SUMMARY OF ACADEMIC
POLICY DECISIONS – SUMMER 2004
This information note refers to decisions made at the following meetings:
ASC – 26 May 2004
Senate –
Minute numbers are given to indicate the source of the information set out below. Where extracts of minutes are included verbatim, this is indicated by speech marks.
LIST OF CONTENTS
SECTION A – FOR ACTION
1. Student References
2. Revised Academic Offences Regulations and new Academic Offences Guidelines
3. Annual Monitoring – Revised Proforma
4. Periodic Review – Revised Procedures
5. External Examining
(a) Dismissal Guidelines and Procedure
(b) Consideration of Work by External Examiners
(c) Joint Examination Boards – Attendance of External Examiner
SECTION B – FOR INFORMATION
1. Marks for attendance
2. Student Satisfaction Survey
3. Teaching Quality Information
4. Publication of Student Handbooks
5. Use of Dictionaries in Examinations
6. Distance Learning
7. Coursework requirements for students repeating a year of study
8. Intellectual Property Rights in Student Work
9. Amendments to Regulations and Procedures
SECTION A – FOR
ACTION BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND CENTRES
1.
Student
References (S.M.M.71/04)
‘Resolved
(i) that the Procedures for Providing Student References be approved for implementation from October 2004, as set out in Appendix A
(ii) that Departments and Centres be encouraged to adopt the procedures for the current cohort of graduating students;
(iii) that the Staff Development Office be invited to develop a face-to-face training session and an online tutorial for academic staff to develop the guidance in Section B of the Procedures, with the use of examples of good practice and practical training.’
2.
Revised
Academic Offences Regulations and new Academic Offences Guidelines (S.M.76/04)
Senate approved revised Academic Offences
Regulations and new Academic Offences Guidelines as set out in Appendix B, for implementation from
2004/05.
3.
Annual
Monitoring – Revised Proforma (ASC.M.17/04)
‘Resolved
that the revised proforma for Annual Monitoring be approved’, as set out in Appendix C.
4.
Periodic
Review – Revised Procedures (S.M.78/04)
‘Resolved
that the revised Procedures for
Periodic Review of Degree Schemes leading to University of Essex Awards, as
attached as Appendix D, be approved with effect from 2004/05.’
5.
External
Examining
a.
Dismissal
Guidelines and Procedure (S.M.82/04)
‘Resolved
that the Guidelines and Procedure for the Dismissal of External Examiners, attached as Appendix E, be approved with effect from 2004/05.’
b.
Procedures
for External Examiners (S.M.87/04)
‘Resolved
that the following amendment to Section 8.4 of the Procedures for External Examining, in respect of consideration of student work by external examiners, be approved.
8.4 Overall arbitration on candidates
borderline for degree classification is carried out on the basis of final year
assessed material only. Second year marks are confirmed by the Second-year
Board, and may not be altered in the candidate's final year. Therefore, in
those Schools which operate a system of in-class credits for degree
classification, it is important that the relevant University departments
explicitly confirm all X9 course aggregate marks on the second-year
grid. be
considered. The internal markers should, where
possible, attempt to resolve an X9 by either lowering the aggregate to X8 or
raising it to X0. If the internal markers are unable to do this, or if there is
disagreement between them about what to do, then the work must be considered by
the External. The External may raise the
mark, lower the mark, or confirm it with no change. This decision will be
recorded on the second-year grid. In reaching a
decision on X9 components, External Examiners are invited to consider the
candidates whole performance across the examination and coursework.
c.
Joint
Examination Boards – Attendance of External Examiners (ASC.M.13/04)
‘Noted
The Chair had agreed, on behalf of the Committee, that only the External Examiner of the administering department was required to be present at joint degree examination boards.’
SECTION B – FOR
INFORMATION
1.
Marks for
attendance (ASC.M.12/04)
ASC agreed that the policy on marks for attendance should be reworded to read:
‘Marks should be awarded on the basis of academic achievement, not merely attendance or lack thereof. It is acceptable on academic grounds to allocate marks for the manner and quality of participation in class.’
2.
Student
Satisfaction Survey (ASC.M.16/04)
ASC approved the arrangements for managing the outcomes of the annual University Student Satisfaction Survey, as set out in the Appendix F.
3.
Teaching
Quality Information (ASC.M.18/04)
‘Resolved
that the procedures for approving TQI information for publication …. be approved.’ See Appendix G.
4.
Publication
of Student Handbooks (ASC.M.46/04)
‘Resolved
(i) that departments should be permitted to provide student handbooks on CD rather than hard copy, provided that hard copies were made available to students on request;’
5.
Use of
Dictionaries in Examinations (S.M.M.79-80/04)
‘Resolved
that with effect from 2004/05
(i) the entitlement of students whose first language is not English to take a translation dictionary into examinations be abolished;
(ii) where a dictionary of any sort is permitted to be used, it be permitted for all students taking that examination and be specified clearly in the rubric of that examination.’
6.
Distance
Learning (S.M.77/04)
‘Resolved
that the principles and procedures as set out in Appendix H be approved as a Framework for Distance and Online Teaching and Learning with immediate effect.’
7. Coursework requirements for students
repeating a year of study (ASC.M.72/04) (approved
by the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Senate, awaiting Senate minute number)
‘Resolved
that, except where explicitly permitted as a consequence of extenuating circumstances, students repeating a year (or part of a year) should not be permitted to recycle work from previous attempts at a course.’
8.
Intellectual
Property Rights in Student Work (S.M.M.124-125/04)
‘Resolved
(i) that Regulation 7.16 be amended with effect from 2004/05 (see also item 9 below);
(ii) that the Code of Practice on IPR be replaced by guidelines for students, as at Appendix I, and a single copy be kept on the Web, in the Calendar.
9.
Amendments
to Regulations (S.M.140/04)
The Senate approved amendments to Regulations relating to Registration, Academic Progress and Examinations and the General Regulations. See Appendix J.
Joanne Tallentire
Senior Assistant
Registrar
July 2004