Learning and Teaching Committee

Special assessment arrangements in the context of religious observance:

Extract from unconfirmed Senate Minutes of 19 November 2008

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Senate Minute on Assessment flexibility policy for elite athletes

Apologies were given for the late notice of a request to unstar this item, and it was emphasised that there was no intention to detract from the hard work that had gone into the development of this policy. However, concerns were expressed that in approving an assessment flexibility policy for elite athletes, but not for other groups (particularly those with strong religious beliefs), the University might be considered to be treating students in an unequal manner, and/or acting unlawfully. Reference was made to an incident in Summer 2008 in which a student who benefitted from flexible assessment arrangements in view of their sporting commitments was perceived to have been treated more favourably than a student from the same department who had initially been advised that no flexible arrangements could be made in respect of his religious observance.

It was noted that at Loughborough, the demand for flexible assessment arrangements from those with high-level sporting commitments was significantly higher than that from other groups, and that the intention of the proposed policy was simply to tighten-up and formalise the existing arrangements that had been made for elite athletes for a number of years. On this basis, Senate RESOLVED to approve the policy.

However, Senate also AGREED that the University’s existing policy on assessment flexibility in the context of religious observance, as referred to in the Student Handbook, should be amended as soon as possible to indicate that in exceptional circumstances, special arrangements could be made for reasons of religious observance. This wording would stand pending a full debate of the issues and preparation of revised policies on special examination arrangements more generally. This debate would be conducted through Programme Quality Team and include consultation with departments, with the intention that final proposals would be submitted to Learning and Teaching Committee in February 2009 and Senate in March 2009, so that arrangements were in place for Semester 2 2008-09.