This course is only offered on campus.

• Attendance is required at scheduled laboratories/tutorials to complete these components of the course. Absence without prior approval (e.g. for a medical reason, supported with a medical certificate) will incur a zero grade for the related assessment. 
• Technology permitting, lectures will be available as recordings up to 72 hours after the teaching session. These recordings are only intended as a supplementary resource (if needed), and not as a replacement for lecture attendance. Technical difficulties sometimes occur that may affect recording quality, or prevent/delay the release of recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials, workshops,  and labs will not be available as recordings.
• Medsci 316 will not include live online teaching sessions.
• Attendance on campus is required for the tests and exam.
• The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

"Neuroscience" 6th edition by D. Purves et al (2018)

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

• Honesty - in all aspects of research work
• Accountability - in the conduct of research
• Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
• Good stewardship – on behalf of others
• Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
• Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Medsci 316 laboratories include practical group work in order to obtain raw data. The analysis, data presentation, and written components of the related assessments must be completed independently by each student, and adhere to the academic integrity standards set by the University of Auckland Student Academic Conduct Statute.

GenAI

We are currently reviewing our policy on GenAI use in assessments, and you will be informed about our expectations at the start of the semester. 

Pass requirements

In order to pass Medsci 316, Students must obtain:

• an overall pass mark in the practical assessments (i.e. 15/30)
• an overall pass mark in the theory component (tests and exam: 35/70)

Attendance

All laboratory attendance is compulsory, and laboratory assignments will not be accepted without the prior attendance and completion of the relevant laboratory. Students will receive a grade of 0% for their assignment if they are absent at the relevant laboratory session without a medical certificate: Students forced to miss a laboratory through sickness must provide a Doctor's certificate for our files and contact the course coordinator as soon as possible for further instruction on how to proceed.

Submission of assignments 

Extensions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where evidence is provided (such as a medical/counsellor certificate), and the request is made within a reasonable timeframe, prior to the assignment due date.

Late submission of assignments without prior-approved extensions will be subject to an initial penalty of 10% of the available marks, with additional penalties of 10% every 24 hours. Assignments will not be accepted 7 days after the due date.

Submission of written work is only complete when an electronic copy has been submitted through the appropriate platform (i.e. Turnitin). Please retain your submission confirmation as evidence of timely submission.

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback has indicated that laboratories are highly valued, and we will continue to prioritise and build on these experiences. Comments regarding both lectures and labs were largely positive and we aim to maintain these standards in the future.

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.