To:
Directors of Studies
Departmental Administrators
From:
Ellie Clewlow, Head of Enhancement and Development team, LTEO
Date:
16th May 2006
Re:
Guidance on Student Transcripts
Format of transcripts
In the context of the following points about placements and study years abroad, I am
writing to advise you on the use of the University’s common template for student
transcripts.
The University is committed to providing student transcripts in line with
HEFCE/QAA/SCOP recommendations on Progress Files. You may recall, the
University’s Common Grading Working Group, in consultation with academic
departments, developed a common University format for student transcripts for use from
2002/2003 onwards. Minor changes to this format were made in 2003/2004.
The University template is available via the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office
website (http://www.bath.ac.uk/quality-support/transcripts.htm). A Business Objects
report is available to extract student information – please email samissupport@bath.ac.uk for further details.
Placements
You will also be aware that the format of degree certificates has recently been reviewed
and simplified.
It was recognised that the transcript now serves the function of providing detailed
information about a graduate’s programme of study and it has been reiterated that
details of placement study or a year abroad should therefore be recorded on the
transcript.
A number of colleagues raised concerns about this approach, most recently in the form
of a petition which was considered by Monday Morning Management Group at its
meeting on 2 May. After significant discussion, MMMG reaffirmed the previous decision
that placement information is more appropriately shown on the transcript.
The attached example illustrates the way in which a placement or a study year abroad
can be incorporated into a transcript. The normal way to achieve this is for the
placement and/or study year abroad unit(s) to be incorporated in the sequence of units
taken.
Departments may further increase the prominence of placements and years abroad by
using the fuller description version of the programme title that normally appears in
SAMIS, e.g. MChem (hons) Chemistry with Industrial Training.
Further consultation will take place about the approach to be adopted as assessment
processes are incorporated into SAMIS.
SAMIS
With the implementation of SAMIS for assessment, it is intended that, in due course,
student transcripts will be produced, where necessary, in a common format directly from
the system. Some feedback will be available to students on-line directly in SAMIS,
eliminating the need for paper-based transcripts at the end of each non-final period of a
programme. In the light of experience in the University-wide roll-out of SAMIS
assessments, and as part of the consideration of common programme regulations, there
will be consultation with colleagues across the University about the format of transcripts
to be printed from SAMIS. In the meantime, the SAMIS team will seek to produce
transcripts for the first full year of University-wide assessment activity in SAMIS in a way
which is as close as possible to the current approved format, subject to any limitations
that the initial implementation makes necessary. This is intended to provide in the short
term a service similar to that currently provided in a more distributed way by
departments.
Further information
On Progress Files:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/progressFiles/archive/policystateme
nt/default.asp
On the format of University degree certificates:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/certificate-format.htm
On the development of transcripts from SAMIS:
registry@bath.ac.uk