University of Brighton
Business School
Minutes to the Undergraduate Joint Course Board for LLB Law with Business/BA
Law with Business/BA Law with Accountancy/BA Accountancy with Law held on
4th March 2009.
Present: Lucy Jones (Chair), Zoe Downton (Secretary), James Macdonald (School Quality
Director), Jenny Robertson (FAL Programme Leader), Sarah Field, Lin Povey, AJ Cilliers,
Linda Walker, Zoe Swan, Alison Bone, Judith Riches, Joanna Armstrong. Student
Representatives: Mark Hatton (LLB.2), Joseph Appiah (LLB.2), Craig Rees (LLB.2),
Christopher Crichton (LLB.1), Francesca Gravestock (LLB.1).
1.
Apologies for absence: Pauline Coverdale, Juliet Turner, Brontie Zoutewelle, Stacey
Killeen (BALWA.3), James Murphy (LLB.1).
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.
Minutes from the previous meeting held 26th November 2008: Agreed as an
accurate record of the meeting.
3.
3.1
Matters arising:
Under 6.2 – HR280: The module leader (LW) stated the list of recommended texts
has always been available on Studentcentral and was handed out at the beginning of
term.
3.2
Under 6.2 & 7.4: Confirmation received that action points had been addressed.
4.
Chairs business:

Congratulations to Matilda Cram (LLB.3) and Emma Barlow (LLB.3) who won
the recent moot against University of Sussex.

The simulated Magistrates’ Court in January was very successful. Students
found the experience worthwhile. Another is planned for April and around
20-30 student volunteers will be needed.

A recent talk from Howard League of Penal Reform was well received.
5.
Reports from student representatives:
No final year reps were present at the meeting.
5.1
Second Year – LLB:
Students reported being very unhappy with coursework deadlines being so close
together. Tutors responded that students had known about the case study and HR
assignments since September. A discussion followed whereby tutors felt students
should take more responsibility for managing their time as the deadlines were known
at the start of term. Linda Walker (HR tutor) stated students could start work in
advance by choosing an organisation and reading up and added the deadline fitted in
with all UG business programmes. Students responded that realistically the case
study could not be started until after Christmas once all the topics had been covered,
plus concentration in seminars was affected due to the pressure of deadlines.
LJ concluded there were two options to be considered in July when this is reviewed;
either to have deadlines spread throughout the year (impacting on seminar
attendance potentially) or having deadlines close together at certain points in the
year or alternatively change assessments to 100% examination.
5.2
Students questioned whether there was the option to change the compulsory
subjects in the final year to ‘qualifying law’ modules. LJ responded that although only
two of the core modules are ‘Foundation of Legal Knowledge’ subjects, the other core
modules cannot be changed. LJ explained they can choose to take Employment Law
as a single module, instead of year-through, thus enabling another single law
elective to be taken .
Course Board for LLB/BA Law with Business, BA Law with Accountancy, BA Accountancy with
Law held 4th March 2009
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5.3
E-Learning: Many students have expressed negative feedback towards this style of
learning, preferring ‘traditional’ face-to-face teaching. LJ stated that a questionnaire
to gauge the success of this would be issued shortly and all feedback would be
welcomed. SF noted that engagement in e-learning was good initially, but
participation has since dropped off.
5.4
EU is much better and students appreciate the tutor’s engagement with them during
lectures.
5.5
IT288: Students reported being unclear as to what was expected from them in the
coursework, with overseas students (whose first language is not English) struggling.
Concern was also expressed regarding the semester one exam whereby students felt
the topics were too wide and the wording vague, plus the format was different to the
past paper seen. LJ responded that the paper would have been reviewed by an
External Examiner. As the module tutor was not present, LJ advised she would refer
the issues to the tutor and report back to students.
5.6
5.7
First Year – LLB:
ML140: Students reported receiving an email at short notice from the tutor about the
interviews taking place the following day and consequently some had not dressed
appropriately for the assessment. LJ reassured students would not be marked down
because of this and comments would be passed onto the tutor.
LW162: Students felt the coursework was handed back too late and issues flagged
up, such as poor referencing, could not be corrected in other coursework submitted.
LJ noted this problem and reminded students that other factors had delayed the
return of the work, such as university closure over Christmas and Studentcentral
downtime.
Students also requested seminar preparation sheets to be given out sooner after the
lecture. LJ replied she would pass the comments to the module tutor.
5.8
EC180: Students reported that no feedback was given on returned coursework and
not having comments to refer back to was unhelpful. As the tutor was not present at
the meeting, LJ stated there is no requirement to write feedback on the assignment
cover sheets and advised students to take up the tutor’s offer of oral feedback and
make an appointment to see her.
The Chair thanked all the student representatives for their comments and feedback.
6.
6.1
Reports from Staff Subject Area representatives
Final year: attendance on LW365 & LW361 is very poor and it is thought this
concerns the same students.
6.2
Second year (LLB): a drop in attendance noted since assessment week, affecting
criminal law seminars in particular.
6.3
First year (LLB): a diverse group with some poor attendance and lack of
preparation, while others are working hard. Overall, a good cohort who interact and
work well together.
6.4
JA raised the issue
attended seminars
group assignment.
grounds they have
7.
7.1
Any other business:
JM to follow up an email received by students regarding the availability of extracts
from External Examiner reports on Studentcentral.
of whether a student’s work should be marked if they have not
and have only submitted an individual assignment rather than a
LJ responded that tutors are at liberty to fail a student on the
not met the learning outcomes.
There being no other business, the meeting ended at 1.10pm.
Course Board for LLB/BA Law with Business, BA Law with Accountancy, BA Accountancy with
Law held 4th March 2009
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