Unapproved
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Wednesday 19 March 2014
2pm –4.15pm
MINUTES
(Unreserved)
Chair
Professor Jane Wright
Present
Dr Andrews, Ms Fisher, Dr Luther, Professor Main, Mr McAuliffe, Dr Micklewright,
Professor Norval, Ms Padurariu, Dr Penman, Mr Potter, Professor Underwood
Apologies
Professor Fox O’Mahony, Ms Berntsen, Ms Houlihan, Professor Landman
Secretary
Mr Stock
In attendance
Ms Fletcher, Mrs Nixon
BUSINESS TAKEN WITHOUT DISCUSSION
Approved
Without discussion, those items not already starred on the agenda or indicated
at the meeting
EC/28/14
MINUTES FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 12 FEBRUARY 2014 (EC/14/12)
Approved
EC/29/14
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
Noted
It was agreed that minute EC/10/14 would be amended from: “Multivariate Chisquared analysis was noted as a possible appropriate method for presenting
these data to the Committee” to “Multivariate or Chi-squared analysis was
noted as a possible appropriate method for presenting these data to the
Committee”.
EC/30/14
REPORT ON CHAIR’S ACTION (EC/14/13)
Noted
EC/31/14
CHAIR’S ORAL REPORT
Noted
The Chair reported to the Committee on various developments:
External Examiner Reports
As part of the ongoing review and enhancement of the academic governance
structures following the establishment of the revised Senate committee
structure in August 2013, discussion had taken place regarding consideration
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EC/32/14
of External Examiner reports. The Committee noted that, as the guardians of
academic standards, the Committee needed to ensure appropriate oversight
within the new structure. The Education Committee would receive a report at
its meeting in June 2014 on the outcome of the institutional review of External
Examiner reports, which would set out the key themes for consideration.
National Student Survey (NSS)
As part of the commitment to student feedback, the student experience and
excellence in education, the Education Committee would receive a report on
the outcome of the institutional review of the 2013 NSS outcomes at its
meeting in June 2014.
EC/33/14
Education Committee members were reminded of the importance of
maximising response rates for the 2014 NSS, which was currently under way
and would close on 30 April 2014. The Secretary would circulate the weblink to
the response rate webpages to enable the Executive Deans and Deputy Deans
(Education) to review response rates for their respective Faculties.
EC/34/14
Review of the Senate Committee Structure
Education Committee members noted that a report would be submitted to the
July meeting of Senate with the outcome of a review of the operation of the
new structure during 2013-14 with a view to making recommendations for
enhancement. The Secretary had written to all Chairs and Secretaries of the
Committees established under the revised structure requesting comments on
how their respective Committees had operated. The focus was on the terms of
reference, attendance and engagement and agenda development and
management. The Secretary would write to all Education Committee members
to ensure views were sought and there were opportunities for members to
contribute to the review.
EC/35/14
DRAFT EDUCATION STRATEGY (EC/14/14)
Received
A paper prepared by Professor Wright and Dr Richard Harrison (Head of
Strategic Projects and Change) containing the latest version of the draft
Education Strategy
EC/36/14
Noted
The Committee noted that the Strategy had been through a rigorous
consultation process, which involved all members of the Education Committee.
Members were asked to consider the latest version before recommending it to
Senate for approval at its meeting on 23 April 2014. The Committee agreed
minor changes, which would be reported to Dr Harrison, and agreed to
recommend the Strategy to Senate.
EC/37/14
Resolved
That the draft Education Strategy, as set out in paper EC/14/14, be
recommended to Senate for approval, subject to minor amendments.
EC/38/14
REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENTAL (PERSONAL) ADVISER SYSTEM (EC/14/15)
Received
A paper prepared by Rachel Fletcher (Director of Student Support) setting out
the outcomes and recommendations resulting from the review of the
Departmental (Personal) Adviser System, which had been implemented in
2012-13 following the approval by Senate in April 2012 of the Policy for
Departmental Support.
EC/39/14
Noted
The Committee noted that the review outcomes had already been considered
by Student Experience Committee and the Faculty Education Committees.
Education Committee members were asked to consider the outcomes before
EC/40/14
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submitting the recommendations to Senate for approval at its meeting on 23
April 2014.
During discussion, there was general support for the recommendations. The
following issues were raised:
Resolved

There was discussion about support for postgraduate research (PGR)
students and the work already under way regarding peer mentoring for
research students. It was agreed that paragraph 4.9 would be
expanded to include reference to support for PGR students.
EC/41/14

The importance of ensuring individual and personalised contact for
students by Personal Tutors was highlighted but it was agreed
requiring one-to-one meetings was too prescriptive. The policy would
be amended so that the responsibilities of the Personal Tutor included
a reference to ‘individual or small group meetings’ rather than
‘individual or group meetings’. This would ensure the process
remained manageable while safeguarding individual contact for
students.
EC/42/14

Early contact in the first term between the Personal Tutor and a
student was highlighted as being important but the Committee noted
that there were also other key points during the period of study where
contact with the Personal Tutor played a positive role.
EC/43/14

It was agreed that references to the ‘University Skills Centre’ should be
replaced with ‘talent development programme’.
EC/44/14

The Committee recommended that Rachel Fletcher be invited to attend
Senate in April 2014 for the discussion relating to the Departmental
(Personal) Adviser System.
EC/45/14
That the proposals contained in paper EC/14/15 be recommended to Senate,
subject to the amendments described above.
EC/46/14
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY MONITORING (EC/14/16 AND EC/14/17)
Received
A paper prepared by Ray Lashley (Head of Planning and Performance
Information) and Natasha Mooney (Planning and Information Officer), which
provided further information relating to equality and diversity monitoring as
requested by Education Committee at its meeting in February 2014.
EC/47/14
Noted
The report provided data on the characteristics of the overall student body by
level and Academic Department; undergraduate student performance by
Department and some protected characteristics; and student withdrawals by
Department and some protected characteristics.
EC/48/14
The Committee welcomed the provision of the data but noted that those
relating to ethnicity against student achievement had not been included. It was
agreed that the Committee would request these data to be provided for the
Committee’s next meeting in June 2014. The Committee also noted that it
would be useful to have access to admissions data relating to ethnicity,
although this depended on data provided by UCAS. It was suggested that it
may be worth approaching UCAS to ascertain if it would be possible for such
data to be provided.
EC/49/14
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The Committee reiterated the decision at its meeting in February 2014 that
data submitted in future in relation to equality and diversity monitoring should
include analysis that identified significant trends for the Committee to discuss
and explore further as appropriate. It was also agreed that Karen Bush
(Equality and Diversity Manager) should be asked to prepare a short briefing
on how other HE institutions considered equality and diversity matters.
EC/50/14
Following the planned consideration of ethnicity data by Education Committee
in June 2014, the Committee agreed that the data should be subsequently
circulated to Departments via the Executive Deans.
EC/51/14
In relation to the data presented in papers EC/14/16 and EC/14/17, the
Committee raised the following points:

There appeared to be no students having declared a disability in the
International Academy. The Committee requested further clarification
on this, specifically to explore why students may not be declaring a
disability.
EC/52/14

Clarification was sought about the data relating to withdrawals in the
School of Biological Sciences, specifically confirmation that the
increase in young student withdrawals from 67% to 90% related to the
number of young student as a proportion of overall withdrawals in the
School rising from 67% to 90% over the last five years.
EC/53/14

The Committee requested clarification on the proportion of female
students in the School of Law, which appeared quite low.
EC/54/14

There appeared to be an error in paper S/14/17 (appendix 1, table 2)
relating to admissions data. There were fewer total applications to
study Economics (763) than the total number of rejections (1483). The
Committee requested confirmation and the submission of the correct
figures.
EC/55/14
The Committee agreed overall that the purpose of considering the data was to
identify trends to ensure barriers were removed. It would be inappropriate to
recommend action without further and full investigation of any potential issues
that were identified.
EC/56/14
QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY HIGHER EDUCATION REVIEW (EC/14/18)
Received
A paper prepared by Claire Nixon (Deputy Academic Registrar, Academic
Standards and Partnerships), which provided an update on preparations for the
forthcoming Quality Assurance Agency Higher Education Review, which was
due to take place in December 2014.
EC/57/14
Noted
Planning for the Review was now well under way, with the focus at this stage
on the preparation of the Self-Evaluation Document (SED). It had been agreed
by the Academic Quality and Standards Committee and University Steering
Group that the thematic element of the University’s submission would be
student employability.
EC/58/14
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REPORTS FROM EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEES
FACULTY EDUCATION COMMITTEE (HUMANITIES) (EC/14/19)
Received
A paper prepared by Mr Dan de Sousa (Education Manager, Humanities)
providing the standard termly report from Faculty Education Committee on the
Committee’s discussion and activities.
EC/59/14
Noted
There was general discussion about the operation of the Faculty Education
Committees (FEC), particularly the development of the agenda and the impact
of broader institutional activity on the length of the agenda and the operation of
the terms of reference. It was reiterated that the Executive Deans, as the FEC
Chairs, should ensure ownership the agenda, working with Professional
Services colleagues as appropriate, managing the balance between
institutional priorities, Faculty priorities and the fulfilment of the FEC terms of
reference. This issue would be addressed as part of the review of the new
Senate Committee structure.
EC/60/14
FACULTY EDUCATION COMMITTEE (SCIENCE AND HEALTH) (EC/14/20)
Received
A paper prepared by Ms Kirstie Sceats (Education Manager, Science and
Health) providing the standard termly report from Faculty Education Committee
on the Committee’s discussion and activities.
EC/61/14
Noted
Under the revised Senate committee structure, positive engagement from
Heads of Department was reported in relation to the work of the FEC.
EC/62/14
FACULTY EDUCATION COMMITTEE (SOCIAL SCIENCES) (EC/14/21)
Received
A paper prepared by Ms Heather Tracey (Education Manager, Social
Sciences) providing the standard termly report from Faculty Education
Committee on the Committee’s discussion and activities.
EC/63/14
Noted
The Committee noted the importance of reducing the duplication of effort in
relation to the reporting from the FEC to the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee and the Education Committee. It was acknowledged that the
reporting between these committees was required for different reasons
depending on the terms of reference. The Secretary would work with the
secretaries of the relevant committees to ensure duplication was minimised.
EC/64/14
PARTNERSHIPS EDUCATION COMMITTEE (EC/14/22)
Noted
EC/65/14
ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE (EC/14/23)
Received
A paper prepared by Mrs Claire Nixon providing the standard termly report
from Academic Quality and Standards Committee on the Committee’s
discussion and activities.
EC/66/14
Noted
The Committee discussed the proposed arrangements for chairing Periodic
Review Panels. It was confirmed that the Executive Dean should chair all
Periodic Reviews for their respective Faculties, except where the Review
related to their own Department. Under these circumstances, another
Executive Dean would be required to chair. This approach was not required for
EC/67/14
5
Deputy Deans (Education), who would be members of the Periodic Review
Panels for their respective Faculties, regardless of the Department.
Resolved
That the proposed amendments to Periodic Review Procedure, as set out in
paper EC/14/23, Appendix A, be approved.
EC/68/14
STUDENT EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE (EC/14/24)
Noted
EC/69/14
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SUFFOLK JOINT ACADEMIC COMMITTEE (EC/14/25)
Noted
EC/70/14
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RULES OF ASSESSMENT (EC/14/26)
Received
A paper prepared by Mrs Deanna Walker (Senior Education Manager,
Registry) setting out proposed changes to the Rules of Assessment and a
request for the Education Committee’s view in relation to the late submission of
coursework policy.
EC/71/14
Noted
The Committee noted that Professor Wright would be asked to take Chair’s
action on behalf of the Committee in relation to variations to the Rules of
Assessment for programmes in East 15 Acting School for the current academic
year to ensure the changes could be submitted to Senate on time.
EC/72/14
There was discussion about the operation of the University’s Late Submission
of Coursework Policy, specifically whether there was a need to address the
practice whereby some students submitted partially completed coursework on
time but with extenuating circumstances, which enabled a final version to be
submitted later. The need for consistency in the application of the policy was
reiterated and it was agreed that further consideration should be given to the
matter by appropriate University staff, including student representation, and a
recommendation should be made to Education Committee in due course.
EC/73/14
That (i) the proposals contained in paper EC/14/26 be recommended to Senate
for approval; and (ii) the issue relating to the operation of the Late Submission
of Coursework Policy on page 121 of paper EC/14/26 be given further
consideration and that a recommendation be submitted to the meeting of the
Education Committee on 18 June 2014.
EC/74/14
Resolved
CHAIRS OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS FOR 2013-14 (EC/14/27)
Received
A paper prepared by Stephen McAuliffe (Academic Registrar) setting out
proposals to increase the capacity around the chairing of Boards of Examiners
for 2013-14 onwards.
EC/75/14
Noted
Following the changes in the management structure with effect from 2013-14,
the Committee noted that it would not be possible for the three Deputy Deans
(Education) to chair all the Boards of Examiners. It was proposed that a
Faculty Chief Examiner be appointed for three year terms for each Faculty to
support the Deputy Deans (Education) by chairing designated Boards of
Examiners for undergraduate and taught postgraduate and modular students
for their Faculty and on occasion for other Faculties.
EC/76/14
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Resolved
It was proposed that the appointment of the Chief Examiner would be part of
transitional arrangements, with a view to moving towards identifying further
areas of expertise within Departments to support Boards of Examiners and the
aim that most Departments would chair their own Boards by 2015-16.
EC/77/14
Members were supportive of the proposal to appoint the Chief Examiners to
support the Deputy Deans (Education) in chairing the Boards of Examiners but
agreed that four rather than three should be appointed, they should work
across all three Faculties as appropriate and the title should be changed to
Faculty Examination Officer.
EC/78/14
Concern was expressed about the longer term proposal to move responsibility
for the chairing of Boards to Departments by 2015-16. Members agreed it was
important to ensure consistency in the approach and other options should be
explored in relation to the longer term arrangements.
EC/79/14
That the Education Committee recommends to Senate that (i) four Faculty
Examination Officers be appointed for a fixed term of three years to chair
Boards of Examiners across all three faculties, with effect from 2013-14; and
(ii) work be undertaken during 2014-15 to consider how the University can best
manage the work of the Boards of Examiners over the longer term, with
recommendations submitted to Senate via Education Committee as
appropriate.
EC/80/14
PROPOSED CHANGES TO ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-MASTERS
GRADUATE DIPLOMA COURSES (EC/14/28)
Received
A paper prepared by Dr Nilufer Demirkan-Jones (Graduate Diploma Course
Director, International Academy) requesting approval for changes to the
academic entry requirements for pre-masters Graduate Diploma Courses.
EC/81/14
Resolved
That the changes to the entry requirements as set out in paper EC/14/28 be
approved (i) subject to ongoing and regular review; and (ii) on the basis that it
related to minimum entry requirements.
EC/82/14
HEFCE POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT SCHEME (EC/14/29)
Noted
EC/83/14
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None
EC/84/14
Richard Stock, Deputy Academic Registrar
Secretary, Education Committee
Academic Section
19 March 2014
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