Assignment and Assessment Policy for SJC Students

5-point quick checklist:

  • Submit on time – check the course profile for date and time.
  • Sign, date and attach a current School assignment coversheet.
  • Submit to School assignment box (Check course profile for any special arrangements).
  • Keep copies – of assignments, coversheets, proof of posting, etc.
  • YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  

Introduction

Assignments and assessment are important aspects of learning. Completing an assignment is an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement. Feedback on assignments provides you with measurement of your achievement in relation to the standards set by the course, the School and the University. To ensure that all students have equal opportunities to demonstrate what they can do, and to receive accurate and useful feedback on their work, the School has devised this Assignments and Assessment Policy, which sets out what is required and expected of both students and staff.

The aim of the Policy is to underpin the creation of a virtuous cycle of improvement in learning.

You have a right to know what is expected so that you can succeed. Assignments are explained in detail both in course profiles and during lectures and tutorials. It is your responsibility as a student to read and understand the course profile and to attend lectures and tutorials.

It is a University requirement that assessment is based on published criteria. Feedback must relate directly to the criteria and should be provided in a timely manner. Assessment can be formative, as well as summative.

Do not look on your assignment work simply as material that is submitted to a member of staff for marking, but as an integral part of your learning.

Part of the learning process is the management of both information and time. Developing the capacity to undertake the necessary research, to focus on the question at hand, and to complete and submit the required work to length and on time is essential.

This applies equally to academic and professional work.

The completion and submission of assignments are your responsibility. Always keep a copy of assignments you submit, and retain marked assignments when they are returned to you.

Attendance

Attendance at lectures and tutorials is not normally marked; however, participation in some courses may be part of the assessment component.

Lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops allow you to engage in creative, collaborative and innovative learning as part of reflective practice.

Assignments and assessments have a central role to play in the educational process, and should be considered as an integral and prominent component of the entire learning and teaching process.

Types of Assignments

Click here for descriptions of some of the assessment tasks encountered in our programs. This is not a comprehensive list and is designed to outline the type of tasks and approaches that are used within our school.

Style Guide

You will need to consult the School Style Guide on advice for specific assignment criteria.

Completing all Assignment Tasks

Assessment in each course is designed to help students achieve the specific learning outcomes specified. Therefore it is required that you attempt and submit all items of assessment.

To obtain a final grade in any course, you must submit all items of assessment, unless otherwise specified.

You must retain copies of all assignments submitted during a course of study.

If you are struggling to complete an assignment, contact your Course Coordinator to discuss this at the earliest opportunity.

Submitting Assignments

All assignments have a due date and time for submission as outlined in the course profile. Course profiles can be accessed through Blackboard and available from Week 1 of the Semester.  Additional information may be posted on the Blackboard site for each course. Please visit this site regularly.

Assignments may be submitted to the School assignment box located on level 2 of Building 37 or via Blackboard.

Written assignments must be submitted in hard copy unless otherwise advised by the course profile or blackboard.  Assignments will not be accepted by fax, Australia Post or internal UQ mail.

Non-written assignments include visual, audio and digital work. The submission arrangements for these type of assignments are detailed in the course profile.

All assignments must have a completed cover sheet, with the declaration signed and dated.  A hard copy is available from the School reception.

If an assignment (including the standard signed and dated cover sheet) is not received by the due date and time, it will be considered to be late or a non-submission.

Late and mis-submitted assignments will attract penalties.

Once an assignment has been submitted and received by the School, it cannot be returned until it has been assessed.
 
The School aims to return marked assignments promptly and with comments to help you with your studies.

Varying Submission Arrangements

You can apply to vary the submission arrangements. This must be done in the same way as applying for a full extension (see below).

In brief, you must apply in writing before the due date and time, submitting an Assignment Submission Variation form, which has to be counter-signed by the Course Coordinator (not your Tutor).  Acceptable grounds for varying the submission arrangements are the same as those for granting full extensions, such as illness and injury. As you are notified of the submission dates, times and arrangements at the beginning of the Semester, routine conflicts of dates will not be accepted as grounds for variations.

You must use the School’s Assignment Submission Variation form. A hard copy is available from the School reception.

Important Advice

You should apply for an extension as early as possible, and in any event before the original due date and time for submission.

If you cannot complete an Assignment Extension Application form (for example, because of illness or injury), you should inform your Course Coordinator as soon as you can. Let them know your precise circumstances. Complete and submit the Assignment Extension Application form as soon as you can.

Never assume that an extension has been granted.  Extensions are valid only when you have either received notice in writing (Short Extension) or a signed copy of the Assignment Extension Application form (Full Extension).

Communicate in writing – and keep copies of all paperwork.

It is your responsibility to submit your assignments on time. 

How to Apply for an Extension

A SHORT EXTENSION is valid for no more than 36 hours. It is intended to cover unexpected but temporary contingencies (such as computer failures, equipment malfunctions, transportation difficulties, etc.).

You must apply for a Short Extension from either your tutor or course coordinator. Your application must be in writing: an email is acceptable. You must explain your reasons for an extension and attach any evidence you may have. Your Tutor or Course Coordinator will reply in writing, usually by email.

If the extension is granted, you will receive a new submission date and time. If an extension is granted, then you must submit your assignment by the new revised due date and time, otherwise you will receive a grade of 1. In this case, you are not given a period of 24 hours’ grace after the deadline.

FULL EXTENSIONS are intended to cover longer term situations, such as illness.

You must use the School’s Assignment Extension Application form.  A hard copy is available from the School reception. Complete the form and submit it to either your Course Coordinator. Third-party evidence of the reason for the application (for example, a medical certificate) must accompany the application.

The extension will be considered to have been granted only when your course coordinator has signed the form and returned a signed copy to you.  This signed extension authorisation/approval must be submitted with the assessment item it relates to.  The original will be kept by the School.

The form will contain the new revised due date and time for the submission of the assignment. This is your new deadline. You must submit your assignment by this new due date and time, otherwise you will receive a grade of 1. In this case, you are not given a period of 24 hours’ grace after the deadline.

Full Extensions will not normally be granted for a period of more than one week. In exceptional circumstances a two week extension may be granted as the absolute maximum.

We recognise that exceptional circumstances occur, however, if you feel that you require an extension of more than two weeks, you will be advised to seek prior academic counselling. An incapacity to meet an assignment submission date by more than two weeks in a 13-week teaching Semester might indicate difficulties in completing your studies.

Late Submission of Assignments

Subject to the discretion of the Course Coordinator, where a non-examination item of assessment (including essays, assignments, take home examinations, etc) is not submitted by the due date and time, a penalty will be levied at the rate of one grade band deduction per day (or part thereof) that the assessment is overdue. Assessment that is submitted more than 48 hours late will be unable to be awarded a grade higher than a 4. Assessment submitted more than 5 days after the due date will receive a grade of 1.

It is the responsibility of students to produce evidence that the correct assignment was submitted in accordance with course submission guidelines. Subject to the discretion of the Course Coordinator, failure to produce evidence of submission can result in penalties being imposed.

Learning Resources

A web address for accessing University learning resources is published in all course profiles.

University assessment related policies and guidelines

Web addresses for accessing information about the University’s assessment related policies and guidelines are included in each course profile.

Academic Integrity

It is your responsibility to read the UQ academic integrity and plagiarism policy.

Application Forms

Arriving at a grade

Please see your course profile section 5.2 for information regarding your final grade.

Please also note: the School's Examiners' Meeting makes the final recommendation on the awarding of grades. From time to time the ‘marks’ awarded to a cohort of students may be moderated to ensure compliance with School and University policy on assessment. This may mean that the aggregate of your marks from individual assignments does not simply translate directly into a final grade.

If you are dissatisfied …

If you feel that the mark you have been given for an assignment is somehow unfair, you are entitled to pursue the matter. The University lays down procedures for this. They can be accessed via the web address published in each course profile.

What to do if you wish to query a grade:

Academic integrity, reporting and publication

In addition to meeting UQ requirements on academic integrity (insert link) students undertaking reporting or publication work are required to carry out all of their own reporting. They must attribute (according to SJC style) any information that has been published elsewhere.

All sources used and referred to in the story must be aware that the story could be published.

To the best of a students’ knowledge stories must be based on true facts, which the student has taken extensive steps to verify.

Stories should be accompanied by a list of primary and secondary sources, including the title, position and contact phone number of people interviewed. These people may be contacted by the School of Journalism and Communication to confirm statements.

On this site

Go to top