Within the rules engine, System Progression Rules are organised into logical rule groups based on which measure is being tested. These are the System Rule Call Code Groups. Some examples are PRG-GPA, PRG-PRO, PRG-WAM and PRG-UFAIL.

This form allows the creation of institution-defined Rule Categories, which can be used to group the Progression Rules of the institution. For example an institution may use a variety of Grade Point Average Progression measures (GPA calculated for the whole Course Attempt and GPA calculated only for units completed within this Progression Period). Two different rule categories can be created so rules of each type can be grouped within the correct category (e.g. CRS-GPA and PER-GPA). The use of different categories also ensures that, when applied, a Progression Rule is not unintentionally overridden by another rule (specified at a different level in the rule application hierarchy).

The linking of an institution-defined Rule Category to a System Rule Call Code is also done using this form. This link ensures that, when rules are being built (using RULF2000), only the rule options relevant to this progression measure are available. It also ensures that the rules engine is able to correctly evaluate the rules, when applied.

A Rule Category even when it has associated Calendars & Outcomes does not initiate Progression checking. Refer to Progression Rules Overview for a detailed explanation of Progression Rule applications.

The Progression Rule Category block contains:

• Rule Category
• Desctription
• System Rule Call Code
• Closed check box
• Message

Progression Rule Calendar tab

• Calendar Type
• Start Period
• End Period
• Student Start Period
• Application

Progression Outcome tab

• Rule Category
• Rule Text
• Message

  Progression Rule Calendar Type sub block

  • Calendar Type
  • Student Start Period
  • Applications

  Progression Rule Outcome sub block

  • Failures
  • Outcome Type
  • Duration

Category Summary tab

Rules/Notes:

The Progression Outcome button links to PRGF5214 (Maintain Progression Rule Outcome)

Use this form to record the Progression Rule Categories required by the institution.

Rule Category, Description and System Rule Call Code are all required fields.

More than one institution-defined Rule Category can be mapped to a single System Rule Call Code. This allows greater flexibility in the application of rules (within the category) and limits unintentional overriding at different application levels.

Rules/Notes:

Once used in the system, obsolete Rule Categories should be closed, not deleted.

Rule Category Codes must be unique

The System Rule Call Code mapped to a Rule Category cannot be changed if that Rule Category has been used in defining a rule or rule application.

Progression Calendars and/or Outcomes can be assigned to a Progression Rule Category. This means that in the application of all Progression Rules within this category, the assigned Progression Periods / Dates (identified through the selected calendar/s) and outcomes are used by default. These default Progression Periods and outcomes can be overridden at 2 levels:

• For any individual rule (within the category) using PRGF5100
• At a rule application level (using PRGF5200)

For a more detailed explanation about the levels of application, refer to Progression Rules Overview.

Rules/Notes:

An Example:

The majority of courses offered at an institution require students to pass one or more specific units, in their first year. These units vary from course to course, but the Progression Outcome of failing one of these units is always probation. The institution may establish a Rule Category of DSGN-UFAIL and assign the PROBATION Progression Outcome to the category.

An 'application specific' rule for a course version can be created (using this Rule Category) at the Rule Application level. The application does not need an outcome defined - the Probation Outcome is inherited from this Rule Category level.

In the Progression Rule Calendar overlay, select or enter a progression Calendar Type.

The following limits on the application of all rules (in the category), within that calendar, can be applied:

• Start Period - can be nominated where the application of this category of rules is to start at a point in the future. Without this limit, the application of a rule within the category begins when a rule is linked to an application element.
  The List of Values displays the available Start Periods as a concatenation of the year of the calendar instance and the Alternate Code for the Progression Calendar Type, e.g. 2003/P2.
• End Period - can be nominated (at any time after the defining of the rule) to phase out a defined Rule Category, for the given Calendar Type. It does not mean that the applicable category is no longer used. The Rule Category may still be active under other progression Calendar Types.
  The List of Values displays End Periods in the same way as Start Periods, e.g. 2004/P1
• Student Start Period - enter a number, representing the student's Progression Period for which the checking of rules within this category, should begin. This may be overridden at the rule or rule application level.
• Applications - nominated to restrict the number of times any rule within this category can be applied to a particular student - e.g. if 2 is entered, this rule can be applied to a student for 2 Progression Periods. This may be overridden at the rule or rule application level.

Rules/Notes:

A Calendar Type can be assigned to a Rule Category, with no limiting values entered.

A Calendar Type assigned to a Rule Category cannot be deleted after rule testing for this Category and Calendar Type has begun.

Where calendar instances are entered in the Start / End Period fields, they must be ACTIVE instances.

Any entry in the Student Start Period or Applications field must be a number >=1.

The Start Period value cannot be modified after rule testing for this category and Calendar Type has begun.

Navigate to the Maintain Progression Rule Outcome form (PRGF5214), using the Progression Outcomes button.

The Category Summary overlay can be opened using the navigation button. This displays summary information for all Calendar Types and outcomes currently assigned to this Rule Category.

Calendar Type, Student Start Period and Applications are displayed for each assigned Calendar Type.

For each assigned outcome, the following details are displayed.
Failures - displaying the number of rule failures and the Repeat Failure Type to which the outcome is to apply e.g. 2/CONSECRPT.
Outcome Type.
Duration - where applicable (not all outcomes have duration values) displays both the number and type of duration periods for which the outcome is to apply e.g. 2/EFFECTIVE.

Rules/Notes:

The assigned calendars and outcomes cannot be altered in this overlay.
Modify the assigned Calendars using the Progression Rule Calendar overlay.
Modify the assigned Outcomes using the Maintain Progression Rule Outcome form.

WARNING! After initial implementation, modifications to the configuration of the Progression Subsystem should be made with care and after thorough examination of the implications of the planned change.