Fact box

• Policy owner: Chair, Accreditation Committee
• Policy category: Academic: Course Development
• Policy status: Approved
• Approval body: Academic Board
• Endorsement body: Accreditation Committee
• Related policies:
  • Higher Education Course Design and Development Policy
  • Higher Education Course Review Policy
• Last amended: 11th Feb. 2026
• Relevant HESF: 5.3, 5.4

Procedures 

To terminate a course of study, the following steps are undertaken: 

Proposal tabled at Accreditation Committee

1.  Rationale for discontinuation, including (as appropriate):

1. impact on strategy, mission, vision and values of AC;
2. history of course of study and its reputational value to students, staff and stakeholders;
3. financial implications with respect to current market conditions;
4. feedback from students, staff, other stakeholders and industry;
5. changes in accreditation compliance;
6. previous review reports.

2. Communication plan for discontinuation to all relevant stakeholders;
3. Teach-out plan;
4. Managing and monitoring discontinuation.

Proposal tabled at Academic Board 

1. If endorsed by Accreditation Committee, a recommendation is tabled at Academic Board. 

Approval by Academic Board 

1. If discontinuation of a course is approved by Academic Board, Council and Executive are duly notified by the Chair of Academic Board.  
2. If discontinuation of a course of study is approved by Council, the following is implemented: 

1. all marketing, recruitment and enrolments ceases; 
2. communication of discontinuation to all relevant stakeholders; 
3. teach-out plan implementation. 

Communication of discontinuation

1. The final decision and announcement of any course of study discontinuation is communicated in writing and in time to allow:

1. currently enrolled students to complete the course of study, or to transfer to other courses of study within or outside of AC as desired;
2. potential applicants to make alternative arrangements; 
3. the timely replacement of any existing academic staff in a course of study who may immediately wish to discontinue employment with AC as a result of a course of study discontinuation; 

2. students in other courses of study, staff in other courses of study, alumni, stakeholders and the community will be advised of the course of study discontinuation in a systematic

Teach-out Plan

1. Students are entitled to complete, at AC, the course of study in which they are enrolled, including all compulsory elements and any requirements necessary for professional accreditation.
2. No substantive changes will be made to course of study in the teach-out phase, nor any transfer arrangements agreed to with other institutions, without approval by Academic Board and consultation with affected students.
3. If discontinuation of a course of study is approved by Council, the following is implemented:
   1. discussion with current students is undertaken to advise them that the qualification cannot be issued after expiry of the teach-out period. Therefore, a student must complete the award within the transition period. Students intending to complete the terminating course of study are contacted by the Program Director (or equivalent) and a Study and Support Plan is developed; 
   2. AC will assist students enrolled in the course of study who would like to transfer to another course of study; 
   3. AC will provide a schedule to offer all subjects needed by students to complete the course of study in a sequence and on a schedule that will enable them to complete the course of study. Students will be expected to take the subjects required to complete the course of study when offered. Failure of students to take required subjects when offered will not obligate AC to offer the subjects again; 
   4. students who are already on approved leave from a course that is to be terminated should be able to return to complete the course, provided they re-enrol no later than the end of the period of approved leave. Any leave approved after the discontinuation process has commenced should be negotiated with the student on the basis that a return to the course of study in which the student was enrolled may not be possible; 
   5. students who fall out of sequence in their program as a result of subject failure may retake the failed subject only if it continues to be offered at AC and the student can still complete the retaken subject prior to the teach-out end date. In exceptional circumstances, unscheduled subjects will be allowed to ensure a student can meet the course of study requirements; 
   6. students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress and are dismissed from the course of study under the provisions of the “Exclusion from a Course or Subject Policy: Unsatisfactory Course Progression” will lose their right to benefit under the teach-out arrangement. 

A Teach-out Plan may:  

1. reduce or remove student choice as it applies to unit availability;  
2. require students to study a prescribed sequence of units to ensure students can complete their studies within the prescribed timeframe; and/or  
3. include provisions for recognising unit equivalence if required and approved by Academic Board. 

Managing and Monitoring Discontinuation  

1. Academic Board has ultimate responsibility for monitoring the discontinuation of a course of study from the perspective of academic quality and integrity; 
2. With support from the Head of School, the Program Director (or equivalent) takes overall responsibility for the management of the teach-out of a course of study. 
3. The Program Director (or equivalent) is responsible for the development and implementation of operational closure plans and the management and co-ordination of all transitional arrangements; 
4. Students and staff are consulted on a regular basis during the teach-out to ensure that all parties are satisfied with continuing teach-out arrangements and responsibilities; 
5. The Head of School will ensure that regular reports regarding teach-out arrangements are made available to Academic Board. 

Maintaining Quality in Courses during Teach Out  

1. Quality assurance arrangements continue as usual for courses which are in teach out. The Head of School will monitor the maintenance of academic standards and quality in learning in the context of any teach out. 

Reporting Completion of Teach Out Arrangements  

1. In the last weeks of the final semester of the teach out period, the Program Director will determine the status of students in the course, and report to Academic Board through the Head of School Report.  

Monitoring Compliance with the Course Teach Out Policy  

1. The Director of Quality and Standards will monitor compliance with this Policy for each course in teach out, reporting on the details of policy execution to Academic Board and Accreditation Committee. 

Tuition Protection Service (TPS)  

1. If AC ceases to provide the course an international student has commenced, it undertakes to meet its obligations by either refunding any unused prepaid tuition fees, or to assist the student to find enrolment in a suitable alternative course at AC or with another provider. If AC has not been able to meet this obligation international students may access the Tuition Protection Service. 

Review and Revision 

This policy will be reviewed by the Chair of the Accreditation Committee on a regular basis in accordance with the Policy Development and Review Policy. Any proposed changes will be tabled at the Accreditation Committee for endorsement and Academic Board for approval . Revisions will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders upon approval.