1.0 The criteria for the award of gold medals and prizes are as follows:

(a) School Gold Medal: awarded to the most outstanding graduate, who has a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 4.0 in the programme in which the student has completed.
(b) Gold Medal and Certificate: Every gold medal will be accompanied by a Certificate signed by the Vice-Chancellor & President.
(c) Discipline Certificate: awarded to the most outstanding graduate with a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 4.0 in the courses the student has completed in the discipline, as a major or one the majors, or as part of the students programme and meets the requirements for a major in the discipline.

1.1 Where there are two or more eligible candidates with equal cumulative GPA, the candidate with the highest raw mark will be nominated to receive the award. In cases of more than one student having the same highest raw mark, the candidates are entitled to each receive the ‘full’ award.
1.2 In the calculation of the GPAs for the award, the resultant number will be taken to two decimal points and only USP earned credit will be used.
1.3 In cases of Special Award, the prizes will be determined by the sponsors.

2.0 PACIFIC TECHNICAL & FURTHER EDUCATION PRIZES GOLD MEDALS

2.1 College of Continuing Vocational Education and Training (CVET)

2.1.1 COLLEGE AWARD – Gold Medal and Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate in the College of Continuing Vocational Education and Training

2.1.2 Awards for Continuing Vocational Education and Training Programmes –Certificates
Awards for the most outstanding graduate in the following skills based-programmes provided the student graduates with a cumulative GPA of not less than 4.0 in the programme. Certificates will be awarded for the highest exit qualification of the programme.

• For the most outstanding Business & Commerce graduate
• For the most outstanding Arts & Humanities graduate
• For the most outstanding Hospitality & Cookery graduate
• For the most outstanding Science, Technology& Environment graduate
• For the most outstanding Education and Training graduate

2.2 Awards for Foundation and Preliminary Programmes- Certificates

Award for the most outstanding graduate in the following Foundation and Preliminary programmes provided the student graduates with a cumulative GPA of not less than 4.0 in the programme:

2.2.1 Foundation

• For the most outstanding Foundation Arts graduate
• For the most outstanding Foundation Business graduate

• For the most outstanding Foundation Science graduate

2.2.2 Preliminary

• For the most outstanding Preliminary Arts graduate
• For the most outstanding Preliminary Business graduate
• For the most outstanding Preliminary Science graduate

3.0 SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS
3.1 SCHOOL AWARD – Gold Medal and Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Accounting, Finance and Economics

3.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate with major in:
• Finance
• Official Statistics
• Population Studies and Demography

3.3 SPECIAL AWARDS
3.3.1 Head of School’s Award
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Accounting, Finance and Economics
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Accounting, Finance and Economics

3.3.2 Other Awards
• For the most outstanding graduate in Accounting – The Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants Award
• For the most outstanding graduate in Economics – The Reserve Bank of Fiji Award
• For the most outstanding Master of Commerce in Economics (by Coursework) graduate – The T.K. Jayaraman Award
• For the most outstanding graduate in AF307 – The Auditor-General of Fiji Award

4.0 SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

4.1 SCHOOL AWARDS – Gold Medals and Certificates
• For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Business and Management
• For the most outstanding Master of Business Administration graduate

4.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificates
For the most outstanding graduate with major in:
• Management and Public Administration
• For the most outstanding Land Management
• For the most outstanding Tourism & Hospitality Management

4.3 SPECIAL AWARDS
4.3.1 Head of School’s Award
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Business and Management
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Business and Management

4.3.2 Other Awards

For the most outstanding Master of Commerce in Tourism & Hospitality Management thesis

5.0 SCHOOL OF PACIFIC ARTS, COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION
5.1 SCHOOL AWARD – Gold Medal and Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education

5.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificates
For the most outstanding graduate with a major in:

• Education
• Journalism
• Linguistics
• Literature
• Literature and Language
• Pacific Vernacular
• Technical and Vocational Education

5.3 SPECIAL AWARDS
5.3.1 Head of School’s Award
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education

5.3.2 Other Awards
Storyboard Award donated by David Robie and Delia, and the ABC-Radio Australia Prize of FJ$350 to the most outstanding journalism student demonstrating the qualities and ethics in pursuit of truth and the public interest.

6.0 SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS
6.1 SCHOOL AWARD – Gold Medal and Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics

6.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificates
For the most outstanding graduate with a major in:

• Computing Science
• Information Systems
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Engineering (Electrical and Electronics)
• Engineering (Civil)
• Engineering (Mechanical)
• Networks & Security
• Software Engineering

6.3SPECIAL AWARDS
6.3.1 Head of School’s Award

• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics

6.3.2 Other Awards

• For the Best Performing Female Student of the Bachelor of Engineering Programme -The Fiji Institute of Engineers FJ$500 prize money
• For the Best Female Undergraduate Student from a USP Member country in the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics -The Shikha Raturi award

7.0 SCHOOL OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

7.1 SCHOOL AWARD – Gold Medal and Certificate
• For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Law and Social Sciences

7.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate with a major in:
• Law
• History
• Pacific Policing
• Politics
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

7.3 SPECIAL AWARDS

7.3.1 Head of School’s Award
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Law and Social Sciences
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Law and Social Sciences

7.3.2 Other Awards
For the most outstanding Diploma in Leadership, Governance & Human Rights graduate in The Lionel Gibson Memorial Award

8.0 SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, GEOGRAPHY ENVIRONMENT, OCEANS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

8.1 SCHOOL AWARD- Gold Medal and Certificate
For the most outstanding graduate in the School of Agriculture, Geography Environment, Ocean and
Natural Sciences

8.2 DISCIPLINE AWARDS – Certificates
For the most outstanding graduate with a major in:
• Agriculture
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Geospatial Science
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Science
• Marine Management
• Marine Science

8.3 SPECIAL AWARDS

8.3.1 Head of School’s Award

• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding first-year student in the School of Agriculture, Geography Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences
• The Head of School Award for the most outstanding second-year student in the School of Agriculture, Geography Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences

8.3.2 Other Awards

• For the most outstanding Masters Thesis Prize in Chemistry – The David Rohindra Prize
• Animal Husbandry – The Telefoni Retzlaff Memorial Prize

9.0 PACIFIC CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (PaCE-SD)

For the most outstanding graduate in the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development PACE-SD – Gold Medal and Certificate

10.0 UNIVERSITY AWARDS

• For the most outstanding Postgraduate Diploma graduate- Gold Medal and Certificate
• For the most outstanding Master of Arts thesis – Gold Medal and Certificate
• For the most outstanding Master of Commerce thesis – Gold Medal and Certificate
• For the most outstanding Master of Science thesis – Gold Medal and Certificate
• For the outstanding PhD Thesis – Letter of Commendation

11.0 VICE-CHANCELLOR & PRESIDENT’S ALL-ROUNDER AWARD

For the male graduate and female graduate with the best combined academic performance and record of service to the community – Gold Medal and Prize

11.1 Process for the Vice-Chancellor & President’s All- Rounder Prize
  (a) Communication of Award
(i) DVC (Education) Office sends out the criteria and nomination process regarding the Vice- Chancellor & President’s All-Rounder Prize to the University in November.
(a) Academic units informed of the criteria and nomination process, and the deadline.
(b) Other sections like Regional Campuses, Campus Life and USPSA to draw up their timelines according to this communication.
(ii) DVC (Education) Office sends out a second reminder to the University in the beginning of January.
(iii) DVC (Education) Office sends out a third and final reminder to University in the middle of January.
(iv) Academic units, regional campuses and sections submit their nominations to the Medals & Prizes Committee by end of January.
(b) Criteria
Nominations will be judged according to the following criteria:
(i) Students must be graduating or have graduated in a USP graduation ceremony that took place from June of the previous year to March of the current year.
(ii) Students must have a programme GPA of 3.5 or better.(there are other areas as well to be considered, not only academic)
(iii) Students must not have been found guilty of any disciplinary charges.
(iv) Service Within USP – Students must show that they have provided outstanding service (going over and beyond what is expected of USP students) to the University over the duration of their programme. All service has to be backed up with supporting documentation including a supporting letter from their Academic Unit
(v) Service Outside of USP – Students must show that they have provided outstanding service (going over and beyond what is expected of USP students) to the wider community over the duration of their programme. All service has to be backed up with supporting documentation.

  (c) Awarding the All-Rounder Prize & Gold Medal
(i) The Medals & Prizes Committee will receive all nominations and deliberate on one award for the male graduate and one award for the female graduate with the best combined academic performance and record of service to the community.
(ii) Nominations will be scored out of 5 (1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest) against the following:
(a) GPA
(b) Service Within USP – more points will be given to students who show outstanding service not only within their Academic Unit, but University-wide, as well as the length of their service.
(c) Service Outside of USP – more points will be given to students who show outstanding service outside of their village, race and religious affiliation.
(iii) The Medals & Prizes Committee will forward the names of these awardees to the Vice-Chancellor & President for the final decision.
(iv) Student Administrative Services will inform the recipients of these awards via email.