Students

Main steps in admission

Main steps in admission

The main steps of the admission process are as follows:

1. The prospective student meets an ACAS staff person.
2. Prospective students are entitled to program information. General information is normally provided through the ACAS website. Local ACAS staff persons are responsible to provide local information (e.g. specific purpose of contextualized courses, units offered, schedules).
3. Students might need to get a USI number.
   
4. The ACAS staff person issues the student with an enrollment number.
5. When a student is required to have a USI, a student application must have validated student and USI data to be a valid application.
6. The student is admitted only when the ACAS online form is successfully submitted. Fees are incurred upon submission of the form.
7. If data is provided through any mediating party (e.g. a school administrator or COSAMP), ACAS retains the right to contact the data source directly (e.g. the school, the assessor, or the student).

Service standards for inquiries

Service standards for inquiries

1. The staff will respond promptly to oral inquiries during office hours, although an appointment may be necessary.
2. Staff will respond to all reasonable written inquiries within 21 days.
3. ACAS cannot guarantee that personnel will always be in attendance.
4. ACAS cannot provide service when it is in recess (e.g. over the summer break, between semesters, public holidays).

Pre-enrolment information

Pre-enrolment information

1. ACAS shall disseminate clear information to each prospective applicant prior to enrolment, on each of the following¹:
1. the nature and purposes of programs
2. legal status of programs, qualifications and Statements of Attainment
3. course prerequisites,
4. course information and outcomes,
5. information on options and extra credit,
6. outlay of time and effort to satisfactorily complete courses (including timeframe),
7. Code of Practice,
8. rules and regulations (see below)
9. Recognition of Prior Learning procedures,
10. recognition of other accredited qualifications,
11. grievance procedures,
12. student selection, enrolment and any orientation procedures
13. fees, including refund policy and exemptions (where applicable)
14. provision for language, literacy and numeracy assessment, upon request
15. student support, including any external support arranged for students
16. flexibility in learning and assessment procedures
17. welfare and guidance services (see below)
18. disciplinary procedures; (see below)
19. grievance procedures; (see below), and,
20. staff responsibilities for access and equity (see below)
21. contact details of the Centre or branch (see "Contact us" on the website)
2. ACAS will keep records of auditable information given in a fixed written form (e.g. paper brochure, handbook, CD, website statement, e-mail, etc.)

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

1. Applicants must hold the specified pre-requisites for the program for which they are applying. This may be by holding a qualification or its equivalent, or by Recognition of Prior Learning.
2. The appointed staff member may decide to verify independently any credentials held by the student.
3. Applicants may be required to have access to any practicum necessary to gaining the competencies of the course for which the student is applying.
4. Applicants must fill in the required form.
5. Applicants shall agree to:
1. agree to abide by ACAS rules and policies and undertake to keep up to date with any changes,
2. pay any application fees, which shall be non-refundable,
3. declare that the information provided in the application is true and correct
4. accept the financial arrangements as explained,
5. agree that qualifications and statements of attainment earned shall be verifiable and to the public announcement of graduation.
6. authorize ACAS to gain any such references for admission and assessment as it deems necessary
7. accept that entry into the program shall depend on references (if required) being acceptable to ACAS.
8. agree that all references shall be kept confidential from the student.
6. ACAS is entitled to require:
1. the student to give ACAS will have unrestricted license to reproduce any written work submitted that is not subject to copyright from other sources, subject to verbal approval from the student.
2. a guarantor for fees not paid at the time of enrolment.
3. a parent's signature for students under the age of 18 years.
4. the names and addresses of two responsible persons (pastors, academic staff, supervisors, etc.) to act as referees.
5. a police clearance for vocations where it is normally required.
7. ACAS reserves the right to:
1. check applicant's referees through other referees.
2. request references on its own initiative.
3. request references at later stages of the student's program.
4. use references for assessment purposes.
8. An appointed staff member will review the application.
1. If it is found that the student has met all requirements and that all references are credible, satisfactory recommendations, the student shall be admitted to the program.
2. The appointed staff member may also:
1. advise the applicant to apply for a different program
2. grant provisional acceptance and determine any requirements
3. reject the application.
9. Admission is given on the basis of meeting admission requirements, so is not normally competitive. However, ACAS may conduct courses that have limited places and reserves the right to establish competitive admission.
10. The student has the right for information on acceptance to be available at the place of application within 21 days of submitting the completed application. However, ACAS may defer acceptance until all references are received and processed.

Guidance and counseling

Guidance and counseling

1. As far as is reasonable in the circumstances, staff will:
1. help prospective students clarify their expectations, identify appropriate programs, and relate their present skills to their learning goals,
2. provide any guidance and counseling pertaining to courses, especially in regard to academic programs and their relationship to career structures and further study,
3. be cognizant of relevant policies,
4. either have technical knowledge of the field of study on which advice is given, or have access to someone who has.
2. Admissions staff may give advice by any appropriate means, including website, email, group sessions or individual interviews.
3. Students may expect incidental out of class assistance regarding their studies from their instructors.
4. Staff may provide pastoral care for students on an ongoing basis.
5. There are ethical limitations to the advice that may be given:
1. If students or prospective students are already employees or members of other organizations, ACAS staff cannot provide advice that will violate the integrity of that relationship.
2. Staff will not take on counseling for which professional licensing is necessary (e.g. counseling of psychological disturbances).
3. ACAS can give no assurances that any course of action advised will be successful, nor can it give assurances of employment or success upon completion of its programs, or acceptance into other programs of study in other institutions. ACAS hereby disclaims liability for any such advice, and advises students to seek independent advice before making major decisions.

Access and Equity

Access and Equity

[Ref.Based on Building diversity in vocational education and employment Department of Training and Employment, Perth 1999.]

Staff

1. Staff are required to treat all students equitably on the basis of this access and equity policy.

Access

1. "Access" refers to admission to a course. ACAS courses are open to qualified applicants regardless of gender, social position, age, physical disability, or racial, ethnic, cultural or linguistic background.
2. Applicants will not be refused admission on the basis of a disability. If the prospective applicant has a disability that would affect participation, he/she is advised to take one or more of the following steps:
1. seek advice from ACAS on the risks and limitations.
2. enquire about reasonable adjustments (see below).
3. enquire about other courses that meet the applicant's goals and in which they will have a greater chance of successful completion
4. enquire about useful units in the course.
5. enquire about other courses that utilize the applicant's strengths.

Equity

1. "Equity" is defined in this usage as fair treatment during study and assessment.
2. Equity relates to fairness regarding gender, social position, age, physical disability, or racial, ethnic, cultural or linguistic background.
3. Individual students are entitled to reasonable adjustments or allowances that are necessary for a fair chance of successful completion of studies. Equitable treatment does not mean that all students must be treated the same.
4. The adjustment may not incur unfair financial cost to the program, nor compromise program requirements.
5. Students will not be given an adjustment if it appears to make no significant difference to the assessment outcome, i.e.:
1. an adjustment provides little benefit for the student, or
2. lack of an adjustment provides little detriment for the student.
6. If the student cannot perform the program outcomes within allowable adjustments, the result "not yet competent" will be given.
7. In negotiating an assessment procedure:
1. Staff have a right to suggest and approve assessment procedures.
2. Students must demonstrate unfairness if they reject an assessment procedure.
3. Students have a right to suggest reasonable alternative assessment strategies.
4. If a student cannot show unfairness in an assessment procedure but will not accept it, then he/she will not be assessed.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning

1. ACAS recognizes applicants' current abilities regardless of how, when or where they were acquired, and students will not be required to take instruction in a unit if they can demonstrate that they have current competency in it. Abilities may have been learned through:
1. experience on the job,
2. in-service training and professional development,
3. the students' own reading,
4. involvement in charity or other community organizations,
5. any other informal way of learning,
6. unaccredited schools, or,
7. foreign schools.
2. All units may be assessed through RPL.
3. Applicants must show that their skills are current, and that they have the necessary knowledge and understanding.
4. Applicants are assessed according to the same criteria as students taking classes. The mode of assessment may vary according to the applicant's background experience.
5. Applicants who pass the assessment are not differentiated in any way from those who took the same units through formal education and the credentials are exactly the same.
6. There is no limit to the number of units that may be taken by RPL and students may take the whole of a qualification by RPL. The RPL process should be monitored carefully when providing RPL for the majority of units in a qualification. The amount of credit depends on:
1. what students have done
2. whether it fits existing units
3. the fields of study included in ACAS's accredited scope and expertise.
7. The staff person handling the RPL process must provide each student with information that:
1. outlines the outcomes
2. is simple enough to to help students organize their evidence to meet the outcomes.
3. gives guidance in developing a portfolio of evidence.

Qualifications and Statements of Attainment from Other Institutions

Qualifications and Statements of Attainment from Other Institutions

1. ACAS recognizes qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued under the AQF.
1. ACAS will give full recognition for endorsed units of the same unit code.
2. ACAS will give full recognition for accredited units of the same course and unit code.
2. When the units are not the same but may be equivalent, the transfer credit policy will apply.
3. The applicant must provide:
1. the original AQF qualification or Statement of Attainment
2. a Certified True Copy, or,
3. a duplicate issued by the originating RTO.
4. ACAS may choose to verify the qualification or Statements of Attainment with the originating RTO:
1. This may be by telephone call, email, personal referee, or letter.
2. The telephone number, email address, referee, or address shall be obtained independently from the student.
3. A contemporaneous record of the verification shall be made and kept in the student's file.
4. When a qualification cannot be verified, a record of the attempt shall also be filed.

Transfer credit and recognition of other credentials

Transfer credit and recognition of other credentials

1. ACAS may recognize other credentials for admission or transfer credit. These may include:
1. Qualifications, transcripts, or industry certifications.
2. Credentials issued by other sources (e.g. industry certifying authorities, overseas institutions)
3. Qualifications and statements of attainment for units with different codes.
2. If they are to be used for admission purposes only, then they will be used as evidence of competence at the required level.
3. If the applicant wishes to gain transfer credit, then the applicant must demonstrate equivalence with all requirements of the current unit(s).¹
4. If they are not equivalent with all requirements of the current unit(s), then they shall instead be treated as Recognition for Prior Learning and the student will be subject to those assessment protocols.
5. The applicant must provide:
1. the original diploma, transcript or certification, or,
2. a Certified True Copy, or,
3. a duplicate issued by the originating institution, or,
4. a formal declaration from the issuing institution (e.g. official letter).
6. ACAS shall verify the credential with the originating institution:
1. This may be by telephone call, email, personal referee, or letter
2. The telephone number, email address, referee, or address shall be obtained independently from the student.
3. A contemporaneous record of the verification shall be made and kept in the student's file.
4. When a credential cannot be verified, a record of the attempt shall also be filed.
7. Except in the case of Australian higher education and government and quasi-government institutions, ACAS shall ascertain the acceptability of that credential.² Credentials from foreign institutions should be checked either through other accreditations or by obtaining references through credible institutional or professional networks.
8. ACAS shall establish the role for which it gives recognition (e.g. admission to a course, advanced placement, etc.)
9. ACAS reserves the right to check the outcomes and/or content of the originating program to ensure that they are equivalent with those of the ACAS program for which the prospective student is applying.

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1. It is most likely that this will mostly apply to equivalent VET sector units, such as equivalent generic units from different packages, or units with an older version code and no significant changes.
2. This is especially so if they are in non-English speaking countries, unaccredited, or if the Centre has no direct knowledge of them.