Sustainable Communities (6875.7)

Required texts

The required readings for this unit are those on Canvas. If you want to read more background on human ecology, the basis for understanding sustainability, Human Ecology: Basic Concepts for Sustainable Development is a great starting point. More may be added during the course.

One medium-sized key reading, and/or a number shorter key readings, will be placed on Canvas each week.  It is VERY IMPORTANT that you complete these readings before your tutorial, both because they will enable you to contribute meaningfully during the tutorials, and you will have to complete weekly quizzes on the readings worth 5% each (see detail below

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, a standard late penalty of 5% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day until the assignment is made accessible.

Late submission of assignments without an approved extension will result in a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available, per calendar day late. An assignment submitted over 7 days late will not be accepted.  Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

Extensions:  must be applied for before the due date. 

Students can apply for an extension to the due date for submission of an assessment item on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances. Documentary evidence will be expected in order that an extension be granted.  Fill out the form here: http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/busgovlaw/attachments/pdf/ASSIGNMENT-EXTENSION-APPLICATION.pdf and attach the necessary evidence.

It should be noted that such documentation will be considered but will not guarantee that the application will be successful. The Unit Convenor will decide whether to grant an extension and the length of the extension.

Note Students registered with  Inclusion and Engagement are still required to complete an request for extesnion they are not granted automatically on provision of your RAP.

Responsibility for understanding

If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the unit convenor or lecturer/tutor. Further, it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are correctly enrolled in the unit and that the lecturer/tutor and Student Administration have their correct contact details.

Students must submit all parts of all assignments in order to pass this unit.  Assignments will not be marked if they do not follow instructions and comply with the word limit.  Do not waffle – it is much better to be precise and concise that to pad assignments with irrelevant material or repetition.

Special assessment requirements

An aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

The unit convener reserves the right to question students orally on any of their submitted work.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment will usually only be offered to students who have failed a single unit in their final semester with a final mark between 45-49% and the unit is required for course completion. Refer to the UC Supplementary Assessment Policy.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

As a 3 credit point unit you are expected to devote 150 hours to this unit. This time is divided into:

• Group meetings 12 hours
• the remained hours as reading and preparation for assessment times

As no regular scheduled classes will be held it is strongly advised to meet with your peers often over the semester.

You can meet in the Tuesday 12:30 to 14:30 time slot with your convneor but please advise by the Monday before if you wish to meet by emailing

Sandra.Heaney-Mustafa@canberra.edu.au - I will meet you in the foyer Level C Building 6.

Participation requirements

Participation requirements

Your participation in class, field trips, workshops, and online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items. 

Required IT skills

Proficient use of general IT skills and UCLearn Canvas is required.

There are no specific IT skills required for this course, however basic IT skills are a prerequisite to modern learning.  If you are not confident in your IT skills, contact the Academic Skills Centre (http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills ). 

Research is an integral part of university study.  If you are not confident in your research skills, the UC Library holds short courses on research skills (http://www.canberra.edu.au/library/research-gateway/research-skills-training ), as does the Academic Skills Centre (see link above).

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

Learning in this unit will involve a volunteer experience in the community. This community placements requires strict adherence to professional practice, principles and ethics. Community agency confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items like reports or essays.

Additional information

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website. Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly

• Semester 2, 2019, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (186942)
• Semester 2, 2018, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (182418)