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Standing Committee on Assessment

Standing Committee on Assessment is a subcommittee of the University Education Committee.

On postgraduate researcher (PGR) matters, it reports to the York Graduate Research School Board.

Terms of reference

Purpose

On behalf of University Education 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.

Remit

1. To develop, consider, monitor and review University policies and procedures relating to assessments, marking, feedback and progression for all education provision that leads to an award of the University and to ensure such policies and procedures meet appropriate quality assurance and regulatory requirements;

2. To make recommendations to University Education Committee, York Graduate Research School Board and Senate on matters of assessment  policy, strategy or practice (for those committees to disseminate as appropriate). To keep 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 to make recommendations accordingly to University Education Committee and York Graduate Research School Board, for Senate;

4. To review trends on academic misconduct cases as reported by Standing Academic Misconduct Panels,  through an annual statistical review leading to recommendations with regard to policy, practice. An individual member of SCA is also appointed to advise each Panel;

5. To note the approval, on behalf of University Education Committee, of the appointment of any internal examiner, at any level, who is not a member of 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; these approval decisions are made by individual academic SCA members, on behalf of the committee;

6. To note the approval, on behalf of University Education Committee, of the appointment of external examiners at all levels except the Institutional External Examiner, including terms of appointment.  These approval decisions are made by individual academic SCA members, on behalf of the committee. For taught provision, approved nominees are appointed to the office of external examiner and the SCA determines:

a. the role and responsibilities of external examiners;

b. the term of office and extensions to the defined term of office;

c. provisions for the early termination of appointment, and considers and approves the early termination of an external examiner’s appointment.

7. To approve the appointment of assessors for applications for admission to Higher Doctorates on behalf of Senate; these approval decisions are made by individual academic SCA members, on behalf of the committee;

8. To note the approval of special examination arrangements for all students in University examinations; these approval decisions are made by individual academic SCA members, on behalf of the committee;

9. To approve, and report to University Education Committee, the outcomes of University assessments, including degree results and progression. To keep under review, and report to Senate through University Education Committee and York Graduate Research School Board, the distribution of results for examinations at all levels, including data regarding EDI;

10. To approve examination outcomes for research students, and variations from standard examination arrangements, as detailed in the Policy on Research Degrees; these approval decisions are made by individual academic SCA members, on behalf of the committee;

11. To develop policies and procedures in relation to the University’s Policy on Exceptional Circumstances affecting Assessment, to monitor activity  and to make recommendations to University Education Committee and York Graduate Research School Board;

12. 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. 

13. To have particular regard to the University’s obligation to secure academic freedom and freedom of speech within the law.

14. To consider ways of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to all the above.

Members

Ex officio members

Student representation (for unreserved business)

  • Two nominated by University of York Student's Union - Aya Haidar, Academic Officer (until 1 September 2027) and a second student representative tbc.

In attendance

  • Deputy Head of Student Administration - Tom Richens
  • Special Cases Manager - Fiona MacDonald
  • Disability Services Manager - Claire Wilkinson
  • Representative from York Online Programmes - Dr Zara Burford
  • Deputy Head of Inclusive Education - Jess Penn
  • AQ Policy Manager - Dr Adrian Lee
  • AQ Policy Officer (Secretary) - Aimee Yeoman
  • A representative Head of Faculty Operations - Sarah Finch
  • A representative Student Services Manager - Diane Atkinson
  • York SU Advice and Support Manager - Richard Andrew
  • York Graduate Research School - Dr Juliet James

Quoracy and voting rights

The Committee must have at least one student representative to be considered quorate. In case of a voting situation, where the votes are tied, the Chair holds the casting vote.

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.

Meetings

2026-27

Date Paper deadline
18 September 2026 4 September 2026
16 October 2026 2 October 2026
27 November 2026 13 November 2026
29 January 2027 15 January 2027
5 March 2027 19 February 2027
30 April 2027 16 April 2027
25 June 2027 11 June 2027
Minutes

2025-26

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

2020-21

Parent committee and associated subcommittees

Senate

University Education Committee

York Graduate Research School Board