Learning and Teaching Committee

Subject: ‘Stretched degrees’ for elite sportsmen and women

Origin: Programme Quality Team

The following procedures were initially arrived at through discussions involving the PVC(T), the Academic Registrar, the AD(T) SSH, David Stead - Director of UG Studies SSES and Andy Borrie - Director of Performance Sport SDC; and subsequently endorsed by the Programme Quality Team.

Operational details, including the design of an application form, are being worked out between SDC and the Academic Registry.

LTC approval is sought for the procedural framework.

Stretched Degrees

Students performing at elite level in their sport may seek approval to reschedule their academic programmes, normally taken on a full-time basis, over a longer period of time, in order to help them manage the balance of their sporting and academic commitments and reach their full potential in both areas. This will normally mean ‘stretching’ an undergraduate degree programme over one or two extra years.

Procedure

1. The student (or potential student) contacts Sports Development Centre (SDC).

2. The student starts to complete a formal ‘stretched degree’ application form with guidance from SDC administrative staff.

3. On receipt of the completed form, the Head of Performance Sport discusses the student’s priorities with the student and the relevant coach. This discussion should cover a standard checklist of critical issues including other options such as leave of absence. Other issues would include sporting status, forthcoming commitments, relevance of commitments to long term goals, demands of training and competing, lifestyle issues including implications for financial support.)

4. If satisfied that the claim is reasonable, the Head of Performance Sport would sign the form and contact the student’s Head of Department, or designated nominee, to verify that the student’s claim has been fully discussed and has SDC support.

5. The student contacts their department.

6. A nominated member of staff in the department meets with the student to discuss their request for a stretched degree opportunity and ensure that the student has given careful thought to the implications for their studies. (Issues for discussion are likely to encompass: the student’s current academic performance and ambitions; their understanding and appreciation of the academic study challenges that come with a stretched degree; as well as what a stretched degree programme might look like for the individual concerned.)

The first academic year of a programme may not normally be stretched. One year of a full-time degree programme may not normally be stretched over more than two years.

7. The department puts forward a proposed schedule of modules for the student and a request for waiver of programme regulations through Academic Registry (SR&E Office) to the appropriate AD(T) for approval.

8. The department informs the student and SDC when a decision is taken.

9. SDC maintains a record of all approaches to SDC whether supported or not and subsequent outcomes.

The SDC will make this process known to all students to whom they believe it may potentially be relevant, just before or soon after they arrive at Loughborough in order to assist in forward planning. The process will be made known to departments and coaches via the intranet but not be published in the public domain.

It will only be available to students who proactively manage their affairs and submit their requests for consideration in advance of the academic year concerned.