The courses offered in the Faculty of Health are regularly accredited by professional bodies and graduates are recognized as qualified professionals. Not only do our graduates meet the criteria established by professional bodies, but they also demonstrate attributes of a University of Canberra graduate.

In 2008, the University committed to improving student learning support programs. In the Faculty of Health, we work closely with the Academic Skills Program to develop additional learning support for students.

The Faculty of Health has a Learning Resource Centre for students. Some of the units offered in the Faculty of Health are supported with Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS). The purpose of the PALS program is to support students in those units that are historically recognised to be difficult units. Students are strongly encouraged to attend PALS sessions if they are offered in their selected units of study. In 2008, in one unit, those students who attended the PALS sessions achieved a 40% higher pass rate than non-attendees (Couchman J, 2008, Report on a Pilot Study of the Peer Assisted Learning Sessions program Analysing Disease Part 1 7431 Semester 2/2008, University of Canberra: Canberra). PALS is one of several learning support programs offered by the Academic Skills Program.

In order to continually review our teaching performance, students now evaluate all units through surveys on OSIS. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys as they provide information that staff can consider when planning the delivery of units in the future. Student responses are kept anonymous. In order to protect the identity of students, when less than ten surveys are returned, this information is not shared with academic staff. Therefore it is important that as many students as possible complete the unit feedback surveys on OSIS at the end of each semester.

Some teachers will seek feedback from students on their teaching at the end of the semester. This will usually be in the form of a hard copy survey, circulated and completed during class time. These forms are processed by the Universitys Teaching and Learning Centre. Students are encouraged to support the development of the Faculty's teachers by providing constructive feedback when invited to do so.

Sometimes, students will have concerns about the teaching in their classes. These concerns should be raised with the tutor or lecturer involved if possible. If the student is uncomfortable raising concerns with the tutor or lecturer involved, he or she can contact the Unit Convener. If no satisfaction is received following contact with the Unit Convener, the student should contact the Associate Dean (Education) in the Faculty of Health, Laurie Grealish, or the Dean of Students Office to discuss the concern. If necessary, students can file a formal grievance. The policy and process for filing a formal grievance is available online.

The Faculty and the University recognize good teaching through the Learning and Teaching Awards program. Students who wish to acknowledge their good teachers by nominating them for an award can do so by emailing the name of the teacher and how they demonstrate good practice to the Associate Dean (Education).

In order to monitor our teaching performance, staff in the Faculty of Health meet with staff at other universities to compare resources and student work. Students will be asked to give permission to have their work copied for this type of activity by signing the assignment cover sheet.

At university level, there are high standards for academic work. Most importantly, students are expected to submit their original work, acknowledging the sources for their ideas. When this is not done, students may be breaching academic integrity known as plagiarism. Plagiarism is not tolerated in the scholarly world and will not be tolerated within the Faculty of Health. Students are advised to become familiar with the Universitys Student Academic Integrity Policy. Students are encouraged to undertake the Academic Integrity Module.

Should you have feedback about information on this page, please email the Associate Dean (Education).