Conditional status means that the University is concerned that a student is not making adequate progress in their course. Conditional status might be applied if the student;
- is overdue for a milestone;
- fails to have their milestone approved;
- does not submit their thesis by the due date; or
- if the supervisor has raised concerns about the student’s progress.
Conditional status is not a punishment. It is a framework to help guide you back towards a Good Standing status. As part of this framework, you are given Conditions which you must meet in order to return to Good Standing. Conditions could be things like redoing a failed milestone presentation, submitting a draft chapter of a thesis, or undertaking data collection by a specified date. Students are encouraged to discuss their conditions with their supervisory team.
Good conditions should aim to follow the SMART EAR acronym:
Specific – Are the conditions clear?
Measurable – Is it clear how to determine whether you have met the condition or not?
Achievable – Is this condition realistic in the scope of your project and its timeframe?
Relevant – Is the condition relevant to your project?
Time-bound – Are there clear deadlines for all conditions?
Equitable – Are there any circumstances outside your control which impact your ability to meet these conditions?
Accountable – Is it clear who is responsible for both undertaking and assessing each condition?
Robust – Does the successful completion of the conditions support a shift back to Good Standing status? Alternatively, does a failure to meet these conditions reasonably justify a cancellation of your enrolment?
If your conditions do not satisfy the SMART EAR acronym or if you do not agree with them, we recommend raising these concerns to your Chairperson and main supervisor. You are encouraged to give feedback. Conditions should be agreed upon by all parties before they are implemented.