Standing Committee on Assessment

About

Standing Committee on Assessment

The Chair, nine academic members appointed by the University Teaching Committee. The Chair should be an active member of the Teaching Committee. The Dean of YGRS is an ex-officio member to ensure that the views of YGRS are represented. The Deputy Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students of CITY College to ensure that the views of CITY College are represented. An Associate Dean of Faculty Membership of the committee should have, where possible, a balanced representation from across the three faculties.

A Deputy Chair of the Committee may be appointed by the Chair, chosen from the membership of the committee, in consultation with the Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students. The Deputy Chair can act with the full authority of the Chair when the Chair is unavailable, out of contact or there is a conflict of interest. The appointment or continuation in the role of Deputy Chair will be reported at the first meeting of the academic year and will act for that full academic year.  

Ex-Officio: Dean of York Graduate Research School, Deputy Principal of Teaching, Learning and Students, CITY College and Associate Dean of One Faculty per academic year.

Purpose of the Committee: On behalf of University Teaching Committee and York Graduate Research School, to develop, consider, monitor and review policies and procedures relating to the assessments, marking, feedback and progression  for  all taught 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. On PGR matters it reports to the PGR Policies and Programmes Committee of York Graduate Research School Board.

Terms

Terms of Reference

1. To develop, consider, monitor and review University policies and procedures relating to assessments, marking, feedback and progression for all taught and research students studying on programmes leading to a qualification of the University and to ensure such policies and procedures meet national quality assurance requirements 
   
   
2. To make recommendations to Boards of Studies, departmental Graduate School Boards, University Teaching Committee, York Graduate Research School Board and Senate on matters of assessment  policy, strategy or practice. To keep other relevant committees informed about the implications of assessment-related decisions or recommendations;
   
   
3. To commission projects in areas related to assessment, and to monitor these and other assessment-related projects in the University;
   
   
4. To consider proposals for amendments to the Ordinances and Regulations relating to assessment and to make recommendations accordingly to Senate, via University Teaching Committee and York Graduate Research School Board;
   
   
5. To monitor academic misconduct reports submitted by Standing Academic Misconduct Panels and maintain an overview of trends through an annual statistical review leading to recommendations with regard to policy and/or practice;
   
   
6. To provide advice and guidance to Boards of Studies, Boards of Examiners and departmental Graduate School Boards on assessment-related issues, and particularly on the conduct of academic misconduct cases;
   
   
7. To approve at all levels, on behalf of University Teaching Committee, the appointment of any internal examiners who are not academic, research, teaching and/or scholarship staff (i.e. continuing employees on permanent or limited-term contracts). This includes, for example, Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), casual teaching staff and persons not employed by the University;
   
   
8. To approve, on behalf of University Teaching Committee, the appointment of external examiners at all levels, including terms of appointment.  For taught provision, approved nominees are appointed to the office of external examiner and the SCA determines:
   1. the fee arising from the office;
   2. the role and responsibilities of external examiners;
   3. the term of office and extensions to the defined term of office;
   4. provisions for the early termination of appointment, and considers and approves the early termination of an external examiner’s appointment.
      
      
9. To approve the appointment of assessors for applications for admission to Higher Doctorates on behalf of Senate;
   
   
10. To monitor and approve special examination arrangements for all students in University examinations;
    
    
11. To approve, and report to University Teaching Committee, the results of University degree results and progression. To keep under review, and report to Senate through University Teaching Committee and York Graduate Research School Board, the distribution of results for examinations at all levels, including data regarding EDI;
    
    
12. To consider and make recommendations on any internal university matters and items arising from external Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies as referred to it by the Vice-Chancellor, the Senate, University Teaching Committee, York Graduate Research School Board, Boards of Studies, or departmental Graduate School Boards;
    
    
13. To act under such delegated authority as the University Teaching Committee and York Graduate Research School Board may determine for areas not covered by specific terms of reference;
    
    
14. To develop and monitor policies and procedures in relation to the University’s Policy on Exceptional Circumstances affecting Assessment and to make recommendations to University Teaching Committee and York Graduate Research School Board;
    
    
15. To ensure that the Committee takes account of equality of opportunity in its work;
    
    
16. To consider the workload associated with the Committee’s business, including via consideration of the impact of the Committee’s decisions on staff workload; and to oversee the workload associated with being a member of the Committee.

Members

Membership 2022-23

Student Representation (for unreserved business)

• 1 undergraduate representative nominated by the Students’ Union
• 1 postgraduate 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.

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

In attendance

1. Deputy Director: Student Administration and Academic Affairs
2. Student Administration Manager (Progression & Awards)
3. Special Cases Manager
4. Open Door & Disability Operations Manager
5. Representative from York Online Programmes
6. Head of Apprenticeships and Inclusive Learning Team 
7. Director: Student Life and Wellbeing
8. AQ Office Assessment and Academic Integrity (secretary)
9. Academic Support Coordinator (Minute Secretary) 
10. Deputy Head of Faculty Operations (Science)
11. Deputy Head of Faculty Operations (Social Science)
12. Deputy Head of Faculty Operations (Arts and Humanities)

Quoracy and Voting rights
The Committee must have student representation to be considered quorate. All members and attendees at the meeting - excluding Secretary and Minute Secretary have a vote where voting is called upon by the Chair. The Chair holds the casting vote.

Meetings

 Meeting dates

2023-24

2022-3

2021-2

2020-21

2019-20

An additional exceptional meeting was held on Wednesday 19 August 2020 to discuss proposals which were a direct result of the Covid-19 situation. 

2018-9 

Minutes

‌‌‌Minutes‌