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Dean's Commendations for Academic Excellence Procedure

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Section 1 - Purpose and Objectives

(1) The University may award Dean’s Commendations for Academic Excellence in accordance with the criteria specified in this Procedure. This Procedure complements provisions for official academic transcripts and studies reports detailed in the Academic Records Policy.

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Section 2 - Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

Term Definition
Academic transcript Official academic record, certified by the Academic Registrar.
GPA Grade Point Average.
Studies report Displays administrative information about a student's studies at UQ.
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Section 3 - Procedure Scope/Coverage

(2) Dean's Commendations for High Achievement recognise students who have excelled academically and who have shown a strong commitment to their program of study. Students may be eligible to receive a Dean's Commendation for High Achievement in their undergraduate or postgraduate coursework studies, postgraduate honours degree, incoming exchange programs or through enrolment as study abroad students.

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Section 4 - Procedure Statement

(3) Dean's Commendations for Academic Excellence recognise students who have excelled academically and who have shown a strong commitment to their study.

(4) Students eligible for a Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence do not need to apply for the award. Dean's Commendations for Academic Excellence will be identified by the relevant Faculty in accordance with approved criteria. The Committee for Academic Programs Policy is responsible for reviewing the criteria as required.

(5) A notation indicating the award of a Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence will be made on the recipient's studies report and academic transcript.

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Section 5 - Criteria

(6) A Dean’s Commendation for Academic Excellence will be noted on the academic transcript and studies report for students who have met the following criteria:

  1. enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate coursework, postgraduate honours, study abroad or incoming exchange programs; and
  2. were either:
    1. enrolled full-time (minimum 6 units) in the semester under consideration, including Summer Semester and achieved a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) equal to or greater than 6.6* in that single semester; or
    2. enrolled part-time in at least 6 units in semesters that commenced during the calendar year, and
      1. did not study full-time for any semester during that year, and
      2. achieved a minimum GPA equal to or greater than 6.6* in that year.
*Note: The University's grading system, including numeric and non-graded pass or fail, is set out in Section 3 - Part H of the Assessment Procedure.

(7) For eligible full-time students, a Dean’s Commendation for Academic Excellence will be issued after each of Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester, except where this is not practicable (for example, for year-long courses).

(8) For eligible part-time students, a Dean’s Commendation for Academic Excellence will be issued after the release of Summer Semester grades in the following calendar year.