HELPFUL HANDY HINTS
brought to you by the Guild’s Student Assist Department
TERMINATED –
WHAT DOES IT ALL
MEAN?
Brought to you by the Guild’s
Student Assist Department
If you have just received notification via OASIS
Official Communication Channel (OCC) advising
that your academic status is now TERMINATED
and you are wondering What it all means?…and
What do I do next..? This fact sheet will give you
some answers.
What is Your Academic Status?
Your status reflects your performance and
academic progress in your course.
If you are on GOOD STANDING you are
achieving satisfactory course progress and are
permitted to continue in the course and to re-
enrol.
CONDITIONAL status means you are at risk of
not achieving satisfactory course progress but
you are permitted to continue in the course and
to re-enrol, under such conditions as may be
determined by the Head of School.
If you are TERMINATED, you have not achieved
satisfactory course progress and are terminated
from your course. You are not permitted to
continue in the course or to re-enrol in the
course without approval from the Director,
Student Services.
Your student status appears on your academic
record at the end of each semester.
I am an International Onshore student. What
can I do?
Any student terminated from a course due to
failure to achieve satisfactory course progress
had a right to appeal that decision.
If you are an International Onshore student
studying within Australia on a student visa and
have been terminated from your current course,
please be aware that as a consequence of this
you are potentially in breach of Student Visa
Condition 8202 “Achieving Satisfactory Course
Progress”.
Student Assist Last Updated: June 2009
Phone: 9266 2900 or 1800 063 865 for country callers
tm Email: reception@guild.curtin.edu.au
This breach may lead to the cancellation of your
student visa by the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship (DIAC) and a 3-year exclusion
on further visa applications to Australia.
It is therefore extremely important that you
understand the consequences of any decision
you make in relation to this matter.
You are able to lodge an appeal against your
termination and to have the decision to terminate
you reviewed by your Head of School. You must
lodge your appeal within 20 working days (28
calendar days) of the date of receiving the
Official Communication that notifies you of your
Academic Status.
If you choose not to lodge an appeal, or your
appeal is unsuccessful, the University will be
required to report you to DIAC for breach of
Student Visa Condition 8202 “Achieving
Satisfactory Course Progress” as soon as
practicable after the outcome of your appeal is
determined or the 20 working day appeal period
expires.
To avoid being reported to DIAC you only
have one option and that is to successfully
appeal against your termination. More
information about how to do this is provided
further down at *.
I am a Domestic student. What can I do?
Any domestic student terminated from a course
due to failure to achieve satisfactory course
progress has a right to appeal that decision. As a
student you have 4 options:
Option 1: Accept termination decision and cease
studying.
Option 2: Accept termination decision and apply
to switch courses.
Option 3: Appeal against termination decision.
Option 4: Appeal against termination decision
and simultaneously apply to switch courses.
Cont’d over page
...our name says it all!
HELPFUL HANDY HINTS
brought to you by the Guild’s Student Assist Department
Options to Choose:
Option 1: Accept termination decision and
cease studying
Accepting the decision that you a terminated
from your course of study you may decide that
Curtin University or university in general is not
what you’re best suited to and decide to pursue
an alternative career path i.e. TAFE or work.
OR
After a minimum of 12 months you may apply for
re-admission to your course of study. You will
need to demonstrate how your personal
circumstances have changed significantly and
include evidence or relevant study or work
experiences you have successfully completed
since ceasing study.
Option 2: Accept termination decision and
apply to switch courses
Termination means you are not permitted to
continue in your current course; however you
may apply to another course within the university
and will need to approach the School of interest
and enquire about enrolling there. Be aware that
if you switched course successfully following a
termination certain conditions may apply.
Option 3: Appeal against termination
decision
If for whatever reason you don’t do too well one
semester and find yourself on conditional or
terminated status, you have a right to lodge an
appeal. You will need to have strong grounds for
an appeal to be considered. Perhaps you
experienced a medical condition that affected
your ability to study or there were other
extenuating circumstances in your life that
affected your semester results. You should
provide documentation with your appeal letter to
support any claims of exceptional circumstances.
This could include medical documentation from
your doctor or counsellor for example that
supports what you are saying.
tm
Curtin Student Guild - Student Assist
Reception 9266 2900 or 1800 063 865 for country callers
Email: reception@guild.curtin.edu.au
* The Appeal Process for International and
Domestic Students
Students are required to print, complete and
submit the form Appeal against Decision to
Terminate from Course found at
http://students.curtin.edu.au/rights/appeals/
academic.cfm (this must be attached as a cover
page)
There is a sample appeal letter on the back of
this sheet which can assist you with the layout
and types of useful information for inclusion.
Once written, you will need to lodge your appeal
letter and cover sheet marked ‘Attention
Examinations’, located in Central Administration,
Building 101.
Please be aware appeals need to be lodged
within 20 working days (i.e. 28 calendar days
of notification of your results / status).
If your appeal is successful you will be notified of
this decision in writing via the OCC and the
original decision to terminate shall be varied and
your academic status will be changed to
Conditional or to Good Standing depending on
the decision from the Head of School.
Appeal Unsuccessful?
If your appeal is unsuccessful you will be notified
of the outcome and the reasons for the decision
in writing via the OCC. You have a further option
to refer your appeal to the Director, Student
Services. This request needs to be lodged within
10 working days from the notification of review
by the Head of School.
A further appeal to an external body such as The
West Australian Ombudsman can be made upon
completion of the internal appeal process.
Where to get further assistance
 Students can visit Student Assist in
Building 106 for further assistance or
phone (08) 9266 2900 or toll free on 1800
063 865 for an appointment.
 The Curtin Counselling Service, located
in Building 109, phone (08) 9266 7850 can
also assist students with appeals and
university grievances.
 International Student Advisers, phone
(08) 9266 2434 or email:
isadviser@curtin.edu.au
Last Updated: June 2009
HELPFUL HANDY HINTS
brought to you by the Guild’s Student Assist Department

LETTER OF APPEAL
Example Only – Do Not Copy
(Take great care in the preparation of your letter – it is important!)

Your Name
Address
Contact Phone Number

Date

Attention: Examinations
Director, Student Services
Curtin University
Kent Street
Bentley WA 6102

Dear Sir / Madam

Re: Appeal against Terminated Status – School of Mechanical Engineering

I wish to formally appeal against my present terminated status.

In semester one this year I enrolled: (put in specific details about units passed and failed).

During the course of this semester I experienced difficulty. The reasons for my poor
performance were: (explain your past situation succinctly. Order your explanation either
chronologically or in order of difficulty).

I enclose …..(documentation)….. to substantiate my case. (Here show a copy of a medical

certificate, letter from a counsellor etc).

I would very much like to be readmitted to my chosen course of study. (Here explain why you
specifically want to pursue your chosen course of study at Curtin).

If I am readmitted to the course next year I know I will do well as …..(List the reasons why the
events that contributed to your earlier demise will not be repeated. In other words, what will
be different/better in the future – this part is important so don’t skim it).

The events that led to my poor past performance will not be repeated (assure them and
explain how the problems have been resolved). I am sure that I am capable of successfully
completing my chosen course of study. I would very much appreciate a second chance.

I am available for consultation, at any time, on the above phone number.

Yours sincerely

Your Name
Your Student Number

tm

Curtin Student Guild - Student Assist

Reception 9266 2900 or 1800 063 865 for country callers
Email: reception@guild.curtin.edu.au

Last Updated: June 2009