1. CMA: Notifying applicants of curriculum change
A practical approach
Lucy Merritt Quality and Standards Manager, Engagement and Information
University of Brighton
ARC APG 17 February 2017

2. Introduction This session will cover:
Ensuring CMA compliance in the context of curriculum change:
How we ensure change is timely
Establishing thresholds for change
Processes for:
Capturing change
Communicating with applicants

3. Putting the applicant/student at the heart of our quality processes
In the context of CMA this means achieving a balance between
change being normal business which helps to secure the standards of our awards and student experience
and
delivering the experience applicants/student are led to expect from the information they have been provided
without
hindering change and development to our curriculum
CMA has become our stick.
KIS

4. Ensuring change is timely
Curriculum approval deadlines brought forward from September:
January for UG provision
March for UG provision undergoing periodic review/validation
Student involvement in curriculum changes
Strengthened expectations about how students should be consulted in curriculum change
We do not consult with applicants about changes
Instead make them aware that change is normal/usual/expected and make sure our processes notify them in a timely fashion

5. Defining change thresholds
Quality and Standards make judgements about whether changes require a communication to applicants based upon defined thresholds:
what will impact upon the student experience
CMA guidelines (material information)
For example:
changes to the core structure of a course, change to location etc. require a communication.
editorial & minor changes do not need to be communicated
changes to optional modules do not warrant a communication and this is reflected in presentation in marketing information and the programme specification.
Do not wish to cause unnecessary alarm
Student contract reflects this
Thresholds are ‘live’ we are building case law to make sure our judgements are applied consistently

6. Communicating changes to applicants
Capturing change consistently
Register of changes
Communication timeline aligned to curriculum deadlines and admissions deadlines - Jan/March/June
Making changes accessible to applicants
Use of the applicant portal
New page created ‘your course’
Maintained by Q&S
Capturing changes
No database or CMS just word documents and committee papers so needed a mechanism to keep track of the curriculum
RofChange maintained throughout the year

7. The applicant portal
Standard text referring to the programme specification and reassuring language about changes
Editable section maintained by Q&S - Q&S update this directly at three points in the year using SITS
Applicants receive an when the site has been updated
Enquiries are initially directed to the enquiries team in academic services. If any further details are required they are directed to the course leader

8. Thank you
Any questions?