UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
BOARD OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Undergraduate Studies held on Friday 21st November 2014.
Present:
Professor R Leng (in the Chair), Professor P Corvi, Ms R Hiscock,
Professor C Jenainati, Dr G Martin, Ms M Mirza, Dr J Pearson, Dr J Robinson,
Mr E Stewart, Dr D Wood.
In Attendance: Mr D Brandist, Mr D Gibbons (for item 7/14-15), Dr J Taylor, Ms S Tuersley (for item
8 ( c) /14-15).
Apologies:
Dr A Broome, Mr P Brown, Dr C Melville, Professor L Roberts.
1/14-15
Terms of Reference
REPORTED:
That Senate, at its meeting on 1st July 2014, had approved revised Terms of
Reference for the Board as follows:
(a) To consider academic issues relating to undergraduate provision offered by
individual departments and across departmental boundaries, including matters that
may be raised by academic departments and/or Directors of Undergraduate
Studies, and make recommendations or comment to the Academic Quality and
Standards Committee and/or its sub-groups, the Boards of the Faculties or other
appropriate bodies within the University;
(b) To receive and consider as may be appropriate proposals and reports relating to
undergraduate academic provision from the relevant sub-groups of the Academic
Quality and Standards Committee;
(c) To scrutinise all new undergraduate course proposals and report to the Academic
Quality and Standards Committee on the Board’s consideration and approval of such
proposals;
(d) To consider relevant issues relating to undergraduate academic provision noted in
the Faculty Summary Reports of the Annual Course Review reports, in Strategic
Departmental Reviews or by Student-Staff Liaison Committees and liaise with
departments as may be appropriate regarding any issues of interest or concern;
(e) To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on matters relating to
examinations processes and procedures in undergraduate courses;
(f) To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on the role of internal
and external examiners for undergraduate courses;
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(g) To consider external examiners’ reports and departmental responses relating to all
undergraduate courses, to discuss particular issues of concern with departments and
to report to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee annually on issues
raised;
(h) To consider and approve submissions from departments and the Undergraduate
Studies Committees of the Boards of the Faculties for non-standard examination
methods (including seen papers, open-book examinations and reading time);
(i) To consider and approve variations requested on personal grounds in the
arrangements for undergraduate examinations for individual students;
(j) To consider all matters affecting undergraduate admissions practices and policy and
make recommendations to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee where
appropriate;
(k) To consider and approve requests for variations to the University's Accreditation of
Prior Learning (APL) policy for individual students or groups of students;
(l) To monitor the approval process for interdisciplinary undergraduate modules
developed and offered by the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning;
(m) To advise on matters relating to the policy and strategy underpinning the production
of the student Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).
(Senate minute 140 (d) /13-14)
2/14-15
Membership 2014/15
REPORTED:
That the Senate, at its meeting on 1st October 2014, had resolved that the
membership of the Board of Undergraduate Studies for the academic year 2014/15
be as follows:
Chair
Professor Roger Leng
Two full-time members of the academic
Staff from each of the Faculties of Arts,
Science and Social Sciences appointed
by the Senate:
Arts
Prof Cathia Jenainati
Mr Evan Stewart
Prof Lesley Roberts
Dr Colin Melville
Dr Jim Robinson
Dr Graham Martin
Prof Peter Corvi
Dr Andre Broome
Medicine
Science
Social Sciences
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One member of the Board of
Graduate Studies appointed by
the Senate
Dr Jonathan Pearson
The Chairs of the Undergraduate
Studies Committees of the Boards
of the Faculties of Arts, Science
and Social Sciences:
Arts
Science
Social Sciences
Prof Cathia Jenainati
Dr David Wood
Mr Peter Brown
One member of staff appointed by
and from the Centre for Lifelong
Learning
Dr Fergus McKay
Two members nominated by the
Union of Students
Ms Maahwish Mirza
Ms Rosanna Hiscock
3/14-15
Freedom of Information
REPORTED:
4/14-15
(a)
That the Steering Committee, at its meeting on 29th October 2007,
had considered a paper outlining how the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 applies to the publication of minutes of University bodies
together with the University Publication Scheme adopted by the
Steering Committee in December 2003 (paper SC 60/07-08), and
resolved that a standard item be included on the agenda of the first
meeting of each University committee at the start of each academic
year to inform new members and to remind continuing members of
the University policy on the publication of minutes.
(b)
That all non-reserved minutes and agendas of the Board were
published on the University’s Governance website at:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/committees/bugs/
Conflicts of Interest
REPORTED:
That, should any members or attendees of the Board have any conflicts of
interest relating to agenda items for the meeting, they should be declared in
accordance with the CUC Guide for Members of Higher Education Governing
Bodies in the UK.
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5/14-15
Minutes
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 4th June 2014 be approved.
6/14-15
Matters Arising on the Minutes
(a) Intermediate-year Undergraduate Progression Conventions (minute
23(d)/13-14 refers)
CONSIDERED:
(i)
A paper from the Chair of the Board setting out Draft
Undergraduate Progression Requirements for Intermediate
Years of Study, considered by the Undergraduate Studies
Committees of the Boards of the Faculties at their meetings in
the Autumn Term 2014 (paper QAWG 19/13-14);
(ii)
The resolution of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the
Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences, at its meeting on 15th
October, 2014:
“That the implications of the increased progression hurdle
of 90 credits in the interim year of study be mapped against
current University Undergraduate degree classification
conventions, namely paragraph 2(b) in Section II
(http://warwick.ac.uk/quality/categories/examinations/con
ventions/ug13)”
(UFSS minute 11/14-15)
(iii)
The recommendations of the Undergraduate Studies Committee
of the Board of the Faculty of Science, from its meeting held on
15th October 2014, that:
(1) The progression CATS level for intermediate-year
progression be set at 80, in line with the first-year
requirement, instead of the proposed 90 CATS;
(2) That item 3 in the paper be made clearer with regards to
required optional core modules;
(3) That item 17 should offer more prescriptive guidance about
examples where this “exceptionally” clause could be used;
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(4) That item 5 should clarify what exactly a “deemed” mark
means [the Committee noting that a final mark for a
number of modules with many small pieces of assessment
may use a “deemed” mark for pieces of assessment that
have been missed].
(SUGS minute 8/14-15
[unconfirmed])
(iv)
The resolutions of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the
Board of the Faculty of Arts, at its meeting held on 15th October
2014, as follows:
(1) That following close scrutiny of the Draft Intermediate-year
Undergraduate Progression Conventions, concerns were
noted regarding the requirements to introduce resits;
(2) That the Secretariat would circulate the draft document
with key questions and points raised at the meeting for
members to consult with colleagues in their departments on
the proposed changes and provide feedback to the
Secretariat, [noting] that the deadline to submit feedback
on the proposed changes would need to be submitted to
the Secretariat by Friday 31st October 2014.
(AUSC minute 15/14-15
[unconfirmed])
(v)
Further comments from individual academic departments on
the Draft Undergraduate Progression Requirements for
Intermediate Years of Study, drawn together by the Assistant
Registrar (Teaching Quality) /Secretary to the Quality Assurance
Working Group of the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee (paper BUGS 1/14-15).
(vi)
A report from the Chair of the Board on (ii) – (v) above (paper
BUGS 2/14-15).
RECOMMENDED:
(vii)
That, in the light of the comments of the Faculty Undergraduate
Studies Committees, the finalisation of the Undergraduate
Progression Requirements for Intermediate Years of Study be
completed as part of the review of the degree classification
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conventions currently being undertaken by the Teaching Quality
Office, to ensure their proper integration and harmonisation;
RESOLVED:
(viii)
That the clear communication to students of the revised
conventions would be of central importance.
(b) Postgraduates as Teachers (minute 37(a) /13-14 refers)
RECEIVED:
The final report of the BUGS/BGS Working Group on Guidance on the
Employment of Postgraduates as Teachers (paper BUGS 3/14-15), it
being noted that the Chair would follow up any issues relating to
postgraduates in receipt of bursaries.
(c) Pass mark for 4th Year Modules on IUMDs (minute 37 (b) /13-14 refers)
REPORTED:
That the Senate, at its meeting on 2nd July 2014, had approved the
recommendation of the Quality Assurance Working Group as set out in
paper AQSC 51/13-14 “that the pass mark on level 7 modules taken as
part of an Integrated Undergraduate /Master’s degree be raised to 50%,
and that other work to implement the changes as set out in the paper
be continued”.
(Senate minute 135 (b)/13-14)
(d) Review of Section 6.1 of the HEAR (minute 42/13-14 refers)
CONSIDERED:
The membership of the sub-group of the Board to review the content of
section 6.1 of the HEAR.
RESOLVED:
That the membership of the sub-group of the Board to review the content
of Section 6.1 of the HEAR be confirmed with the Chair, Mr P Brown,
following the meeting.
7/14-15
New Teaching and Learning Building
RECEIVED:
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A paper on the new Teaching and Learning Building that was tabled at the meeting
of the Academic Quality and Standards Committee held on 30th October 2014 (paper
AQSC 16/14-15) , together with an oral report from Mr D Gibbons, the Senior Project
Manager (Estates Office), it being noted that members made several proposals to
Mr Gibbons during the meeting and were invited to communicate any additional
points to him following the meeting.
8/14-15
New Undergraduate Courses of Study
CONSIDERED:
(a) BA in History and Philosophy
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of
the Faculty of Arts, from its meeting on 15th October 2014, that the proposal
from the Departments of History and Philosophy for a new BA (Hons) degree in
History and Philosophy, to commence in October 2016, be approved as set out in
paper AUSC 11/14-15).
(b) FdA and BA in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy (revised) .
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of
the Faculty of Social Sciences, from its meeting on 15th October 2014, that the
proposals from the Centre for Lifelong Learning to revise the FdA and BA degrees
in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy as set out in papers UFSS 47/14-15, be approved.
(c) BA in Liberal Arts
The recommendation from the Academic Director for the proposed BA in Liberal
Arts for the introduction of a BA degree in Liberal Arts to commence in October
2016 (papers BUGS 4a-c/14-15), it being noted that:
(i)
The Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of
Social Sciences, at its meeting on 15th October 2014, has recommended
that the Academic Director for the proposed course consider the
implications of the structure of the programme regarding module
options, compatibility of assessment methods and the introduction of a
part-time variant (UFSS minute 7/14-15);
(ii)
The Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of
Science, at its meeting on 15th October 2014, has recommended the
following to the Academic Director for the proposed course:
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(1) That the proposal to include research methods in year 1 is
reconsidered as it was felt this was too early in the degree
programme to introduce these concepts;
(2) That consideration is given to how the quality of the “Big Question”
is ensured;
(3) That more consideration is given to basing the Warwick degree on a
model degree from elsewhere, rather than trying to develop
something unique;
(4) That more consideration is given to building a degree around existing
modules rather than looking for a fundamental and philosophical
difference in the way that teaching is currently delivered (SUGS
minute 11/14-15 [unconfirmed]);
(iii)
The Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of
Arts, at its meeting on 15th October 2014, resolved that “members be
invited to provide to the Academic Director details of international
institutions either in the USA or Europe that teach in English [and] which
may be able to host students for the intercalated year abroad” (AUSC
minute 8(a)/14-15 [unconfirmed]).
RESOLVED:
(d) That the that the proposal from the Departments of History and Philosophy for a
new BA (Hons) degree in History and Philosophy, to commence in October 2016,
as set out in paper AUSC 11/14-15, be approved;
(e) That the proposals from the Centre for Lifelong Learning to revise the FdA and
BA degrees in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy as set out in
papers UFSS 4-7/14-15, be approved;
(f) That the proposals from the Academic Director for the BA in Liberal Arts for the
introduction of a BA degree in Liberal Arts to commence in October 2016 (as set
out in papers BUGS 4a-c/14-15) , be approved in principle, it being noted that
revised formal proposals would be submitted to the Undergraduate Studies
Committees of the Boards of the Faculties and to the Board of Undergraduate
Studies in the Spring Term 2015, to include the new module proposals and the
illustration of particular module pathways and taking into account the
comments of the Undergraduate Studies Committees set out above and those of
Board members made at the meeting;
(g) That, with regard to the proposal for the BA in Liberal Arts, the Board
recommended to the Academic Director for the degree that the Institute for
Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) would be a suitable departmental
location for the proposed interdisciplinary modules and that the modules should
be approved by the IATL Module Approval Panel which is scheduled for January
2015.
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9/14-15
Undergraduate External Examiners’ Reports for 2013/14
REPORTED:
That Sub-groups of the Board, at meetings held on 28th and 29th October 2014, had
considered:
(a)
The reports of External Examiners for Undergraduate courses for
2013/14
(b)
Pro-forma responses to the External Examiners’ reports for 2013/14
received from departments by the time of the meetings of the
Board Sub-groups
and compiled a report summarising key points in the reports for 2013-14 and
matters for further action and enquiry (papers BUGS 5 and 5A/14-15).
CONSIDERED:
A report from the Chair summarizing particular themes and issues arising from the
Undergraduate External Examiners’ Reports for 2013/14 (paper BUGS 6/14-15).
RESOLVED:
(a) That the issues of anonymity at examination boards, their compliance with the
current recommendations on the consideration of mitigating circumstances and
on moderation processes and the use of the discretionary criteria for borderline
cases in the degree classification conventions, be brought to the attention of the
Academic Quality and Standards Committee for its consideration;
(b) That the Chair and sub-groups would continue consideration of the
Undergraduate External Examiners’ Reports for 2013/14 following receipt of
departmental responses, and that the student representatives on the Board
should join the sub-groups for their further deliberations.
10/14-15
Amendments to Regulation 8.10 (Regulations for the Degrees of Bachelor of
Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences
(BMedSci))
CONSIDERED:
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Medicine, from its meeting on 21st October 2014, that amendments to
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Regulation 8.10 (Regulations for the Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor
of Surgery (MBChB) and for the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMedSci)) be
approved as set out in paper MUSC.61/13-14 (revised) .
RECOMMENDED:
That the proposed amendments to Regulation 8.10 (Regulations for the Degrees of
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and for the Bachelor of
Medical Sciences (BMedSci)) be approved as set out in paper MUSC.61/13-14
(revised).
11/14-15
Amendment to Regulation 11 (Procedure to be Adopted in the Event of Suspected
Cheating in a University Test)
CONSIDERED:
The recommendation of the Board of Graduate Studies, from its meeting on 10th
October 2014, that an amendment to Regulation 11 (Procedure to be Adopted in the
Event of Suspected Cheating in a University Test) be approved as set out in paper
BGS 8/14/15.
RECOMMENDED:
That the proposed amendment to Regulation 11 (Procedure to be Adopted in the
Event of Suspected Cheating in a University Test) be approved as set out in paper
BGS 8/14/15.
12/14-15
Amendment to Regulation 8.13 (Regulations for the Part-time Degree of BEng in
Applied Engineering)
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Faculty of Science,
acting on behalf of the Committee, had approved a request from the Warwick
Manufacturing Group for Regulation 8.13 (3) (c) and (4) (d) (Regulations for the Parttime Degree of BEng in Applied Engineering) to be amended as set out in paper
SUGS.2/14-15 .
CONSIDERED:
The proposed amendment to Regulation 8.13 (3) (c) and (4) (d) as set out in paper
SUGS.2/14-15).
RECOMMENDED:
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That the proposed amendment to Regulation 8.13 (3) (c) and (4) (d) as set out in
paper SUGS.2/14-15 be approved (subject to the addition by the Secretary to the
Board of an amended text for Regulation 8.13 (3) (c) and (4) (d)).
13/14-15
Faculty of Social Studies First-year Board of Examiners
REPORTED:
That, at its meeting on 19th February 2014, the Board of Undergraduate Studies had
resolved:
“That after consideration of paper BUGS 16 (a)/13-14, it was the Board’s view that
the current arrangements for students wishing to take their September
examinations overseas were satisfactory, there being no sufficient evidence which
would justify the inclusion of any additional centres” [BUGS minute 23(f)/13-14].
CONSIDERED:
A paper from the Secretary to the Faculty of Social Studies First-year Board of
Examiners concerning (a) delivery of September examination scripts from overseas
and (b) overseas centres (paper BUGS 7 14-15).
RESOLVED:
(a) That the overseas centres be requested to return September examination scripts
after each examination session;
(b) That, following the Board’s review of its previous decision concerning the
provision of overseas centres for students taking examinations in September,
the Faculty of Social Studies First-year Board of Examiners be informed that,
while the Board’s reservations about expansion of September overseas facilities
included problems of resourcing and practicality (both in the central
administration and in academic departments), they also included substantive
concerns about increased risk to examination security (e.g. arising from time
zone differences) which would also be exacerbated by the potential adoption of
intermediate-year resits in September following the review of the intermediateyear progression convention, it also being noted that:
(i)
the Board’s previous research had not demonstrated that the
University’s practice was substantially at variance with that of
other universities, noting that one institution had even decided
no longer to permit overseas resits in response to the same kind
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of concerns as expressed by the Board and that others did not
encourage such requests;
(ii)
that if the full real costs of mounting more overseas resits were
to be charged to students this could result in a substantial
increase in cost to students (noting that some other universities
charged fees in the region of £300 and upwards).
(c) That, in the light of the considerations outlined under (b) above, the Faculty of
Social Studies First-year Board of Examiners be informed that the Board of
Undergraduate Studies confirmed its decision previously recorded under BUGS
minute 23(f)/13-14 (reported above).
14/13-15
National Student Survey
RECEIVED:
Paper S.5/14-15 on the National Student Survey 2014, considered by the Senate at
its meeting on 1st October 2014.
15/14-15
Chair’s Action
REPORTED:
That the Chair, acting on behalf of the Board, had approved the following:
(a) Variations of module assessment methods on grounds of disability for:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Three named students in the Centre for Lifelong Learning;
One named student in the Department of Philosophy;
One named student in the Department of English;
(b) Variation of assessment method for module LA366 first sits in September 2014
on grounds of staff illness;
(c) An application for Accredited Prior Learning for a named student in the Centre
for Lifelong Learning comprising 120 credits of Warwick modules taken between
2002- 05 to count towards a part-time BA degree in English and Cultural
Studies;
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(d) A proposal from the Centre for Lifelong Learning for the introduction of a fulltime variant of the Part-time BA in Social Studies (paper UFSS 10/14-15, copy at
http://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse# );
(e) Proposals from the Department of Economics for non-credit-bearing modules
relating to (i) an undergraduate Mentor Scheme and (ii) Personal Development,
and from the Sports Centre for a Sports Scholarship (Warwick Focus), for the
inclusion in Section 6.1 of the HEAR;
(f) A proposal from the Warwick Medical School for the introduction of a variant of
the undergraduate Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy for non-UK participants
from the EU (to distinguish them from participants registered and able to
practise in the UK) with the title Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy (EU), noting
that in all other respects the content and assessment is the same as the UK
variant.
16/14-16
Technology Enhanced Learning
REPORTED:
(a) That a strategy had been developed by the Technology Enhanced Learning
Steering Group which is available for consultation by all members of the
University;
(b) Members of the Board were encouraged to view the strategy document
available at:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/academictechnology/t
eaching/telstrategy.
17/14-15
Date of Directors of Undergraduate Studies Spring Term Lunch 2015
REPORTED:
That the Directors of Undergraduate Studies’ Spring Term 2015 lunch would take
place on Friday 13th March 2015 from 12.00 to 14.00 pm in room CMR 1.0,
University House.
jat 25.11.14
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