General information

Many courses in the College of Science and Medicine include mandatory and/or optional activities that are conducted outside of the standard classroom environment. It is important that students are made aware, up front, about what this might mean for them so that they can make an informed decision about whether to enrol in the course and, subsequently, take the necessary steps to be prepared to engage in the activity. This information should be made explicit in the course overview information in the workload statement and/or the inherent requirements statement and/or the Other Information for students section. It should also be made clear whether the activity is undertaken during the timetabled teaching period or at another time (for example over a weekend or in the teaching break).

The class summary must also provide a minimum level of information to students. 

Examples of field activities:

• Cultural walks
• On-campus out of standard teaching venue activities, such as walks to specific on-campus sites to collect samples or discuss flora or fauna of interest;
• Short, local off-campus activities, such as a trip to the Australian National Botanic Gardens or a workplace visit;
• Longer activities held further afield, such as an overnight or multiple-day trip to an off-campus location such as the Kioloa campus or the Siding Springs Observatory;
• Overseas experiences, such as the Vietnam or Fiji field schools.

What students need to know

It is important students are aware of these field trip activities so that they can prepare and plan accordingly. Whether the field trip is optional or compulsory is of vital importance to a student to make an informed enrolment decision. To this end, the College has provided general information for students to set expectations on what a field trip might entail, and how they might need to respond. This information is available from the College of Science and Medicine Current Students webpage at: https://students.science.anu.edu.au/program-admin/college-science-field-trips

At minimum, courses with field trips will link to this page from the inherent requirements section in the course overview entry in P&C. Where the field trip is compulsory to the course, the inherent requirements section in the course overview should also include more specific and detailed information pertinent to the trip, whether reasonable adjustments can be made and who to contact for advice.

What conveners must include in their class summary

At a minimum, it must link to this page from the inherent requirements and class summary entry in CMS. More detailed information about the specifics of the field trip itself should also be provided including, but not limited to:

• Dates of the field trip;
• Travel and accommodation arrangements;
• Additional costs, if any, and where and how to pay (eg Scienceshop);
• Location of the field trip;
• Overview;
• Participation requirements;
• Logistics;
• Health and wellbeing;
• Tasks and activities;
• Alternative options for students who might choose not to attend the field trip (if it is optional).

Contacts