Understanding the show cause process
If you've received a Notice of Intention to Exclude, it means you've been identified as a Stage 3: At Risk of Exclusion student under UniSQ’s Student Academic Progress Procedure.
The Show Cause process is your opportunity to explain why you should not be excluded from study. You’ll need to outline any circumstances that impacted your academic performance, describe how you’ve addressed them, and explain how you plan to improve. If you don’t submit a response by the deadline, you will be automatically excluded for 12 months.
If you're unable to submit your Show Cause response by the deadline, please contact the Progression team before the due date and explain why you need more time. Extension requests will be considered, but approval is not guaranteed.
Support during the process
- If you would like to discuss the Show Cause notice or outcome, please remember that the Progression Officers are here to help. You can book an appointment at a time that suits you.
- The UniSQ Student Guild provides free independent and confidential support for students and can assist you with compiling your Show Cause response, and/or the Appeals process.
- Our wellbeing team are a group of experienced professionals who provide free confidential counselling services to help you with a range of matters and increase your sense of wellbeing.
Show Cause response guide
Your Show Cause response must address five key areas. Use the questions below to guide your writing:
- Outline the circumstances that affected your studies
- Were the circumstances academic or personal?
- Were you injured or ill?
- Was there a family crisis or other difficulties?
- Were there work or life impacts?
- Were you affected by flood, fire, or other events?
- Were there any other unexpected or exceptional circumstances?
- Describe how these circumstances impacted you and how you responded
- How did the situation affect your study?
- When was the full impact known?
- Did you seek advice, assistance, or professional help?
- What have you put in place to make the situation more manageable?
- Are you currently undergoing treatment?
- Reflect on your Stage 2: Assisted status
- Did you engage with an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP)?
- Did you seek assistance or advice from University support services?
- Explain your plan moving forward
- Is the situation resolved?
- Have you sought assistance from UniSQ support services?
- Will you reduce your study load or work hours?
- How will you better plan your time?
- How will you approach study differently?
- Do you have short-term and long-term plans?
- Provide supporting documentation
Use the table below to identify appropriate evidence and strategies:
| Reason | Supporting documentation | Future strategy examples |
| Medical (illness, injury, psychological) | Medical certificates, hospital letters, Learning Support Plan | Seek help from a doctor or counsellor; contact Student Equity |
| Financial hardship | Redundancy letters, financial statements, support letters | Meet with a Student Welfare Advisor |
| Employment pressures | Employer letters, rosters, statutory declarations if self-employed |
Negotiate work arrangements; reduce hours or study load |
| Personal/family/carer responsibilities | Medical letters, court notices, housing documents, funeral service pamphlets, police/accident reports, letter of support | Seek support from Student Success Advisors, Progression Officers, counsellors, medical professional. Consider reducing study load |
| Cultural adjustments | Appointment or advice emails, documentation of arrival into the country | Seek support from UniSQ support services and medical professionals, access study skills support, attend UniSQ events. |
| Study-related | Evidence of seeking support services such as emails to course examiner and/ or UniSQ support services, appointment email confirmations for support, prior study schedules/plans | Appointment with Progression Officer, Learning Advisor and/ or Student Success Advisor. |
| Natural disaster | Known facts, media reports or other information relating to political upheaval, natural disasters or other circumstances. | |
| Other | Prior or current Academic Improvement Plan (AIP), other relevant documentation that supports your Show Cause statement and strategies for improvement Future study plan | Review Academic Improvement Plan, continued engagement with UniSQ support services |
Submit your Show Cause response by the deadline outlined in your Notice of Intention to Exclude communication, through:
- UConnect
- Student Centre
- Academic Progress tile
- Show Cause and Exclusion tab.
You may continue studying while your submission is being assessed.
Your submission will be assessed within 10 University business days. The panel will consider:
- Your academic history
- Circumstances and supporting documentation provided
- Strategies for improvement
- Whether you’ve accessed UniSQ support services.
You’ll be notified of the outcome via your student email (UMail). Read the email carefully and follow any instructions provided.
If you're excluded, this means your enrolment is cancelled for a 12-month period. You'll need to apply for readmission after the exclusion period.
If you don’t agree with the outcome of your Show Cause, you have the right to submit an Academic Appeal within 20 University business days, as outlined in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure.
For help with the appeals process, contact the UniSQ Student Guild. They offer free, confidential support to guide you through each step.
Have a question? We're here to help.
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