PROCESS FOR WITHDRAWAL (DISCONTINUATION)/TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF COURSES
(UCLAN CAMPUSES)
Suspension and withdrawal - Stage 4
Introduction
Portfolio Review will be undertaken on an annual basis to review with each School its portfolio of courses
and to identify any courses to be discontinued and withdrawn from the portfolio (ie discontinued) or
temporarily suspended from the recruitment process, for example because they no longer fit with the
University’s strategic plan, have not recruited a viable cohort which would provide a sound student
experience, there is poor attainment, retention and satisfaction etc. This process is an College-led
process working with the Executive, involving the Director of Marketing, Head of AQA, Finance business
partners, the appropriate Executive Deans, Heads of School and College Academic Development leads
The process will take account of enrolment and admissions statistics, and will take into account the impact
on any existing students and other stakeholders (eg collaborative partners, feeder courses, modules used
on other programmes). Recommendations must be clear about the period of temporary suspension or the
effective date of withdrawal of a programme.
The outcomes of these discussions will be finalised before the next applicant cycle, and recommendations
made to the University’s Course Planning Committee for final approval no later than end August, in order
that courses can be removed from advertising for the following year’s applicant cycle.
In mid-January of each year, an additional review of applicant numbers for the current year’s applicant
cycle will be undertaken by each College working with the Executive to identify courses which are likely not
to be viable and therefore the University considers that this will adversely affect the proper delivery of the
educational experience. Recommendations will be made to the University’s Course Planning Committee
for final approval (final approval may be given by Chair’s action). In the event of a decision to suspend
recruitment to a course at this point in the year, the University fully recognises and accepts its
responsibilities towards any applicants who have been made offers for admission to a course and will
provide to the student reasonable support to transfer to another course either at UCLan or at another
provider. In these circumstances, the College must liaise with the Admissions Office and undertake
discussions with students to agree appropriate transfer arrangements either at UCLan or an alternative
institution. If applicants holding offers of a place on the course do not wish to transfer their offer to
another UCLan course or apply for another course at a different institution, the University is
obligated to run the course and this should be discussed with the Executive Dean and Executive.
There will be no further opportunity for a School to recommend withdrawal (discontinuation) or suspension
of recruitment to a course.
In the event of a decision to suspend recruitment to or close a course, the University fully recognises, and
accepts its responsibilities towards any remaining ongoing students. It is expected that where courses are
proposed to be withdrawn, existing students will be able to continue on the course on which they have
enrolled until the completion of their studies. Exceptionally, changes may be required to ensure a smooth
closure and in this case must be proposed and approved using the Process for Approval of Amendments
to Courses/Modules, which will involve consultation with students and must not compromise the student
experience.
Courses agreed to be withdrawn (discontinued) or temporarily suspended from recruitment will be notified
by AQA to Marketing, Admissions, International Admissions, Course Enquiries and the Data Management
and Reporting Team.
A withdrawn course may be reactivated only by the approval of a new course proposal (see Course
Developer’s Guide for guidance on planning and developing a new course).
Academic Quality and Awards Unit
Revised October 2015