UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
BOARD OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
AGENDA
There will be a meeting of the Board of Undergraduate Studies at 2.00pm on Wednesday 19th
February 2014 in room CMR 1.0, in University House.
K Sloan
Registrar and Chief Operating Officer
Note: Questions on agenda items or apologies for this meeting should be directed to the Secretary
to the Board, Dr J A Taylor, email J.A.Taylor@warwick.ac.uk or telephone extension 22633.
_________________________________________________________________________
1. Minutes:
TO CONSIDER:
The minutes of the meeting held on 27th November 2013 (copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19)
2. Matters Arising on the Minutes
TO REPORT:
(a) Postgraduates as Teachers (4(c)/13-14 refers)
TO CONSIDER:
A report from the working party established to consider the employment of
postgraduates as teachers (paper BUGS 18/13-14, to follow).
(b) Pass Mark for 4th Year Modules on IUMDS (4(e)/13-14 refers)
TO REPORT:
That it was reported to the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Science, at its meeting on 20th January 2014:
(i) That a working group has been convened to discuss the impact of the move to a
50% pass mark on integrated masters degree students and had met on 10th January.
(ii) That a paper would be produced by Teaching Quality which would be
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considered by the SUGS at its next meeting in May.
(SUGS minute 22/13-14)
(c) Temporary Withdrawn and Resit Student Access (12/13-14 refers)
TO REPORT:
That the Academic Quality and Standards Committee, at its meeting on 4th
December 2013, recommended to the Senate (minute AQSC 39/13-14 refers) that
the proposal to amend Regulation 36.1.7 allowing students who are temporarily
withdrawn or undertaking resit examinations to retain access to University IT and
library facilities, as set out in paper BGS 22/13-14, be approved.
(d) Intermediate-year Undergraduate Progression Conventions (10/13-14 refers)
TO REPORT:
(i) That the full membership of the Working Group was now confirmed as:
Prof Roger Leng (Law) (Chair)
Mr Peter Brown (CAL)
Ms Becky Freeman (Life Sciences)
Mr Rob Horton (History)
Dr Cathia Jenainati (English)
Dr Joanne Lee (Italian)
Dr Graham Martin (Comp Sci)
Dr Fergus Mackay (CfLL)
Mr Justin McArthur (WBS)
Dr Colin Melville (WMS)
Dr Dave Wood (Maths)
Dr Joe Taylor (Secretariat)
Mr Rory McIntyre (Secretariat)
(ii)
That the Working Group will meet on 20/02/2014.
(e) MBio degrees (6(c) /13-14 refers)
TO REPORT:
That Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Science, at its
meeting on 20th January 2014, received a report that:
“That the School of Life Sciences had responded to the recommendations from the
meeting of SUGS held on 16 October 2013 and had confirmed the following:
(i) Students had been informed that permission to transfer into the fourth year of
the degrees would be subject to meeting the required entry criteria. Clear criteria
were advertised to all current Year 3 students on Moodle and a meeting was held to
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provide information for any students who were interested in transferring into the
4th year. Criteria for students in their second year would be disseminated in
Spring Term 2014 (minute SUGS.7/13-14(m) refers).
(ii) Students completing the MBio in Industry would be monitored regularly
throughout their placement to ensure that adequate progress was being made and
that any indicators of problems with placements were identified quickly and
addressed. Careful consideration of contingency plans for students where a
placement was unsuccessful as a result of unforeseen circumstances would be taken
prior to students undertaking this variant of the course. The opportunity to carry out
a research project within the department might be offered as an alternative (minute
SUGS.7/13-14(n) refers).
(iii) Clarification was sought and permission received from Teaching Quality for the
use of the postgraduate credit framework in Year 4 prior to the submission of the
documentation to this committee. The use of this framework was strongly
supported by the external reviewer of the degrees (minute SUGS.7/13-14(o)
refers)”.
(SUGS minute 17(d)/13-14)
(f) First -Year Board of Examiners in Social Sciences (8(b)/13-14 refers)
TO REPORT:
(i) That, at its meeting on 21st January, 2014, the Undergraduate Studies Committee
of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences received a report of the Board of
Undergraduate Studies’ resolution under minute BUGS 8 (b) /13-14 and
recommended:
(1) That an investigation into the number and location of international
students taking September resit examinations is carried out; and
(2) That the issue is reconsidered if the investigation shows that there would
be demand for more places/more international centres.
(UFSS minute 29 (a) (ii)/13-14)
(ii) That the Board be reminded that the investigation referred to by the UFSS (UFSS
had been carried out and had been reported to the Board at its last meeting,
together with an oral report of the accompanying commentary as in paper BUGS 16
(a)/13-14, copy at https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
(g) Timing of the First-year Board of Examiners in Social Sciences (8(a)/13-14 refers)
TO CONSIDER:
An oral report from the Secretary to the Board.
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3. Chair’s Action
TO REPORT:
(a) Waiver of the 50% Rule for named part- time students in the Centre for Lifelong
Learning
That the Chair, acting on behalf of the Board, has authorised a waiver of the rule
requiring that 50% of the assessment counting for degree credit should be by tests
conducted under examination conditions as laid down by the University's
Regulations for the Invigilation of Examinations, for twenty-one named students
reading for part-time degrees in the Centre for Lifelong Learning, who are expected
to graduate after 2014.
(b) Non-standard examination method for a named student in Chemistry
That the Chair, acting on behalf of the Board, has authorised a non-standard
examination method to permit the use of a scribe or oral examination for a named
student in the Department of Chemistry, on grounds of disability.
4. Chair’s Business
Directors of Undergraduate Studies Lunch
5. Annual Course Review Reports
TO CONSIDER:
(a) the Undergraduate Annual Course Review Report from the Faculty of Medicine for
the MBChB degree for the academic year 2012/13 (paper MUSC 43/13-14, copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
(b) a summary report of the Undergraduate Annual Course review Reports submitted by
the Faculty of Arts Departments for the Academic Year 2012-13 (paper AUSC 10/1213, copy at https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
(c) the Undergraduate annual course review reports from the Faculty of Social Sciences
(paper UFSS 29/13-14, copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
(d) a summary report of the undergraduate annual course review reports from the
Faculty of Science (paper SUGS 13/13-14, copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
TO REPORT:
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(e) That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Science,
at its meeting on 20th January 2014, considered paper SUGS 13/13-14 and resolved:
“That the Secretary for SUGS should seek clarification from colleagues in Teaching
Quality about reviewing external examiners’ reports with departmental SSLCs as
recommended during the University’s QAA institutional review”.
(SUGS minute 20/13-14)
(f) That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, at its meeting on 21st January 2014, considered paper UFSS 29/13-14 and
noted:
“That the Faculty-level summary of the annual course review reports would be
produced by the secretariat in February, and circulated by email for comment”.
(UFSS minute 30 (b)/13-14)
6. New Courses of Study
(a) BA in Politics, International Studies and Quantitative Methods and BA in Sociology
and Quantitative Methods
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, at its meeting on 21st January 2014, considered a proposal from the
Department of Politics and International Studies for a new BA degree course in
Politics, International Studies and Quantitative Methods , and a proposal from
the Department of Sociology for a new BA degree course in Sociology and
Quantitative Methods, as set out in papers UFSS.31-34/13-14, and
recommended to the Board of Undergraduate Studies:
“That the introduction of the two new degrees proposed by the Warwick QStep Centre with the Department of Politics and International Studies and
the Department of Sociology, namely the BA in Politics, International Studies
and Quantitative Methods and the BA in Sociology and Quantitative
Methods, as set out in papers UFSS.31-34/13-14, be approved”.
(UFSS minute 33(a)/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of
the Faculty of Social Sciences that the new BA degree courses in Politics,
International Studies and Quantitative Methods and in Sociology and
Quantitative Methods, as set out in papers UFSS.31-34/13-14 (copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ) , be approved.
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(b) BA in Early Years Professional Studies
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, at its meeting on 21st January 2014, considered a proposal from the
Centre for Lifelong Learning for a new BA degree course in Early Years Professional
Studies, as set out in papers UFSS.36(a)-(g)/13-14, and recommended to the Board
of Undergraduate Studies:
“That the introduction of the new degree course BA in Early Years Professional
Studies, proposed by the Centre for Lifelong Learning, as set out in papers
UFSS.36(a)-(g)/13-14, be approved”.
TO CONSIDER:
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Social Sciences that the new BA degree course in Early Years Professional
Studies, as set out in papers UFSS.36(a)-(g)/13-14(copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ), be approved.
(c) BA Classics (Ancient Greek) with Study Abroad in Europe, BA Classics (Latin) with
Study Abroad in Europe and BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study
in Europe
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Arts, at its
meeting on 22nd January 2014, considered a proposal from the Department of
Classics and Ancient History for new BA degree courses in Classics (Ancient Greek)
with Study Abroad in Europe, Classics (Latin) with Study Abroad in Europe and
Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe, as set out in papers
AUSC 12/13-14, AUSC 13/13-14 and AUSC 21/13-14 respectively, and recommended
to the Board of Undergraduate Studies that the proposals be approved (subject to
minor amendments).
(AUSC minute 24(a)/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Arts that the new BA degree courses in Classics (Ancient Greek) with Study
Abroad in Europe, Classics (Latin) with Study Abroad in Europe and Ancient History
and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe, as set out in papers AUSC 12/13-14,
AUSC
13/13-14
and
AUSC
21/13-14
respectively
(copies
at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ), be approved.
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(d) BA in Liberal Arts
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Arts, at its
meeting on 22nd January 2014, considered a draft proposal for a new BA Honours
degree in Liberal Arts, to commence in October 2015 (paper AUSC.14/13-14), and
resolved :
That the proposal for a new BA Honours degree in Liberal Arts be approved in
principle.
(AUSC minute 24(b)/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
A draft proposal for a new BA Honours degree in Liberal Arts, to commence in
October 2015, as set out in paper AUSC.14/13-14, copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ).
(e) BA in Hispanic Studies with Film and BA in Hispanic Studies with Theatre
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Arts, at its
meeting on 22nd January 2014, considered proposals from the Department of
Hispanic Studies for new BA degree courses in Hispanic Studies with Film and in
Hispanic Studies with Theatre, as set out in papers AUSC 15/13—14 and AUSC
16/13-14 respectively, and recommended to the Board of Undergraduate Studies
that the proposals be approved.
(AUSC minute 24(c)/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Arts that the new BA degree courses in Hispanic Studies with Film and in
Hispanic Studies with Theatre, as set out in papers AUSC 15/13-14 and AUSC 16/1314 respectively (copies at https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-0219 , be approved.
(f) BSc in Applied Engineering (Rail stream)/DipHE and Cert HE in Applied Engineering
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Science,
at its meeting on 20th January 2014, considered proposals from the Warwick
Manufacturing Group for:
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(i) the addition of a fourth stream (in Rail) in the Applied Engineering BSc
programme, to commence in October 2014, and
(ii) the introduction of two new exit routes on the Applied Engineering
programme in the form of a Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) and
Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE), as set out in paper SUGS 15/13-14),
and recommended to the Board of Undergraduate Studies that the
proposals be approved.
(SUGS minute 24(b)/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The recommendations of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Science for (i) the addition of a fourth stream in Rail in the Applied
Engineering BSc programme, and (ii) the introduction of two new exit routes in the
form of a Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) and a Certificate in Higher Education
(CertHE) on the Applied Engineering Programme as set out in paper SUGS 15/13-14
(copy at https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 )
7. Undergraduate External Examiners’ Reports for 2012/13
TO CONSIDER:
(a) Pro-forma responses to the External Examiners’ reports for 2012/13 received from
departments since the last meeting of the Board (paper BUGS 17 (a-c)/13-14, copy at
https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ).
(b) An oral report from the Chair on issues arising from (a) above.
8. Future Operation of the Academic Quality Standards Committee
TO RECEIVE:
An oral report from the Chair on the establishment of sub- groups by the Academic Quality
and Standards Committee.
9. Global Sustainability Degree
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committees of the Boards of the Faculties of Science, Social
Sciences and Arts, at their meetings on 20th, 21st and 22nd January 2014 respectively,
considered a paper from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Postgraduate and Transnational
Education) about a proposed BASc degree in Global Sustainability to commence in
September 2015 (paper BUGS.15/13-14), and resolved as follows:
Arts
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(a) That the Committee noted the course structure required significant further
development;
(b) That the market in both the UK and Australia should be tested to ensure adequate
demand;
(c) That running a collaborative course across two institutions would pose significant
administrative delivery challenges;
(d) That there seemed to be a degree of overlap with the syllabus for the proposed Liberal
Arts degree and this would need resolving.
(e) That the provision of languages within the degree should be carefully considered.
(AUSC minute 25/13-14)
Science
(f) That timetabling would be a logistical issue as a result of the number of departments
involved.
(g) That the different lengths of the teaching years at the two universities would present a
problem for the timing of modules.
(h) That the different qualifications offered by each university may present complications
when trying to decide on equivalence.
(i) Whether a four year Australian undergraduate degree would be considered as
equivalent to the four-year IUMD.
(j) That students with a genuine concern for Global Sustainability may object to long
distance air travel throughout the course of their degree.
(SUGS minute 25/13-14)
Social Sciences
(k) That the Chair of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences should be briefed before the
next meeting of the BFSS about the nature of the Committee’s discussions concerning:
(i) The timescale for introduction of the course;
(ii) The opportunity costs of committing resources to the degree;
(i)
(ii)
The carbon footprint and potential public relations risks of the degree
programme;
The accessibility of the degree to students from all backgrounds.
(UFSS minute 35/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The paper from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Postgraduate and Transnational Education) about a
proposed BASc Global Sustainability to commence in September 2015 (paper BUGS.15/1314, copy at https://files.warwick.ac.uk/bugs/browse#BUGS+2014-02-19 ), together with the
comments of the Undergraduate Studies Committees of the Boards of the Faculties of
Science, Social Sciences and Arts as set out above.
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10. Intermediate-year Resits in the School of Engineering 2014/15
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Science, at its
meeting on 20th January 2014, received a report:
“That Engineering had requested that Year 2 students who fail examinations in June 2014 be
permitted to re-sit in September 2014 rather than waiting one calendar year because the
department was about to make the substantial changes to its second year courses”
and recommended (to the Board of Undergraduate Studies):
That second-year Engineering students who fail examinations in June 2014 be permitted to
resit in September 2014
(SUGS minute 28/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The above recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Science, together with a supplementary paper from the School of Engineering
(paper BUGS 19/13-14, to follow).
11. Late Penalty for Student Assignments
TO REPORT:
That the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Science, at its
meeting on 20th January 2014, considered a proposal by the School of Engineering that the
University should review its policy of deducting 5% per day from the marks of student
assignments as this is not a sufficient enough penalty to deter students from missing
deadlines and recommended (to the Board of Undergraduate Studies and the Academic
Quality and Standards Committee “that the late penalty of 5% per diem be increased to
discourage undergraduate students from handing in assignments late”.
(SUGS minute 31/13-14)
TO CONSIDER:
The above recommendation of the Undergraduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Science.
12. Any Other Business
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jat/dc 07.02.14
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