Briefing on the 2 nd Edition of the Academic Regulations

1. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations An enhanced version of the presentation made in the briefing sessions held in Autumn 2008

2. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Facilitators: Paul Baxter, Assistant Director (Quality Systems), Academic Office [paul.baxter@anglia.ac.uk] Malcolm Morrison, Director, Academic Office [malcolm.morrison@anglia.ac.uk] Marian Redding, Head of Modular Programmes [marian.redding@anglia.ac.uk] Autumn 2008

3. Overview • The Review of the Academic Regulations was not a review of key principles of the 15/30 credit curriculum but a review of implementation, interpretation and operational issues • specifically to: • eliminate ambiguity/scope for misinterpretation • improve clarity (to ensure consistency of practice) • incorporate new awards (MDes, MFA) • reflect Support Service restructuring

4. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Associate Students and Intermission

5. Associate Students • (Regulation 2.16) • Associate Student status has been reinstated for students enrolling for one or more taught modules totalling up to and including 60 credits • reinstatement anticipates employer engagement/higher skills @work initiative (ie provision of tailor-made CPD training, not necessarily leading to an award)

6. Associate Students (cont.) • (Regulation 2.16) • must take all assessment elements and are awarded credit for successful completion • must satisfy general entry requirements • are registered in a named Faculty with approval of Dean (or designated alternate) • are required to pay an economic tuition fee (ie pro rata to full time home/EU tuition fee for 120 credits: £3145 in 2008/09)

7. Intermission • (Regulations 3.28 - 3.33) • week 3 deadline for intermission requests has been withdrawn • period of intermission may be for up to 12 calendar months - not linked to multiples of semesters or trimesters • must have an approved start date and an approved end date (day, month year) - not necessarily coinciding with start and end dates of semester/trimester • return date must take account of academic coherence and requirements of pathway on which student is registered

8. Intermission (cont.) • (Regulations 3.28 - 3.33) • a student who does not re-register within 20 working days of approved return date is discontinued but may subsequently seek re-admission [NEW] • as registered students, intermitting students have access to certain Anglia Ruskin facilities but are no longer “active” and therefore are not entitled to other benefits/services (eg Council Tax exemption) • intermission is a serious decision and prior advice from Student Adviser / Programme Leader (or equivalent in partner institution) is strongly recommended • intermission is included within the maximum period of registration

9. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Admission, Re-Admission and Accredited Prior Learning (APL)

10. Admission (Section 4) 4.2 Age of entrants: We can accept applicants under 17.5 and admissions will advise on the process 4.5 General entry requirements: Use of supplementary information form where applicants do not meet entry requirements 4.50 Criminal Convictions

11. Admission

12. Re-Admission • (Section 4) • 4.13: A student who has been discontinued from a pathway by a Faculty Awards Board because of academic failure is not permitted to apply for re-admission to the same pathway unless all the following criteria has been met: • At least 12 months has lapsed between the date of discontinuation and the date of the application for re-admission • Continued…

13. Re-Admission • (Section 4) • Regulation4.13 cont: The student is able: • to provide clear evidence of a change in personal circumstances since the date of discontinuation • to demonstrate a positive commitment to resume study at higher education level • to demonstrate an enhanced knowledge-base and/or relevant experience e.g. based on employment in the period since the date of discontinuation • AND the student has been formally interviewed by at least two members of academic staff whose decision to re-admit the student is unanimous.

14. Accreditation of Prior Learning • Key information to remember: • Internal Applicants, Tariffs • Admissions Tutor and AP(E)L Adviser Roles • Streamlined process and use of Committee • Forms and information from website http://web.anglia.ac.uk/curriculum/accreditation_prior_learning.phtml • Students must be informed re providing evidence • See Student Charter: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/students/pdfs/11473_Charter_16ppA5.pdf

15. 2/3 but with clarification on ordinary / honours scenario 2nd week now ensures no retrospectives 5 year rule evidence outlined Accreditation of Prior Learning 4.29, 4.34 & 4.41 2/3 rule 4.28 2nd week rule 4.33 & 4.40 5 year rule

16. Accreditation of Prior Learning • 5 Year Rule – For prior (certificated and • experiential) learning after 5 years • Regulations 4.33 and 4.40: • Currency • Evidence • An employer reference and CV • Evidence of successful completion of relevant CPD training • A reflective statement detailing how knowledge and practice has remained up to date

17. Accreditation of Prior Learning You can check on the J: drive for information on which APL applications have been approved at: J:\Administration\Academic Office\Public\Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)\University Registry\004 CENTRAL APPROVALS LIST (CAL)\Central Approvals List.xls

18. Statistical Data Highlighting the Workload of the APL Sub-Group in 2008

19. Statistical Data Highlighting Applicants Admitted with Credit (via SITS) for 2008/09 Accreditation of Prior Learning

20. Statistical Data Highlighting APL Applicants for 2008/09 administered by Faculty APL Advisers Accreditation of Prior Learning

21. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Failure After Re-Assessment: Retake and Replacement Modules

22. Some Questions….

23. Q1: ….how many attempts at a module’s assessment was a student permitted? Under the 1st Edition of the Academic Regulations…. A1: One - and if the student failed the first attempt, a second attempt (NB: it is incorrect to tell students they are entitled to two attempts at a module when the second attempt is solely to improve a mark of 40% or above obtained at the first attempt)

24. Q2: ….if a student exhausted all permitted attempts on a compulsory module, what happened? Under the 1st Edition of the Academic Regulations…. A2: the Student could not continue on the pathway for which they were registered (see regulations governing ‘continuation’ in Section 8)

25. Q3: ….if a student exhausted all permitted attempts on a designated module, what happened? Under the 1st Edition of the Academic Regulations…. A3: the Student could select a ‘replacement’ designated module from those modules listed in the PSF

26. In the first edition of the Academic Regulations, Regulation 6.69 provided exemption for some pathways re compulsory modules Usually related to compulsory nature of all modules on the pathway and the requirements of professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs) Inconsistent and unfair; students on different pathways being treated differently Potential continued increase in list of pathways in 6.69 More exemptions than those following the original regulation (exception rather than the rule!) Potential on pathway design and reduction in student choice Consequences of module failure after two attempts

27. (6.66 – 6.71: replacing provision under 6.69 in the First Edition) compulsory modules: student may ‘re-take’ the entire module, with attendance designated module: may either ‘retake’ the same module OR replace with an alternative module at the same level as detailed on the PSF (all with full attendance) There are limits: replacement and re-take modules permitted up to a maximum of 60 credits in total and 30 credits for any one level not applicable to 45 and 60 credit modules Consequences of module failure after two attempts

28. Re-take and Replacement Modules (6.66 – 6.71) • replacement modules are not capped; standard module assessment regulations apply (eg: qualification mark, maximum of two attempts etc.) • re-take modules are capped at 40%; other standard module assessment regulations apply (eg: qualification mark, maximum of two attempts etc.) • For modules which are being re-taken, individual assessment element marks from the previous take are NOT carried forward • once all re-take and/or replacement module opportunities are exhausted, the student is automatically considered under regulations governing continuation

29. Academic Standards are maintained Reduce early transfers to Framework Awards Contributes to aiding retention Fair and consistent Implemented for the first time from Semester 1, 2008/09 Re-take and Replacement Modules

30. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Exercises

31. Exercises The next four slides provide four exercises to help test your understanding of the revised Academic Regulations. You are presented with four examples of a typical student profile. The task for each exercise is simply to determine the recommendations for the failed modules that the Student Review Subcommittee should make to its Faculty Awards Board in accordance with the revised Academic Regulations (ie: the Second Edition, July 2008). For the purpose of these exercises, the default Academic Regulations apply (eg: the qualifying mark is at 30%). Good luck!

32. Module Level Credit Value Mark Detail Comment (where necessary) Module 1 1 30 credits 58% Compulsory Module 2 1 15 credits 64% Compulsory Module 3 1 15 credits 34% After 1 attempt - Compulsory Module 4 1 15 credits 53% Compulsory Module 5 1 30 credits 32% ex (50%): 30%; After 2 attempts – cw (50%): 34% Compulsory Module 6 1 15 credits 44% Designated Exercise A In this example, a re-sit is offered for Module 3 and Module 5 is compensated – no retake or replacement module is required

33. Module Level Credit Value Mark Detail Comment (where necessary) Module 1 1 30 credits 58% Compulsory Module 2 1 15 credits 64% Compulsory Module 3 1 15 credits 34% After 1 attempt - Designated Module 4 1 15 credits 53% Designated Module 5 1 30 credits 32% ex (50%): 4%; After 2 attempts – cw (50%): 60% Designated Module 6 1 15 credits 44% Compulsory Exercise B In this example, a re-sit is offered for Module 3. Module 5 can’t be compensated - the module can either be retaken or replaced

34. Module Level Credit Value Mark Detail Comment (where necessary) Module 1 2 30 credits 58% Compulsory Module 2 2 15 credits 64% Compulsory Module 3 2 15 credits 34% After 1 attempt - Compulsory Module 4 2 15 credits 53% Compulsory Module 5 2 45 credits 32% ex (50%): 30%; After 2 attempts – cw (50%): 34% Compulsory (NB: 15 credits of replacement/retake modules taken at level 1) Exercise C In this example, a re-sit is offered in Module 3. Module 5 cannot be compensated, retaken or replaced due to the module’s value of 45 credits

35. Module Level Credit Value Mark Detail Comment (where necessary) Module 1 3 30 credits 58% Compulsory Module 2 3 15 credits 64% Compulsory Module 3 3 15 credits 34% After 1 attempt - Designated Module 4 3 15 credits 53% Designated Module 5 3 30 credits 20% ex (50%): 30%; After 2 attempts – cw (50%): 10% Designated Module 6 3 15 credits 44% Compulsory (NB: 30 credits of replacement/retake modules taken at level 1 and 15 credits of replacement/retake modules taken at level 2) Exercise D In this example, a re-sit is offered for Module 3. Module 5 cannot be compensated, retaken or replaced as the maximum limits will be exceeded

36. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Re-assessment After Further Attendance and Student Initiated Pathway Transfer

37. Regulation 6.61 and 7.6 (bullet 5) NOT to be confused with retaking a module Regulations clarified to specify when the second attempt for a module (the re-sit) can be undertaken only after further attendance The DAP can determine that further attendance is required when the nature of the subject area of the module and its assessment deem further attendance to be necessary (eg: laboratory based work) Re-assessment after further attendance

38. (8.9 – 8.13) Student submits a request, in writing, to the receiving Programme Leader BEFORE completion of the original pathway Request evaluated by Programme Leader who determines credit to be transferred and any other conditions Programme Leader recommends transfer to both out-going and receiving Student Review Subcommittees Student Initiated Pathway Transfer

39. Student Initiated Pathway Transfer (cont.) (8.9 – 8.13) • If any conditions are satisfied, the Student Review Sub-committee recommends the transfer to the FAB • The original award is NOT conferred by the FAB • Transfer to a pathway leading to a higher award is not permitted if original registration has been discontinued for academic reasons

40. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Assessment Offences and Other Technical Issues

41. Assessment Offences • (Section 10) • the penalty tariffs for assessment offences have been recalibrated • a table (pp 103-104) makes explicit the penalties for an assessment offence, admitted by a student, when committed in initial assessment or re-assessment [NB the penalties and consequences differ between assessment and re-assessment]

42. Assessment Offences (cont.) • (Section 10) • the penalty tariffs for offences at Level 4 are shown separately and are heavier than before • the penalties at all levels are heavier if an alleged offence is proved at a hearing (Reg 10.40 – 10.44) eg the arithmetic mean used for an award classification is reduced by 5 or 10 percentage points (depending on circumstances), possibly resulting in lower classification, but not a fail

43. Other Technical Issues • introduction of MDes and MFA (Regs 2.24, 3.23 etc - see index for other references) • HNC reclassified as a Level 1 award (Reg 2.35) • HND increased from 180 to 240 credits wef Sept 2008, as required by Edexcel (Reg 2.24) • module results for modules contributing to an HNC/HND are classified consistently across all Faculties, as required by Edexcel (Reg 6.26) • Associate/Deputy Deans or Director of Studies can be DAP Chairs ie Chair is not restricted to a Head of Department, as previously (Reg 7.7)

44. Other Technical Issues (cont.) • criteria and principles for transfer to a framework award have been regulated (Regs 2.11, 2.12, 7.18, 8.3 - 8.5) • consequences of failure at Level 3, including conferment of Ordinary degree, have been made explicit (Regs 2.12 and 8.3 – 8.5) • circumstances under which excess credit within a semester can be taken have been explicitly defined (Reg 2.16) • consequences of exceeding word limit in re-assessed work have been made explicit and methodology for applying penalty has been clarified (Reg 6.58) • merit classification has been introduced for PG pathways whose credit value is at least 120 credits

45. Briefing on the 2nd Edition of the Academic Regulations Thank you for reading this presentation If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to e-mail any of the facilitators (e-mail addresses are displayed at the beginning of the presentation)