ASSOCIATE COLLEGE STATUS
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR APPROVAL
Criteria
In order to be eligible to seek the status of Associate College, an institution must be involved in
an existing and successful collaborative partnership with University of Chester. This must
include the satisfactory delivery of at least one programme leading to an award of the
University for a period of no less than three years.
In addition the college must demonstrate that it can meet the criteria set out below:
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The proposed arrangement is consistent with the mission and strategic goals of
University of Chester and those of the college, and that there are demonstrable mutual
benefits to both institutions;
There is sufficient evidence (e.g. reports from professional bodies, statutory agencies
and other external bodies) to suggest that the college is of an appropriate academic
standing and has professional credibility;
There is an effective internal management structure;
The institution can be shown to be financially secure;
The teaching accommodation and learning and human resources that comprise the
learning environment are appropriate for HE level delivery and can be shown to be
sustainable;
The college is committed to fostering an appropriate HE experience for those students
engaged in degree level programmes;
There are appropriate support services including those for student welfare and learning
support;
There is a commitment to quality assurance and a demonstrably appropriate
infrastructure to enable the institution to comply with University of Chester quality
assurance requirements relating to effective programme management, the integrity of
the assessment process and the maintenance of academic standards;
There is evidence of commitment to, and experience of working closely with, the
community, including local schools e.g. through special one-off programmes, offering
appropriate existing FE modules to local community groups, establishing compacts with
schools and FE students;
There is evidence of the planning and advertising of curriculum pathways to support
lifelong learning and seamless progression from school to higher education;
There is a willingness to participate in joint long-term strategic planning arrangements –
e.g. through the exchange of strategic plans with University of Chester each academic
session, with an emphasis on complementarity of provision;
The college offers a range of FE and HE programmes and can demonstrate a clear
commitment to the development of a ‘core’ of HE provision;
The college is willing to commit to developing any HE provision exclusively in
collaboration with University of Chester, or where a particular subject area is not offered
by the University, will seek written approval from University of Chester to pursue
collaboration with another HEI;
The college will agree actively to promote to students the progression routes available
from the Associate College onto University of Chester undergraduate programmes;
The college can demonstrate a commitment to staff development in order to ensure that
staff maintain currency within their curriculum area and are encouraged to pursue
scholarship and where appropriate research activity;
The college can demonstrate a willingness to make a commitment to ensuring that all
tutors delivering HE programmes have, within 2-3 years of Associate College Status
being granted, successfully achieved the second level of the UK Professional
Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education.
A college which considers that they fulfil the stated criteria may apply for Associate College
Status using the procedures outlined below.
Application Process
Preliminary Application to University of Chester’s Executive
(i)
The prospective Associate College should approach the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) with a
preliminary application for presentation to, and consideration by, University of Chester’s
Executive.
The preliminary application should include sufficient information to enable the Executive to give
proper consideration to the application and should, therefore, include details of the institution’s
existing relationship with University of Chester and relevant extracts from the institution’s
Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. The application should also cite evidence against each
of the criteria defined above.
The Executive will decide, on the basis of the preliminary application, whether the partner
institution should be considered for Associate College Status. During consideration of the
preliminary application, the Executive will need to be convinced that:
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(ii)
the college has a track record of successful higher education provision and/or
progression to higher education provision;
there is a sound strategic reason for University of Chester to recognise a college as
having Associate College Status;
there are clear benefits to University of Chester, in terms of student recruitment, income
generation, new programme developments, marketing and promotion etc.
Detailed application
If the preliminary application is endorsed by the Executive, it will be forwarded to the
University’s Partnerships sub-Committee for information with a request to undertake an
approval event at the partner institution. Partnerships sub-Committee may identify issues
which it wishes to be explored at the event.
The Assistant Registrar (Collaborative Provision & Partnerships) will contact the partner
institution and request that they submit a formal detailed application for consideration by the
panel of staff to conduct the approval event. The timescale for submission of the formal
application document and staging of an approval event will also be agreed with the partner
institution at this time.
The formal application documentation should consist of:
(a)
A brief contextual statement including:
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the partner organisation’s rationale for, and commitment to the collaboration;
a description of the background and history of the institution, its mission, its academic
profile, and the size of its student population, with particular emphasis on HE-level
aspects. This information should be available from existing publications (such as its
prospectus, strategic plan and annual report) and reports from external bodies such as
statutory agencies and professional bodies, and these documents should be made
available);
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brief details of any existing or former links with other higher education institutions and
professional bodies, including professional body accreditation of provision;
a diagrammatic description of the institution’s management structure (academic,
technical and administrative) including clearly defined channels of responsibility for
academic leadership, management and quality control, indicating where appropriate
specific responsibility for HE provision.
(b)
Confirmation that the college is involved in an existing and successful partnership with
University of Chester, and has been involved in the delivery of at least one programme
leading to an award of the University for a period of no less than three years.
(c)
A critical evaluation of the collaboration with University of Chester to date, describing any
enhancement or development over the period of collaboration. It should also comment on
impediments and challenges faced and the way these have been dealt with.
(d)
Details of existing teaching accommodation, library, learning resources, IT and media
services that support HE provision, together with an indication of the institutional plans for
maintenance or development of those resources at the level appropriate to HE.
(e)
A summary of the human resources assigned to HE provision at the college, with
details of any staff development undertaken in support of HE delivery, and an indication
of institutional plans to ensure that HE programmes will continue to be supported by
appropriately qualified staff.
(f)
Details of the support services available to HE students including those for welfare,
learning support and study skills support.
(g)
A statement on the financial status of the institution, with where appropriate a commentary
on the way in which that status may change in the short, medium and long-term.
(h)
A copy of the quality assurance procedures used by the college.
(i)
Details of University of Chester quality assurance procedures as they apply to the college.
(j)
Evidence of commitment to, and experience of working closely with the community,
including local schools e.g. through special one-off programmes, offering appropriate
existing FE modules to local community groups or establishing compacts with schools
and FE students.
(k)
A description of the college’s work on planning and advertising curriculum pathways
which support lifelong learning and seamless progression from school to HE.
(l)
A statement setting out the college’s willingness to participate in joint long-term
strategic planning arrangements – e.g. through exchanging strategic plans with the
University each academic session.
(m)
Information on the college’s full range of provision, giving details of the curriculum areas
offered and the depth and length of experience in those subject areas. This should also
include an outline of the college’s strategy for the development of its HE provision.
(n)
Confirmation of the college’s commitment to develop any HE provision exclusively in
collaboration with University of Chester, or where a particular subject area is not offered
by the University, to seek written approval from University of Chester to pursue
collaboration with another HEI.
(o)
A statement setting out the college’s willingness actively to promote to students the
progression routes available from the college to University of Chester undergraduate
programmes.
(p)
A commitment to all staff teaching on HE programmes having, within 2-3 years of
Associate College Status being granted, successfully achieved the second level of the
UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher
education.
(q)
Evidence of the college’s commitment to the furthering of an HE experience for
students and the provision of staff development opportunities that promote scholarship.
Wherever possible each of the items outlined above should be accompanied by appropriate
supporting evidence. In addition, the college should provide a copy of their current Corporate
Plan and appropriate documents relating to strategic planning for HE provision.
The formal application document and supporting evidence should be submitted to the Assistant
Registrar (Collaborative Provision and Partnerships) by the agreed date.
Approval Event
The approval event at the partner institution will be undertaken by a panel of University of
Chester staff approved by the Partnerships sub-Committee, to include: a member of the
University Executive as Chair of the panel, the Assistant Registrar (Collaborative Provision and
Partnerships), a representative of Learning Resources, a representative of Partnerships SubCommittee itself, an External Adviser, and other appropriate members of staff.
The task of the panel will be to undertake an initial scrutiny of the documentation, plan an
agenda for the visit to the partner institution, and formulate a recommendation to Senate on the
approval/non-approval of Associate College Status.
The approval event will normally be conducted over a full day’s visit to the partner institution
and will include:
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meetings with senior managers and appropriate heads of service of the college;
meetings with tutors, administrative staff and students involved in existing HE
programmes delivered by the college; and
scrutiny of the physical resources, facilities and support services which support HE
provision.
Where appropriate, the panel may request further documentation and information to be
provided by the partner institution, and if necessary may choose to extend the visit beyond a
single day. Suitable notice will be given to the partner institution of all such requests and
arrangements.
Following the conclusion of the visit, a report will be compiled which will include a
recommendation by the panel to Senate regarding the approval, or otherwise of Associate
College Status, along with any ‘conditions’ or ‘recommendations’ on which that approval may
depend. The report will be made available to the Principal of the partner institution to comment
on factual accuracy and his/her response will be submitted along with the confirmed report to
Senate for consideration. Final approval of the granting of Associate College Status will be the
decision of the Senate of University of Chester and will only be conferred once it is satisfied
that all requirements have been met by the partner institution.
Agreements
Following approval by the Senate of University of Chester for the conferment of Associate
College Status an agreement between the University and the college will be drawn up. This
will include details of all arrangements between the two institutions relating to the status of
Associate College and will be accompanied by a financial annex outlining the agreed
overarching financial arrangements. The standard period of approval for the Associate College
agreement will be six years at the end of which the college must apply for re-approval of the
status should both parties wish to continue with the arrangement. Withdrawal from the
arrangement will be subject to a minimum period of 12 months notice by either party.
Review
Periodic Review
An interim review of the arrangements between University of Chester and an Associate College
will be conducted at the midway point of the period of agreement, normally after three years.
The review will be conducted following procedures similar to those for the cyclical review of a
collaborative partnership and will result in a report to be considered by Partnerships SubCommittee.
Annual Review
The college shall also submit an annual report each October to be considered by Partnerships
sub-Committee, outlining developments in curriculum planning and delivery and in quality
assurance and enhancement over the previous academic session.
Renewal of status
At the conclusion of the period of approval stated in the Associate College agreement a reapproval event shall be held in order to consider the renewal of the status. Renewal shall be
subject to satisfactory demonstration by the Associate College of:
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the continuing fulfilment of the stated criteria for Associate College status;
appropriate action taken in response to any recommendations made at previous approval
and/or review events related to Associate College status/partnership;
the successful delivery of programmes validated by University of Chester and an ongoing
commitment to the further development of HE provision.
The re-approval event shall involve a visit to the Associate College by a panel approved by the
University’s Partnerships Sub-Committee.
Panel
The Panel will be chaired by a member of the University Executive and will include the Dean of
Academic Quality & Standards, the Partnerships Adviser, a representative of Learning &
Information Services, a representative of Partnerships Sub-Committee, an External Adviser,
and other appropriate members of staff, with the Assistant Registrar (Collaborative Provision &
Partnerships) to act as Secretary to the event.
The task of the Panel will be to undertake an initial scrutiny of the documentation, plan an
agenda for the visit to the Associate College and formulate a recommendation to Senate on the
renewal or otherwise of Associate College status.
Documentation
Prior to the visit the Associate College will be asked to provide the following documentation:
 An Executive Summary detailing:
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The way in which the College continues to fulfil the criteria for Associate College
status, noting in particular any developments that have taken place since the
previous approval/renewal of Associate College status, for example in physical
or human resources relating to HE provision/students or new curriculum
developments;
o Action taken in response to recommendations made at previous
approval/renewal events relating to Associate College status/partnership;
o An evaluation of the current success or otherwise of programmes validated by
University of Chester and plans for the further development of HE provision.
A management structure diagram sufficient to understand the operation of HE provision
within the College;
The College’s Corporate Plan and HE Strategy;
Statistical data relating to HE programmes including recruitment, retention and progression;
Sample minutes from any committees or groups specifically relating to HE provision;
Recent internal review reports relating to HE provision;
Recent external review reports relating to HE provision;
A summary of staffing resources involved in the delivery and support of HE provision with,
in the case of academic staff, an indication of relevant and highest qualifications;
A summary of the CPD activity undertaken by academic staff that was HE-specific;
A summary or samples of feedback from HE students;
Any other appropriate evidence to support statements made within the Executive Summary
regarding fulfilment of criteria and response to recommendations relating to Associate
College status/partnership.
The College may submit some or all of this information on a CD-ROM but should provide
sufficient copies for the full panel. Where documentation is provided electronically an index of
the contents of the CD-ROM should also be provided. All documentation should be submitted
to the Assistant Registrar (Collaborative Provision & Partnerships).
In addition the Secretary to the event will circulate to the panel copies of the following
documentation:
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An agenda;
Criteria and procedures for Associate College status;
A contextual summary of the partnership;
The report from the previous approval/review;
The Executive Summary statement from the previous approval event;
Annual Institutional Reports since previous approval/review;
Annual Programme Monitoring Reports since previous approval/review;
External Examiner Reports since previous approval/review.
Visit
The re-approval visit will take place over a full day, during which the Panel will meet with the
following:
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The Principal of the College;
Senior staff involved in the management of HE provision;
HE Programme Leaders;
Appropriate Heads of Service;
Students engaged in HE programmes.
The panel may also request a tour of appropriate facilities, in particular those specific to HE
provision/students.
At the end of the visit the Chair of the Panel will provide an oral report to senior staff from the
College on the conclusions and recommendations of the Panel.
Report
Following the conclusion of the visit the Secretary to the event will compile a report in
conjunction with the Chair which will include a recommendation to Senate on the re-approval or
otherwise of Associate College status, along with any ‘conditions’ or ‘recommendations’ on
which that re-approval may depend. The report will be made available to the Principal of the
College for comment prior to its consideration by the University’s Senate. Final approval of the
renewal of Associate College status will lie with Senate.