Assessment and Examination Regulations
Assessment and Course Work
Eligibility for Assessment
1. Students who enrol for a paper, pay their fees and do not withdraw will be awarded a grade in that paper.
2. Some papers require compulsory attendance at classes, including laboratories, field trips, practical exercises or extramural contact courses or block courses. In such papers, paper co-ordinators shall advise students in writing at the commencement of tuition that non-attendance, without exemption having been granted, constitutes failure in the paper, regardless of the rest of the assessment procedure.
3. Paper coordinators shall advise students at the commencement of tuition which elements of the assessed course work will contribute towards the final grade for the paper, and which elements, if any, are compulsory. Unless otherwise stated all final exams are compulsory. Without exemption having been granted, failure to:
(a) attend a compulsory exam, or;
(b) submit a compulsory assessment element, or;
(c) complete assessment components totalling 51% or more of the total assessment, or;
(d) submit an Aegrotat application
(e) constitutes failure in the paper, regardless of the rest of the assessment procedure.
Re-marking of Assessed Course work
4. Students who seek to have an assessed course work component re-marked should initially consult with the paper coordinator to clarify the feedback and/or the mark awarded. If the informal consultation does not address the student's concerns, then a formal application for re-marking may be made. Re-marking of course work is offered in exceptional circumstances only; the onus is on the student to justify the request to the chief examiner/Programme Director. Re-marking will normally be by a different marker, using the original copy together with the marker's comments. Cases based on calculation errors within the original marking of the course work should be forwarded directly to the paper coordinator and do not require a formal application.
For coursework to be eligible for re-marking it must:
(a) be the original work submitted for assessment together with the marker's comments;
(b) normally contribute at least 15% towards the final grade for the paper;
(c) must have been formally assessed only once previously;
(d) be submitted with a re-mark application within four weeks from the date of dispatch of the original assessment result.
As a result of a re-mark, the grade for the course work could remain unchanged, or be amended upwards or downwards.
Students in named Doctoral degrees must refer to the Handbook for Doctoral Study for separate details of re-marking provisions as the above regulations do not apply to named Doctoral students. The Handbook is available on the University website at http://policyguide.massey.ac.nz
Aegrotat and Impaired Performance Regulations
5. Students may apply for Aegrotat (AEG)/Impaired Performance (IP) consideration in relation to final examinations, and to internal assessment and other compulsory elements that occur at a fixed time and place as defined in the paper outline distributed to students at the beginning of the delivery of a paper. AEG/IP applications may be considered if the student is unable to complete a compulsory contact course or field trip, but in such cases the grade for the paper may be withheld until the contact course or field trip is completed by the student, normally during the next paper offering in the same mode and location.
As a general guideline, applications that pertain to assessment tasks worth less than 10% of the total assessment for the paper will not normally be considered as part of these regulations. In such cases, and for other internal assessment activities not of a fixed time and place, the student should contact the paper coordinator to see if an alternative arrangement can be made, and if supporting evidence is required.
Students intending to apply for Aegrotat or Impaired Performance on health grounds in accordance with these regulations should normally consult with a health professional as soon as possible, but no later than seven days after the last assessment event for which the application is being made. Applications made by students who consulted with a health professional later than seven days after the assessment event should demonstrate that the consultation occurred as soon as practicable. The Manager, Assessment, Student Management, must receive a completed Aegrotat and Impaired Performance Application Form from a health professional acceptable to Academic Board who has assessed the student.
Students in named Doctoral degrees must refer to the Handbook for Doctoral Study for separate details of aegrotat provisions as the above regulations do not apply to named Doctoral students. Note also that students in Doctoral degrees must refer to the 'Handbook for Doctoral Study' for separate details of oral examination provisions. The Handbook is available on the University website at http://policyguide.massey.ac.nz
Aegrotat
(a) Candidates who have been prevented by illness, injury, bereavement or other critical personal circumstances from presenting themselves at any examination, compulsory component, or assessment activity may apply for AEGROTAT consideration. An AEG pass or DNC grade will be the normal outcome of an application unless a significant portion of the total formal assessment (normally 60% or more) has been completed and the paper coordinator considers the award of a letter grade appropriate.
To be awarded an AEG pass, the candidate's University teachers in the paper or papers affected must be confident that the student would have passed the paper had the assessment for which the Aegrotat application was made been completed.
AEG passes will not be awarded in cases where less than 40% of the total assessment for the paper has been completed by the student, however students who submit Aegrotat applications with satisfactory grounds may receive a Not Finalised status for the paper in question, and be permitted to complete the missed fixed time assessments at the earliest practicable opportunity or at the next offering of the paper at their campus of study.
Impaired Performance
(b) Candidates who consider that their performance in, or preparation for, any examination or assessment activity has been seriously impaired due to illness, injury, bereavement or other critical personal circumstances may apply for Impaired Performance consideration.
For impaired performance applications, paper co-ordinators will assess the typical performance of a student during the paper and, where the student's performance for the assessment item covered by the application was atypically poorer than that achieved in other assessment tasks, and in relation to the overall class performance for the assessment in question, assign a mark for the assessment item and an overall letter grade for the paper based upon this information.
Assignments and Examinations in Te Reo Māori
6. The Māori language is an official language of the University. Those considered to have the necessary level of competency may write assignments, tests and examinations in Te Reo Māori, subject to approval and where the subject is considered to be appropriate. Those wishing to pursue this option should make application to the Manager, Assessment, Student Management, by 31 January for Semester One and Double Semester papers and by 16 June for Semester Two and Summer School papers.
Doctoral theses may be submitted in Te Reo Māori, English, or in both languages. The oral examination may also be conducted in Te Reo Māori. Candidates intending to submit their doctoral thesis in Te Reo Māori, or in a substantial combination of English and Māori, must indicate this intention within two months of provisional registration. They should supply a letter from the AVC (Māori and Pasifika) or nominee, affirming that they have the required level of competency in Te Reo Māori, will be working in an area where the language is considered to be appropriate, and that supervisory expertise is available in the Māori language.
Dishonesty in any Assessment or Examination
7. Dishonest practice in connection with any examination or assessment is considered to be a breach of the Code of Student Conduct and in some cases, the Code of Responsible Research Conduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure for managing the allegations of misconduct are both found on the Massey University Policy Guide at http://policyguide.massey.ac.nz. The Student Disciplinary Regulations that provide a detailed account of the processes for resolution of complaints of misconduct and the procedures for student appeals, is found on the Massey University Policy Guide at http://policyguide.massey.ac.nz
Final Examinations
Time and Venue
1. The examinations conducted by the University shall be held at the places and times specified in the examination timetables published by authority of the Council.
Written Entry
2. (a) Students enrolled in an internal offering of a paper are not required to give notice in writing of intention to present themselves for examination.
(b) (i) Students enrolled in a distance (extramural) or block mode offering of a paper are to elect the centre where they propose to sit their examinations (from the published list of centres) when completing the Enrolment Application.
(ii) When subsequently advising a change of address, it will be necessary to either confirm or amend the pro-posed examination centre. If relocating over-seas, form ENR9 will have to be requested and completed.
Examination Procedure
3. The examinations shall consist of such written, oral and practical examinations as the examiners may determine.
4. Candidates shall write out answers to the questions in the presence of a supervisor, who shall be appointed or approved by or on behalf of the Council, and in accordance with such detailed instructions as may be furnished by the Council.
5. No candidate shall communicate with an examiner in regard to an examination except through Massey Contact under delegated authority from the Manager, Assessment, Student Management.
6. Any candidate who has a permanent disability which could be considered to adversely affect performance under ordinary examination conditions must inform the Manager, Assessment, Student Management, before the examination and supply such documentary evidence as is required.
7. The examination scripts shall be transmitted to the examiners, who shall report the results for the paper to the Manager, Assessment, Student Management.
8. Note that assessments (including major tests) and examination scripts not routinely returned to students should be retained by academic departments for a period of 12 months.
Re-marking of Final Examination Scripts
9. By making application to the Manager, Assessment, Student Management, within four weeks from the date of the notification confirming the official results of final examinations and paying the prescribed fee, any student may have their final examination script re-marked by the examiners, followed by a recalculation of the final grade where appropriate. As a result of a re-mark, the final grade could remain unchanged, or be amended upwards or downwards. The application fee will be refunded if there is a change of final grade. No additional information from the student shall be placed before the examiners.
Research Reports and Masters Theses
10. (a) All research reports (up to 60 credits) shall be graded by two examiners, at least one of whom shall be independent of the research work, with external moderation undertaken in accordance with College policies.
(b) At the discretion of the examiner(s), a candidate may be examined orally on the subject of the research report or thesis.
(c) At the discretion of the chief examiner, a failed research project may be revised and re-submitted once and may be subject to re-examination. Following successful re-examination the candidate will not be eligible for honours or distinction.
(d) All Masters theses shall be graded by two examiners who are independent of the research work and one of whom is external to the University.
(e) At the discretion of the examiner(s), a candidate may be examined orally on the subject of the Masters thesis.
(f) At the discretion of the chief examiner, a failed Masters thesis may be revised and re-submitted once and may be subject to re-examination. Following successful re-examination the candidate will not be eligible for honours or distinction.
Theses
11. (a) A candidate whose examination includes the presentation of a thesis (≥90 credits) shall have an approved supervisor or supervisors before commencing work on the research.
(b) Before the thesis is forwarded to the examiners, the Head of Academic Unit shall supply a certificate from the supervisor that the thesis embodies work carried out be the candidate under direct supervision and also stating the part the supervisor played in preparation of the thesis.
(c) For the purposes of the assessment of the masters degree thesis a candidate shall be required to submit three copies of the thesis as required by the policy of the individual college that has supervised the thesis. Students should contact their College Office for guidance on submission procedures for their individual College.
(d) For the purposes of the assessment of the doctoral degree thesis a candidate shall be required to submit to the Graduate Research School (if located on Manawatu Campus), or to Massey Contact (if located on Albany or Wellington campuses) four securely bound copies of the thesis. Students not located close to a campus can post or courier their theses to the Graduate Research School.
(e) Paper copies and the digital copy of the thesis shall, unless the Librarian otherwise approves, conform with the format requirements as detailed in the current library handbook A Guide to the Presentation of Theses.
(f) (i) The relevant Academic Director (for Masters theses) or Dean of Graduate Research School (for Doctoral theses) may agree to accept a thesis solely in digital form, where the nature of the research is such that it is not appropriate for the thesis to be submitted in a printed form. Approval of the use of digital format in this way should be sought by the candidate at an early stage of enrolment in the thesis.
(ii) The relevant Academic Director (for Masters theses) or Dean of Graduate Research School (for Doctoral theses) may agree to accept part of a thesis solely in digital form, where there are tables of data or other information that are effectively appendices to the thesis.
(g) The candidate shall be given a receipt for the copies of the thesis by the Graduate Research School or the relevant Massey Contact office. As soon as the assessment has been completed, and the final version approved, in the case of successful candidates, the candidate or the candidate's supervisor shall be responsible for the return to the Graduate Research School two hard bound copies and one electronic copy of the thesis, unless otherwise stated in the course regulations. One hard copy and one electronic copy shall be lodged in the Library of the Campus of study, with the hard copy being securely housed for archival purposes. The second hard bound copy shall be returned to the Academic Unit.
(h) The paper and the digital copies of the thesis must be accompanied by a declaration signed by the student stating that the paper and the digital copy are the same (subject to the provisions of subsections in (i)).
(i) The two copies destined for the Library will be fully catalogued, and in the case of the digital copy, metadata tags will be added. The print copy will be lodged permanently in secure facilities in the Library, although available for consultation within the Library. The digital copy will be lodged permanently in the University's digital repository. Unless the AVC (Research) has approved an embargo, the print and digital copies will be publicly accessible.
(j) A thesis including parts of the thesis which were solely in digital form, will be publicly accessible through the University's digital repository, unless embargoed. In the case of an embargo of the full digital copy held by the University, only the author, title, abstract and metadata will be publicly accessible through the University's digital repository while the embargo remains in place.
(k) University records of the examiner's assessment of the thesis shall be retained and disposed of in accordance with the University General Disposal Authority as required under the Public Records Act 2005. The student academic transcript shall be archived in accordance with the University General Disposal Authority as required under the Public Records Act 2005.
Note: The requirements to submit a digital copy will apply normally, and as appropriate, to students who enrol in a thesis on or after 1 January 2007.
