ANU Schools and Faculties have normally provided a very generous allocation of resources for research students, in comparison with other Australian Universities. This resource provision has been of great benefit to our research students. The ANU aims to maintain and improve research resources for staff and research students wherever possible, to enable the ANU to continue to realise its mission as a leading research University.

1. Principles

The Operating Procedures of the Graduate School specify that:

"The acceptance of a research student into a department (or its equivalent) implies that the department accepts responsibility to provide a level of support sufficient to enable the completion of the student's initially agreed program of study and any agreed variation; such support will include adequate supervision, the provision of adequate resources, appropriate research accommodation, and funds for fieldwork and conference travel."
(Paper 725/1995, 1(v)).

2. Responsibilities of Supervisor(s), Convenors, Deans/Directors

Primary responsibility for oversight of a research candidate's work rests with the supervisor(s), including advice on 'the availability of resources needed to complete the thesis on time (e.g. departmental resources, computing, library, fieldwork)' (Paper 2988B/1996, 'Supervision of PhD Students', 2, 6).

The Graduate Program Convenor's functions include to 'Inform new students of Program resources ...', and to 'Provide or arrange pastoral support for students in the Program, in particular to assist in the resolution of problems that may arise between students and supervisors or Heads of Department' (725/1995, 2).

It is the responsibility of Deans or Directors, through each department (or its equivalent) and supervisor, to provide a level of resources sufficient to enable the completion of the student's initially agreed program of study and any agreed variation. Information on minimum resource support for programs of study should be conveyed to both commencing and continuing graduate students. Different research student projects may have different costs even within the same discipline, and the area in which the student is located is responsible for determining and providing sufficient resources.

The Occupational Health and Safety Unit of the ANU provides advice and courses on appropriate resource practices for research students and staff.

3. Minimum Department Resources

Students admitted to a full-time research course at the University are assured that the sponsoring area undertakes to provide the following minimum resources:

Sufficient laboratory or office space, infrastructural equipment and facilities to complete the agreed program of research, these items to be available from the outset and throughout the course, in particular:

a. Normal University standards of accommodation, including a desk and chair, located in an area which is secure, within reasonable proximity of the host department; and with internal access to toilets and wash room.

b. A lockable filing cabinet or locker/drawer.

c. Reasonable access to computing and relevant software facilities.

d. Reasonable provision for stationery, postage and receipt of mail; access to photocopying facilities and fax; and use of a telephone (the terms of such provision to be clearly defined at the time of induction).

e. Funding for fieldwork and/or conference attendance necessary to complete the agreed course of study. Minimum fieldwork and/or conference resources should be defined at admission to the degree course, with provision for later applications to amend the project and apply to increase fieldwork/conference resources subject to available funds.

The University recognises the unique features of graduate student resources in the Institute of the Arts, including studio, workshop, exhibition and rehearsal resources, which entail special and flexible resource provision.

4. Graduate Program Board of Studies Review, and Student Grievances

The Board of Studies of each Graduate Program should from time to time review the provision of resources for students in the Program, and recommend the provision of such additional resources as may appear necessary for the particular discipline concerned. When uncertainty arises concerning the meaning of "sufficient" and "reasonable", the relevant Board of Studies should adjudicate.

When agreement about resources cannot be reached, the Grievance Procedures for Graduate Students (59A/1989, Graduate Research School Handbook) may be invoked by notifying the Dean of the Graduate Research School. In the case of minimum fieldwork resources, if agreement cannot be reached within the Faculty/School/Centre, and after review by the relevant Dean/Director, an appeal may be lodged with the Dean of the Graduate Research School.

GDC 6 August 1998,
amended by The Board of The Faculties 28 August 1998