UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
BOARD OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
AGENDA
There will be a meeting of the Board of Undergraduate Studies at 2.00pm on Wednesday
12th November 2008 in the Council Chamber, University House.
J F Baldwin
Registrar
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. Terms of Reference
TO REPORT:
That Senate, at its meeting on 1st October 2008, approved Terms of Reference of the
Board as follows:
(i)
To consider and make recommendations to the Academic and Quality
Standards Committee on issues relating to the assurance and
enhancement of the quality of learning and teaching across all
undergraduate provision.
(ii)
To make recommendations to the Senate, after consultation with
academic departments and the Faculty Boards, on all matters
affecting undergraduate study in the University including strategic
considerations.
(iii)
To scrutinise all new undergraduate course proposals and report to the
Academic and Quality Standards Committee on consideration of such
proposals.
(iv)
To consider reports from the Faculty Boards on the periodic reviews of
undergraduate courses.
(v)
To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on matters
relating to examinations in undergraduate courses.
(vi)
To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on the role
of internal and external examiners for undergraduate degrees.
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(vii)
To report to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee annually
on the issues raised in reports by external examiners.
(viii)
To consider submissions from the Faculty Boards for non-standard
examination methods, including
seen papers,
open-book
examinations and reading times, and to make recommendations to the
Academic Quality and Standards Committee.
(ix)
To exercise delegated powers on behalf of the Academic Quality and
Standards Committee in approving, on personal grounds, minor
variations in the arrangements for the sitting of undergraduate
examinations by individual students.
(x)
To consider all matters affecting admissions practices and policy and
make recommendations to the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee where appropriate.
2. Membership 2008/09
TO REPORT:
That the Senate, at its meeting on 1st October 2007, resolved that the membership of
the Board of Undergraduate Studies for the academic year 2008/09 be as follows:
First Appointed
2007
Chair
Two full-time members of the academic staff
from each of the Faculties or Arts, Medicine,
Science and Social Studies appointed by the
Senate:
Arts
Medicine
Science
Social Studies
One member of the Board of Graduate
Studies appointed by the Senate
The Chairs of the Undergraduate Studies
Committees of the Boards of the Faculties of
Arts and Social Studies and the Chair of the
Sub-Faculty of Science
Arts
Science
Social Studies
One member of staff appointed by and from
the Centre for Lifelong Learning
Two members nominated by the Union of
Students
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Professor K O’Brien
(Term 1)
TBC (Terms 2 and 3)
2006
2005
2006
2006
2003
2002
2006
2005
2007
Dr S Gilson
TBC
Dr N Johnson
Dr J Kidd
Dr J Robinson
Dr G Martin
Dr E John
TBC
Prof J Labbe
2007
2006
2007
2005
Mr J Arroyo
Dr M Skinner
Dr F McKay
Dr D Lamburn
2007
Mr M Surve
2008
Miss S Khaku
3. Minutes
TO CONSIDER:
The minutes of the meeting held on 4th June 2008 (copy attached).
4. Matters Arising on the Minutes
Progress of Board recommendations
(a) Proposal from the Centre for Lifelong Learning for a revised part-time course ‘BA
in European Studies’ (minute 32 (m) /07-08 refers)
TO REPORT:
That the Chair, acting on behalf of the Board, approved the revised part-time course
‘BA in European Studies’ (papers AUSC.92-94/07-08 revised), the Director of the
Language Centre having provided a fuller statement regarding the pastoral/personal
tutor support for students.
(b) Guidelines for Consideration of Undergraduate Examination Candidates Notifying
Mitigating Circumstances
TO REPORT:
The following minute from the meeting of the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee at its meeting of the 26th October 2008:
REPORTED:
That at the meeting of the Committee held on 12 June 2008:
(i) It was reported that the Board of Undergraduate Studies at its meeting on 4
June 2008 considered a composite report of the responses from departments
and faculties to the draft Guidelines for Consideration of Examination
Candidates Notifying Mitigating Circumstances, paper BUGS 14/07-08, and
recommended to the [Academic Quality and Standards] Committee that the
revised Guidelines for Consideration of Examination Candidates Notifying
Mitigating Circumstances be approved. (BUGS minute 28/07-08)
(ii) It was reported that the Board of Graduate Studies at its meeting on 5
June 2008 considered a memo dated 6 May 2008 from the Chair of the Board
of Undergraduate Studies inviting Departmental Examination Secretaries to
comment on draft Guidelines for Consideration of Examination Candidates
Notifying Mitigating Circumstances, paper BGS 67/07-08, together with
Faculty and Departmental Responses to the draft Guidelines, paper BUGS
14/07-08, and resolved:
(A) That the draft Guidelines for Consideration of Examination
Candidates Notifying Mitigating Circumstances be not approved for
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postgraduate taught students but that the Board reconsider the
Guidelines at its next meeting.
(B) That it be noted that concern was expressed that mitigating
circumstances should be disclosed to, or further discussed at, a meeting
of the full Board of Examiners, as this might deter students from bringing
forward their full mitigating circumstances in certain cases.
(BGS minute 103/07-08)
(iii) The [Academic Quality and Standards] Committee considered the
Proposed Guidelines for Consideration of Examination Candidates Notifying
Mitigating Circumstances, paper AQSC 87/07-08, together with the
resolutions of the Board of Undergraduate Studies and the Board of Graduate
Studies, and resolved that the proposed Guidelines be further considered in
the Autumn Term 2008 following reconsideration by the Board of Graduate
Studies.
CONSIDERED:
Proposed Guidelines for Consideration by Undergraduate Boards of
Examiners of Examination Candidates Notifying Mitigating Circumstances,
paper AQSC 87/07-08, together with an oral report from the Chair of the
Board of Undergraduate Studies.
RESOLVED:
(iv) That the proposed Guidelines for Consideration by Undergraduate Boards
of Examiners of Examination Candidates Notifying Mitigating Circumstances
be approved as set out in paper AQSC 87/07-08.
(v) That the Chair of the Board of Undergraduate Studies consider bringing
forward a further proposal to that Board for any amendments to Regulations
or other guidance which would be required to exclude the possibility of full
meetings of Boards of Examiners considering the detail of evidence relating to
mitigating circumstances, noting the analogy with other types of unusual
cases where Boards of Examiners may not challenge or overturn a previous
finding, such as the outcomes of Investigating Committees.
AQSC minute 4(h)/08-09
5. Proposed Changes to University Regulation 6: Admission to the University
TO CONSIDER:
A proposal from the Assistant Registrar (Undergraduate Admissions) and the
Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate Admissions) to make changes to Regulation 6.3 so
that applicants will be not be admitted to the University if their total load of study will
exceed one full-time equivalent load (BUGS 6/08-09, copy attached).
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6. Undergraduate Admissions: The Delivery Partnership
TO RECEIVE:
A paper from the Admissions Office together with an oral report from the Assistant
Registrar (Undergraduate Admissions) regarding the recommendations derived from
the (former) DfES-led ‘Consultation on Improving the Higher Education Applications’
(BUGS 7/08-09, copy attached).
7. Chair’s Action
TO REPORT:
That the Chair, acting on behalf of the Board, approved a change of method of
assessment for a named student on the grounds of reasonable adjustment for a
disability.
8. Update on the enforcement of Regulation 10.2
TO RECEIVE:
An oral report from the Chair of the Board concerning Regulation 10.2 (copy
attached) and BUGS 17/07-08 (copy attached) BUGS minute 34/07-08 refers.
9. Guidelines for joint and multi-disciplinary degrees
TO REPORT:
The following minute from the meeting of the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee at its meeting of the 26th October 2008:
REPORTED
That at its meeting on 15 October 2008 the Quality Enhancement Working
Group considered an oral report from the Chair on ongoing work to examine
management arrangements on undergraduate courses delivered by more
than one department, noting that a Working Group set up under the aegis of
the Board of Undergraduate Studies and the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee was due to meet on 17 October 2008, and recommended (to the
BUGS/AQSC Working Group on Joint and Multi-disciplinary degrees):
(i)
That the term “cross-departmental degrees” be considered as a description of
the courses concerned;
(ii)
That the Working Group consider what implications their recommendations may
hold for other sources of guidance and advice, including Student-Staff Liaison
Committee guidance, Personal Tutor guidance;
(iii)
That the Working Group consider whether further work would be necessary on
cross-departmental taught postgraduate courses.
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CONSIDERED:
A report from the BUGS/AQSC Working Group on Joint and Multi-disciplinary
degrees, paper AQSC 9/08-09.
RESOLVED:
(iv)
That the Committee strongly supported the work of the Working Group on
Undergraduate Joint and Cross-Departmental Courses;
(v)
That the Committee endorse the Group’s recommendation that a Good Practice
Guide for the management of undergraduate joint and crossdepartmental
courses be drafted by the Chair of the Group and the Teaching Quality
section of the Academic Office, to be sent to departments for consultation
later in the academic year, as set out in Recommendation 16 of paper AQSC
9/08-09, it having been noted that the ‘home’ department for a particular
course should liaise with the other relevant department(s) in managing the
course;
(vi)
That the Committee endorse the Group’s recommendation that an annual
meeting for course leaders/coordinators of undergraduate joint and
crossdepartmental courses be convened by the Teaching Quality section of
the Academic Office, to be chaired by the Chair of the Board of
Undergraduate Studies, as set out in Recommendations 17 and 18 of paper
AQSC 9/08-09;
(vii) That the Committee endorse the Group’s recommendations on the
development of student representation and liaison arrangements on
undergraduate joint and cross-departmental courses, and that the SSLC
Coordinators consider the proposals set out in Recommendations 14 and 15
of paper AQSC 9/08-09;
(viii) That at a future meeting the Committee consider proposed amendments to the
course approval form, as set out in Recommendations 1 and 2 of paper
AQSC 9/08-09;
(ix)
That the Chair of the Group take forward work concerning the other
Recommendations from the Group in drafting the Good Practice Guide and
through other mechanisms, as set out in paper AQSC 9/08-09, consulting with
the University community as appropriate;
(x)
That in due course the Board of Graduate Studies consider the reports and
recommendations from the Group, and the draft Good Practice Guide, with a
view to considering whether similar guidance is needed for postgraduate
courses which cross departmental boundaries.
minute AQSC 4(g)/08-09
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10. Chair’s Business
(a) New Personal Tutor Guidelines
(b) Course Specifications
(c) Update on the Implementation of the 17-point Marking Scale
11. New Courses of Study
TO CONSIDER:
(a) A proposal from the Centre for Applied Linguistics to introduce a new course
entitled ‘B.Ed TESL’, which is part of the Malaysian 3 rd cycle Teacher
education project, for introduction in October 2009, papers to follow.
(b) A proposal from the Department of Sociology to introduce a course entitled
‘Sociology (with intercalated year)’ for introduction in October 2009, papers to
follow.
12. Undergraduate External Examiners’ Reports for 2007/08
TO RECEIVE:
The procedure for the consideration of External Examiners’ reports by the Boards of
Undergraduate and Graduate Studies (paper BUGS 1/08-09, attached).
TO CONSIDER:
(a)
The reports of External Examiners for Undergraduate courses for 2007/08
(paper BUGS 2/08-09), available to members of the Board before the meeting
on request from the Examinations Section, Academic Office; copies will also
be available for consultation in the meeting).
(b)
Pro-forma responses received from departments to the External Examiners’
reports by the time of the meeting of the Board Sub-group held on 29th
October, 2008 (paper BUGS 3/08-09), available to members of the Board
before the meeting on request from the Examinations Section, Academic
Office; copies will also be available for consultation in the meeting).
(c)
A report from the Board Sub-group established to consider the reports of the
External Examiners summarising key points in the reports for 2007-08 and
making recommendations to the Board for further action (paper BUGS 4/0809, attached).
(d)
Reports of External Examiners for Undergraduate courses for 2007/08
received since the meeting the Board Sub-group held on 29th October, 2008
(paper BUGS 5/08-09, attached).
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(e)
9.
Pro-forma responses received from departments to the External Examiners’
reports since the meeting of the Board Sub-group held on 29th October, 2008
(paper BUGS 8/08-09, attached).
Any Other Business.
JAT/TB 4.11.08
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