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
Policy-holding Department/Section
Policies, Procedures and Practices – No. 1 – Registration,
Enrolment and Progression.
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgr/PPPNo1.html
Is this a new or existing policy?
Registry
Academic Section
Existing
Date assessment completed
25/04/2013
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 document contains information relevant to the registration and progression of graduate
students up to the point of examination. It includes policies, procedures, references to decisions taken
at University committees, and to regulations, and information about custom and practice adopted
within the University.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employ?
Yes. The policy provides information to graduate students about registration and progression up until
the point of examination. This information gives note to the different categories of registration,
including the minimum, completion and maximum periods of study, the payment of fees and
information specifically for particular study programmes. Should students not take note of the
information in this document, they may encounter difficulties with registration and enrolment.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
Yes. The policy explains how when a research student reaches the end of the prescribed minimum
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period of full or part-time study, a Research Students’ Progress Committee must meet to consider the
Supervisory Board report and whether to recommend to the Dean that the student be permitted to go
forward into the Completion Year.
The policy also outlines the process that should be followed by MA taught students wishing to request
an extension to submit their dissertation. These decisions are at the discretion of the departments
who should then seek approval from the relevant Faculty Dean.
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
A Research Students’ Progress Committee will make a recommendation to the Faculty Dean if they
are satisfied that the research has reached a stage which will enable the student to complete within a
year.
MA taught students wishing to request an extension to submit their dissertation must provide
reasoning to their departments who will then seek approval from the relevant Faculty Dean. Decisions
will be made based on the students reasoning and whether it is deemed possible that the student can
complete the work.
These processes are thorough whereby decisions are initially made by departmental staff and then
sent to the Faculty Dean for final approval. Details and evidence provided by the student will be
considered in the decision-making process.
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
or complaint 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?
Should a student wish to make a request for an extension as a result of a difficulty encountered as a
result of a protected characteristic, they may do so by following the relevant process outlined in the
policy. Consideration will be given to reasons of this nature in line with the effect it might have had on
the completion of the work.
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?
The policy demonstrates a way in which the University shows understanding for students completing
their Masters taught Dissertation or their Research Thesis who encounter difficulties. This can include
difficulties encountered as a result of a protected characteristic and offers an opportunity for
explanation if extra difficulties are encountered for this reason.
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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
Policies, Procedures and Practices – No. 1 –
Registration, Enrolment and Progression.
No.
Name of Policy
Should this EIA be referred on to the Equality
and Diversity Committee for further
consideration?
This document provides information to students
about policies, procedures, regulations and
decisions taken by individuals and at University
committees. Other EIAs have been undertaken
on those policies, procedures, regulations and
decision-making processes and appropriate
recommendations made.
If no, what recommendations, if any, should
be made to the Policy-holding
Department/Section?
None
Date:
28 August 2013
Signed
Karen Bush, Equality and Diversity Manager
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