Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

(effective for graduations December 2019)

Intent

This procedure outlines the eligibility criteria and process for awards of recognition that acknowledge and promote student academic excellence at James Cook University (“JCU” or “the University”).

Scope

This procedure applies to JCU students who are eligible to receive an award of recognition and to staff involved in the award process.

Definitions

The definitions used in this procedure are found in the Policy Glossary

Introduction

To acknowledge and promote student academic excellence, each year the University shall present the following awards of recognition, under the auspices of the JCU Academic Board, as approved by the delegated authority listed below:

Table 1: JCU Awards of Recognition

Procedures

1.    Awarding a University Medal

1.1   Identification and Approval of Recipients:

1.1.1  The JCU Examinations Office will identify via the Student Management System eligible recipients of the University Medal based on the criteria outlined in Table 1.

1.1.2  GPA will be calculated only on those subjects undertaken at JCU.

1.1.3  The JCU Examinations Office will send the list of eligible recipients, and their respective GPA, to each of the relevant College Deans and/or Academic Divisions requesting confirmation that the identified students are eligible to receive the relevant nominated University Medal.

1.1.4  The College Dean shall consider the list of eligible recipients received from the JCU Examinations Office, taking into consideration the eligibility criteria outlined in Table 1, and make a determination and recommendation regarding final recipients of the University Medal. The College Dean shall then forward a submission to the Divisional Deputy Vice Chancellor of the relevant Division who is delegated to make the final determination regarding who with the College Dean’s submission shall receive the University Medal.

1.1.5  If approved by the relevant Deputy Vice Chancellor, the JCU Examinations Office will arrange the award of the University Medal in preparation for the students’ graduation through either ceremony or Council meeting.

2.   Awarding the Medal for Excellence for a Higher Degree by Research (Doctoral or Masters) Thesis

2.1  Identification and Approval of Recipients:

2.1.1  The JCU Graduate Research School shall prepare and forward a list of eligible recipients for the Medal for Excellence for a Higher Degree by Research (Doctoral or Masters) Thesis as endorsed by the Dean, Graduate Research, for noting by the Academic Board and Council.

2.1.2  The Graduate Research School will also provide the name(s) of the final recipient(s) of the Medal for Excellence for a Higher Degree by Research (Doctoral or Masters) Thesis to JCU Ceremonies Office who will arrange the casting of the medals.

3.    Awarding the Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence

3.1  Identification and Approval of Recipients:

3.1.1 The JCU Graduate Research School shall prepare and forward a list of eligible recipients of the Dean’s Award for Research Higher Degree Excellence to the relevant College Deans. College Deans are invited to make submissions in support (or otherwise) of the nominated eligible recipients to the Education Sub-Committee and Executive.

3.1.2  The College Dean’s submission must address the following criteria:

• international recognition of the student’s research work;
• impact of the student’s research (actual and potential);
• the student’s publications or other outputs (e.g. creative works); and
• any other recognition of the student’s research quality.

3.1.3.The College Dean’s submissions will be considered by the Research Education Sub-Committee Executive who will rank all eligible recipients on merit as follows:

• external examiners’ reports (50%); and
• nominations which address some or all of the criteria in Clause 3.1.2 above (50%).

3.1.4  It is intended that no more than 10% of students who have been awarded a research doctorate or research masters degree in the year under consideration will receive this Award.

3.1.5  The Research Education Sub-Committee Executive will forward its recommendations for final recipients of the Dean’s Award to the Dean, Graduate Research.

3.1.6  The Dean, Graduate Research will finalise the list of selected recipients of the Dean’s Award and send a letter of recognition to these recipients.

3.1.7   The Graduate Research School will publish the list of recipients on their website.

4.   Presentation of Medals

4.1  The casting and procurement of JCU Medals are the responsibility of JCU Ceremonies Office but must conform to designs approved by the Awards and Ceremonies Committee.

4.2  Recipients of the JCU medals shall have the option to:

• be presented with the medal at the relevant ceremony;
• have the medal be sent directly to them; or
• have the medal made available for collection at the JCU Student Centre (Townsville or Cairns).

4.3  The recipients of JCU medals will have this noted on their Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements (AHEGS) and JCU Academic Records.

5.   Indigenous Academic Excellence Award

5.1  Identification and Approval of Recipients:

5.1.1.Each year the Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Education and Strategy will prepare a list of students who are considered eligible to receive the Indigenous Academic Excellence Award based on the criteria in Table 1. The Deputy Vice Chancellor will send out this list to the Managers of Indigenous Student Support Programs and the Head of Indigenous Student Support Services (“the Managers”) who will select the preferred recipients of the Indigenous Academic Excellence Award.

5.1.2.The Managers must consider the following criteria:

• excellence in Academic results by a student at JCU; and/or
• a student’s demonstrated perseverance and commitment to their studies at JCU.

5.1.3.The Manager’s written nominations will be considered by the Indigenous Education and Research Centre Executive who will rank all nominees on merit, only on the basis of nominations which address of the criteria in Clause 5.1.2.

5.1.4.It is intended that no more than 10% of JCU students who meet the criteria for the Indigenous Academic Excellence Award in the year under consideration will receive the award.

5.1.5.The Indigenous Education and Research Centre Executive will forward their recommendations for final recipients of the Award to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Education and Strategy.

5.1.6.The Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Education and Strategy will determine the final recipients of the award and send a letter of recognition to them.

5.1.7.The Indigenous Education and Research Centre will publish the list of recipients on its website.

6.   Award with Distinction

6.1  Identification and Approval of Recipients

6.1.1  The JCU Examinations Office will identify via the Student Management System a list of eligible recipients of the Award with Distinction based on the criteria outlined in Table 1.

6.1.2  GPA will be calculated only on subjects undertaken at JCU.

6.1.3  The JCU Examinations Office will send the list of eligible recipients, and their GPA, to the Director, Student Services for approval to include the words “With Distinction” onto the eligible recipient’s Testamur.

6.1.3  If approved by the Director, Student Services, the JCU Examinations Office will administer the processing of the Awards with Distinction within the Student Management System in preparation for the students’ graduation through either ceremony or Council meeting.

7.   GPA Calculation for this procedure:

7.1.1.The GPA will be calculated in accordance with Grade Point Average (GPA) - JCU, to two decimal points.

7.1.2.The GPA is calculated on the results obtained for subjects undertaken as per Table 1;

7.1.3.Calculation of the GPA will exclude results of any ungraded subjects.

Related policy instruments

Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy

Coursework Award Finalisation, Conferral and Issuance Procedure

Grade Point Average (GPA) - JCU

Schedules/Appendices

Nil

Administration

NOTE:  Printed copies of this procedure are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History