Recognition of Academic Excellence Policy

3.1 ACU recognises academic excellence by awarding the University Honours Medal and University Medal. The Academic Board will award up to one University Honours Medal and one University Medal per Faculty each year.

3.2 The university calculates a Medal Score to identify students who have achieved academic excellence in the previous year.

3.3 Each year, the Academic Board will determine the minimum Medals Score for the following year, based on the recommendation of the Academic Registrar.

3.4 Students who achieve the minimum Medals Score but are not recipients of the University Honours Medal or University Medal will be named an Executive Dean’s Awardee for Academic Excellence.

3.5 Each Faculty Board will nominate suitably qualified candidates for consideration by the Academic Registrar in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedures.

3.6 The Academic Registrar, following consultation with the Chair of Academic Board, may recommend to the Academic Board that, in exceptional circumstances where two eligible students from the same Faculty, with the same Medals Score, cannot be meaningfully separated, a second University Honours Medal, or University Medal, be awarded.

3.7 The Academic Registrar may recommend to Academic Board that no award will be made in a particular year if no suitably qualified candidates have been nominated by the Faculties.

4.1 To be eligible for the award of a University Honours Medal, a student must:

1. have qualified for either an end-on Bachelor Honours degree or a Bachelor degree with embedded honours
2. achieved the minimum Medals Score calculated in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedures, and
3. have qualified for with First Class Honours

4.2 To be eligible for the award of a University Medal a student must:

1. have qualified for a Bachelor degree, and
2. have achieved the minimum Medals Score calculated in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedures.

4.3 Where two or more students are eligible under section 4.2 or section 4.3, the Academic Registrar will refer the matter to the Chair of Academic Board who will use the Medals Score and the following factors to determine the recommended recipient. 

1. the standard of the honours thesis (if applicable);
2. the distribution of results achieved;
3. the consistency of performance or continuous improvement throughout the course;
4. the length of time taken to complete the course, with due regard to mitigating circumstances; and
5. other factors deemed relevant by the Faculty Board.

4.4 An award may be made to a candidate on qualifying for a subsequent Bachelor or a Bachelor Honours degree.

4.5 A student will be ineligible for the award of a university medal if they have had a misconduct finding under the Student Conduct Policy, or the Student Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

6.1 Recommendations for award of a medal must be made to Academic Board by the Academic Registrar in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedures.

6.2 The Academic Registrar is responsible for maintaining consistency of practice in regard to the awarding of medals.