Operation of Central Progression and Award Boards Laurence Fuller Head of Student Records and Examinations Planning and Academic Administration

 Overview of the Central Boards  Board Membership  Arrangements Prior to the Boards  Progression Boards  Award Board  Degree Algorithm and Borderline Algorithm  Arrangements After the Boards  New Regulations

Overview of Central Boards Undergraduate progression Foundation Year Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Integrated Masters Undergraduate awards Level 6 Level 7 Integrated Masters

Central Board Membership and Role Pro Vice-Chancellor or Dean (Chair) Chief External Examiner (for Levels 5 and 6) Head of Student Records and Examinations Head of Governance and Quality Assurance School representative from each degree discipline To ensure: Observance of University regulations and conventions Consistency across degree programmes Relevant external examiner comments raised Input of discipline areas upon borderline candidates Raising and resolution of exceptional cases

Prior to Central Boards Input and agreement of marks on student database (SCIMS) by Schools according to outcome of Discipline Examination Boards (with Externals) Central calculation of default progression and award outcomes using SCIMS Production of progression and award reports for discussion at the Central Boards

Central Progression Boards Take place in early July (and early September after summer reassessment) Progression guidelines –Decision codes used on reports –Impact of decision codes Progression reports –Order of students –Information provided Reassessment requirements (inc. extenuation)

Progression report

Central Award Board Takes place in late June Bachelor’s Degree algorithm Award reports Borderline candidates – Identification – Discussion and recommendation Failing students (including those with extenuation) Degree statistics Chief External Examiner’s comments

Bachelor's Degree algorithm 1 st – Average of 70% OR – Average of 65% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 70% OR – Average of 65% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 70% 2:1 – Average of 60% OR – Average of 55% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 60% OR – Average of 55% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 60% 2:2 – Average of 50% OR – Average of 45% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 50% OR – Average of 45% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 50% 3 rd – Average of 40% PASS – Average of 35% Notes Average mark calculated using Level 5 and Level 6 credits in the ratio 1:2 Minimum credits required- Honours degree – 330 credits / PASS degree– no more than 30 Level 6 credits below 35%

Identification of borderline candidates Students who have narrowly missed the requirements for a higher classification, by reference to either of the first two ‘strands’ of the algorithm: – Within approximately 1.5% of the higher weighted average mark required OR – Achievement of the lower weighted average mark but 15 fewer credits at Level 6 in the higher classification Therefore, the borderline algorithm is as follows: 1 st – Average of 68.5% OR – Average of 65% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 70% OR 2:1 – Average of 58.5% OR – Average of 55% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 60% OR 2:2 – Average of 48.5% OR – Average of 45% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 50% OR Not applicable for 3 rd class or PASS degree

Process and decision making on borderline candidates Proportion of candidates ‘flagged’ for discussion Recommendation from Discipline Examination Boards upon all ‘flagged’ cases Process and discussion at Central Award Board Decision making Proportion where class raised Process for raising other exceptional cases

Award report

After the Central Boards Student database (SCIMS) updated with Board decisions Outcomes communicated to students: – Awards Degree classification and module marks – Any option for reassessment – Right of appeal – Progression Progression outcome and module marks – Implications of progression decision – Reassessment requirements – Right of appeal Confirmation of awards at Senate

New regulations Changes to: – Maximum number of assessment attempts allowed / condonement – Calculation of degree award and classification Relate to all UG degree programmes considered at Central Boards Apply to all students: – Entering or repeating Level 4 study from 2013/14 onwards – Entering directly into Level 5 from 2014/15 onwards – Entering directly into Level 6 from 2015/16 onwards

Maximum assessment attempts / condonement Total number of assessment attempts reduced from 3 to 2 (i.e. only one reassessment allowed) Introduction of condonement (awarding of credit) where: – Overall module mark between 30 and 38 – The student has exhausted both assessment attempts – The module is not a ‘qualified’ fail Applied automatically up to a maximum of: – 15 credits at Level 4, 15 credits at Level 5 and 15 credits at Level 6 – OR 15 credits at Level 4 and 30 credits at Level 6 In 2014/15, applies to all students at Level 4 and majority at Level 5

Revised calculation for degree award and classification All 360 credits must be passed to obtain a degree award Reduction to just two ‘strands’ of algorithm to classify degree: – 1 st Average of 70% OR Average of 67% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 70% – 2:1 Average of 60% OR Average of 57% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 60% – 2:2 Average of 50% OR Average of 47% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 50% – 3 rd Average of 40% No second strand – PASS Average of 35% No second strand – Average module mark still based upon Level 5 and 6 modules, in ratio 1:2 Will apply to first finalist (Level 6) cohort in June 2016

Revised algorithm to identify borderline candidates All 360 credits must be passed to obtain a degree award Now based upon just the first strand of algorithm, where a students has obtained an average mark within 2% of the normal boundary, as follows: – 1 st Average of 68% – 2:1 Average of 58% – 2:2 Average of 48% – 3 rd No borderline algorithm – PASS No borderline algorithm Will apply to first finalist (Level 6) cohort in June 2016