence

A noting on a student's transcript indicating that a student has been placed on the Dean's or Vice Chancellor's list for academic excellence.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct, whether inadvertent or deliberate, includes the failure to comply with the regulations, policies and procedures determining the conduct of candidates during assessment including plagiarism and cheating; falsification or misrepresentation of academic records; and other actions that are judged to be acts of academic misconduct.

Academic Progress

The process whereby a student’s results are considered at the end of each semester and if the student's performance is deemed unsatisfactory in accordance with the regulations, their status or eligibility to continue their studies is determined.

Academic Transcript

An official statement of a student’s academic record at the University.

Academic Senate

Is constituted by Council, in accordance with Article 31 of the Articles of Association and is an advisory body to the Vice-Chancellor on the following matters:

  • the formulation and development of the academic policies of Bond University and the oversight and coordination of the academic activities of the various faculties;
  • regulatory provisions for the admission and exclusion of students, for degrees, diplomas and all programs of study, lectures, examinations and other forms of assessment;
  • the content and standard of programs of instruction and their assessment, and the requirements for admission to degrees and the award of diplomas;
  • the conditions for scholarships, bursaries, cadetships and prizes accepted by the University;
  • matters referred by faculties of the University, either individually or severally.

The Office of Academic Services

The administrative unit which deals with all aspects of student admissions and administration.

Admission

The result of acceptance of an offer of a place in a program by an applicant and payment of the prescribed fee.

Advanced Standing

The result of a request for credit and or exemption on the basis of previous studies or work experience.

Alumni

Bond University graduates.

Appeal

The formal process whereby a student appeals a decisio n relating to an academic or administrative matter relating to their status as a student.

Applicant

A person who has submitted an application for admission to the University.

Approved educational institution

An institution which the Academic Senate recognises as offering programs of study at a level appropriate for the granting of advanced standing towards a Bond University degree.

Articulated Programs

An articulated set of programs is:

  • a Master Degree which incorporates a graduate diploma and/ or graduate certificate in the same discipline area; or
  • a Bachelor Degree which incorporates an associate degree or advanced diploma or diploma or associate diploma in the same discipline area; or
  • a program being undertaken by a candidate who has not satisfied the requirements for the specific award but has met requirements for the generalist award in the same area (eg. BJuris instead of LLB).

Articulation Agreement

A formal agreement between Bond University and another educational institution which specifies status for admission and advanced standing for the applicant.

Assessment

The determination of a student’s level of mastery of a subject.

Associate Dean

The member of academic staff responsible to the Dean or Director of a Faculty or Institute who undertakes administrative responsibilities, usually in regard to students enrolled within that Faculty or Institute.

Audit student

A fee paying student enrolled in, but not assessed in a subject.

Award

A degree, graduate diploma, graduate certificate, associate degree, diploma or associate diploma conferred by the University upon completion of a program or a program of research.

- B -

Bachelor Degree

An undergraduate award of 240 or more credit points that is commonly the entry qualification for many professions or further studies.

Bond Week

The orientation week that takes place during the week prior to commencement of classes each semester. During Bond Week, students enrol in subjects at Registration, undertake orientation programs with their Faculty of enrolment and undertake many activities designed to acquaint them with the physical, social and academic environment.

Bursary

Financial aid given to a student on the basis of demonstrated financial need or other specified criteria.

- C -

Change of degree

The process whereby a student is admitted to and enrolled in, but has not completed a program, and then transfers to another program at the same level.

Class activity

The type of activity required for a subject, such as lectures, tutorials, computer laboratories or seminars.

Combined degree

An approved combination of two programs at the same level, where, on completion, a student will be conferred with an award for both programs.

Commencing student

A student who has enrolled for the first time in a particular program and has not previously been enrolled in another program of the same level.

Compulsory subject

a subject which must be successfully completed, unless credit or exemption is granted, in order to qualify for an award.

Continuing student

A student is a continuing student in a program if the student has been permitted to re-enrol and has met enrolment requirements in that program.

Core subject

Core curriculum studies required in all undergraduate programs.

Corequisite

If Subject A is a corequisite of Subject B then Subject A must be studied in the same semester as Subject B, or have been passed in an earlier semester.

Course

See Program which is the terminology used at Bond University.

Credit

A subject in which a student is not required to enrol as it has been formally acknowledged that the student has previously satisfied or completed the subject matter; thereby reducing the number of subjects needed to complete the program.

Credit for a subject requires the student to be able to demonstrate prior study at tertiary level which had traversed the same syllabus, or was able to completely satisfy a challenge examination. It will be at the discretion of the Dean of the Faculty of enrolment to determine whether credit or advanced standing, towards the award for which a candidate is enrolled, will be approved in recognition of subjects previously completed at Bond University or elsewhere, regardless of when the subjects were completed.

Credit points

The numerical value assigned to a subject which, when related to the total subject points for the program, is a measure of the size of the subject's contribution to the content of the program (for example, most undergraduate subjects constitute 10 credit points).

Cross enrolment student

A student of another tertiary institution enrolled and assessed in a subject(s) to be credited to an award of that institution.

Cross-listed subject

A subject listed under more than one discipline with more than one subject code.

- D -

Dean or Director

The member of academic staff responsible for the management of a Faculty or institute.

Defer

Postpone entry to the University. The term 'deferring' is used at the pre-admission stage.

Deferred examination

Students can apply for a deferred examination when they miss a scheduled exam because of serious illness or other cause.

Deregistration

The act of withdrawing all University privileges including admission to classes, the sports centre, and the library.

Discipline

A means of classifying programs in terms of the material being taught and or researched in them.

Dissertation

See Thesis.

Doctoral Degree

A Doctoral Degree recognises a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the form of new knowledge or significant and original adaptation application and interpretation of existing knowledge.

Drop

To cancel enrolment in a subject without financial or academic penalty. This must be done within the prescribed timeframe.

- E -

Elective

A subject that may be chosen from virtually any subject on offer across the University provided prerequisites, enrolment restrictions and any other Faculty requirements have been met.

Enrolment

The process whereby a student is allocated a place in one or more subjects each semester. It includes the payment of appropriate fees, completion of required documents and the signing of an agreement to abide by the regulations and rules of the University.

Examination

A formal assessment conducted at a prescribed time by the University.

Examination Officer

A person appointed by the University to supervise the conduct of examinations on behalf of the University in accordance with the procedures determined by the University.

Examiner

An academic staff member responsible for setting the assessment tasks and submitting the results for a subject; or in the case of research students the person examining a thesis or dissertation.

Examiners' meeting

A process whereby the Examiners within a Faculty or institute approve subject results and make recommendations on academic progress.

Exchange

The process of attending another institution under formalised exchange agreements. An outgoing exchange student pays all tuition fees to Bond University.

Executive Mode

Subjects or programs delivered to enable participants to maintain full time employment.

Exemption

A required core subject that a student is exempt from undertaking. The subject must be replaced with an alternative subject. An exemption does not reduce the overall number of subjects required for the program. Exemption should be granted for relevant experience rather than formal study.

- F -

Faculty

The academic organisational unit consisting of academic and administrative staff headed by a Dean, responsible for all matters concerning the programs and subjects it supervises.

Faculty of enrolment

The Faculty or institute in which the candidate is enrolled as a degree candidate.

Financial aid

A system to assist students through scholarship, bursary or other financial assistance.

Foundation

The required subjects in a program that provide the necessary framework for future specialisation or major or and elective subject.

Full-time student

A student enrolled in subjects which amount to 75% or more of the normal full-time study load for a semester.

- G -

Grade Point Average

The average of the grades obtained by a student in all subjects weighted by the credit point value of each subject in accordance with the following formula:

  • GPA=Sum(GP) divided by Sum(P);
  • where G=grade for each subject and P=credit point value for each subject.

If for any reason a student does not achieve any grade of result in a subject, the value of G for that subject shall be taken as zero. The GPA can be calculated for a semester or for a program.

Grades

A record of the level of assessment in subjects completed at the University.

Graduand

A student who has completed all the program requirements but has not yet had the award conferred.

Graduate

A student who has completed their program and has had the award conferred.

Graduate Certificate or Diploma

A program generally designed for specific vocational purposes, either the broadening of skills and knowledge already gained in an undergraduate program, or vocational skills and knowledge in a new professional area.

Graduation

The ceremony at which awards are conferred by the University.

- H -

Higher degree
An award at Master or Doctoral level.

Honorary Degree

Admission honoris causa, an award which is made in recognition of distinction by the recipient in public service, service to the University, or in recognition of distinguished contribution by the recipient in a field of academic endeavour.

Honours

Some Bachelor Degrees may be completed "with Honours". This may involve either the completion of a separate Honours Year or additional work in the later years of the program or meritorious achievement over all years of the program. Honours are awarded by Class (First class; Second class, Division A; Second class, Division B; Third class).

I-K

In absentia

An award is conferred, in absentia, when the student does not attend the graduation ceremony.

Intensive mode

Subjects delivered in a short, concentrated period.

Intermediate award

A program within an articulated set of programs, representing a point at which a student may exit with a lower level award than that of the program to which admission was made.

International student

A student who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or person granted permanent residence status in Australia.

- L -

Leave of absence

Permission to suspend a program once the student is part way through by not enrolling in a semester.

Lecture

Formal classes in which lecturers present program material to all students enrolled in a given subject.

Location

The campus studies undertaken at (Main Campus, South Africa or other).

- M -

Major

A major sequence of at least six defined subjects within one discipline area; "double major" means an augmented sequence comprising at least 12 semester subjects within one area of study.

Masters Degree
Provides a mastery or high-order overview of a releva nt field of study or area of professional practice.

Medal

A Faculty may recommend the award of a Medal to students qualified for an award, whose academic performance is judged outstanding within the requirements for the specified medal.

Minor

A minor sequence of subjects (normally 4) within one discipline area.

- N -

Non-degree student

A student enrolled in subjects, where completion of the subjects does not result in an award. The student is assessed in the subject.

Normal full-time subject load

40 credit points per semester (4x10 credit point subjects).

- O -

Offer

A formal document offering an applicant a place in a program, outlining any conditions and requirements.

Overload

Approval given to enrol in more than the maximum amount of credit points normally permitted.

P-Q

Percentage Average (PA)

The average of the percentage marks obtained by a student in all students weighted by the credit point value of each subject in accordance with the following formula:

  • PA = Sum (MP) divided by Sum (P);
  • where M = percentage mark for each subject and P = credit point value for each subject.

If for any reason a student does not acheive a percentage mark in a subject, the value of M for that subject shall be taken as zero. The PA can be calculated for a semester or for a program.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a specific form of academic misconduct. Deliberate plagiarism is regarded as a serious act of academic misconduct.

Postgraduate award

An award of graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master or doctorate.

Postgraduate student

A student enrolled in a program that will lead to a postgraduate award.

Practicum

A subject designed to give students practical experience.

Pre-Registration

Enrolment and class registration of a student for a subsequent semester.

Prerequisite

A set of conditions that must be met by a student before enrolment in a particular subject is permitted.

Probationary student

A probationary student is one who has previously been excluded as a result of the Progress Regulations, and who may, or may not have conditions attached to their enrolment.

Program

A combination of subjects which according to degree rules leads to an academic award of the University.

Program code

A group of letters and numbers that identifies a program for administrative purposes.

Program Coordinator

A member of the academic staff of a Faculty appointed by the Dean, who is responsible to the Dean, or if appointed the Associate-Dean, for academic administration matters relating to students enrolled in a program.

Provisional student

A provisional student is one who has been granted provisional admission into a program and who may, or may not have conditions attached to their enrolment.

- R -

Registrar

Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar heads the University’s Administration, and acts as Secretary to the Council.

Registration

The process at the start of each semester where commencing students are formally recorded as students of the University. The registration process also involves payment of tuition fees.

Research student

A student enrolled in an honours, masters or doctoral program in which at least two-thirds of the program is research-based.

Restricted elective

A restricted elective is a subject that must be chosen from a specified group of subjects, from a specified discipline area or from a specified range of discipline areas.

Review

The formal process whereby a student seeks review of a decision relating to an academic or administrative matter relating to their status as a student.

- S -

Sanction

A sanction prevents a student from accessing specified information (results) or undertaking specified actions (enrolment, admission, graduation) and is placed on a student’s record due to non-compliance with University regulations.

Scholarship

Financial aid given on the basis of academic merit.

School

See Faculty which is the academic organisational unit used at Bond University.

Semester

A prescribed teaching and assessment period. Standard semesters in the academic year are January, May and September.

Special consideration

A student may apply for special consideration on medical or compassionate grounds if the student believes that illness, disability through accident and/or other special circumstances significantly affected their performance in the final examination or the final assessment item.

Special Requirements

Approval given to students who have a disability or other impairment to take centrally scheduled examinations under special conditions.

Student

A person who is enrolled in one or more subjects or a research program offered by the University.

Student Identification number (SID)

The 8 digit number given to a student during the application process; a means of identification for all official University processes.

Study abroad

The process of attending another approved institution. An outgoing study abroad student pays all tuition fees directly to the other institution.

Subject

A segment of instruction approved by a Faculty as being a discrete part of the requirements for a program offered by the University and identified by a unique subject code.

Subject code

A group of letters and numbers that identifies a subject for administrative purposes.

Supervisor

A member of academic staff responsible for the supervision of a student's research.

Supplementary examination

A pass or fail examination that may be granted to a student who fails a subject in penultimate or ultimate semester.

- T -

Testamur

A certificate awarded on completion of a program of study after the award has been conferred (normally presented at Graduation).

Thesis

Thesis or dissertations are works embodying results of original research on a subject and substantiating a particular point of view. They are written by a candidate as part of the requirements for an Honours Bachelor's Degree, or for a Research Master or PhD Degree.

Timetable
The subjects offered during a particular semester, and the class activities required for each subject.

Transcript

See Academic transcript.

Tutorial

Usually less formal than a lecture, tutorials are small classes in which material from lectures and readings can be discussed in more detail.

- U -

Undergraduate award

An award at associate or Bachelor Degree level.

Undergraduate student

A student enrolled in a program that leads to an undergraduate award.

Unit

See Subject which is the terminology used at Bond University.

University calendar

The annual calendar of academic events approved by the Academic Senate.

University Council

The governing body of the University.

University officer

An employee of the University.

- V -

Vice-Chancellor

The chief executive officer of the University, responsible for its leadership and management.

- W -

Withdrawal, indefinite

The formal termination by a student of enrolment in a course.