Senate

Subject: Strategic changes to validated programmes at Loughborough College

Origin: Learning and Teaching Committee, 4 June 2009

Executive Summary: This paper is an extract of the minutes of LTC discussion relating to strategic changes proposed by Loughborough College to four interrelated Foundation Degree programmes validated by the University. LTC received a more detailed report from the validation panel.

Senate action required: Senate approval is sought for the changes and for a related proposal for the introduction of a Distinction/Merit/Pass classification scheme for Foundation Degrees.

The Committee considered the report of a validation panel on proposed strategic changes to four of the existing Foundation Degree programmes at the College. The panel was satisfied that there was a sound rationale for the changes, which involved a reduction in the number of modules overall, through the greater use of 20-credit modules and adoption of a common core of modules across all four programmes, and the rationalisation of work placement experience. The College had taken the opportunity of relaxing the requirements for progression from Part A to Part B, to 100 credits and a modular mark of 30% in the remaining 20 credits, whereas 120 credits had been required previously. The College had also sought approval for the introduction of classification scheme (pass/merit/distinction) for the final FD award, which was now common across the sector.

It was noted that following advice received at the validation panel meeting, the College had agreed to revert for the time being to the title ‘Sports Coaching’ for the one FD where it had proposed the adoption of the title ‘Sports Coaching and Teaching’. The titles of the four revised programmes would therefore be: Sports Science (no change), Sports Development and Management (previously Sports Science with Sports Management), Exercise Science, Physical Activity and Health (previously Exercise, Health and Fitness with Management) and Sports Coaching (no change).

It was resolved to recommend to Senate that the proposed changes be approved, subject to the completion to the satisfaction of the AD(T) SSH of minor modifications requested by the panel, and that approval also be given to the introduction of a classification scheme for Foundation Degrees validated by the University as recommended by the panel.

Author – Robert Bowyer

Date – June 2009