1.1 This statute is the Academic Statute of Northland Polytechnic, and is made by the Council under the authority of section 194 of the Education Amendment Act 1990. It shall come into force on the 11th day of June 2010.
1.2 This statute applies to all programmes or training provided by Northland Polytechnic and all students enrolled at Northland Polytechnic
1.3 Where a programme of study leads to an award by an external body, in addition to meeting the requirements established by that body, a programme should satisfy the requirements of the Northland Polytechnic Academic Statute.
1.4 Where a programme leads to an award from another authority, and there is conflict between the regulations of that authority and the regulations of Northland Polytechnic, then the regulations of that other authority shall apply in respect of that programme.
2.1 The Council shall establish an Academic Board.
2.2 The Academic Board shall establish and monitor committees to assist in carrying out the business of the Academic Board. These include:
a) Academic Quality Assurance
b) Research
c) Academic Policies
d) Māori Academic Committee
2.3 Business Directors shall establish Advisory Processes for each programme area or group of programmes they manage.
Membership of Boards and Committees
2.4 Terms of Reference and membership of the Academic Board are included in the Governance policy.
2.5 Terms of Reference and membership for Committees of the Academic Board, are included in the policy Academic Board Committees.
2.6 The requirements for advisory processes are included in the Advisory Processes policy.
2.7 Membership of boards and committees established under this statute, if not by virtue of staff office or position, shall be for a term of three (3) years unless determined earlier by resolution of the council or board to which the board or committee is responsible.
Conduct of Meetings
2.8 At all meetings of boards or committees established under this statute:
a) A quorum shall consist of a majority of members, unless otherwise stated in the terms of reference for that committee.
b) If no person is authorised by this statute to chair the meeting, or if he/she is absent, then those present shall elect one of their number to take the chair for that meeting.
c) All resolutions shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another, and any such resolution shall be passed or rejected by a simple majority of members voting.
d) The person in the chair at the meeting shall have a deliberative vote, and, in the case of an equality of votes, shall also have a casting vote; and
e) The proceedings and resolutions of every meeting shall be recorded and kept for a minimum of seven years.
2.9 Subject to this section and any other statute of the Council in this regard, or directive of the Council or board which established it, each board or committee shall regulate its own procedure.
2.10 Academic Board members shall have a nominee to attend meetings in their absence.
Programme Offering
3.1 A list of programmes to be offered will be approved annually by the Academic Board and shall be published annually by Registry.
3.2 The Academic Board may approve additional programmes to be offered in the current year.
3.3 Programmes may be cancelled or postponed at the discretion of Northland Polytechnic from time to time (including during the academic year) for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) lack of enrolments and financial constraints.
3.4 The content and configuration of programmes and courses are subject to change from time to time (including during the academic year), at the discretion of Northland Polytechnic.
Programme Approval
3.5 All courses and programmes must be approved by the Academic Board.
3.6 Programme development and documentation shall in all respects comply with the policies and procedures detailed in the Quality Management System.
3.7 The Institutional Quality Manager or the Academic Quality Assurance Committee shall report to the Academic Board on each application and provide recommendations relating to approval for academic and student allowance and funding purposes.
3.8 The Academic Board shall decide whether or not to approve programmes having regard to the recommendation and information available.
Programme Review
3.9 Each Programme Manager shall submit to the Academic Board annually a report for each programme containing details as specified by the Academic Board. Refer to the policy Programme Review (02.002).
Programme Regulations
3.10 Programme regulations, consistent with the programme approval document, shall be developed for each programme and approved by the Academic Board.
3.11 Programme regulations shall be reviewed at least annually and any changes approved by the Academic Board.
3.12 Programme regulations shall be made available to students enrolled in the programme.
Programme Information
3.13 Every programme offered at Northland Polytechnic shall be supported by written information in which the formal requirements of the programme and its courses are set out for students.
3.14 Where any changes in programme information occurs, the Programme Manager of the programme shall be responsible for advising students of the changes.
Types of Award(s)
4.1 Northland Polytechnic may confer the following types of awards – degrees, graduate diplomas, diplomas, graduate certificates, certificates. Northland Polytechnic may also issue records of attainment and records of attendance.
4.2 Specifications of awards are contained in the policy Specifications of Qualification Awards (10.004).
Conferment of Award(s)
4.3 Business Directors are responsible for advising Academic Board that students have met the requirements for a qualification to be awarded.
4.4 Northland Polytechnic‘s degrees and diplomas shall be awarded by resolution of the Northland Polytechnic Council.
4.5 Northland Polytechnic‘s certificates shall be awarded by resolution of the Academic Board.
4.6 Northland Polytechnic‘s record of attainment and record of attendance shall be approved by the Business Director or Programme Leader.
4.7 Awards and results may be withheld if the student has an outstanding debt with Northland Polytechnic.
Admission
5.1 The Chief Executive may refuse admission to any person who is deemed unsuitable under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, 224 (13) and amendments.
5.2 Intending students must provide evidence of meeting the entry requirements of the programme in which they wish to enrol.
5.3 Students intending to enrol in programmes provided jointly by Northland Polytechnic and another institution must also satisfy the admission requirements of that institution.
5.4 Any person who has attained the age of twenty years may be granted special admission to a programme at Northland Polytechnic. Relevant prior learning experiences will be taken into account in the application.
5.5 No person shall be admitted to a programme of study at Northland Polytechnic unless the Chief Executive or delegated representative is satisfied that the applicant can undertake the programme with a reasonable likelihood of success.
5.6 The Chief Executive or delegate may approve the admission of an applicant with the condition that his/her confirmed enrolment is dependent on his/her achieving a standard of performance at Northland Polytechnic specified by the Programme Manager.
5.7 Students may apply for Credit Transfer (CT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Refer to the policy Credit Recognition (05.004). Students should also refer to current programme regulations.
Enrolment
5.8 All students undertaking study at Northland Polytechnic shall be registered and enrolled.
5.9 All enrolments are subject to the condition that the student agrees to abide by Northland Polytechnic regulations and statute.
5.10 Northland Polytechnic may determine the minimum and maximum number of students who may be enrolled in a particular programme of study at the institution in a particular year.
5.11 Registrations for all courses will be accepted during office hours, by mail or by on-line registration processes. Telephone enrolments are not accepted.
5.12 Students shall be deemed to be enrolled for a course or programme when the appropriate registration form has been completed and signed by the student and submitted to Northland Polytechnic and either the student has paid their fees or has made provision for their fees to be paid, OR the student has not paid their fees but attends class after the period for the full refund of any fees paid has lapsed and has been invoiced.
5.13 To complete registration the student must supply statistical information as prescribed by the Ministry of Education. The statistical information provided on the registration form may, if required, be submitted to the Ministry of Education under Section 226 of the Education Amendment Act, 1990.
5.14 Overseas students must apply to Northland Polytechnic on the prescribed registration form.
5.15 Intending students are required to enrol by the date given in the programme brochure. Late enrolments may be accepted, if places are still available.
Programme and Course Cancellation
5.16 Programmes and courses may be cancelled or postponed at the discretion of Northland Polytechnic from time to time (including during the academic year) for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) lack of enrolments and financial constraints.
5.17 A programme or course will be cancelled if there are insufficient enrolments. Should the attendance level of the course drop below a certain level, then the course may be cancelled at any stage during the year.
5.18 Fees paid will be refunded according to the policy Domestic Student Fees (03.017).
Enrolments at Two Institutions
5.19 If transferring from one institution to another, students will have to pay tuition fees charged by each. Students may be eligible for a refund of Northland Polytechnic fees only if the requirements of the policy Domestic Student Fees (03.017) are met.
Age at Enrolment
5.20 No enrolments will be accepted from people less than sixteen years of age at the time of enrolment. This may be varied on the recommendation of the Programme Leader responsible for the course or programme as long as any decision is consistent with Ministry of Education policy and TEC funding requirements. (This regulation does not apply to programmes delivered specifically for Secondary Schools). Enrolment contracts for people under eighteen years of age must be countersigned by a parent/guardian who is 21 years of age or older.
Entry Requirements
5.21 Entry requirements for each programme or course shall be stated in the programme regulations.
5.22 An entry requirement for all programmes is that each student can reasonably expect to achieve the standards required for successful completion of the programme or course.
5.23 Students shall provide acceptable evidence that entry requirements have been met as a condition of entry to a programme or course.
Selection Criteria
5.24 Selection criteria for each programme or course shall be stated in the programme regulations and published annually.
Fees
5.25 To be eligible to study at Northland Polytechnic and to receive awards and results from Northland Polytechnic, students shall have paid the required fee, or made arrangements for fee payment that have been approved by the Director Finance.
5.26 The Council shall set the student tuition fees annually.
5.27 Students may be charged components additional to the tuition fee for services and materials.
Withdrawal
5.28 Students may withdraw from a programme of study by personally completing and signing a Withdrawal Application Form. The policy Domestic Student Fees (03.017) will apply.
5.29 If a student is absent for two consecutive teaching weeks without providing, in writing, a satisfactory explanation to the Programme Manager, Northland Polytechnic may assume the student has withdrawn from their programme or course and withdraw the student from the programme or course.
6.1 The Council delegates to the Academic Board authority to make and enforce policies and regulations on academic matters including:
6.1.1 The admission of students to any course or programme of study;
6.1.2 Course and programme quality;
6.1.3 Research activities;
6.1.4 The awarding of Northland Polytechnic qualifications;
6.1.5 Examinations and assessments;
6.1.6 Tuition;
6.1.7 Academic quality assurance
6.2 The Council delegates to the Academic Board authority to:
6.2.1 Approve programmes, new qualifications and changes to programmes and programme regulations;
6.2.2 Seek approval and/or accreditation by external bodies;
6.2.3 Delegate to committees of the Academic Board.
6.2.4 Approve and monitor the annual quality assurance plan.
6.2.5 Receive and consider academic quality assurance reports on behalf of the Council.
6.3 The Council delegates to the Academic Board the authority to award certificates.
6.4 The Council delegates, individually, to the Chair of Council and the Chair of Academic Board the authority to approve awards in circumstances where the normal process would unnecessarily delay the approval. Decisions made under this delegation must be ratified by Council or Academic Board as appropriate.
6.5 The Council delegates to the Chief Executive the authority to select and admit students to courses and programmes. The Chief Executive may delegate this authority.
6.6 The Academic Board delegates to the following committees the authority and duties contained in their terms of reference:
a) Academic Quality Assurance
b) Research
c) Academic Policies
d) Māori Academic
6.7 The Academic Board delegates to Programme Mangers the authority to appoint moderators, approve results and grant credit.