Getting started (access and the homepage)

This page shows you how to find QUASAR and then understand and use the homepage.

Alternatively, you can view the video instead.

Accessing QUASAR

The Quality Assurance and Subject Review (QUASAR) system can be accessed from the Staff Links in Interact2.

The homepage

The homepage is the first page you see in the QUASAR system. The homepage allows you to:

  • select the session and search for your assigned subjects
  • click on a subject and have access to the required forms for the subject.

The option to select a session is in the top right of the screen. Below it is the Subject Code Filter.

Columns

The first column on the home page of subjects indicates the (Intake) Session of the subject. In the case of multi-session subjects (marked with an MSS chip), this session code indicates the original intake session code and the subject will remain in your list until the forms have been completed at the end of the final term or session of the subject (see the 'multiple session or year long subjects' document on the left hand menu)

The second column includes the Subject Code. Each subject includes a hyperlink to select that subject. When a subject is selected the landing page for the subject opens.

You can change the view by selecting a different session and search for particular subjects.

What subjects should I be able to see?

You should see all subjects where you have an assigned role (convenor, moderator, subject coordinator, etc). This includes honours subjects and higher degree research (HDR) coursework subjects.

If anything wrong in your subject list (your assigned role, subjects missing, subjects incorrectly showing etcetera) please contact the subject administration team.

Some subjects are exempt from moderation and thus automatically excluded. These include higher degree research thesis subjects, non-award bearing (e.g. Study Link subjects) and subjects that are only used for given credits. All exceptions are determined by policy using information stored in CDAP. Subjects with no enrolments are also excluded from the landing page.

Forms

There are three possible forms listed for each subject. The remaining columns on the landing page summarise the information for these forms and indicate Action items that may need to be completed.

  1. Subject Validation
    (this form is only available if the offering in your list is the first offering after a change in CDAP/CASIMS where the Head of School will indicate that this form is required. It is due 6 weeks before the start of the session, if required)
  2. Moderation and Grades
    (due when grades are due)
  3. Reflection and Planning
    (due 3 weeks after moderation and grades form)

Stages of each form

Each form has different stages, identified by the Status in the relevant column on the home page. Each stage has one role chiefly responsible to complete the form and progress to the next stage. Each form has a different progression, but the basic process is:

  1. Convenor completes most questions and then submits the form to be checked
    NOTE: subject coordinators can optionally add comments before the form is submitted
  2. The form is then thoroughly checked by either the moderator or a member of the School Quality Committee (SQC). The form then gets either sent back to the convenor or moved forward for the final approval.
  3. The final step approval of the form (or send back to convenor if needed). Depending on the form, this approver either through the School Assessment Committee (SAC) or the Head of School/Centre or delegate.

Submitting the form to the next stage locks it from further editing. When sending the form back, comments can be added to the top of the form.

Details for the status and available actions for each form

Subject Validation

(* indicates the action is required to progress the form)

Status Role: Available actionsComments
EXEMPT – (no action applicable)
All All: Read Available if not exempt or if not superseded by another action.
HOS INITIAL HOS/Admin: *Assess HOS determines if a comprehensive review is required. If not required, then this also approves the form.
CONVENOR Convenor: *Complete Convenor describes the changes to the subject.
MODERATOR Moderator: *Complete Moderator checks the subject by doing a comprehensive review.
If no issues, then this also approves the form.
APPROVED HOS: Reverse Form complete after HOS says no comprehensive review required.
APPROVED (FULL REVIEW) HOS: Reverse Form complete after a comprehensive review is done and eventually moved to approved.
HOS FINAL HOS: *Resolve Comprehensive review identified an issue. HOS determines the way to address it. Once resolved, the HOS approves the form.

Moderation and Grades

(* indicates the action is required to progress the form)

Status Role: Available actionsComments
EXEMPT – (no action applicable)
All All: Read Available if not exempt or if not superseded by another action.
CONVENOR Convenor: *Complete Convenor describes the moderation process and declares grades for all offerings.
Convenor: Declare Convenor can declare the grades are ready for an offering. Moderator also can declare a cohort in convenor or moderator state.
MODERATOR Moderator: *Complete Moderator checks the form and confirms the moderation and grades are complete.
Moderator: Declare Moderator can declare the grades are ready for an offering.
SAC SAC: *Approve School Assessment Committee approves the form.
APPROVED HOS: Reverse Form complete.

Reflection and Planning

(* indicates the action is required to progress the form)

Status Role: Available actionsComments
EXEMPT – (no action applicable)
All All: Read Available if not exempt or if not superseded by another action.
CONVENOR Convenor: *Complete Convenor reflects on the subject and creates action items as required.
Coordinator: Comment Optional: coordinators can add a comment.  
SQC SQC: *Approve School Quality Committee (SQC) checks that reflection and planned action items are appropriate.
SQC is usually the School Assessment Committee.        
HOS HOS: *Approve HOS approves form after checking that workload requests are appropriate.
APPROVED HOS: Reverse Form complete.

Navigation

The links in the black banner towards the top of the page help you navigate within the system:

The black banner has options for Home, Reports and Help.

  • Home – this takes you back to the home page.
  • Report – provides access to the reporting features; only Admin, SAC, SQC, School read only and HoS access roles will see this link.
  • Help – links back to the pages you're currently reading.
  • Welcome <your name> - clicking this on a page for a particular subject shows the roles you have for that subject.

Depending on the role you have been assigned in the system, you may not see all of the above links.