Our Student Handbook is your guide book to help you on your journey.You are also welcome to visit Student Services for further guidance and advice.

In this handbook, you will find information about our policies and procedures, together with other information you may have to refer to, so keep it with you. If you want to know something about the College, check your handbook first. It is also a reference book providing you with web links to useful Government websites and other information sources.

 

 Click here to view the Student Handbook:

 

 

 

                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

International

Student Handbook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

333 Kent Street Sydney

NSW, 2000 Australia

Telephone: + 61 2 9299 4999

Fax: + 61 2 9262 4654

ABN 98 054 574 819

Provider No. 01107C 

 

 

 

Contents

 

Welcome. 3

Bridge Business College Contact Details. 3

Student Policies And Procedures Educational Standards. 4

Your Student Account 4

Your Student ID Card. 4

Course Structure. 5

Attendance Procedures. 5

Academic Progress. 6

Intervention Strategy. 6

Counselling Session. 6

Options For Further Support 7

Intention To Report Letter 7

Assessment 8

Re-Scheduled Assessments. 9

Assessment Appeals. 9

Your Trainer’s Responsibilities. 9

Student Holidays. 10

Your Behaviour 10

Your Feedback And Quality Improvement 11

Health & Safety. 11

Complaints. 11

Your 5 Main Duties. 12

 

 

 

Welcome

Welcome from the Principal

 

The Management and staff of Bridge Business College extend a warm welcome to you. 

 

Bridge Business College is committed to providing a high level of customer satisfaction in the provision of education and training. BBC will ensure that you receive the opportunity to fulfil your personal potential during your time with us.

 

The staff at BBC are always happy to help by responding to your individual needs. To us, you are more than a student, now you are part of the BBC family. We hope that you enjoy your study and life in Australia and remember the good times for many years to come.

 

The contents of the Student Handbook will be discussed with you during your orientation.

This handbook will provide useful information to you as you progress through your training program.

 

In this handbook, you will find information about Bridge Business College our policy and procedures, together with other information you may have to refer to, so keep it with you. If you want to know something about the College check your handbook first. It is also a reference book providing you with web links to useful Government websites and other information sources.

 

We sincerely hope your time at Bridge Business College is a memorable and productive learning experience.

 

 

 

Bridge Business College Contact Details

 

Address:        Bridge Business College

CRICOS Provider Number 01107C

Levels 1-5/333 Kent St

                        SYDNEY  NSW  2000

 

 

Tel:                 (612) 9299 4999

Fax:                 (612) 9262 4654

Email:             admin@bridgebc.edu.au

Website:         www.bridgebc.edu.au

Facebook:      www.facebook.com/bridgebc

 

CRICOS provider number:  01107C

 

 

 

 

Student Policies And Procedures Educational Standards

Policies and procedures safeguard the interests and welfare of students. Bridge Business College is committed to the success of students and maintains an environment conducive to learning.  We have the capacity to deliver the nominated course(s), provide adequate facilities, and use appropriate methods and materials.

 

Bridge Business Colleges Policies and Procedures can be viewed after you log onto the BBC web site.

 

 

 

Your Student Account

All students at Bridge Business College have a personal student account on our BBC website. You may access your student account using your student ID and password. Log into your student account and have look at a number of functions concerning your personal status:

• Check your personal contact details up to date at all times
• You can access an unofficial transcript which shows a list of completed subjects
• You may check your financial fee payment status
• You may upload personal documents
• You may upload medical certificates
• Check your results and attendance for each term by clicking on the ‘Study Log” icon. You can check attendance and academic progress as soon as practicable after the completion of the term. 
• You will receive warning notification through a warning or caution letters about any irregularities for attendance.

 

 

 

Your Student ID Card

To promote a safe and healthy learning environment all students are issued with a Bridge Business College Identification Card, containing:

• Photograph
• Full name
• ID number
• Course enrolled in
• Commencement and completion date. 

 

Students are required to have their Identification card with them at all times whilst on Bridge Business College’s premises.

 

 

Course Structure

Course structure:

• 1 year at Bridge contains 8 terms.
• Each term is 6 weeks long.
• Choose 4 classes each term plus complete ‘Compulsory Student Activities (CSA).

 

January				December
Term 1 6 weeks	Term 2 6 weeks	Term 3 6 weeks	Term 4 6 weeks	Term 5 6 weeks	Term 6 6 weeks	Term 7 6 weeks	Term 8 6 weeks
Semester 1 (24 weeks)				Semester 2 (24 weeks)

 

You must study 4 classes each term to maintain academic progress. Each class is four hours long. You must also complete the compulsory student activities (CSA). Every subject has compulsory student activities.

 

Compulsory Student Activity (CSA)

After you choose Compulsory Student Activity classes you may change the time for attending each week to allow for some flexibility.

 

Remember your class times cannot change each week and your skills class cannot change each week.

 

There may be changes to this program in the future depending on what the Government says.

 

 

 

Attendance Procedures

Attendance is an essential element of your program as full-time student on a study visa.

 

The Australian Government requires students on study visas to attend the College 20 hours per week.

 

Attendance is calculated over the length of your course. For example the Cert II course is 24 weeks (or 4 Terms).

• Your attendance is recorded at the beginning and end of each class you attend. Please make sure you arrive to your class on time. If you miss two (2) classes or 6 hours of class time in a fortnight* you will receive an Attendance Caution Letter
• If you receive three attendance cautions you will also receive an Attendance Warning Letter
• If your attendance is below 80% at the conclusion of the third term of your course you will receive an ‘Intention to Report’ Letter. If you receive an Intention to Report letter come to the College urgently.

 

All students have an opportunity to catch up on study time that has not been done. College staff will advise you on how you can catch up and avoid cancellation of your visa.

Please read the Intervention Strategy below

 

*Fortnight is 2 weeks

 

Academic Progress

If you only complete 2 classes or less per term (50% or less) you will be identified as having unsatisfactory course progress. Students who are at risk of falling below 50% will be sent a Academic Warning Letter at the conclusion of the term. If you receive an Academic Warning letter please come to the College and discuss your situation with Student Services. The College has an intervention strategy available for you at this critical stage of your course.

 

By law Bridge Business College must report you to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) if you do not achieve a minimum of 50% course progress at the completion of the semester. 

 

 

 

Intervention Strategy

Bridge Business College has an ‘Intervention Strategy’ for you if you are not attending your class or not making satisfactory academic course progress.

 

The Intervention Strategy is an opportunity for the College and you to discuss ways to improve your attendance or academic course progress. This is also called a ‘counselling session’.

 

If you receive a Warning letter, please come to the College to discuss your attendance and academic course progress.

 

Attempts at contact will be made through any of the following methods:

• E-mail
• Telephone
• Mailed letter

 

Please ensure that you keep your contact details up to date.

 

 

 

Counselling Session

You may be accompanied by a friend to each counselling session.  At the counselling session there are a number of options available:

• You may be advised, where appropriate, of the suitability or otherwise of the course in which you are enrolled
• You may be advised of opportunities for reassessment in areas where you had previously not received a ‘pass’
• You may be advised that unsatisfactory course progress and attendance over the length of your course could lead to you being reported to the Immigration Department. Immigration may then cancel your visa. You may appeal the cancellation of your visa to the immigration Department.

 

Counselling sessions with you will be conducted in a manner that is constructive and positive and will endeavour to give you every opportunity to outline your particular circumstances.

 

 

Depending on the situation you may be required to submit a written Action Plan. This is your opportunity to correct the situation.

 

This plan will be written jointly and in agreement between you and the staff member in the counselling session. It will identify the problems and outline the steps and timeline required to rectify the situation and enable you to achieve satisfactory progress. You must abide by your action plan. A copy of the action plan will be placed in your documents library in your personal log in account. Failure to follow your action plan may result in cancellation of your enrolment and reporting to the Immigration Department.

 

 

 

 

 

Options For Further Support

As part of the counselling session, you will be offered various types of support as appropriate depending on your particular circumstances.

 

Theses may include:

• Attendance at English language (ELICOS) classes
• Attendance at Compulsory Student Activities classes (students must register classes on their study plan each term)
• Close monitoring and support by your teacher
• One-on-one tutoring to address specific problems. This would occur in Compulsory Student Activities Classes
• Counselling with college staff to help with personal problems
• Referral to outside professional bodies.

 

 

 

Intention To Report Letter

If your attendance is below 80% or your academic progress is below 50% at the completion of your third term, you will be sent an ‘Intention to Report’ letter. If you receive an Intention to Report you will have 20 days to appeal this decision to the College.

 

If you do not appeal in 20 days, BBC will cancel your enrolment and report you to the Immigration Department.

 

Appealing the intention to report

Students have 20 days to appeal a decision by the College to cancel your enrolment and report the matter to the Immigration Department.  You may be accompanied by a friend to an appeals meeting.

 

You may appeal on the grounds of:

• The College’s failure to record or calculate your progress accurately
• Compassionate or compelling circumstances
• The College’s failure to implement the Intervention Strategy and other policies according to its documented policies and procedures that have been made available to you.

Successful appeals

In the case of a successful appeal there are a range of possible outcomes according to the findings of the appeals process:

• If there is a finding that the College failed to record or calculate the  outcomes accurately and you are, in fact, making satisfactory progress there is no need to make a report to the Immigration Department.
• If you are found to be not making satisfactory course progress for compassionate or compelling reasons the College will provide support through its intervention strategy and will not make a report to the Immigration Department. This will involve a written action plan that you must follow.

 

At this stage the Intervention Strategy will be used to provide support as outlined previously. 

Unsuccessful appeal, or withdrawal from or non-use of appeals process

In any of the following cases:

• You may exercise your choice not to access the appeals process within the 20 day period
• You may exercise your choice to withdraw from the process
• The process is completed and the result finds in favour of the College’s decision to report you.

 

Bridge Business College will notify the Australian Government as soon as practicable that you have not achieved satisfactory course progress.

 

Note: Students are not able to withdraw from the College or change courses if an Intention to Report Letter has been issued.

 

 

 

Assessment

Bridge Business College acknowledges the National Assessment Principles issued under the Australian Recognition Framework and is committed to validity, reliability, flexibility and fairness in assessment processes for the training programs that it delivers to its students.

 

In Vocational education an exam is called an assessment. After you complete your assessment you will be either Competent (pass) or Not Yet Competent (Fail).

 

Final Assessments are conducted in Week 6 at the scheduled subject time. 

 

The following conditions apply to passing your assessments: 

1. You must successfully complete all Weekly Activities in the STAR Book including the Compulsory Student Activities and the week 6 Final Exam to pass the subject studied.
2. Where a subject has a Skills class, both classes must be attended and deemed competent. Competence in only one of the classes will result in NYC for the subject.
3. You must have satisfactory attendance.

 

 

 

Re-Scheduled Assessments

The following conditions apply to re-scheduled assessments:

1. Students must arrange to reschedule the assessment with Student Services.
2. You must apply within 8 weeks of the original assessment date otherwise a late fee will apply.
3. You must have achieved an attendance rate greater than 70% for that subject.
4. You must produce a medical certificate, letter from their employer or suitable evidence to be eligible for re-scheduling.

 

 

 

Assessment Appeals

You have the right to appeal any assessment decision made by Bridge Business College if you:

1. Failed the subject.
2. Believe that the assessment is invalid and/or
3. Feel that the process was invalid, inappropriate or unfair.

 

Assessment Appeals are requested via Student Services.

 

The Student Services officer will review your class attendance weekly assessments before making a decision on granting the assessment appeal.

 

An assessment appeal will not be successful if you are deemed Not Yet Competent due to plagiarism (Result code 62) or excessive absenteeism (Result code 61).

 

Assessment appeals must be taken according to the re-scheduled assessment conditions above.

If an assessment appeal is not granted you may request to meet with the Student Services Manager to discuss the matter further. If you are still unsatisfied you may make an appointment with the Principal or Deputy Principal.

 

You may bring a support person or your friend to the assessment appeal request meeting.

 

 

 

Your Trainer’s Responsibilities

1. Your Trainer will provide clear instructions about what is expected from you during your training.
2. Training may consist of group/action learning activities and projects, self-paced learning, assignments, case studies, presentations, discussions, workbook activities, research and reports etc.  Each unit of learning is clearly outlined and indicates what is expected of you during the learning phase.
3. During assessment the learner must be able to Show, Tell and Apply the evidence. The Trainer/Assessor records your evidence and/or skill demonstrations as "C" - Competent or "NYC" - Not Yet Competent.  Competencies are not scaled or marked.

Student Holidays

Full-time students are required to study for a minimum of 36 weeks per year. The remaining weeks may be taken as a holiday. You are therefore eligible to take a holiday every 4^th term, calculated from the term in which you start.

 

You may request alternative holiday dates by submitting a Holiday Form online. 

 

You may decide to take a term as a holiday. A term is 6 weeks duration. Check the College Calendar for term dates. You must return from your holiday in time to start the next term.

 

Classes will not be held on Public holidays and for four (4) weeks over the Christmas/New Year Period.

1. Conditions of holidays Only one holiday per semester can be granted. Holidays cannot be accrued.
2. Requests for leave will not be approved by the College if your attendance or course progress is unsatisfactory. To apply for a holiday log into your BBC account and send an online Holiday Form to student services.
3. If your holiday request is successful, you will be issued with a Holiday Letter indicating the holiday dates. This letter allows you to work full-time or travel outside Australia during your requested holiday period.
4. You must ensure that holiday periods do not clash with any required subjects for the course. Remember to submit your study plan while on holidays in readiness for the following term. Late study plans may incur a penalty fine. Students who don’t submit a study plan create administrative problems for the College. Specifically in relation to managing student numbers and class room teachers.

 

Other forms of leave 

1. Medical Leave
   You who are absent through illness or injury, you must inform the college and evidence this condition with a doctor’s certificate
2. Other Excused Absences
   Exceptional compassionate leave will be granted when circumstances beyond your control prevent attendance e.g. bereavement. Appropriate evidence should be provided.

 

 

 

Your Behaviour

Bridge believes that all students should be treated with respect and assisted throughout their course. Bridge also believes that students should treat all bridge staff with respect and courtesy. If you have a problem, discuss your problem in a calm manner.

If your problem is not resolved by the staff members you may make an appointment with the Student Services Manager.

If your problem is serious or you are still not happy, you may request to see the principal and to write a formal complaint.

 

 

 

Your Feedback And Quality Improvement

 

Bridge Business College collects statistical information regularly to monitor, maintain and achieve ongoing continuous quality improvement in the delivery of vocational education and training. 

 

We value and welcome constructive feedback from students and staff concerning educational and service improvements or changes that would improve our existing services. 

 

To provide management with this feedback for evaluation you are encouraged to complete a student satisfaction survey which will be distributed to you to review your experience at the College.

 

If you wish to provide management with feedback on any issues of concern or areas for improvement are encouraged to complete the Student Feedback forms in class, or place a suggestion in Facebook.

 

 

 

Health & Safety

It is important that you report ANY injury or hazard immediately. If you have any concerns or notice anything that seems unsafe, it is also important that it is brought to the College’s attention. Please see Student Services immediately.

 

 

 

Complaints

 BBC recognises that complaints and problems can arise from time to time. Please see Student Services should you wish to make a complaints.

 

Overseas Students Ombudsman: http://www.oso.gov.au/ 

 

 

 

 

 

Your 5 Main Duties

 

1. 1.    Prepare your study plan on time

• Prepare your study plan by logging on to the website and selecting the Do My Study Plan icon
• Final day to prepare your study plan is Wednesday of Week 5 every term.
• You can change your study plan many times until the final day. Penalties may apply for students who have not prepared a study plan on time

 

 

1. 2.   You must attend all classes you have chosen:

• If you are absent because of illness please bring a medical certificate to Student Services.

 

 

1. 3.   Complete the subjects by submitting all assessments when required

• Ask your teacher what is required. For any other clarification, please see your subject teacher.

 

 

1. 4.   Academic Progress and Attendance

• You must pass all your subjects to get a certificate.
• You must complete 4 classes per term plus Compulsory Student Activity (CSA)
• You must maintain satisfactory course progress and attendance or you may be reported to Immigration.
• An explanation of Academic Progress can be viewed on page 5.
• Students on study visas are required to attend 20 hours per week.

 

 

1. 5.   Always keep your personal contact details up-to-date

• It is a requirement of your student visa.
• Log on to your student account if any of your personal details change

 

 

Orientation/Acknowledgment Form

 

Student Mail	Y   /   N
I understand that Bridge Business College cannot accept responsibility for student mail addressed to students at the college. Students should obtain their own Sydney postal address and pass it on to family and friends as soon as possible.	o
Academic
I have received the International Student Handbook (text book one) and agree to abide by its policies and procedures.	o
I will complete my study plan today.	o
Student Guidelines
I should observe and acknowledge the requirements of Australian and New South Wales laws including all requirements for international students.	o
If I am sick or unable to attend for other reasons, I should notify staff and obtain a medical certificate or appropriate documentation.	o
I understand that Government laws require me to always provide Bridge Business College with my current address and advise the college within two days if my address changes.	o
I should bring my Student ID card with me to the college and present it to authorised staff on request.	o
I understand there is no smoking within the college; this includes the balconies.	o
I agree to dispose of my personal rubbish thoughtfully in bins provided.	o
Discipline
I understand that Bridge Business College reserves the right to terminate my enrolment in the instance of inappropriate behaviour by a student. This is determined at the discretion of the College.	o
I understand that my details may be made available to the Government.	o

 

 

Name:_________________________________   Student Number:_________________

 

Signature:_______________________________________    Date:_________________________