Board for Graduate Schools

Dissolution

Dissolution of Board for Graduate Schools

At its meeting in July 2010, Senate approved proposals for the dissolution of the Board for Graduate Schools with effect from 30 September 2010 and the reallocation of its responsibilities to the Teaching Committee, the Special Cases Committee, the Standing Committee on Assessment and the Research Committee. The intention of the proposals was to provide a more focussed location for the consideration of cross-cutting aspects of policy, quality assurance and enhancement and to achieve effective integration of individual student casework while ensuring that the University continued to improve its understanding and management of the research student experience.

In practical terms, interactions currently involving departments and the Board for Graduate Schools changed as follows from 1 October 2010: 

  1. Research degree programmes, as well as taught postgraduate programmes, are the responsibility of the Teaching Committee. Proposals for new research degree programmes (or modifications to existing research degree programmes) should be sent to the Academic Support Office for consideration by the Teaching Committee; 
  2. Recommendations for suspensions of enrolment or extensions of submission deadline should continue to be sent to the Student Progress Officer (Registry Services), for consideration by a member of the Special Cases Committee;
  3. Where a hearing is required of an appeal or an academic misconduct case involving a postgraduate student, the hearing is conducted by the Special Cases Committee; 
  4. Recommendations for confirmation of PhD/EngD enrolment (formerly upgrading), or for programme transfer or transfer between full-time and part-time enrolment, should continue to be sent to the Student Progress Officer (Registry Services), for consideration by a member of the Standing Committee on Assessment;
  5. University postgraduate studentships are the responsibility of the Research Committee.

Responsibilities

Transfer of responsibilities of the Board for Graduate Schools

The business previously the responsibility of the Board for Graduate Schools has been re-aligned with effect from 01 October 2010. This will:

  • provide a more focussed location for the consideration of cross-cutting aspects of policy, quality assurance and enhancement
  • achieve effective integration of individual student casework within the SCC and SCA as appropriate.
  BfGS Term of Reference Responsibility from 01/10/2010
1 To enhance postgraduate education in the University PVC: Research Advisory Group and UTC
2 To develop, monitor, implement and publicise University policies on postgraduate education UTC
3 To develop postgraduate student facilities Covered under 5 below
4 To coordinate the activity of existing graduate schools within the University and assist the development of new schools, including inter-disciplinary collaboration, as the need is identified PVC: Research Advisory Group
5 To liaise with the Teaching Committee and the Research Committee in improving the quality of postgraduate programmes and facilities and disseminating best practice UTC
6 To monitor and respond to national trends UTC
7 To consider proposals for new research degree programmes and for modifications to existing research degree programmes, and to make recommendations in respect of the former to the Senate UTC
8 To receive and consider policy implications of summary data on all postgraduate student transfers of registration; submission, pass, referral, fail and withdrawal rates; and appeals and complaints UTC
9 To keep under review strategy for, and the impact of, research skills training PVC: Research Advisory Group
10 To consider proposals for amendments to the Ordinances and Regulations relating to research degree programmes, excluding assessment and examination, and to make recommendations accordingly to the Senate UTC
11 To approve non-standard applications for postgraduate enrolment UTC / Admin.
12 In cases of academic misconduct, to hear recommendations from Boards of Studies or departmental graduate school boards concerning research students or, where necessary, taught postgraduate students; and to monitor all reports on academic misconduct by postgraduate students for consistency of treatment SCC & SCA
13 To approve recommendations for extensions of submission deadline for postgraduate students SCC
14 To consider any other cases referred by Boards of Studies or departmental graduate school boards involving exemptions from the regulations for postgraduate study (e.g., suspension of registration) SCC
15 To consider recommendations regarding academically unsatisfactory postgraduate students SCC
16 To consider and hear appeals by postgraduate students SCC
17 To submit an annual report to the Senate on appeals and academic complaints by postgraduate students SCC
18 To approve recommendations from Boards of Studies or graduate school boards for the appointment of assessors to consider and report on applications for the award of higher doctorates, and to make recommendations to the Senate regarding the award of higher doctorates SCA
19 To develop and administer University postgraduate scholarships and other forms of postgraduate support Research Committee
20 To consider and make recommendations on any other matters concerning postgraduate study referred to it by the Vice-Chancellor, the Senate, Boards of Studies, departmental graduate school boards, or other University committees Remove
21 To take account of equal opportunities in all aspects of its work Universal
22 The Chair of the Board to have particular responsibility for matters of general postgraduate policy and for promoting research (items 1-8 and 19 above) Remove
23 The Deputy Chair of the Board to chair meetings of the Board in the absence of, or at the request of, the Chair; to advise the Chair on request; and to have particular responsibility for the consideration of appeals by postgraduate students Remove
24 To report to the Senate Remove
Key:
UTC - University Teaching Committee
SCA - Standing Committee for Assessment
SCC - Special Cases Committee
BfGS - Board for Graduate Schools
RC - Research Committee

Contact

Jillian Fell
Student Progress Officer
jillian.fell@york.ac.uk
x 2141

Graduate Awards Committee

The Graduate Awards Committee was a sub-committee of the Board for Graduate Schools from September 2007 to November 2008.

Contact for agendas and minutes: Dr Tarn Driffield (extension 3683) e-mail tarn.driffield@york.ac.uk
Contact for apologies: Dr Tarn Driffield (extension 3683) e-mail tarn.driffield@york.ac.uk
Chair: Professor Alastair Fitter (extension 8549) e-mail alastair.fitter@york.ac.uk
Reports to Board for Graduate Schools

Terms of Reference

  1. To recommend the University’s strategy for postgraduate scholarships and studentships
  2. To consider arrangements for new scholarships and studentships as appropriate
  3. To recommend arrangements for the award of University funded studentships
  4. To oversee arrangements for the award of White Rose studentships
  5. To consider and recommend arrangements for the award of Research Council and other externally funded studentships where appropriate

Constituency of Members

Ref Constituency
1 The Chair of the Board for Graduate Schools
2 The Academic Co-ordinator for the Arts
3 The Academic Co-ordinator for the Sciences
4 The Academic Co-ordinator for the Social Sciences

Membership 2008/9

Ref Name Department
1 Professor A H Fitter (Chair) Biology
2 Professor J K Local Language & Linguistic Science
3 Professor A M Tyrrell Electronics
4 Professor P Sloper Social Policy & Social Work

Minutes

2008

2007

Associated Committees and Sub-Committees

  • Board for Graduate Schools