POSTGRADUATE CENTRE

POLICY

1. INTRODUCTION
   
   The Postgraduate Centre  is located at Building 2, Level 6, Room no. 27 (2-6-23) on the Sunway campus.  There are a number of shared workstations available for Monash University Sunway campus (MUSC) students undertaking postgraduate (Doctoral and Master by research) and honours studies within the School of Arts & Social Sciences (SASS).
   
   
   
2. FACILITIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS
   
   The Postgraduate Centre is equipped with a range of services.  This centre offers the following facilities :
   
   
   • 24-hour, seven-day-per-week access;
   • Workstations (inclusive of desk, chair, 2 lockable hanging cabinets and lockable pedestal);
   • Personal computer (desktop);
   • Shared network printer, scanner and photocopier;
   • Shared well-equipped pantry;
   • Shared telephone (for internal calls only).
     
     
     
3. WORKSTATION ALLOCATION PROCESS
   
   The School Office (SO), SASS is responsible for workstation allocations.  If applications exceed workstations availability it will be left to the discretion of the SO to allocate any available workstation.
   
   
   
4. WORKSTATION ALLOCATION ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITY
   
   4.1     Eligibility
   
   Students eligible to apply for Workstation are those who:
   
   (i)    are enrolled on a full-time basis as MUSC SASS postgraduate students (Doctoral and Masters by research);
   (ii)    are enrolled on a full-time basis as MUSC SASS honours students.
   
   4.2     Priority
   
   The following factors are taken into consideration in the decision to allocate workstations :
   
   i)    The student’s stage of candidature (i.e. those in the final stages of their candidature may be given priority in some circumstances);
   ii)    Frequency of use - students who anticipate using a workstation more regularly are given precedence;
   iii)    A student’s need for space (i.e. unsuitable work space available to a student elsewhere);
   iv)    A student’s satisfactory progress on their thesis.
   
   
   
5. OCCUPANCY
   
   5.1    Term of Allocation
   
   A workstation will be available to the student until the submission of their thesis.
   
   NB. Current Monash University policy is that once a student submits their thesis for examination they are no longer an enrolled student of the University.  Therefore, students who have submitted their thesis for examination, students whose candidature has lapsed, students who have been appointed as a Junior Honorary Research Associate and persons in receipt of a Postgraduate Publication Award shall not be automatically eligible for a workstation, as they are not considered to be currently enrolled Monash University research postgraduate and honours students. The conditions for where facilities for such students may continue using the Centre's facilities are outlined in Section 7 of this document.
   
   5.2  Absences
   
   Where a student intermits, or undertakes study away from the university, for more than 28 days, the student must vacate the workstation and reapply on their return.  The same application procedures apply.
   
   Conditions of Occupancy
   
   The following conditions of occupancy apply to all workstation occupants:
   
   
   • The keys are property of MUSC and are loan to the occupants;
   • In the event that the keys are lost or stolen, the occupants agree to pay the charge of RM3.00 each for replacement;
   • In the event that the keys are lost or stolen, the occupants will immediately notify the SO or the Security Office, if the keys are lost during weekends or after regular office hours;
   • In view of the demand for workstation within the Centre, workstation occupants are expected to make full and proper use of the facilities available to them.  If it is brought to the attention of the SO that the workstation is not being utilized then the occupant may be asked to vacate;
   • Workstation occupants are responsible for informing the SO when they no longer require use of their allocated workstation or when they take study away/intermission for longer than 28 days;
   • A workstation occupant may be asked to vacate if the SO considers that the occupant does not have sufficient reasons for remaining in the workstation or behaves in such a way deemed as being distracting and/or offensive to other centre users;
   • No workstation occupant may allow any other student not allocated a place in the Postgraduate Centre to use the facilities be they in the Centre or the pantry.  Any student found doing so may be asked to leave.
   
   
   
6. VACATING
   
   All workstation occupants are required to vacate workstations on a predetermined date and will be reminded of this, 21 days in advance. The workstation occupant must make arrangements with the Executive Secretary for handing over the workstation keys upon vacating.
   
   Where the occupant submits their thesis for examination, lapse or withdrawal from candidature or transfer from full-time to part-time status prior to the end date of their workstation allocation, they will be required to vacate the workstation within seven days and return their keys to the Executive Secretary.
   
   
   
7. APPEALS and SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
   
   All office occupants have the right to appeal any decision made by the SO.  Appeals must be made in writing to the SO within seven days of notification of the decision.
   
   Requests for Special Consideration can be made to the SO, with decisions made in consultation with the students' supervisor and other relevant parties.  If a request is for an extension to the use of a workstation beyond the normal time restrictions, this should be made before the expiry of a student's allocated time in using the workstation.
   
   
   
8. HOW TO APPLY
   
   
   • In order to be considered for a workstation in the Postgraduate Centre, students must complete the Postgraduate Centre Workstation - Registration form;
   • The completed form must be submitted to the Executive Secretary at Building 2, Level 6, Room no. 09 (2-6-09);
   • After receiving the completed form, the Executive Secretary will process and afterwards allocate an appropriate workstation and keys to the student.
   
   
   
9. FURTHER INFORMATION
   
   If you require any further information, please contact:
   
   Mohamed Ismail bin Mohamed Tahir
   Research & Development Manager
   Building 2, Level 6, Room no. 06 (2-6-06)
   Telephone : (+603) 5514 4970 (direct line)
   Facsimile : (+603) 5514 6365
   Email: mohamed.ismail@monash.edu