Academic Standards
In each unit of study, academic standards set via criterion referencing aligned to learning outcomes as a method of pre-moderation under the CQUniversity Moderation of Assessment Procedures. These criteria are peer-reviewed every term. It is Law School practice to use assessment rubrics to demonstrate the standards of achievement expected under each of these criteria.
Presently the School of Business and Law is piloting an external peer review model which, when evaluated, will become part of the regular quality assurance processes.
The Law discipline complies with the following CQUniversity policies related to assessment methods and standards:
- Quality Enhancement Framework
- Grades and Results Procedures
- Learning and Teaching Quality Policy
- Learning and Teaching Quality Principles
- Learning, Teaching and Assessment Framework Policy
- Moderation of Assessment Procedures
- Review of Grade Procedures
- Student Evaluation of Courses Policy
- Student Evaluation of Courses Procedure
Assessment of students
Assessment quality governance
Assessment is administered via an individual unit of study documentation and overseen through university governance processes. When units of study are initially approved, the assessment is also approved via the University Education Committee. Assessment must comply with a number of requirements under the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework) and must be:
- Aligned to learning outcomes
- Authentic for graduate skills
- Valid as a method of ascertaining learning outcomes
- Reliable in producing consistent grading.
Each Unit Outline, the unit of study governing document and learning contract, is subject to peer review each term which includes assessment methodology and criteria for each task. Approval and review of unit outlines are administered through the central AIMS governance database and academic management system, which documents approvals and unit changes. Unit outlines are published to students via the central university database and via individual LMS environments.
Assessment methodology
Unit of study assessment methods and learning outcomes are approved by the Education Committee during the initial unit approval process and are subject to peer review each term through the AIMS academic management system. This peer review process implements pre-moderation of assessment and post-moderation occurs through the Law Course Committee examiner’s meetings each term. Moderation occurs under the CQUniversity Moderation of Assessment Procedures.
Development and enhancement of assessment methodology are supported by the University learning and teaching division and via the school Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching), who also oversees any concerns, students might have about assessment design or implementation.
Units of study must review assessments and outcomes as part of the annual unit enhancement review process implemented through the AIMS academic management software and courses and also complete annual unit enhancement reviews.
The LLB course is subject to regular course review every five years, which includes a thorough review of the methods by which course and unit learning outcomes are assessed. This process is governed by Course Review Panel Terms of Reference and the panel includes external academic and professional representation. The LLB course also has an Advisory Board, which meets three to four times a year. The Advisory Board has the following members:
- Two members of the profession
- Online law firm member
- Head of Course
- Head of College
- Alumni member
- Expert in online education
