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
Student Assessment of Modules & Teaching
Web address of policy
http://www.essex.ac.uk/quality/student_representation/samt.htm
Policy-holding
Department/Section
Academic Standards and Partnerships
Academic Section
Is this a new or existing policy?
Existing
Date assessment completed
05/06/2013
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 outlines the process that should be followed by departments when conducting
Student Assessment of Modules and Teaching (SAMT) Surveys. The policy also provides guidance
on the design of these surveys.
Q2. Does the policy involve, or have consequences for, the people the University serves and
employs?
Yes. Student Assessment of Courses became a departmental responsibility from October 1999. The
procedure was reviewed during 2001/02 and again in 2002-03 when the Student Assessment of
teaching exercise was formally discontinued after Senate approved the introduction of the Student
Satisfaction Survey. This policy outlines the responsibilities that apply to departments when
completing Student Assessment of Courses.
Q3. Does the policy require decisions to be made in relation to individuals or groups of
individuals?
No. The policy provides guidance to departments on how they should complete Student Assessment
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of Courses.
Q4. What is the decision-making process and is it fair and transparent?
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 online equality and diversity 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?
This policy outlines the responsibilities of departments to complete student assessments of their
courses. In doing this, all students, including those with protected characteristics, are given the
opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences. This enables departments to make adjustments
and developments to their courses incorporating this feedback.
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? e.g. additional data collection/monitoring or
training.
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?
In requiring departments to complete student assessments of their courses, the University is
demonstrating its commitment to understanding the needs of its varying student demographic. All
students, irrespective of any protected characteristics, can complete these surveys and in turn provide
feedback on their experiences.
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.
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For completion by Equality and Diversity
Name of Policy
Student Assessment of Modules & Teaching
Should this EIA be referred on to the Equality
and Diversity Committee for further
consideration?
No.
If no, what recommendations, if any, should
be made to the Policy-holding
Department/Section?
None.
Date:
30 August 2013
Signed
Karen Bush, Equality and Diversity Manager
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