[Making changes to academic provision home page]
Approval processes for requested modifications
Which Modifications need Dean's approval?
Departments are asked to judge whether a change is major or
minor. Minor changes usually only involve a rewording but no
substantive change, or where topics are simply updated.
- Changes to a module title
- Changes to the credit value or credit level
- Changes to the weighting of examinations to coursework (e.g.
50% coursework, 50% exam)
- Changes to the term in which a module is offered but ONLY
when it affects the degree structure or pre and co-requisites
- Changes to the timing or length of the examination
(any centrally managed exams)
- Introduction of a method of assessment which is not already
in operation in the Department/Faculty
- Major changes to the syllabus of a module
- Changes to a module being either core, compulsory or
optional in the structure ONLY when it’s a minor change. The
Dean may refer significant changes to the Faculty Board.
- Changes to the syllabus which alters the course learning
outcomes and will therefore require a change to the programme
structure offered by your department or another department
- Changes to pre-requisites or co-requisites
- Discontinuation of a module (whether permanent or
temporary)
- Discontinuation of a course*
* These need approval from Senate, so the Dean will seek this once
approved by the Faculty Board. Please see
'Items to
consider when requesting modification to module or courses'.
Which changes need Faculty Board approval?
- Changes to the title of a course*
- Changes to the structure of a course (eg the introduction of a new
core/compulsory module or restricting the list of options)
- Changes to the learning outcomes
- Changes to the progression requirements relating to individual modules (eg
introduction of a pass in a given module)
- Changes to credit values of module(s) and dissertation (change to programme
structure)
- Changes to the credit model (15/30 or 20/40)
- Creation of independent study module (new module proposal)
* These need approval from Senate, so the Dean will seek this once
approved by the Faculty Board. Please see
'Items to
consider when requesting modification to module or courses'.
Which changes do not require formal Dean's approval?
Departments are asked to judge whether a change is major or minor. Minor
changes usually only involve a rewording but no substantive change, or where
topics are simply updated.
- Minor changes of syllabus
- Changes to the weighting between elements of coursework assessment **
- Changes to the format of the examination paper
- Changes to the term in which the module is being offered (unless this
affects the degree structure or pre/co-requisites in which case Dean’s approval
is needed) **
- Changes to the availability of optional modules. The Dean does not need to
give formal approval if you decide you cannot offer an optional module in the
following academic year. However you must check that the module is definitely
optional on all courses*** including those administered by other departments. **
** Although the Dean doesn’t approve these changes, it is important that
the department requests these amendments so the database can be altered. This is
important because the database holds the definitive record and supplies
information to other systems, such as the Module Directory, COR, RPS and the
timetable and exams. This is also important in respect of structures and rules
published in advance of the academic year.
*** See 'Items to consider when requesting modification to
modules or courses (which students can take the existing modules)'
for details on how to find this information. If the module is compulsory then
you must liaise with the department which owns the course to see whether it is
possible to come up with a suitable alternative module. In this case, the Dean
would have to give approval to the change of programme structure.
Page last updated:
22 April 2013
