Course Outline Semester 1, 2014
Part A: Course-Specific Information Part B: Key Policies, Student Responsibilies and Support
Table of Contents
PART
A: COURSE-‐SPECIFIC INFORMATION 1 STAFF CONTACT DETAILS 1.1 Communication with Staff 2 COURSE DETAILS 2.1 Teaching Times and Locations 2.2 Units of Credit 2.3 Summary of Course 2.4 Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses 2.5 Student Learning Outcomes 3 LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES 3.1 Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course 3.2 Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies 4 ASSESSMENT 4.1 Formal Requirements 4.2 Assessment Details 4.3 Assessment Format 4.4 Assignment Submission Procedure 4.5 Late Submission 5 COURSE RESOURCES 6 COURSE EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT 7 COURSE SCHEDULE PART B: KEY POLICIES, STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUPPORT 8 PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES 9 ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM 10 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Workload Attendance General Conduct and Behaviour Occupational Health and Safety Keeping Informed 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 Error! Bookmark not defined. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5 5 5 Error! Bookmark not defined. Error! Bookmark not defined. Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 8 9 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 15
11 SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS 12 STUDENT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
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PART A: COURSE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION 1 STAFF CONTACT DETAILS
Lecturer-in-charge: Room: Email: Consultation Times: Lecturer: Room: Email: Consultation Times: Jared Stanfield ASB 355 j.stanfield@unsw.edu.au To be announced in class Ying Dou ASB 345B ying.dou@student.unsw.edu.au To be announced in class
A full list of tutors will be posted on Course Website.
1.1
Communication with Staff
Read this course outline Check the course website Contact the tutor/instructor during class for non-urgent matters E-mail your tutor/instructor Contact your tutor/instructor during consultation hours
Students with questions about course administration or content are encouraged to: • • • • •
For e-mail communication with staff, University regulations indicate that students MUST use a valid UNSW student account. Teaching staff may ignore non-UNSW email address for security reasons. Students are responsible for ensuring their email accounts are NOT full. E-mail is best suited for asking simple questions about course administration that requires a short reply. E-mail is neither an appropriate nor an effective medium for learning. Do not expect staff to reply to an e-mail that requests extensive or substantive answers. These questions are best raised in tutorials or consultation times.
2 COURSE DETAILS
2.1 Teaching Times and Locations
Monday Monday 9:00am to 11:00am 2:00pm to 4:00pm Chemical Sciences M18 Chemical Sciences M17 Lectures start in Week 1(to Week 12): The Time and Location are:
Tutorials start in Week 2 (to Week 13). A full list of tutorials, times and tutors will be on the Course Website.
2.2
Units of Credit
The course is worth 6 units of credit. There is no parallel teaching in this course. 1
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2.3
Summary of Course
This course focuses on practical applications relating to the theory of financial decisionmaking. Case studies, empirical evidence and current issues in the financial media are used to illustrate key decisions made by managers of the firm. Topics include advanced capital budgeting issues, capital raising including venture capital and initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and advanced capital structure and dividend policy issues. One of the aims is to develop students' ability to make judgments in a realistic setting and to develop the capacity to articulate judgments both orally and in writing.
2.4
Course Aims and Relationship to Other Courses
This course focuses on the application and further development of financial concepts first introduced in FINS1613 Business Finance in the corporate finance setting. It applies finance theory for the purposes of valuating businesses and understanding corporate financial transactions.
2.5
Student Learning Outcomes
The Course Learning Outcomes are what you should be able to DO by the end of this course if you participate fully in learning activities and successfully complete the assessment items. The Learning Outcomes in this course also help you to achieve some of the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes for all undergraduate coursework students in the ASB. Program Learning Goals are what we want you to BE or HAVE by the time you successfully complete your degree (e.g. ‘be an effective team player’). You demonstrate this by achieving specific Program Learning Outcomes - what you are able to DO by the end of your degree (e.g. ‘participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams’).
ASB Undergraduate Program Learning Goals and Outcomes
1. Knowledge: Our graduates will have in-depth disciplinary knowledge applicable in local and global contexts. You should be able to select and apply disciplinary knowledge to business situations in a local and global environment. 2. Critical thinking and problem solving: Our graduates will be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers. You should be able to identify and research issues in business situations, analyse the issues, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions. 3. Communication: Our graduates will be effective professional communicators. You should be able to: a. Prepare written documents that are clear and concise, using appropriate style and presentation for the intended audience, purpose and context, and b. Prepare and deliver oral presentations that are clear, focused, well-structured, and delivered in a professional manner. 4. Teamwork: Our graduates will be effective team participants.
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You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes. 5. Ethical, social and environmental responsibility: Our graduates will have a sound awareness of the ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of business practice. You should be able to: a. Identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice, and b. Identify social and cultural implications of business situations.
For more information on the Undergraduate Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, see Part B of the course outline. The following table shows how your Course Learning Outcomes relate to the overall Program Learning Goals and Outcomes, and indicates where these are assessed (they may also be developed in tutorials and other activities):
Program Learning Goals and Outcomes This course helps you to achieve the following learning goals for all ASB undergraduate coursework students: 1 Knowledge Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of the course, you should be able to: Course Assessment Item This learning outcome will be assessed in the following items:
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• 2 Critical thinking and problem solving
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Forecast and evaluate corporate cash flows. Estimate the cost of capital. Discuss the operation of capital and foreign exchange markets. Compute a project's free cash flows by identifying Incremental and Relevant Cash Flow and evaluate NPV analysis from a risk management perspective. Apply the incremental cash flow approach to compute a project's NPV and analyze project risks. Understand qualitatively and quantitatively the major features public and private debt as well as the covenants and repayment provisions of debt. Explain the purpose of corporate governance and different strategies that firms use in reducing agency conflicts. Discuss the motivations, payoffs, regulation and procedures in corporate mergers and acquisitions Apply the multiples and discounted cash flow methods to value business. Analyze the situations in which firms return cash to shareholders and apply theories to recommend the appropriate method given the
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Exam Case Presentation Case Discussion
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Exam Case Presentation Case Discussion
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• 3a Written communication Oral communication Teamwork Ethical, environmental and sustainability responsibility Social and cultural awareness
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situation. Analyze firm characteristics and make recommendations regarding the appropriate firm financing. Analyse and present a case and respond to questions professionally as a team. Construct written work, which is logically and professionally presented. Communicate ideas in a succinct and clear manner. Work collaboratively to complete a task. Identify and assess ethical considerations in governance practices.
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Part of project but not separately assessed Case Presentation Case Discussion Case Presentation Case Discussion Part of tutorial participation and exams but not separately assessed Not specifically assessed
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Compare, contrast, and assess varying exchange rate systems and governance systems of various countries.
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3 LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES
3.1 Approach to Learning and Teaching in the Course
We seek to create an interesting, challenging, relevant, satisfying, and engaging education experience. To help achieve this objective we have a number of teaching aims: • Create a climate of engagement, dialogue and ongoing feedback between students and lecturers regarding the content, teaching strategies, learning experiences and outcomes (Guidelines on Learning that Inform Teaching at UNSW (GLIT) numbers 2,7,10) • Cater to a variety of learning preferences and abilities by providing a range of learning activities and teaching methods (GLIT number 9); • Develop independent learning skills and create an environment that both provides structure and guidance as well as encouraging students to extend their learning (GLIT numbers 2,11); • Develop skills in collaboration and teamwork, which is directly relevant to the skills required of a finance professional (GLIT numbers 6, 14)
3.2
Learning Activities and Teaching Strategies
The Role of Lectures The lectures build from the relevant core readings (in the textbook) to set out the main ideas, theories and conceptual frameworks for the course. Lectures include interactive learning processes and will synthesize materials from a range of sources, including your own prior knowledge and experiences. We expect you to come to and be prepared for each lecture. This means you should have read and considered the 4
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relevant chapter. From a time management perspective, this means you will need to allocate at least three hours per week for basic reading. If you need any assistance in managing your time you will find the Australian School of Business’ Education Development Unit (EDU) a useful resource. The Role of Tutorials The weekly tutorials provide you with an interactive environment in which to enhance your learning and your enjoyment of the course. These tutorials include exercises and case study presentation and discussions. By actively engaging in the tutorials, you will increase your confidence and competence in technical, presentation and critical thinking skills. They also provide you with the opportunity to enhance your interpersonal skills by interacting with others, working together in diverse groups, forging learning networks, learning about other cultures and learning to understand values and opinions different from your own.
4 ASSESSMENT
4.1 Formal Requirements
In order to pass this course, you must: • achieve a composite mark of at least 50; and • make a satisfactory attempt at all assessment tasks (see below).
4.2
Assessment Details
Assessment Task Tutorial Attendance and participation* Case study report and presentation* Case study discussion* Mid-session Exam Final Exam
Weighting 10% 15% 10% 30% 35%
Due Date Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Week 7 University Exam Period
* Tutorial marks will be made available in mid-June on Moodle. Students should contact their tutors to resolve any concerns related to tutorial assessments before June 13th. Tutorials Tutorials in this course are 1-hour long and held weekly (First in week 2, last in Week 13). Tutorials alternate between two components: 1. role playing and group case study presentations, and 2. discussion of topical corporate events and problem solving. Each component requires approximately 50 minutes. Due to time constraints and the need to cover all the relevant material, students are strongly encouraged to report to tutorials on time. 5
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In the case study component, students are required to form groups of 4 or 5 members to analyse and present and discuss a case. Groups are to be finalized and reported to the tutor in week 2 tutorials. Tutors will assign groups for students without a group. Tutors will assign two cases to each group, one for presentation, one for discussion. Presenting group members play the role of investment banker/advisor analysing and presenting their case to the board of directors of the company. The presenting group is required to submit a written report of no more than three pages in text (A4, 12 point fonts, double spaced format) to the tutor, and to provide to other students with a summary of key points in their presentation (and executive summary). An aggregate mark of up to 15% of total course mark will be awarded based on: Case study presentation (up to 10%) Assessment criteria • Promoted discussion of issues within the tutorial • Presented in a clear and unambiguous language • Presented in an professional manner • Medium of communication (power point / projector slides) are clear and precise • Demonstrated the understanding of the problem • Provided interesting insights, analysis and facts about the case • Was able to address questions from the target audience • Demonstrated good time management (group case presentation must be completed within 30 minutes followed by 20 minutes of group and class discussion) • Demonstrated equal distribution of case presentation: each member of the group must share equal oral presentation time. Case study written report (up to 5%) Requirements • Report cover page detailing: o Group members’ student number and name o An allocation of the total mark of 100 across members of the group reflecting perceived individual contribution to the group’s overall effort (presentation and report). Inadequate contribution could lead to a 50100% reduction in the mark for an individual member of the group. o The work is original. In other words, plagiarism rules apply. o Signature of members and date Following the cover paper, a single Executive Summary page must be present detailing the problem at hand, and the group’s final conclusion and/or recommendation. The Executive Summary report must be concise and, if preferred, may follow a bullet point format similar in style to this portion of the course syllabus. The main report, consisting of no more than 3 pages, must contain more extensive discussion of the case and the problem at hand, the assumptions used for the analysis, the concerning issues, the methodology used to address the issues, and the final conclusion/recommendation with appropriate justifications. Detailed computations and steps detailing how the solutions were attained must be delegated to a technical appendix. A graph appendix may also 6
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be included at the end of the report. A hard copy of the case report is to be handed in after the presentation A soft copy of the case report is to be handed in via Turnitin (available through myUNSW) during the week following the presentation The written case report must be less than 3 pages not including the Executive Summary Report, the technical and graph appendixes. Students receive marks for their analysis and quality NOT quantity Penalties do apply for non compliance
Assessment criteria • The final ‘number’ per se is of little importance. The analysis and application of the tools and concepts learned in this, and other, finance courses is far more important than arriving at the ‘correct answer’. • Demonstrated an understanding of the problem presented • Critically analysed the problem – not merely describing the case at hand • Clear and professional presentation of the written case report Discussion group members act as if they are the board of directors of the company trying to understand and evaluate the presentation, ask clarifying questions and provide alternative perspectives where applicable. The members of the discussion group will discuss and express their agreement or disagreement with the final conclusions/recommendations from the presenting group. The discussion group plays a validating or a devil’s advocate role in response to the points made during the presentation. The role of the tutors in case study presentations and discussions is to facilitate the process and evaluate group performance. Tutors will provide QUALITATIVE feedback to the presenting and discussing groups after their presentations. Final case study and tutorial grades will be made available for viewing after week 13 when all groups have completed their case presentations. The second component of the tutorial program involves students to discuss issues, and work through problems related to the lecture material and course text. Tutors will assess their student’s (particularly students not assigned the case of the week) performance based on their participation. Punctual attendance is necessary and does not constitute a basis for passing this component. Students must be active and participative.
Mid-Session and Final Examinations
The two examinations focus on evaluating students’ understanding of the main concepts covered in class with a special focus on the learning outcomes. Specifically, the exams will assess students understanding and application of the Knowledge and Critical thinking and problem solving discussed above. Both examinations may consist of multiple choice, short-essay and problem solving questions that tests students’ knowledge of relevant theories and methodologies related to Corporate Finance, but also application of these theories in real-world settings. The exams will be designed to focus on and highlight both the concepts covered and the computations required in applying these concepts. However, in this course, computations are tools, not the main focus of the topics. 7
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The final exam is not comprehensive and will cover those topics (weeks 6-12) not covered on the mid-session exam. The mid-session exam will be held in-class in Week 7; students should clear their schedule in order to ensure they are able to attend their registered lecture on this week. The final examination will be held during the University Exam Period Quality Assurance The ASB is actively monitoring student learning and quality of the student experience in all its programs. A random selection of completed assessment tasks may be used for quality assurance, such as to determine the extent to which program learning goals are being achieved. The information is required for accreditation purposes, and aggregated findings will be used to inform changes aimed at improving the quality of ASB programs. All material used for such processes will be treated as confidential.
5 COURSE RESOURCES
You will be able to obtain the latest course announcements and course materials via Blackboard. Lecture notes will be available for download prior to the lecture. Students are encouraged to read the corresponding reference material prior to the lecture. Tutorial solution will be posted after the teaching week. The prescribed textbook for this course is: Berk and DeMarzo 2013, Corporate Finance: Global Edition, 3rd ed. Pearson The following websites are also useful sources: Business spectator http://www.businessspectator.com.au Australian Securities Exchange Ltd http://www.asx.com.au ASIC http://www.asic.gov.au Australian Tax Office http://www.ato.gov.au Reserve Bank of Australia http://www.rba.gove.au Library Banking and Finance Subject Guide info.library.unsw.edu.au/sshl/guides/bank/bankkey.html Lecture notes, announcements and other materials are all provided on Moodle. Students should make a point of checking this site regularly.
6 COURSE EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Each year feedback is sought from students and other stakeholders about the courses offered in the School and continual improvements are made based on this feedback. UNSW's Course and Teaching Evaluation and Improvement (CATEI) Process is one of the ways in which student evaluative feedback is gathered. Significant changes to courses and programs within the School are communicated to subsequent cohorts of students. Please access the CATEI forms via my.unsw.edu.au. In addition to the end of term CATEI process, you are encouraged to contact the Lecturer in Charge at j.stanfield@unsw.edu.au during the term in relation to your experience in the course and make suggestions for potential changes that could further 8
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enhance the course. As a result of past student suggestions, the tutorial format has been modified to allow for a more engaging learning experience.
7 COURSE SCHEDULE
Lecture Schedule Lectures start in Week 1 and finish in Week 12 Week 1 2 Week Starting March 3 March 10 Lecturer Jared Stanfield Jared Stanfield Topic Stock and Bond Valuation Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling Capital Structure Cost of Capital Payout Policy Equity Financing Mid-Session Exam Debt Financing Mergers & Acquisitions Capital Budgeting with Leverage Capital Budgeting & Real Options Corporate Governance Readings Ch. 6 & 9 Ch. 2 & 19
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
March 17 March 24 March 31 April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28 May 5 May 12 May 19 May 26
The lecture schedule is subject to change without prior notice. Students will be able to download the lecture slides from the subject website prior to the relevant lecture. Tutorial Schedule Tutorials in this course are 1-hour long and held on a weekly frequency (starting in Week 2 and finish in Week 13). Tutorials are either composed of 1) discussion and problem solving, or 2) role playing and group case study presentations. Each component requires approximately 50 minutes. Tutors will assign two cases to each group, one for presentation, on for discussion. The requirements and assessment criteria have been described above. Cases and questions for each case may be downloaded from Blackboard. On weeks with case presentations, students will be responsible for going through problems on the online textbook tool MyFinanceLab
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Week
Week Starting
Topic
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31 April 7 April 14 April 28 May 5 May 12 May 19 May 26 June 2
Students form groups and report to tutors. Tutors assign case presentation and discussion. Discussion and Problem Solving: Chapters 6 & 9 Discussion and Problem Solving: Chapter 2 & 19 Case Study: Debt Policy at UST, Inc. (Problem Solving on MFL, Ch. 16) Case Study: Cost of Capital at Ameritrade (Problem Solving on MFL, Ch. 12) Discussion and Problem Solving: Chapter 17 Mid-Term Exam – No Lecture & Tutorial Case Study: Netscape’s Initial Public Offering (Problem Solving on MFL: Chapter 23) Discussion and Problem Solving: Chapter 24 Case Study: Mercury Athletic: Valuing the Opportunity (Problem Solving on MFL, Ch. 28) Discussion and Problem Solving: Chapter 18 Case Study: Victoria Chemicals PLC (A): The Merseyside Project (Problem Solving on MFL, Ch. 22) Review (Problem Solving on MFL, Ch. 29)
The coverage and the ordering of materials covered in tutorials were assigned with the following rules in mind: • Lecture topics lag tutorial topics by at least one week to allow students to try assigned problems on their own. • The main topic of group case presentations and discussions lag tutorial topics by at least one week to allow presenting students to fully learn the topic of interest. • The topics testable on the midterm exam are topics covered up to the last tutorial prior to the week of the exam to allow students to fully learn the topics covered. • By the end of Week 13, the tutorials will have covered all the major topics as listed on the Lecture Table above.
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PART B: KEY POLICIES, STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUPPORT 8 PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES
The Australian School of Business Program Learning Goals reflect what we want all students to BE or HAVE by the time they successfully complete their degree, regardless of their individual majors or specialisations. For example, we want all our graduates to HAVE a high level of business knowledge, and a sound awareness of ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of business. As well, we want all our graduates to BE effective problem-solvers, communicators and team participants. These are our overall learning goals for you. You can demonstrate your achievement of these goals by the specific outcomes you achieve by the end of your degree (e.g. be able to analyse and research business problems and propose well-justified solutions). Each course contributes to your development of two or more program learning goals/outcomes by providing opportunities for you to practise these skills and to be assessed and receive feedback. Program Learning Goals for undergraduate and postgraduate students cover the same key areas (application of business knowledge, critical thinking, communication and teamwork, ethical, social and environmental responsibility), which are key goals for all ASB students and essential for success in a globalised world. However, the specific outcomes reflect different expectations for these levels of study. We strongly advise you to choose a range of courses which assist your development of these skills, e.g., courses assessing written and oral communication skills, and to keep a record of your achievements against the Program Learning Goals as part of your portfolio.
ASB Undergraduate Program Learning Goals and Outcomes
1. Knowledge: Our graduates will have in-depth disciplinary knowledge applicable in local and global contexts. You should be able to select and apply disciplinary knowledge to business situations in a local and global environment. 2. Critical thinking and problem solving: Our graduates will be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers. You should be able to identify and research issues in business situations, analyse the issues, and propose appropriate and well-justified solutions. 3. Communication: Our graduates will be effective professional communicators. You should be able to: c. Prepare written documents that are clear and concise, using appropriate style and presentation for the intended audience, purpose and context, and d. Prepare and deliver oral presentations that are clear, focused, well-structured, and delivered in a professional manner. 4. Teamwork: Our graduates will be effective team participants. You should be able to participate collaboratively and responsibly in teams, and reflect on your own teamwork, and on the team’s processes and ability to achieve outcomes. 5. Ethical, social and environmental responsibility: Our graduates will have a sound awareness of the ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of business practice. You will be able to:
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a. b.
Identify and assess ethical, environmental and/or sustainability considerations in business decision-making and practice, and Identify social and cultural implications of business situations.
9 ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM
The University regards plagiarism as a form of academic misconduct, and has very strict rules regarding plagiarism. For UNSW policies, penalties, and information to help you avoid plagiarism see: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/index.html as well as the guidelines in the online ELISE and ELISE Plus tutorials for all new UNSW students: http://info.library.unsw.edu.au/skills/tutorials/InfoSkills/index.htm. To see if you understand plagiarism, do this short quiz: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/plagquiz.html. For information on how to acknowledge your sources and reference correctly, see: http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref.html. For the ASB Harvard Referencing Guide, see the ASB Referencing and Plagiarism webpage (ASB >Learning and Teaching>Student services> Referencing and plagiarism).
10 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT
Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to university policies in relation to class attendance and general conduct and behaviour, including maintaining a safe, respectful environment; and to understand their obligations in relation to workload, assessment and keeping informed. Information and policies on these topics can be found in the ‘A-Z Student Guide’: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/A.html. See especially, information on ‘Attendance and Absence’, ‘Academic Misconduct’, ‘Assessment Information’, ‘Examinations’, ‘Student Responsibilities’, ‘Workload’ and policies such as ‘Occupational Health and Safety’.
10.1 Workload
It is expected that you will spend at least nine to ten hours per week (or 6 to 7 hours in excess of lectures and tutorials) studying this course. This time should be made up of reading, research, working on exercises and problems, online activities and attending classes. In periods where you need to complete assignments or prepare for examinations, the workload may be greater. Over-commitment has been a cause of failure for many students. You should take the required workload into account when planning how to balance study with employment and other activities. We strongly encourage you to connect with your Moodle course websites in the first week of semester. Local and international research indicates that students who engage early and often with their course website are more likely to pass their course. 12
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10.2 Attendance
Your regular and punctual attendance at lectures and seminars is expected in this course. University regulations indicate that if students attend less than 80% of scheduled classes they may be refused final assessment.
10.3 General Conduct and Behaviour
You are expected to conduct yourself with consideration and respect for the needs of your fellow students and teaching staff. Conduct which unduly disrupts or interferes with a class, such as ringing or talking on mobile phones, is not acceptable and students may be asked to leave the class. More information on student conduct is available at: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/BehaviourOfStudents.html
10.4 Occupational Health and Safety
UNSW Policy requires each person to work safely and responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others. For more information, see http://www.ohs.unsw.edu.au/.
10.5 Keeping Informed
You should take note of all announcements made in lectures, tutorials or on the course web site. From time to time, the University will send important announcements to your university e-mail address without providing you with a paper copy. You will be deemed to have received this information. It is also your responsibility to keep the University informed of all changes to your contact details.
11 SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS
You must submit all assignments and attend all examinations scheduled for your course. You should seek assistance early if you suffer illness or misadventure which affects your course progress. General Information on Special Consideration: 1. All applications for special consideration must be lodged online through myUNSW within 3 working days of the assessment (Log into myUNSW and go to My Student Profile tab > My Student Services channel > Online Services > Special Consideration). You will then need to submit the originals or certified copies of your completed Professional Authority form (pdf - download here) and other supporting documentation to Student Central. For more information, please study carefully in advance the instructions and conditions at: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/SpecialConsideration.html. 2. Please note that documentation may be checked for authenticity and the submission of false documentation will be treated as academic misconduct. The School may ask to see the original or certified copy. 13
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3. Applications will not be accepted by teaching staff. The lecturer-in-charge will be automatically notified when you lodge an online application for special consideration. 4. Decisions and recommendations are only made by lecturers-in-charge (or by the Faculty Panel in the case of UG final exam special considerations), not by tutors. 5. Applying for special consideration does not automatically mean that you will be granted a supplementary exam or other concession. 6. Special consideration requests do not allow lecturers-in-charge to award students additional marks. ASB Policy on requests for Special Consideration for Final Exams in Undergraduate Courses: The policy of the School of Banking and Finance is that the lecturer-in-charge will need to be satisfied on each of the following before supporting a request for special consideration: 1. Does the medical certificate contain all relevant information? For a medical certificate to be accepted, the degree of illness, and impact on the student, must be stated by the medical practitioner (severe, moderate, mild). A certificate without this will not be valid. 2. Has the student performed satisfactorily in the other assessment items? Satisfactory performance would include requiring meeting the obligation to have attended 80% of tutorials. 3. Does the student have a history of previous applications for special consideration? A history of previous applications may preclude a student from being granted special consideration. Special Consideration and the Final Exam: Applications for special consideration in relation to the final exam are considered by an ASB Faculty panel to which lecturers-in-charge provide their recommendations for each request. If the Faculty panel grants a special consideration request, this will entitle the student to sit a supplementary examination. No other form of consideration will be granted. The following procedures will apply: 1. Supplementary exams will be scheduled centrally and will be held approximately two weeks after the formal examination period. The dates for ASB supplementary exams for Semester 1, 2014 are: 15th July – exams for the School of Accounting 16th July – exams for all Schools except Accounting and Economics 17th July – exams for the School of Economics If a student lodges a special consideration for the final exam, they are stating they will be available on the above dates. Supplementary exams will not be held at any other time. 2. Where a student is granted a supplementary examination as a result of a request for special consideration, the student’s original exam (if completed) will be ignored and only the mark achieved in the supplementary examination will count towards the final grade. Failure to attend the supplementary exam 14
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will not entitle the student to have the original exam paper marked and may result in a zero mark for the final exam. If you attend the regular final exam, you are extremely unlikely to be granted a supplementary exam. Hence if you are too ill to perform up to your normal standard in the regular final exam, you are strongly advised not to attend. However, granting of a supplementary exam in such cases is not automatic. You would still need to satisfy the criteria stated above. The ASB’s Special Consideration and Supplementary Examination Policy and Procedures for Final Exams for Undergraduate Courses is available at: http://www.asb.unsw.edu.au/currentstudents/resources/forms/Documents/supplementa ryexamprocedures.pdf. Special consideration and assessments other than the Final exam: Special considerations must be applied for using the online system above for any assessment more than 20% of the student’s final mark. The lecture will advise the outcome of the special consideration via the online system.
12 STUDENT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
The University and the ASB provide a wide range of support services for students, including: • ASB Education Development Unit (EDU) http://www.asb.unsw.edu.au/learningandteaching Click on ‘Student Services’. Academic writing, study skills and maths support specifically for ASB students. Services include workshops, online resources, and individual consultations. EDU Office: Room GO7, Ground Floor, ASB Building (opposite Student Centre); Phone: 9385 5584; Email: edu@unsw.edu.au. Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/educationdevelopmentunit. ASB Student Centre http://www.asb.unsw.edu.au/requests Advice and direction on all aspects of admission, enrolment and graduation. Ground Floor, West Wing, ASB Building; Phone: 9385 3189 Moodle eLearning Support: For online help using Moodle, follow the links from www.elearning.unsw.edu.au to Moodle / Support for Students. For technical support, email: itservicecentre@unsw.edu.au; Phone: 9385 1333. UNSW Learning Centre (www.lc.unsw.edu.au) Academic skills support services, including workshops and resources, for all UNSW students. See website for details. Library training and search support services http://info.library.unsw.edu.au/web/services/services.html IT Service Centre: Technical support for problems logging in to websites, downloading documents etc. https://www.it.unsw.edu.au/students/index.html UNSW Library Annexe (Ground floor). UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services http://www.counselling.unsw.edu.au Free, confidential service for problems of a personal or academic nature; and workshops on study issues such as ‘Coping 15
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with Stress’ and ‘Procrastination’. Office: Level 2, Quadrangle East Wing; Phone: 9385 5418. Student Equity & Disabilities Unit http://www.studentequity.unsw.edu.au Advice regarding equity and diversity issues, and support for students who have a disability or disadvantage that interferes with their learning. Office: Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building; Phone: 9385 4734.
