Awarding of Medals for Academic Achievement Policy

This policy provides the framework for the awarding of University Medals for academic excellence at Australian Catholic University (ACU).

This policy applies to all Bachelor and Bachelor Honours degrees

3.1 Each year the Academic Board may award University Honours Medals and University Medals in recognition of the achievement of outstanding academic merit in the previous academic year.

3.2 Each year the Academic Board will determine the minimum Medals Score for the following year, based on the recommendation of the University Medals Committee.

3.3 Each Faculty Board will nominate suitably qualified candidates for consideration by the Academic Registrar.

3.4 Normally, the Academic Board will award one University Honours Medal and one University Medal per Faculty each year.

3.5 The Academic Registrar, following consultation with the Chair of Academic Board, may recommend to the Academic Board that, in exceptional circumstances where two eligible students from the same Faculty, with the same Medals Score, cannot be meaningfully separated, a second University Honours Medal, or University Medal, be awarded.

3.6 The Academic Registrar may recommend to Academic Board that no award will be made in a particular year if no suitably qualified candidates have been nominated by the Faculties.

4.1 A student who has received a fail grade for any unit will not be eligible for the award of any University Medal.

4.2 A student will be ineligible for the award of a university medal if they have been found guilty of a breach of the Student Conduct Policy, or of the Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

4.3 To be eligible for the award of a University Honours Medal a student must have qualified for a Bachelor degree with first class honours and have met the minimum Medals Score calculated in accordance with the Awarding of Medals for Academic Achievement Procedures.

4.4 A student qualified for an end-on Bachelor Honours degree, or a Bachelor degree with embedded honours will be eligible for the University Honours Medal, subject to sections 4.1 to 4.3.

4.5 To be eligible for the award of a University Medal a student must have qualified for a Bachelor degree and have met the minimum Medals Score calculated in accordance with the Awarding of Medals for Academic Achievement Procedures.

4.6 Where two or more students are eligible under section 4.3 or section 4.5, the Academic Registrar will refer the matter to the Chair of Academic Board who will use the Medals Score and the following factors to determine the recommended recipient.

1. the standard of the honours thesis (if applicable);
2. the distribution of results achieved;
3. the consistency of performance or continuous improvement throughout the course;
4. the length of time taken to complete the course, with due regard to mitigating circumstances; and
5. other factors deemed relevant by the Faculty Board.

4.7 An award may be made to a candidate on qualifying for a subsequent Bachelor or a Bachelor Honours degree.

Recommendations for award of a medal must be made to the Academic Registrar by the respective Faculty Boards in accordance with the Awarding of Medals for Academic Achievement Procedures.

6.1 Recommendations for award of a medal must be made to Academic Board by the Academic Registrar in accordance with the Awarding of Medals for Academic Achievement Procedures.

6.2 The Academic Registrar is responsible for maintaining consistency of practice in regard to the awarding of medals.

7.1 The Academic Board will consider each recommendation made to it by the Academic Registrar and, if approved, advise Senate of the names of the recipients of the award.