Your supporting statement must address the reason(s) why your academic progression has not been satisfactory, as well as the plan you intend to implement to address and resolve these issues. Your supporting statement should briefly address the issue(s) which negatively impacted on your academic progression.
The reason(s) for your unsatisfactory progress may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Academic issues
- Course related problem(s)
- Employment related problem(s)
- Family and/or personal problem(s)
- Medical problem(s).
More importantly, however, you should provide an explanation of how you have (or intend to) resolve the problem(s), or address the issue(s), so that your studies will not be affected in the future.
Whilst the Re-enrolment Appeal Committee are interested in the reason(s) for your poor academic progression in the previous term(s), they are primarily concerned with what steps you will take and what changes you will make (as well as the changes you have already made) to ensure that that your studies will not be affected in the future should your appeal be successful.
Some examples might include:
- If you state that you worked too much and this negatively impacted on your studies, the Re-enrolment Appeal Committee will want to see how you have addressed this. For example, you may intend to work less hours next term to enable you to dedicate more time to your studies. If this is the case, however, then you will also need to address how you plan to financially support yourself if you are to work less.
- If you state that you experienced health issues and this negatively impacted on your studies, the Committee will want to see that you have addressed this by engaging with a medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, psychologist, university counsellor) for advice and treatment. For example, you might make regular appointments with your medical practitioner for ongoing treatment to address your health issues. However, if this is the case, the Re-enrolment Appeal Committee will also require a letter from your medical practitioner which outlines their professional opinion regarding your ability to study.
The Re-enrolment Appeal Committee want you to demonstrate that you have carefully considered and acknowledged the reason(s) why you have not made satisfactory progress. It is important for you to acknowledge the cause(s) for your lack of progress so that you can implement changes to improve your performance.
If you are in the final year of your program, the Re-enrolment Appeal Committee would also like you to tell us the number of units of credit you have remaining, as well as which courses you intend to study in each of your remaining terms.
For a guide regarding how to structure your supporting statement, please refer to this letter structure (PDF).