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Rules and Procedures for
All Undergraduate Programs

  1. General Course Requirements, Assessments and Grades
    1. All courses must have a mechanism for assessing student performance that is applied in a manner consistent with the UPNG Student Charter and deemed acceptable by the School Board. Assessment should in general include both continuous and final assessment, and courses with alternative assessments require approval by the School Board.
    2. At the start of each semester, the lecturer must provide each student in the course with a handout containing the following information:
      • Lecturer information-including office location, contact information and a schedule of consultation hours, that should be offered on at least three separate days
      • Course meeting times and locations-including lectures, tutorials, practicals, problem-based learning sessions and clinical teaching sessions
      • Detailed description of course assessment mechanisms-including the relative weighting of different components and the schedule of exams, tests, quizzes and structured oral assessments
      • Syllabus describing course content and planned schedule of presentation
      • List of materials students must access to complete the course-including textbooks, practical equipment, museum specimens, library and on-line materials, and other recommended readings
      • Description of the knowledge-base students are expected to have to complete the course-including a list of prerequisite courses and other specific skills and experience required
    3. Based on their assessment mechanism, lecturers will assign only the following letter grades:
      • A - an excellent understanding of all aspects of the course, with competence in application, a high ability to present material and arguments logically, and a high degree of theoretical and practical understanding. Very few students, less than 10% of a class, are expected to earn this grade.
      • B - a strong ability to apply concepts to realistic situations, as for the A-grade but lacking exceptional performance in each area. Few students, less than 35% of a class, are expected to earn this grade.
      • C - an ability to apply fundamentals, with a satisfactory degree of theoretical and practical understanding and is able to integrate information into a logical argument. The majority of students should be able to earn this grade.
      • D - some understanding and is able to complete basic tasks but has some difficulties applying material to problem solving
      • F - failed to grasp the basic and most important concepts
      • P - only used for courses graded on a pass/fail basis
    4. The only other possible entries for grades in a student's record are:
      • W - Withdrawn from the course without academic penalty. Only entered for special cases as approved by the Executive Dean.
      • X - Exemption from course based on previous work. Recommended to School Board by relevant strand.
  2. Prerequisite Courses
    1. Courses whose successful completion require students to have detailed knowledge of material presented in other courses must list these as "Prerequisite Courses" in their descriptions in the University Course Handbook and the handouts given out by the lecturer at the course's start.
    2. Normally students must complete and earn C-grades or better in prerequisite courses to register for more advanced courses. However, students may be exempted from prerequisites if they can demonstrate the required knowledge to the lecturer concerned.
  3. Examinations
    1. Final Examinations
      1. Final examinations are to be registered with Student Administration for scheduling.
      2. Final examinations are only to be given during the scheduled examination week and not during the study break. Lecturers must obtain permission from the Executive Dean to give exams at any other time.
      3. Final examinations are to be prepared, scrutinized by strand members and be submitted for printing to Student Administration by the end of eighth week of a semester.
    2. Special Examinations
      1. Students are eligible for special examination only if they are unable to attend an examination, or their performance during an examination is affected by illness or other exceptional circumstance deemed appropriate by the Executive Dean.
      2. Students are to appeal for special examinations to the Executive Dean before the examination. Documentary evidence is required in all cases. If extenuating circumstances prohibit prior appeal, students must appeal within seven days of the examination.
      3. Special examinations should be held as soon as possible, and normally should be given before the start of the next semester and definitely before the end of the next semester, unless students are physically unable to attend the examination due to illness or injury.
    3. Supplementary Examinations
      1. Supplementary Examinations are not offered by UPNG.
    4. Review of Marked Final Examinations or Other Forms of Final Assessment by Students
      1. Upon request, academic staff can discuss with students their marked final examinations or other forms of final assessment. The staff member will explain to the students how the final mark was calculated, and explain any errors in the items of assessment to the students.
    5. Remarking of Final Examinations
      1. Final examinations will not, in general, be remarked.
      2. Students concerned that there has been a marking error should meet with their lecturer to review the examination script.
      3. In cases of alleged bias in the marking procedure, students must pay the remarking fee and submit a written appeal to the School Board
      4. If the remark is supported by the School Board, remarking will be done by a second examiner whenever possible. If a second examiner is not available, the Executive Dean will appoint a senior member of academic staff to oversee remarking in conjunction with the original lecturer.
      5. If the appeal for remark is successful, the remarking fee will be refunded.
      6. The remarking appeal must be submitted and the process completed prior to the commencement of the next semester.
  4. Registration Changes and Withdrawals
    1. Changes to course registration including additions, deletions and withdrawals must be made within two weeks of the commencement of lectures in each semester.
    2. Withdrawal from courses or the university after this deadline requires approval of the Executive Dean of School, and will generally only be accepted due to health problems or emotional issues as recommended by the student counsellors.
  5. Processing of Results and Grades
    1. Check of Student Registration with Official Student List for Each Course
      1. During the semester, lecturers must check the official student lists for their course on the intranet or see their Executive Officers for hardcopy, and report any errors to the student concerned and the School Executive Officer.
    2. Procedure for Assigning Grades
      1. At the end of semester, lecturers will complete grading and assign provisional letter grades only to those students officially registered for their course.
      2. Grades are to be reviewed at Strand Examiners Meeting to be held on Thursday following examination week. Head of Strand prepares the grades for School Examiners Meeting and submits electronic copies of grades to the Executive Officer.
      3. Grades are reviewed at School Examiners Meeting (School Board) to be held on Friday following examination week. Lists for review should include each student's continuous, exam, and final number grades as well as final letter grade. Any corrections are noted by the Executive Officer and electronic copy of grades updated.
      4. The Executive Officer submits electronic copy of grades directly to Student Records by Friday following examination week. Once grades have been entered into the database, the Executive Officer generates a hardcopy grade list for each class from the official Student Records database and distributes them to lecturers and Executive Deans for signing. These lists are then sent to the Registrar for signing by the Vice Chancellor and filing at Student Records.
    3. Posting of Grades
      1. Grades will only be posted by the Registrar after grades have been officially submitted by the School Executive Officer.
    4. Change of Grade
      1. When a change of grade is required, a Change of Grade Form should be completed by the lecturer concerned and forwarded to the School Executive Officer for verification and approval by the Executive Dean.
      2. The Executive Dean will require a full explanation and justification for the change from the lecturer concerned.
      3. The Change of Grade Form will be filed with student records by the School Executive Officer and no one else.
    5. Continuous Assessment
      1. All work submitted for gr

        ading during a course must be returned to the student with a grade within two weeks of the time such work is received by the lecturer.

      2. Further to 5.5.1, all work submitted for grading during a course must be returned to the student with a grade by the last day of lectures of the semester.
      3. The cumulative results of continuous assessment must be posted by the lecturer during the Study Break.
  6. Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA)
    1. Only courses where a student earned a grade of A, B, C, D, E or F are considered in calculation of GPA. The grade entries of P, W and X are not considered in the calculation.
    2. GPA is calculated as follows:
      • Letter grades are converted to number grades, where A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1 and F=0.
      • Each number grade is multiplied by its course's credit points to produce grade points.
      • Total Grade Points is calculated by summing grade points.
      • Total Credits is calculated by summing the credit points for all courses attempted, including those with F-grades, but excluding those with P-grades.
      • GPA is calculated by dividing the Total Grade Points by Total Credits.
      • Courses with P-grades are not used in any part of the calculation.

      Example

      Calculation of GPA

      Course NameLetter Grade Number Grade Credit Points Grade Points
      Maths A 5 3 15
      Tokpisin F 0 2 0
      Melanesian Law* P - - -
      History C 3 2 6
      Numeracy B 4 4 16
      Totals     1137
      GPA      3.36

      *Melanesian Law was not included in the calculation because it had a P-grade. The credits would, however, count towards the total credits earned.

  7. Progress Conditions, Penalties and Appeals
    1. Semester to Semester GPA Requirements for Progression
      1. Commencing students earning a GPA of less than 1.50 in any semester may be excluded at the discretion of the Executive Dean; however, at the very least, these students will be called in for counselling by the Executive Dean and warned in writing that they are failing to meet Progression Criteria and may fail to meet it at year's end.
      2. All continuing students earning a GPA of less than 1.75 in any term may be excluded, or forced to attempt an attenuated program at the discretion of the Executive Dean; however, at the very least, these students will be called in for counselling by the Executive Dean and warned in writing that they are failing to meet Progression Criteria and may fail to meet it at year's end.
    2. Year to Year GPA Requirements for Progression
      1. Commencing students earning a GPA of less than 1.5 for courses taken in their first year of studies will automatically be excluded. They may reapply for admission after one full academic year has passed.
      2. All continuing students earning a GPA of less than 1.75 for courses taken in their previous year of studies will automatically be excluded for one year, after which they must apply for re-enrolment to the School.
    3. Re-enrolment and Repetition of Courses
      1. After serving their exclusion, students may apply for re-enrolment; however, the School reserves the right to refuse re-enrolment subject to space availability.
      2. Students allowed to re-enrol must repeat the whole year or any part thereof as deemed necessary by the School Board. Students may also be required to attempt an attenuated program, only containing courses they failed or performed poorly in during the previous year of study.
      3. Students will only be allowed to repeat a course once.
    4. Procedures for Notification and Effect of Decision
      1. Once all grades have been entered into the Student Records Database, a list of students failing to meet year-end progress requirements will be generated by the Registrar, who will notify students and Schools of exclusions.
      2. Exclusions are effective immediately, regardless of any appeals lodged by the student.
    5. Process of Appeal
      1. Academic penalties issued by the Registrar are effective immediately, regardless of any appeals lodged by the student.
      2. Excluded or penalized students may appeal the decision by writing to the School Board within fourteen days of being notified. The result of the appeal will be conveyed to the student in writing by the Registrar.
      3. If their appeals to the School Board are unsuccessful, the students may make a second appeal to the University Senate by writing to the Registrar. The decision of the Senate is final.
  8. Time to Degree Completion
    1. Students must complete their Bachelor Degree programs within 1.5 times the normal time to complete the degree under full-time study, including the periods during which a student is excluded on disciplinary or academic grounds.
    2. Students changing degree programs or undertaking Honours are not exempt from rule 8.1.
    3. Students may be exempted from rule 8.1 under special circumstances as deemed reasonable by the School Board.
  9. Cheating, Plagiarism and Alteration of Transcripts and Certificates
    1. Any student caught cheating during an exam will be given an F-grade for that exam, and will be referred to the Student Discipline Committee (SDC) to be assigned other penalties.
    2. Any student turning in assigned work that has been copied or directly obtained from another student, person or published work will be charged with plagiarism and will be given an F-grade for that assignment, and will be referred to the SDC to be assigned other penalties.
    3. Any student who alters the grades or GPA recorded on their UPNG transcript will be immediately excluded by the Executive Dean and referred to the SDC for further penalties.
    4. Any student who alters or forges any transcript or certificate to obtain admission to UPNG will be immediately excluded by the Registrar.