About

Standing Committee on Assessment

The Chair and seven members appointed by the University Teaching Committee, of whom at least three should be members or recent members of the University Teaching Committee. The Chair should be an active member of the Teaching Committee.

The student members of the Committee shall not be present nor receive any papers for any business regarding the academic assessment of any individual student, or personal matters relating to any individual staff member, student or external examiner. 

Purpose of the Committee: on behalf of University Teaching Committee, to develop, consider, monitor and review policies and procedures relating to the assessment of undergraduate, graduate postgraduate and research students; on behalf of Senate, to approve, report and monitor the results of assessment for University awards, including those of higher doctorates, and appoint internal and external examiners.

Reporting Structure: the Standing Committee on Assessment is a sub-committee of University Teaching Committee, but also reports directly to Senate on students’ achievement of University awards.

Terms

Terms of Reference

1. To develop, consider, monitor and review policies and procedures relating to the assessment and progression of all students studying on programmes leading to a qualification of the university at any level (foundation degree, undergraduate, graduate, taught postgraduate and research students) and to make recommendations to University Teaching Committee.
2. To make recommendations to Boards of Studies, Graduate School Boards, University Teaching Committee and Senate on matters of assessment strategy, practice or policy. To keep the Special Cases Committee and other relevant committees informed about the implications of assessment-related decisions or recommendations;
3. To consider proposals for amendments to the Ordinances and Regulations relating to assessment and examination and to make recommendations accordingly to Senate, via University Teaching Committee;
4. To monitor academic misconduct reports submitted by Boards of Studies and Graduate School Boards and to maintain a statistical overview for annual consideration when trends of misconduct will be reviewed and any recommendations with regard to policy and/or practice can be made;
5. To provide advice and guidance to Boards of Studies and Graduate School Boards on assessment-related issues, and particularly on the conduct of academic misconduct cases;
6. To approve the appointment of internal examiners at all levels;
7. To approve the appointment of external examiners at all levels, including terms of appointment;
8. To monitor and approve special examination arrangements for all students in University examinations, and to monitor recommendations from Boards of Studies and Graduate School Boards for Category 1 students to sit exams missed or failed on medical grounds as if for the first time.
9. To approve, and report to Senate the results of University examinations at all levels. To keep under review, and report to Senate through University Teaching Committee, the distribution of results for examinations at all levels, including in relation to data on equal opportunities;
10. To consider and make recommendations on any other matters referred to it by the Vice-Chancellor, the Senate, University Teaching Committee, Special Cases Committee, departmental Graduate Committees or Boards of Studies;
11. To act under such delegated authority as the University Teaching Committee may determine for areas not covered by specific terms of reference;
12. To develop and monitor policies and procedures in relation to the University's Mitigating Circumstances Policy and to make recommendations to University Teaching Committee;
13. To ensure that the Committee takes account of equality of opportunity in its work.

Members

Membership 2010/2011

Student Representation (for unreserved business)

• 1 undergraduate representative nominated by the Students’ Union
• 1 representative studying a taught postgraduate programme nominated by the Graduate Students Association
• 1 research student representative nominated by the Graduate Students Association

The Students’ Union and Graduate Students Association are permitted to designate alternates to student members of the committee.

In attendance

• Academic Registrar
• Director: Registry Services
• Assistant Registrar: Student Progress

Meetings

Meeting dates

The meeting dates for 2011/12 academic year are as follows:

• Friday 7 October 2011, 2.15 pm
• Friday 11 November 2011, 2.15pm
• Friday 16 December 2011, 2.15pm
• Friday 10 February 2012, 2.15pm
• Friday 27 April 2012, 2.15pm
• Friday 25 May 2012, 2.15pm

Minutes

Minutes

• SCA Minute Index (PDF , 261kb)

Briefing sheets

Briefing sheets

Throughout each academic year the Standing Committee on Assessment (SCA) considers and provides guidance on a number of issues raised by staff, other University committees and external bodies. The Committee is responsible for the content of the University’s Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback and for the Academic Misconduct Policies, Guidelines and Procedures.  These documents are updated annually, but much of the Committee’s work during the year is of immediate benefit to departments.  These Briefing Sheets provide departments with useful clarification and guidelines for many of the issues they deal with each day.

• April 2009 (PDF , 75kb)
• July 2008 (PDF , 76kb)
• October 2007 (PDF , 37kb)
• September 2007 (PDF , 49kb)
• March 2007 (PDF , 44kb)