Patricia Guthrie Memorial award – 7.36.1.7

Procedure

Intent

This procedure describes the process by which the Patricia Guthrie Memorial Award is administered.

Scope

This procedure shall apply to Portfolios nominating a graduand for the Patricia Guthrie Memorial Award and to the graduands so nominated.

Procedure

Eligibility

(a). All women students who successfully complete an RMIT undergraduate degree in the year immediately preceding the year of the Award, will be eligible to apply for the Award.

(b). To be considered for the Award, a student must be nominated by her portfolio. Each portfolio may nominate one candidate for the Award.

(c). Candidates must be able to attend the interview at the time set by RMIT, and the successful candidate must be able to accept the Award, personally, at a conferring ceremony in the year of the Award. Candidates will be required to meet any costs incurred in attending for interview. In the case of a candidate living outside Australia, a conference telephone interview may be arranged.

Selection criteria

The candidates shall be assessed on :

(a). academic excellence ; and

(b). social and community contribution both within RMIT and externally.

The criteria shall be of equal importance.

Value and form of the award

The value of the Award will be the value of the interest generated in the previous year by the investment of the 'corpus' of the Award less an amount of interest returned to the corpus so that the real value of the Award might be maintained. A minimum of 15% of the interest shall be re-invested with the corpus in each year.

The Award shall consist of :

(a). a cheque to the value of the Award;

(b). an Award certificate.

Management of the award

The Award shall be administered by the Academic Registrar who shall ensure that :

(a). the standard for selection of the successful candidate is maintained;

(b). the Award is correctly awarded, and the aim of the Award is furthered.

The successful candidate shall be selected by a Selection Panel comprising at least three eminent professional women, three female members of the RMIT community nominated by the Academic Registrar, and the Academic Registrar or nominee.

The winner of the Award in a given year should be invited to join the selection panel for the following year.

The Awards Unit, on behalf of the Academic Registrar, shall establish and administer procedures for the nomination of candidates, for the selection processes, and for any other action required in connection with the Award.

Processes for the award of the prize

(a). During the first week of November (to coincide with the examination period and the finalisation of results), the Awards Unit shall request one nomination for the Award from each of the portfolios.

By the last working day of the year, Portfolio Executive Officers shall forward to the Awards Unit the name of the portfolio nominee for the Award, supported by the following information :

i. A complete record of the nominee's official results.

ii. A written statement from the Portfolio in support of the nomination, highlighting the nominee's social and community contribution within RMIT and externally.

iii. A written statement from the nominee in support of the nomination, highlighting her social and community contribution within RMIT and externally, together with any supporting documentation.

(b). All documentation must be complete and clearly legible. Unreadable, unclear or incomplete facsimile copies will not be accepted.

(c). Nominations received after the set closing date will not be accepted.

(d). During the third week of January the Awards Unit shall invite, on the recommendation of the Academic Registrar, three eminent professional women, three female members of the RMIT community, and the previous year's winner to form the selection panel together with the Academic Registrar (or nominee).

(e). The Awards Unit will convene a meeting of the selection panel for the fourth Wednesday of March. Each candidate shall be invited to attend for an interview. Prior to the interview all candidates shall be forwarded a brochure on the Award, a copy of their nomination, and a list of selection panel members.

(f). Prior to the selection meeting, in March, the Awards Unit shall obtain from Finance Group a statement of funds available for the Award.

(g). The Academic Registrar (or nominee) shall chair the meeting.

(h). At the selection meeting, the Academic Registrar (or nominee), with the assistance of the selection panel, shall decide the value of the Award.

(i). The Academic Registrar (or nominee) with the assistance of the selection panel, shall interview each candidate and shall decide which candidate is to receive the Award.

(j). The Awards Unit shall advise each candidate of the decision of the selection panel. The Portfolios shall be advised of the name of the successful candidate, the amount of the Award and other relevant information.

(k). The Awards Unit shall arrange for the Award to be presented at an appropriate conferring ceremony.

(l). The Awards Unit shall maintain a register of the Patricia Guthrie Memorial Award winners and enter the relevant details on the student database.

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