1 Policy Statement

This document is intended to set institutional minimum standards of facilities and resources for on-campus research students who are enrolled at the University of Southern Queensland on a full-time basis.

On-campus attendance by students and access to facilities by off-campus and part-time students should be discussed as part of the process of application for candidature. As part of the process of application for candidature, the candidate and supervisor should identify any special resources necessary to undertake the project.

A Preliminary Advice Form must be completed within the first three weeks of candidature so that the agreed frequency of meetings between the candidate and supervisor/s is documented. This agreement should be reviewed every six months and the biannual progress report provides opportunity for this as well as documentation of a timeline or plan for the following 6 months.

This document specifies an institutional minimum level of support. It is anticipated and expected that USQ Faculties and Centres will work towards enhancement of these minimum levels. In particular, organisational units should encourage and assist students to attend a conference during their period of candidature.

Research degree students at USQ undertake original research for a period of up to two years of full-time study for a Masters degree and for three years of full-time study for a Research Doctoral degree. Postgraduate research falls under the aegis of the Commonwealth Research Training Scheme (RTS) and related legislation.

2 Procedures

Each student shall normally have access to:

1. photocopying facilities within the faculty and in the Library

2. information technology support and departmental technical support

3. a tea room

4. a wash room

5. full library services including interlibrary loans and access to subject librarians

6. a personal work space which is secure, ventilated, heated, cooled, lit to ASA standards and located proximate to toilets and other amenities

7. an ergonomically sound chair and desk

8. a lockable storage space

9. a telephone

10. a personal computer with access to current research and publishing tools including email and the internet

11. sufficient laboratory space, equipment and facilities to complete the program of research

12. a fax machine and printer

13. postage and courier

14. a personal USQ email address

15. stationery

Providing that the candidate is appropriately enrolled, these facilities will be accessible 24 hours a day (subject to compliance with HR policy) for the duration of the research and writing-up component of the candidature and if revision is required after thesis examination.

The faculty will contribute financially to the binding costs of dissertations.

All costs associated with the conduct of the research, including the funding of the above, shall be met by the University.

Part-time on-campus candidates shall have access to shared facilities. Where students are studying off-campus they relinquish access to office facilities as described above.

All research degree students who are enrolled on a full-time on-campus basis shall be accorded a study environment where work areas:

1. meet health and safety regulations

2. are quiet and accommodating to study

3. are accessible to people of all abilities (as are ancillary facilities)

4. accord secure 24 hour access for women and men

5. are free of discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race and sexuality, and

6. are free of sexual harassment.

Note: Special requirements for any research project, e.g. access to high-cost testing machinery, field costs for data collection, must be discussed and agreed to at the time of application for candidature.

3 Other Policy Information