University of Brighton Regulations workshop for partner colleges

1. University of BrightonRegulations workshop for partner colleges Tanya Izzard, Partnership Manager t.izzard@brighton.ac.uk 01273 643901

2. Aims and audience • to introduce college staff to key examination and assessment regulations as set out in the General Examination & Assessment Regulations (GEAR) • to introduce college staff to the procedures supporting the assessment and examination process as set out in the General Examination & Assessment Procedures Handbook (GEAPH) • to ensure college staff are aware of the decisions that can be made by examination boards • to ensure college staff are aware of their responsibilities during the examination and assessment process • for all staff at colleges involved with the examination and assessment process

3. Terminology • modules or units • the terms are interchangeable, this presentation refers to modules • modules can be: • mandatory: must be taken and passed to achieve award • compulsory: must be taken but need not be passed to achieve award • optional: need not be taken or passed to achieve award • intercalation/intermission • when a student is given permission to suspend study for an agreed period

4. Terminology • AEB and CEB • Area Examination Board (considers module results) • Course Examination Board (considers student achievement profiles) • often joint for college programmes • referral: student must complete additional work to pass module, mark capped at 40 • deferral: student with accepted mitigating circumstances must complete additional work to pass module, full range of marks can be awarded • compensation: credit that is awarded to enable student to progress to next level or achieve award when not all modules have been passed. Failed modules remain on transcript as fails. • repeat: module must be repeated in full at next opportunity. Mark capped at 40.

5. Fundamental regulations • each programme must have a definition of stages of study and progression/award points • Common Academic Framework defines • programme length • required credit values • maximum period of registration • maximum credit per year • full-time students take 120 credits • 140 credits is possible in exceptional circumstances

6. Fundamental regulations • maximum number of attempts at module assessment is FOUR: • first attempt 1 • first attempt referral 2 • repeat attempt 3 • repeat attempt referral 4 • students can move from attempt 1 to attempt 3 if their attempt 1 fails and cannot be retrieved by referral • referral and repeat attempts are not a right but in the gift of the examination board

7. Coursework submission • submission deadlines must be published • students who submit work late receive a mark of zero • ARGEAR 2 form must be used for submission of late work • submission deadlines and late work rules need consistent implementation • Student Handbook and course handbook set out these regulations

8. Extensions to deadlines • ARGEAR 1 form must be used to grant extensions • Students must provide documentary evidence • Good practice to identify one person per programme to grant extensions • acceptable reasons for extensions include • major illness • significant personal problems • failure of University or College systems or facilities • extensions are not given for • minor illness • computer/printer failure unless the fault of the University or the College • demands of paid work • transport problems

9. Mitigating circumstances • students must submit a mitigating circumstances form (ARGEAR 3) to the chair of the examination board • staff cannot claim mitigation on students’ behalf, unless there is group mitigation (eg disturbance in exam room) • students must provide supporting evidence from an independent third party • claim forms and evidence must be stored securely • students may claim mitigating circumstances even after an extension has been allowed, if they consider their performance was affected despite the extension

10. Academic misconduct • academic misconduct includes plagiarism, collusion, falsification of data, duplication of previously submitted work, cheating in exams, impersonation and ghosting • for full details please see • http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/plagiarism • CLT has plagiarism awareness pack for use with students • Centre for Learning & Teaching: • http://staffcentral.brighton.ac.uk/clt/resources/plagiarism.htm • Turnitin available via studentcentral to check student work for plagiarism

11. Investigating academic misconduct • member of staff who suspects academic misconduct reports to Course Leader/designated member of staff • member of staff investigates suspicion, judging whether there is sufficient evidence to report to Head of School • Head of School assesses major/minor case • minor case: interview with Head of School • major case: Investigating Panel including Course Leader • member of staff will give evidence to panel • report of outcomes to CEB recommending penalty

12. Examination board paperwork • agenda • constitution and membership • minutes of last meeting • details of chair’s actions completed since last meeting • mitigating circumstances claims (confidential to chair) • information about academic misconduct cases • information on student achievement (CAMS output)

13. Examination board representation and attendance • Faculty Academic Boards approve constitution and membership for each examination board • chairs are members of UoB staff (usually Head of School or equivalent • External examiner always attends • appropriate College representation might include: • module leaders, who should be prepared to discuss module results and referral requirements • course leaders, who should be prepared to discuss student progression and awards • college HE managers • attendance is compulsory for those named on the constitution and membership for each board

14. Decisions available to examination boards • maximum attempts at module assessment • referral – make good by reassessment, capped at 40 • deferral – only with accepted mitigating circumstances • compensation • progress with conditions • do not progress • repeat failed modules in part-time mode, capped at 40 • fail and withdraw • maximum period of registration reached

15. Module result decisions • AEB or joint AEB/CEB will consider module results for each student • outcomes of academic misconduct investigation may be considered • possible module results include • pass • fail and recommend referral • fail • note the threshold rule – if a component of assessment has a mark below 30, the module is failed even if the overall module mark is over 40

16. Progression decisions • The CEB or joint AEB/CEB will consider each student’s profile of results, and may make the following progression decisions: • progress without conditions: student has passed all required modules • progress with compensation: a maximum of 20 credits can be compensated for full-time students each year. No compensation for mandatory modules • progress with conditions. Students may trail up to 20 credits into the next year of study. • endorse recommended referrals, and defer progression decision to next meeting of board • accept mitigating circumstances, agree deferral work to be completed and defer progression decision to next meeting of board • require student to slow progress and repeat failed modules in part-time mode • require student to withdraw

17. Mitigating circumstances decisions • pre-board meetings of small group including CEB chair may review claims and make recommendations on acceptance to CEB • pre-board meetings are not required but are good practice and help to preserve confidentiality • mitigating circumstances can be accepted or rejected by the CEB • If accepted, the board may • endorse deferral results on any failed modules, decision on progression deferred to next meeting of board • consider compensation if sufficient credit has been achieved • note acceptance if all modules have been passed • take into account when considering students at classification borderlines

18. Classification of awards • Foundation degrees: • Pass weighted average of 40 or above • Merit weighted average of 60 or above • Distinction weighted average of 70 or above • Honours degrees: • 3rd weighted average of 40 or above • 2.2 weighted average of 50 or above • 2.1 weighted average of 60 or above • 1st weighted average of 70 or above • borderlines: students with an average within 2% of the next classification band can be considered for that classification by the examination board

19. Appeals • students must indicate intention to appeal to the Secretary of Academic Board and contact chair of examination board within 15 working dates of notification of results • students then have 30 days to lodge a formal appeal • students cannot appeal against academic judgement • valid reasons for appeals include: • mitigating circumstances not considered or student was unable to submit them for valid reasons • procedures were not followed by the examination board • regulations were breached • see GEAR Section H for full details of process