Student Reservist Support Policy

1. Purpose

To ensure CIT students who are members of the Defence Forces Reserve are not disadvantaged academically or financially as a consequence of their participation in Defence Forces Reserve activities.

2. Scope

All CIT students who are members of the Australian Defence Forces Reserve.

3. Principles

3.1 A student who is a volunteer member of the Defence Forces Reserve and as such is required to attend one or more compulsory camps of continuous training in a year and occasionally a non-compulsory camp or course, may be granted special consideration with regard to attendance and assessment requirements.

3.2 In these circumstances the student shall provide the College Director with a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Defence Force Reserve detailing the times when attendance at the camp or training course is to take place. The College Director will ensure that teachers for subjects being undertaken by the student are notified of the approved absence which will not disadvantage the student in terms of any compulsory attendance requirements.

3.3 Where possible teachers will arrange to provide learning materials in alternative formats if the student is unable to attend face-to-face classes during their Reserve activity.

3.4 A student may apply to a teacher for additional time to complete assessment requirements, or a variation to the due date for submission of an assessment task on the grounds of being required to attend Defence Forces Reserve training. Such a request shall be submitted in writing as soon as possible before the due date of the submission of the assessment task.

3.5 A student may apply in writing to the College Director for special consideration for the end of subject examination if they are unable to attend due to Defence Forces Reserve training. Such a request may include the granting of a special examination.

3.6 A student whose Defence Forces Reserve service commitments impact negatively upon their attendance and assessment performance may apply in writing to the College Director for special consideration to withdraw from the program without academic penalty (that is without a grade of fail on their academic record for subjects being undertaken in the current study period). Such written requests must be submitted before the end date for the subject.

3.7 A student Reservist who is called upon for full-time service (i.e. as part of a peacekeeping or humanitarian aid operation) shall provide the College Director with a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Defence Forces Reserve detailing the expected duration of the call to service.

3.8 The College Director will ensure that units being undertaken by the student of the approved absence and that provisions 3.1 to 3.7 detailed above, are applied where possible. In the event a student is forced to defer or withdraw from study in order to undertake full-time service, CIT will refund the student's HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP/VET Student Loan/OS-HELP for the relevant units, if the withdrawal occurs after the Census date.

3.9 In the event a student is forced to defer or withdraw from study in order to undertake full-time service, CIT will refund the student's FEE-HELP/VET Student Loan for the relevant subjects, if the withdrawal occurs after the Census date.

3.10 In the event a student Reservist is forced to defer or withdraw from study in order to undertake full-time service, CIT will refund the student’s fees for the relevant subjects.

4. Documentation

Legislation
Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001

Related Documentation
Defence Reserves Support Education and Training/Student Support

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Definitions of Terms.

6. Policy Contact Officer

For more information about this policy contact Director, CIT Student Services.

Contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au.

7. Procedures

Nil.