LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY CHAIRS OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS AND EXAMINATION COMMITTEES: REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND GOOD PRACTICE Quality Assurance Services

Part A: Overview of BOE / Committee process and your role in it Part B: What’s new this year? Part C: The regulatory requirements Faculty feedback Discussion points / Case Studies Questions / issues CONTENT OF THE SESSION

PART A – PROCESS OVERVIEW Assessment Cycle Types of Meetings Chairs Role Other Roles Discussion Points Approval of assessment by ex /exs Absence of examiners

Process Overview: Assessment Cycle Assessment design and approval prior to delivery Coursework and examinations (mitigation at POA) Marking and internal / external moderation Faculty Mitigation Panels and University Unfair Practice Procedures Examination Committees Boards of Examiners (including pre-Board) Publication of results (within 5 working days) Appeals Re-assessment Reconvened Board of Examiners Appeals

Process Overview: Meetings 3 types Examination Committee Board of Examiners Joint Board and Committee

Process Overview: Examination Committee Has authority to confirm module marks – ex / exs input required at Levels 5, 6 and 7 Has authority to progress students at Level 4 Will note any cases of cheating, plagiarism or unfair practice Authority to award “stand alone” credit Can implement FMP outcomes relating to Level 4 progression / credit

Process Overview: Board of Examiners Determine student progression and award outcomes Make recommendations on the conferment of awards Apply outcomes to students’ individual extenuating circumstances with due regard for FMP report Apply outcomes to cases of unfair practice as defined by UPB Determine the outcomes of re-assessment

Process Overview: Role of the Chair 1.Hold a pre-meeting with the scheme or course leader and advise on anyissues that might arise at the Board or Committee 2.Chair the meeting and ensure that the principles governing the Board or Committee are carried out with respect to standards, equity and fairness 3.Ensure attendance at the meeting is appropriate 4.Ensure that the all the items on the agenda are considered and that the decisions made are clear and framed by correct progression and award requirements 5.Advise the Board or Committee on regulatory issues which arise

Process Overview: Role of the Chair 6.Ensure that the decisions of the Board or Committee are subject to appropriate discussion 7.Sign the Board/ Committee marks sheet and ensure that these are also signed by external examiners 8.Check and sign the results lists 9.Take any Chair’s Actions identified by the Board, at the time, and notify the scheme or course leader 10.Check the unconfirmed minutes to ensure that the process of decision making is reflected appropriately – then confirm within 2 weeks

Process Overview Role of Module Leader Provides moderated marks to the CL in a timely fashion Brings to the Chairs attention: - any matters affecting module assessment - any errors on the marks spreadsheet Partakes in meeting decisions Works with the CL to counsel students appropriately relative to outcomes Role of Course Leader Provides accurate and timely information to the board or committee Attends both board & pre-board and briefs the chair on key matters Presents specified agenda items including: –Matters arising from external examiner reports –Exceptional matters affecting the cohort –Determination of outcomes

Process Overview: Discussion Points Approval of assessment by ex / ex C5.9.3External Examiners Scheme/Course Leaders (or equivalent) will ensure that external examiners approve the form and content of proposed examination papers, coursework and other assessments which count towards an award above the level of CrtHE or towards the CrtHE if target award.

Process Overview: Discussion Points Absence of examiners 1 Externals are required to attend both committee (C12.1.9/ 3.14) and Board (C ) C Committee Membership the Chair of the Board (or nominee) Subject Group Leader the Scheme/Course Leader (or equivalent) all staff making a significant contribution to the modules under consideration C Membership of Boards of Examiners the Chair the Scheme/Course Leader (or equivalent) all internal examiners with significant responsibilities at least one external examiner

Process Overview: Discussion Points Absence of examiners 2 C Absence of Internal Examiners Unavoidable absences should be covered by: written comments a substitute when the absent person is representing a team of tutors. C Absence of External Examiner: Advance Notice Given written report from the external examiner is available to be tabled at the Board; the Chair of the Board will attempt to arrange the attendance of another member of the external examiners team/ another external examiner if no team C Absence of External Examiners: No Notice Given the Board of Examiners should still take place; all decisions must be subject to the written consent of the external examiner; consequently all initial decisions should be subject to “Chair’s Action

PART B – WHAT’S NEW? Refreshed agendas Revised mitigation process (codes coming up) 20 credit profiles now at Levels 4 and 5 Declining number of “level incomplete / old progression regs” students

What’s New? Mitigation Codes E Extension Requested EG Extension Granted ED Extension Refused EE Extension Error AA Authorised Absence Requested AG Authorised Absence Granted AD Authorised Absence Refused AE Authorised Absence Error CE Capped Resit Error M Mitigation Requested MA Mitigation Granted Cat A MB Mitigation Granted Cat B MR Mitigation Refused MS Mitigation Spent ME Mitigation Error

KEY MESSAGES: Majority of progression decisions will now be based on a single set of current requirements Application of former and current methods relating to classification remains a constant A student’s “ADMIT TERM” remains critical PART C – PROGRESSION AND AWARD REGULATIONS Discussion Points Contained awards Outstanding matters Articulation case study Rounding Repeat Part Level

APR – Progression: L4 to L5 To proceed from L4 to L5, students must have: Pursued a programme of study of 120cp minimum at L4 (including APL) Submitted in all components Achieved a minimum of 40% or more in modules equivalent to 100cp at L4 or above Achieved an average of 30% or more in each module Achieved an overall level average of 40% May be re-assessed in all modules atcomponent level No compensation

APR - Progression: L5 to L6 To proceed from L5 to L6, students must have: Pursued a programme of study of 120cp minimum at L5 (including APL) Submitted in all components Achieved a minimum of 40% or more in modules equivalent to 100cp at L5 or above Achieved an average of 30% or more in each module studied Achieved an overall level average of 40% May be re-assessed in all modules at component level No compensation

APR FINAL LEVEL ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARD (UG) REQUIREMENTREGULATORY POSITION Credits studied (inc. Final Level SubmissionAll Components Passed Credits Min. 40% or more)100cp Overall Level Average - Across all modules40% Min. Min. Fail Mark30 Re-assessment allowanceRe-assessment in all modules Re-assessment undertakenAt component level CompensationNo compensation

APR – Hons. Degree Classification Group 1 Students: Admit term = 2011/12 or earlier Group 2 Students: Admit term = 2012/13 or later “Did the student start their current registration prior to August 2012 (is their ‘Admit Term’ 2011/12 or earlier)?” YES = FORMER & CURRENT methods (Group 1) Best 105/ Profiling/ Weighted Average NO = NEW method only (Group 2) Best 105 SEE CASE STUDIES

APR - Masters Awards Masters students will study modules worth 180 credit points minimum and will need to pass modules worth at least 160 credit points to achieve their award. This means they: must achieve modules equivalent to 160 credit points with a mark of 40% or more must achieve an average across the whole of the level of 40% or more may fail 20 credits and still achieve the award but they must attain no less than 30% PG Dips – 100 out of 120 credits PG Certs – 60 out of 60 credits

APR: Discussion Points Does this MA student get a PG Dip contained award?

APR: Discussion Points Raised by Chairs in advance of these sessions: Can outstanding matters from other Boards be brought to Boards for “capping off”? EG – Students who disengaged some years ago and are now seeking credit/ CA’s Rounding – how does it really work in the reports? Component marks – are always integers (i.e. - no-one receives a component mark of 42.6); Module Marks/ Level average – may include decimals but would display as integers/ “back office” arithmetic does not round Apply weighting of 25 or 75% - may include decimals but would display as integers/ “back office” arithmetic does not round Final outcome would be rounded up or down but would be presented as a full integer Repeat Part Level If a student achieves passes in 50% + of a level, BoE outcome is generally “repeat part level”. Regs allow students to repeat full level – how are they given the option?

Further Questions?

FURTHER INFORMATION Guide to BOE and EC examiners.htm Quality Manual manual.htm QAS Faculty Links Faculty QA&G Teams