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    Approval of research courses and units for research degrees

    Research Graduate School Committee evaluation and approval procedures for postgraduate research degree and unit proposals, amendments and disestablishments

    New Postgraduate Research Course/degree and Unit proposal evaluation and approval

    A.1 Required processes at faculty level

    A1.1 The faculty manager or nominee sends both new postgraduate research course/degree and unit proposals to the convenor of the Research Graduate School Committee Steering Committee via the manager, Monash Research Graduate School.

    A1.2 The associate dean (postgraduate research programs) or equivalent of the managing faculty liaises with the Steering Committee in order to respond to comments and adjust the course/degree/unit proposal as necessary. For new postgraduate research courses/degrees or major amendment(s) to existing programs, a joint meeting of Steering Committee and faculty representatives is generally arranged.

    A1.3 When the preliminary review by the Research Graduate School Committee’s Steering Committee is complete, and faculty board or an executive have approved the proposal, the faculty manager of the managing faculty sends to the manager, Monash Research Graduate School (who is secretary to the Research Graduate School Committee):

    • the proposal cover sheet in hard copy:
    • The cover sheet which must be signed by the dean and the associate dean (postgraduate research programs) or equivalent of the managing faculty and, where applicable, associated faculties;
    • the full proposal for postgraduate research courses/degrees and units;
    • a report of faculty board or a faculty executive which endorses the proposal.

    A1.4 All documents pertaining to the final/amended proposal must be submitted in single-sided, unstapled hardcopy to the manager, Monash Research Graduate School (who is secretary to the Research Graduate School Committee). Documentation must be received by 9a.m. the Friday preceding the relevant Research Graduate School Committee meeting date (see the School’s website for the Research Graduate School Committee’s meeting schedule at www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/about/committee/meeting-dates.html

    A1.5 The faculty must maintain a single repository for final, definitive versions of all course/degree and unit documentation.

    A.2 Research Graduate School Committee endorsement and transmission of proposals for approval by Academic Board

    A2.1 The manager, Monash Research Graduate School, submits full postgraduate research course/degree and unit proposals to the Research Graduate School Committee for consideration.

    A2.2 In the case of new doctoral course/degree and unit proposals, two external assessors are invited to review the submission. One of them is nominated by the relevant faculty. The second is chosen by the Research Graduate School Committee, either from a list supplied by the faculty or by the Research Graduate School Committee itself. The Research Graduate School Committee also reserves the right to forward masters by research course/degree proposals to external assessors if appropriate.

    A2.3 The Research Graduate School Committee may either:

    • approve the proposed postgraduate research course/degree/unit for submission to Academic Board for approval (or in case of units, noting only).

    Where the Research Graduate School Committee approves the proposed postgraduate research course/degree/unit, the Research Graduate School Committee secretary includes the postgraduate research course/degree/unit code, title and brief description in the Recommendations (or in the case of units, in the Proceedings) contained in the Research Graduate School Committee’s Report to Academic Board.

    • recommend changes; or
    • not approve the proposed postgraduate research course/degree/unit.

    Where the proposed postgraduate research course/unit is not approved or changes are recommended, the associate dean responsible for research programs (or equivalent) of the interested faculty/faculties transmits this information and the committee’s recommendations to the relevant faculty.

    A2.4 Faculties monitor the progress of their proposals through Research Graduate School Committee, Academic Board and Council, where appropriate.