• Section 1 - Purpose and scope
• Part A -  Principles
• Principles
• Part B - Part B Key roles, responsibilities and delegations
• Responsibilities
• Section 2 - Authority and Compliance
• Section 3 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose and scope

(1) A function of the UNE Council is to confer, rescind and correct such degrees, diplomas, certificates and other awards offered by the University of New England. Under this Rule the Council delegates some Council functions to the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC)and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research (DVCR). The Council retains the governance role in overseeing all delegated functions.

(2) The Rule applies to all UNE Representatives and students.

(3) Within this Rule:

1. Part A sets out principles in relation to conferral of awards and graduation
2. Part B sets out key roles, responsibilities and delegations.

Part A -  Principles

Principles

(4) Graduation is the culmination of the student learning journey for a particular award, and a source of both celebration and responsibility of the University for quality control and due diligence.

(5) The University will formally confer on students who satisfy the requirements of a course in which they are enrolled, the relevant award, in accordance with the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW)

(6) A student is eligible to graduate from the Course in which they are enrolled if they have met the requirements in Clause 15(a)(i-v).

(7) Students who have completed Course requirements must graduate and are not permitted to defer graduation and will not be permitted to enrol in further units in that Course.

(8) Students are deemed to be Graduates when the University has conferred their degree.

(9) The conferral date noted on the Testamur (and digital Testamur) and digital Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) is the date on which the University confers the award.

(10) A completed major will appear on the Testamur and Academic Record (Transcript), according to relevant Course Rules.

Part B - Part B Key roles, responsibilities and delegations

(11) For Higher Degree Research awards, the Council delegates to the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, and to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research (DVCR), the authority to confer an award to a student/ HDR Candidate who has met the requirements to graduate from a higher degree research course at the University.

(12) For awards other than those in Clause (11), the Council delegates to the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, and to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC),  the authority to confer an award to a student who has met the requirements to graduate from a course  at the University.

(13) The Council can confer an award on an approved graduand at a designated conferral date.

(14) Council reserves the authority for the rescission of an award that has been conferred by the University. Any proposed rescission of award must be reported to the Council as per the Rescission of an Award/ Correction of an Award Procedure(see also UNE Delegations Framework Rule).

Responsibilities

(15) In exercising the authority to confer an award, the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research or Deputy Vice-Chancellor must certify that they are satisfied that:

1. the student/ HDR Candidate:
   1. has met the courses rules and other course requirements to graduate;
   2. does not have a financial debt to the University, other than a debt that the University has agreed may be repaid after graduation;
   3. does not have an unresolved disciplinary case or appeal;
   4. is not subject to a current exclusion or expulsion from the University; and
   5. has returned all University property.
2. The decision to approve the student/ HDR Candidate for graduation has been endorsed by:
   1. the University's Graduate Research Committee, for a higher degree research candidate; and
   2. the respective Faculty’s Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning  and confirmed by the Executive Principal Student Journey for a student other than a higher degree research candidate.

(16) The person making the certification referred to in clause (15) above must:

1. ensure that a copy of the signed and dated certification is:
   1. provided to the University's designated Graduation Officer without delay; and
   2. stored in the correct file in the University's Records Management System (RMS)
2. report the exercise of delegated authority under this Rule to the Council through the Director Governance and University Secretary and provide an  assurance that the requirements of this Rule have been met.

Section 2 - Authority and Compliance

(17) The UNE Council, pursuant to Section 29 of the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW), makes this University Rule.

(18) This Rule is consistent with the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021.

(19) The delegation of Council powers under this rule is made pursuant to Section 17 of the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW).

(20) The Rule Administrator, the Director Governance and University Secretary, is authorised to make policies and associated information for the implementation and operation of this University Rule. The policies and associated information must be compatible with the provisions of this Rule.

(21) This Rule operates as and from the Effective Date.

Section 3 - Definitions

(22) For the purposes of this Rule the following definition applies: