Information about inappropriate SET comments
Information for Academic Staff
What advice is given to students?
Students are given advice in SET evaluations on how to give constructive feedback. This includes advice thatabusive and threatening comments are unacceptable under University policy.
Students are advised that their feedback in SET evaluations is confidential and not anonymous. While their privacy is protected in normal reporting, their identities can be revealed if they’re comments are harmful. Students’ comments fall under the same disciplinary rules as their other activities at the University.
What University rules apply to inappropriate comments in SET evaluations?
- The University’s Statute for Student Discipline and Code of Conduct require students to act reasonably towards one another and towards all members of the University.
- The University’s Addressing of Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures defines bullying behaviour and different kinds of harassment and discrimination.
Inappropriate language or offensive personal comments in SET evaluations may constitute acting unreasonably towards a staff member in breach of the Statute for Student Discipline, even if the comments are not bullying, harassment or discrimination.
How can staff report inappropriate comments in SET evaluations?
If a staff member considers that a comment in a student evaluation is inappropriate, offensive, abusive or threatening, they may raise this with their Academic Head via a viable channel.
An Academic Head has a responsibility to treat all complaints seriously and take prompt steps to resolve any complaints. The Academic Head may also refer the staff member to support services.
What happens next?
The Enhancement and Evaluation of Teaching and Courses Policy and Procedures gives Academic Heads the authority to follow up on student comments. They can refer the matter to the University’s Student Conduct Officer (SCO) and they may request the comments to be removed from the SET reports.
The SCO may undertake an investigation in accordance with Addressing of Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedures and Guidelines and if appropriate, the Statute for Student Discipline. The SCO has a range of options for resolving the matter, including informal as well formal processes, and the outcomes may include penalties for the student.