EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) PRO-FORMA
Legislation says that the University must take steps to understand the effect, or potential effect, of its
policies* on different groups of people. This is to ensure that a policy is neither directly nor indirectly
discriminatory and to identify how it does, or could, advance equality and foster good relations
between different groups of people.
Legislation groups people by ‘protected characteristics’ and it is these ‘protected characteristics’ that
need to be considered when carrying out an EIA.
The protected characteristics are: disability, race, sex, age, gender reassignment, marriage and
civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
Your help is needed to do this, not just because the law says so, but because the University is
committed to equality of opportunity for all and to ensuring that all the University’s policies are
developed with an awareness of their consequences for different groups of people.
Heads of Sections/Departments are responsible for ensuring this form is completed for each policy
they ‘own’. It should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. Questions 1-6 only of this EIA proforma need to be completed for new policies. For existing policies, please answer all the questions.
Policies should be assessed for their effect on equality every 3-5 years.
* For the purpose of EIAs, the term policy refers to formal policies, procedures and processes. It does
not include informal policies, procedures or processes.
Name of policy
Web address of policy
Guidelines for Modular Study (Credit Accumulation) Postgraduate Taught students
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/accumulation.htm
Policy-holding
Department/Section
Registry
Academic Section
Is this a new or existing policy?
Existing
Date assessment completed
30/04/2013
Name and job title of person
completing pro-forma
Adam Atkins
Academic Section Project Assistant
Q1. What is the purpose of the policy?
This policy provides information to graduate students wishing to achieve a postgraduate award by
accumulating credit through the completion of individual modules. The guidance notes in this policy
outline how this process works.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employs?
Yes. Graduate students wishing to achieve a postgraduate award through credit accumulation should
follow the guidelines in this policy to ensure they are complying with University regulations. Should
they not follow the guidance in this policy, they may not achieve the award they are hoping for.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
No.
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
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N/A
Q5. Please give details of what equality training is/will be provided for decision makers?
All University staff are required to complete the University’s equality and diversity online training
programme.
Q6. Referring to the list of protected characteristics at the top of this form, how do you/will you
monitor the effect this policy has on groups of people with these PCs?
Any detrimental effect on persons with any particular protected characteristic identified by monitoring,
complaint or appeal will be investigated and if necessary appropriate remedial action will be taken.
Q7. Referring to Q6 above, have you identified any positive or negative impact on any group of
people who share a protected characteristic?
The policy states that the maximum period for completion of studies using credit accumulation is
normally a period of six years, but does state that students with extenuating circumstances may be
permitted an extension. These extenuating circumstances can include difficulties incurred as a result
of a protected characteristic e.g. disability or pregnancy.
Q8. Have there been any complaints or issues raised about the policy in relation to its effect
on people who share a protected characteristic?
No.
Q9. Are there any (further) measures that could be taken to continue to ensure the policy is
neither directly nor indirectly discriminatory?
No.
Q10. Have you identified any ways in which the policy does, or could advance equality or
foster good relations between different groups of people?
Through highlighting the fact that extensions may be permitted in cases where a student has
extenuating circumstances, the policy is demonstrating the University’s understanding of the need to
give greater consideration in situations which can include reasoning relating to a protected
characteristic.
Please now email the completed form to diversity@essex.ac.uk. The Equality and Diversity
Committee (EADC) have responsibility for overseeing the completion of EIAs. Equality and Diversity
will assess the information provided in the first instance and will either:
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Decide that no action is required and report this to the Equality and Diversity Committee;
Recommend actions to be taken and report this to the Equality and Diversity Committee *;
Refer the EIA to the Equality and Diversity Committee who have the option to require a more
detailed assessment be carried out.
The individual completing the EIA pro-forma will be informed of the outcome of the assessment by
Equality and Diversity as soon as possible after submitting the form.
*If Equality and Diversity recommend action(s) be taken, a report outlining the progress made against
the recommended actions will be requested one year after the EIA has taken place.
For completion by Equality and Diversity
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Name of Policy
Guidelines for Modular Study (Credit
Accumulation) -Postgraduate Taught students
No.
Should this EIA be referred on to the Equality
and Diversity Committee for further
consideration?
In response to Q6 – in order to identify by
monitoring any detrimental effect on persons with
any particular protected characteristic:
If no, what recommendations, if any, should
be made to the Policy-holding
Department/Section?
1) Consideration should be given to keeping a
central record of students who submit
extenuating circumstances, including the
outcome and, if the numbers of those students
who are not permitted an extension is sufficiently
high to give cause for concern, consideration
should be given to undertaking analysis of those
students by protected characteristic.
Date:
16 August 2013
Signed
Karen Bush, Equality and Diversity Manager
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