Course Outline FAQ
Is the Course Outline the same as Study@ANU?
No. Course Outlines are intended to provide students with comprehensive information about a course in which they are enrolled, whereas Study@ANU provides more general information about a course to prospective students from within and outside the ANU. Study@ANU is the University's undergraduate and graduate handbook.
Is this new Course Outline supposed to be distributed along side my Course Guide?
No. These Course Outlines are the same as Course Guides but with a different name. Course Outlines are intended to provide students with comprehensive information about a course in which they are enrolled.
My old course guides contained much more information than this template allows. Do I have to leave this information out of my new Course Outlines?
No. Don’t feel that you have leave out any detail from your old course guides. If there is anything further that you would like to add, just include it wherever you feel that it should go. Inserting new sections is encouraged if they are helpful in any way; however, you should otherwise adhere to the nomenclature and order of sections as set out in the Course Outlines template. The Course Outline template represents the minimum required information and should not be seen as a limit on what can be included, but the structure is still important.
Some of the information in my Course Outline differs from that on the Study@ANU webpage for the course. Is this OK?
No. The information on Study@ANU and in Course Outlines must not be contradictory. Please update the Study@ANU webpage for the course as necessary. For assistance with this, please contact you local administrator or the College Student Office.
I put a lot of effort into the design of my old course guides. Can I change the look of the Course Outline Template and include images and other finishing touches in my new Course Outlines?
Yes. If you want to include a cartoon or two, or reuse the cover designs of your old course guides, you are most welcome. However formatting, such as font and colour, should be consistent throughout. Consider the ANU visual identity.
The learning outcomes that I have written for the Study@ANU website and those described in Writing learning outcomes from the Educational Design Studio are quite different. Do I need to rewrite the Learning Outcomes for my Course Outlines?
No. You are not required to change your learning outcomes on Study@ANU or rewrite them for your Course Outlines in light of the material in Writing learning outcomes, but you should consider doing so in the future. It is important is to give consistent information to students, so learning outcomes listed on Study@ANU and in Course Outlines must be the same.
If you would like to learn more about broader pedagogical issues associated with learning outcomes and outcome-based education for your teaching, please contact the College Educational Designer, Dr Megan Poore, at the CASS/CAP Education Design Studio.
I’ve submitted my completed Course Outlines to Outlines.CASS@anu.edu.au. Do I have to do anything more?
Yes. A permanent archive of Course Outlines submitted to this address may not be kept and all other procedures related to the handling of Course Outlines/Guides should continue to be followed. For example: courses still need to be submitted for printing in the usual manner.
Do I need to submit Course Outlines for courses under development or revision?
No. It is not expected that Course Outlines for new courses that are still being designed or for courses that are being revised be submitted. However, it is expected that staff will distribute to students Course Outlines that conform to this template when teaching of such a course begins.
What sort of information should I include in the General Information section?
The following should be included in the General Information section of all course guides. Expanding on information about Academic Honesty and Plagiarism is encouraged.
Academic Integrity
Academic misconduct can seriously jeopardize your academic career, your future, and, if you are an international student, your ability to stay in Australia to study. It is the responsibility of each individual student to ensure that:
- they are familiar with the expectations for academic honesty both in general, and in the specific context of particular disciplines or courses
- work submitted for assessment is genuine and original
- appropriate acknowledgement and citation is given to the work of others
- they do not knowingly assist other students in academically dishonest practice.
When in doubt about anything, ASK...and.... ask EARLY - don't leave it until the assignment due date. Your lecturers, tutors and College administration staff are here to help you.
It is the responsibility of everyone at the ANU to uphold and promote fundamental principles of quality and integrity in scholarly work.
Academic Skills and Learning Centre
The Academic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC) offers ANU students free and confidential help with their academic work through individual consultations, workshops, courses, podcasts and handouts. Our aim is to assist students to develop the academic, critical thinking and communication strategies that are foundational to all scholarly activity. For ANU students, the ASLC offers:
- individual consultations
- workshops/courses
- online and print materials and publications
- the Language Exchange Program
- podcasts
- the Essay and Report Writing File
The ASLC is located on the lower ground floor of the Pauline Griffin Building and is only closed on weekends and public holidays.
Including information on appeals is highly recommended:
Appeals Procedure
If you genuinely believe you have received an inappropriate or incorrect result in a Faculty of Arts course, there are steps you can take to have that result reviewed. This must be done within 30 working days of the formal notification of results. Your first point of contact should always be your tutor or the course convenor.
The following is sample information similar to that which you may want to include in the General Information section of your Course Outlines. You are welcome to copy and paste from here though, as details change from time to time, you should verify the information first.
ANU Library
The Library has a wide range of print and electronic information resources to help you research your assignment topics. Some of the useful resources and services available are:
- Library Discovery Sessions at the beginning of semesters
- a reserve collection of high-use course material, including lecture tapes
- exam papers from previous years available online
- AskANU where you can get help with computer skills
- subject access to electronic and internet resources
- Frequently Asked Questions to help you find your way
AskANU IT Consultants
AskANU IT Consultants provide a combined library and IT help service. Consultants can give you one-to-one assistance and training with ANU IT services, including accessing the ANU wireless network, email, printing and passwords, as well as any other Library or Information Commons issues.
The AskANU IT Consultants are based in the Chifley Library.
Information Literacy Program
The Information Literacy Program runs a number of training and presentation activities, including:
- Generic information & IT skills training for academic and general staff and all students, with a specialised program for graduate students
- Working with academic staff to support learning outcomes for undergraduate and postgraduate courses
- Tailored and one-off activities as required. In-curriculum sessions are developed in consultation with course convenors
- Tutors Induction Programs
- Online interactive tutorials, guides and helpsheets
ANU Counselling Centre
The ANU offers a free and confidential counselling service to all current ANU students and staff. Counselling services to students are provided by Counsellors in the Counselling Centre, while services to staff are provided by the Adviser to Staff or by external advisers.
Your counsellor will help you to:
- get a better understanding of your problem
- strengthen your resources for handling the problem
- find an effective solution.
Counselling is generally short-term, and your counsellor will aim to help you resolve your problem in the shortest possible time.
ANUSA – ANU Students’ Association
The Australian National University Students’ Association (ANUSA) is the representative body of undergraduate students on campus. If you are an undergraduate student at ANU, then you are an ANUSA member, and ANUSA is your student voice. ANUSA consists of a number of elected students. They present student issues to the University Council, to Faculty Boards and on other official committees. ANUSA also represents student issues outside the campus, organises social events and provides some student services which are not otherwise provided by the University.
Dean of Students
The Dean of Students offers confidential, impartial advice, and can help to resolve problems by acting as a neutral intermediary between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University. The Dean can ensure that student concerns are communicated to important deliberative and decision making University committees. So even if you feel there is nothing to be done about an issue you’ve confronted, or you have only indirect awareness of a problem facing students, it’s still worth making the Dean aware of the issues.
PARSA – Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association
PARSA's primary focus is the welfare of all postgraduate students at the ANU, particularly with respect to their studies.
PARSA provides the following services to ANU's Postgraduate and Research Students:
- Information and referral for postgrad students
- Representation on University committees
- Advocacy for individual postgraduates
- Campaigning & Lobbying on postgrad issues
- Free legal advice to postgrad students
- An annual Postgrad Survival Guide
- Social functions for postgrad students
- Administration of Emergency Loan Scheme
Jabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre
Jabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre provides a meeting place for Australian Indigenous students studying at the Australian National University in Canberra. You will find Indigenous students and staff strongly committed to improving education outcomes that benefit Australian Indigenous communities. We focus on:
- supporting the teaching and learning issues of Indigenous students;
- retention by having a dedicated Academic Coordinator to assist each student on campus;
- undertaking advocacy on issues of concern to the Indigenous students and community
- graduation, providing a uniquely ANU Indigenous graduation stole and by joining in your success by attending your graduation, and;
- providing advice and expertise in Indigenous areas as a contribution to the ANU community, the ACT Indigenous community and the Australian Community.
International Office
The International Office provides information, support and activities for international students, staff, and other people and organisations associated with international students at the ANU.
The Disability Services Centre
The Disability Services Centre (DSC) is the first point of contact for students with disabilities at the ANU. The Unit works to facilitate access to the ANU for students with a disability. This involves making “reasonable adjustments” to address the effects of the disability so that students with disabilities are not disadvantaged by these effects, nor unfairly advantaged by these adjustments, and have a fair chance of demonstrating their knowledge and skills. The Disability Services Centre offers the following services:
- provision of a DSC card, registering the holder as having a medically verified disability;
- assessment and organisation of support or adjustments such as note-taking, exam arrangements and tutoring;
- advice on and use of assistive technological equipment;
- referral to other services or agencies (Counselling, Health, Academic Skills & Learning Centre, etc.);
- advice to staff on teaching and assessment practices;
- other support and advice as needed, including contributing to ANU policy development.
College of Arts and Social Sciences Website
The College of Arts and Social Sciences website provides information about College disciplines, structure, staff contacts, as well as information and links for current students about:
- honours
- tutorial registration
- travel and travel grants
- internships
- studying abroad and exchange
- workshops, and more
Who can I contact for more information?
For questions about preparing Course Outlines: Jake Francis, College Educational Assistant.
For assistance with pedagogical issues and curriculum design: Dr Megan Poore, College Educational Designer.