1 Definition
VCHN College of Health and Nursing has in place an intervention and support strategy for any student who is not making satisfactory course progress.

Unsatisfactory progress is defined as not successfully completing any piece of assessment in their designated course, by being deemed as “not yet competent” in the relevant assessment.

2 Purpose
VCHN College of Health and Nursing is committed to the delivery of high quality academic outcomes for students through the regular monitoring and assessment of student progress and through the provision of high quality support. This policy sets out the means by which VCHN College of Health and Nursing meets that commitment, and ensures that the legislative requirements of The National Code are met.

3 Legal compliance
This policy in is accordance with the requirements of the revised National Code 2007, which has been established under the ESOS Act 2000.

4 VCHN Context - The need for Timely Intervention and Support
Some courses offered by VCHN have as little as 70 hours class contact over a two week period. In addition, VCHN is a small College, with a maximum of 100 students on campus at any time, and less than 10 teaching staff. Therefore, monitoring of student progress needs to happen from the very start of a course, and allow for speedy intervention if it is to be effective.

Monitoring of student progress in this context MUST be:

• Timely – it cannot be a bureaucratic process involving sending letters, because the course duration does not allow for this.
  
• Effective in bringing the student to the required level of competency.
  
• Documented, to provide a permanent record of the intervention, the support and the outcomes.

5 Monitoring of student progress
5.1 VCHN College of Health and Nursing will monitor, record and assess the course progress of each student for the course in which the student is currently enrolled and has in place strategies to identify students at risk of not making satisfactory progress and those with special language and literacy needs.

5.2 Each course of less than 4 weeks class duration, will include a compulsory assessment to monitor student progress within the first week. Other courses will include a compulsory assessment due by the time 25% of class hours have elapsed. Academic staff will inform the Training Manager of students identified as at risk and be subject to VCHN College of Health and Nursing’s intervention strategy.

5.3 VCHN College of Health and Nursing teaches all its theory in one location in Heidelberg Heights. Each day the educators at this location will meet informally to review student progress.

5.4 Students who do not successfully complete any assessment will be subject to VCHN College of Health and Nursing’s intervention and support strategy.

5 Intervention and support strategy
VCHN College of Health and Nursing’s intervention and support strategy will be made available to staff and students though induction.

Students identified as at risk of, or not making satisfactory progress will be contacted within one working day of identification being made, and counselled by the Training Manager or delegated Educator. The Training Manager or delegated Educator will meet with the student and will document the following, putting a copy onto the student’s file:

• specific learning objectives for the student,
  
• a specific time frame for the achievement of these learning objectives,
  
• the support mechanisms to help the student achieve these objectives.

6 Additional supports that may be available for students making unsatisfactory progress.
Some or all of the following support mechanisms may be identified for the student to assist them meet their learning objectives:

• identification and implementation of additional support strategies to enhance the student’s progress
  
• a recommendation that the student seek appropriate personal and/or academic support from within or outside of VCHN College of Health and Nursing.
  
• Guided access to particular E-Learning material available through VCHN College of Health and Nursing’s website.
  
• regular feedback from teaching staff that may include discussion, continuous (perhaps informal) assessment to track progress, model answers, lists of common mistakes, peer and self evaluation.

7 Reporting
If a student fails to respond and meet the specific learning objectives set for them within the specified time frame, VCHN College of Health and Nursing will notify the student of its intention to report the student to the relevant authority for unsatisfactory progress.

The written notice (of intention to report the student for unsatisfactory progress) will inform the student that they are able to access the registered provider’s complaints and appeals process and that the student has 5 working days in which to do so.

The student will be advised that during this period they are required to continue studying.