Hurdle requirements within units

Definition

A 'hurdle' requirement within a unit is a compulsory aspect or component of a unit that must be complied with in order that a student may be eligible to receive a 'pass' grade.

Students may be asked to carry out tasks, in class or out, and be provided with feedback as part of the ongoing teaching/learning process. Such activities only constitute a hurdle requirement if a sanction will be imposed for not completing them, that is, if the student will fail the course if she or he does not complete the activity.

Hurdle Requirement Type 1:

Some hurdle requirements form part of the assessed work and require the student to pass particular components of assessment. For example, a unit may require students to submit a multimedia assignment (40 marks) and submit a project report or performance (60 marks). To pass the course, the student may need to gain a total of more than 30 marks on the project/performance, and a total of more than 50 marks on the unit. Another example would be where students are assessed on, and must pass, both a placement and a theory component of a unit.

Hurdle Requirement Type 2:

Other hurdle requirements are not part of the assessed work but must be completed, e.g, collating an 'unmarked' evidence file, meeting minimum class attendance requirements, completing journal entries or undertaking observation days.

Principles

1. As with all work required and assessed tasks, hurdle requirements should:
   
   
   1. demonstrably be related to the objectives/learning outcomes of the unit. The exception may be where overall course objectives are achieved through the requirements, eg First Aid certificate, graduate outcomes.
   2. take cognisance of equity issues and students' varying circumstances including work and family responsibilities. In some cases, and where practical and reasonable, this may mean providing alternative means of competing the hurdle requirement.
   3. apply equitably to all modes of study.
      
      
2. Type 1 hurdle requirements may be quite common so long as they are consistent with the policy articulated below.
   Type 2 hurdle requirements, however, should be kept to a minimum and will be approved by Curriculum Committee only when the justification is clear. Justifications may include that the requirement cannot fairly or appropriately be built into the assessed work, is necessary for achievement of the unit objectives or a professional accreditation requirement, or that an alternative would be impractical and/or costly.
   
   Note that hurdle requirements should not normally extend the total work required of the student beyond that specified in University policy on student workload . Hurdle requirements that do extend the total work required beyond that specified above must be justified to Curriculum Committee and approved by Faculty Board.
   
   
3. University policy is that one credit point implies about one hour per week of student effort over the year or two hours over a semester; a six credit point subject taught in a semester therefore implies about twelve hours work a week by the student in varying combinations of formal class contact and private or group study.
   
   
4. Faculty policy is that six point units will meet face-to-face for on-campus units for either 2 or 3 hours per week for one semester.
   
   
5. If students are undertaking placements, observation activities or excursions as part of a unit/course, this should be taken into account in designing the other work in the unit/course.
   
   
6. Hurdle requirements should be consistent with the University and Faculty assessment policies, in particular that 4000 words for a 6 point unit and 8000 words for a 12 point unit are maximum expectations.
   
   
7. Attendance cannot be required in order to pass a unit without Curriculum Committee and Faculty Board approval. Where approval has been given this must be clearly set out in the Handbook entry and in the Unit Guide distributed in week 1 of semester.
   
   
8. Wherever possible, hurdle requirements should be built into the assessment of the learning outcomes of the unit (type 1). Where this is not the case (type 2), the hurdle requirement must be justified to Curriculum Committee and approved by Faculty Board.