Learning and Teaching Committee

Subject: Revised Academic Regulations

Origin: Senate Minutes, 23 June 2004

.1 Senate considered proposals for a New Structure for Academic Regulations and the comments of Learning and Teaching Committee thereon. Senate was content to support the restructuring of the academic regulations, but it was commented that the consultation for this first stage of restructuring had been rushed and limited. It was requested that during the next stage of restructuring the wide variety of programme types now undertaken by the University be taken into account and that Departmental Teaching and Learning Co-ordinators be consulted earlier.

.2 Senate considered revisions to ARUA (2000), in particular the provision relating to discretion for undergraduate programme boards. A member commented on the severe treatment of students who fail to achieve the necessary credit and fail in spite of a decent average mark. Senate was informed that the proposals for condonement included in paragraph 9 of the redrafted ARUA, which followed two consultation exercises with departments, was intended as a possible solution to this. It was intended that, for non-final candidates, condonement would only be applied after resits. It was commented that condonement was unlikely to be considered for a student failing a module twice, and condonement should therefore be applied after the Summer examinations, thereby reducing the number of resits. Senate was advised, however, that students could then appeal on the grounds that through condonement they were forced to receive a lower degree class than might have been obtained through resitting. In response it was suggested that students be offered condonement prior to resits. Senate was advised that experience suggested this would be difficult to implement in practice. It was acknowledged that a balance was needed between the administrative and academic burdens involved. It was suggested that the proposed paragraph 9 be revised to apply only to Final Part candidates at this time, there being no difficulty with the proposals in their regard, and that the proposals in regard to other candidates be referred for further consideration. There were concerns about the practicality of consulting external examiners over condonement in Part A.

It was nevertheless felt that departments had been awaiting the condonement facility for some time and it was RESOLVED to approve the proposals for condonement as included in the proposed paragraph 9 of ARUA, subject to amendment to delete the requirement for consultation with an External Examiner in the case of Part A Programme Boards. It was AGREED that the issue of condonement be revisited by Senate in Autumn 2005 when data would be available on its first year of operation.

.3 Senate considered revisions to GRUA (2000), in particular the proposed minimum requirement for students commencing Part A from 2004/05 onwards, or joining a cohort commencing Part A from 2004/05 onwards, to achieve a minimum mark of 20% in all modules. It was RESOLVED to approve the revisions.

.4 Consequent on .1 above, and on the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee and Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve the following revised/new Regulations, with effect from 4 October 2004, subject to clarification in Regulation XVI (SEN04-P52) on the particular obligations required to be met by students to avoid the consequences listed.

(i) Revisions to GRUA (2000)

(ii) Revisions to ARMPA

(iii) Revisions to GRMPA

(iv) Revisions to ARIS

(v) Revisions to GRIS

(vi) Revisions to Regulation VII: Regulation for University Examinations

(vii) Revisions to Regulation IX: Transfer between Programmes

(viii) New Regulation XVI: Tuition Fees and Payments for Other University Services

(ix) New Regulation XVII: Impaired Performance and Project Extensions

(x) New Regulation XVIII: Academic Misconduct

.5 Consequent on .1 above, and on the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, Research Committee and Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend to Council the following new Ordinance:

New Ordinance XXXIX: Ownership and Commercial Exploitation of Intellectual Property.

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2004