Operation of Central Progression and Award Boards

Laurence Fuller

Head of Student Records and ExaminationsPlanning and Academic Administration

Overview of Central Boards

• Undergraduate progression• Foundation Year• Level 4• Level 5• Level 6 Integrated Masters

• Undergraduate awards• Level 6• Level 7 Integrated Masters

Central Board Membership and Role

• Pro Vice-Chancellor or Dean (Chair)• Chief External Examiner (for Levels 5 and 6)• Head of Student Records and Examinations• Head of Governance and Quality Assurance• School representative from each degree discipline

To ensure:• Observance of University regulations and conventions• Consistency across degree programmes• Relevant external examiner comments raised• Input of discipline areas upon borderline candidates• Raising and resolution of exceptional cases

Prior to Central Boards

• Input and agreement of marks on student database (SCIMS) by Schools according to outcome of Discipline Examination Boards with Externals

• Central calculation of default progression and award outcomes using SCIMS

• Production of progression and award reports for discussion at the Central Boards

Central Progression Boards

• Take place in late June (and late August after reassessment)

• Progression guidelines– Decision codes used on reports– Impact of decision codes

• Progression reports– Order of students– Information provided

• Reassessment requirements (inc. extenuation)

Progression report

Central Award Board

• Takes place in mid-June• Bachelor’s Degree algorithm• Award reports• Borderline candidates

– Identification– Discussion and recommendation

• Failing students (including those with extenuation)• Degree statistics• Chief External Examiner’s comments

Bachelor's Degree algorithm• 1st

– Average of 70% OR– Average of 65% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 70% OR– Average of 65% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 70%

• 2:1– Average of 60% OR– Average of 55% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 60% OR– Average of 55% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 60%

• 2:2– Average of 50% OR– Average of 45% AND at least 75 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 50% OR– Average of 45% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 AND 30 credits at Level 5 with marks of at least 50%

• 3rd

– Average of 40%

• PASS– Average of 35%

Notes• Average mark calculated using Level 5 and Level 6 credits in the ratio 1:2• Minimum credits required- Honours degree – 330 credits / PASS degree– no more than 30 Level 6 credits below 35%

Identification of borderline candidates

• Students who have narrowly missed the requirements for a higher classification, by reference to either of the first two ‘strands’ of the algorithm:– Within approximately 1.5% of the higher weighted average mark required OR– Achievement of the lower weighted average mark but 15 fewer credits in the higher classification

• Therefore, the borderline algorithm is as follows:• 1st

– Average of 68.5% OR– Average of 65% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 70% OR

• 2:1– Average of 58.5% OR– Average of 55% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 60% OR

• 2:2– Average of 48.5% OR– Average of 45% AND at least 60 credits at Level 6 with marks of at least 50% OR

• Not applicable for 3rd class or PASS degree

Process and decision making on borderline candidates

• Proportion of candidates ‘flagged’ for discussion• Recommendation from Discipline Examination Boards upon

all ‘flagged’ cases• Process and discussion at Central Award Board• Decision making• Proportion where class raised• Process for raising other exceptional cases

Award report

After the Central Boards

• Student database (SCIMS) updated with Board decisions• Outcomes communicated to students:

– Awards• Degree classification email and module marks

– Any option for reassessment – Right of appeal

– Progression• Progression outcome email and module marks

– Implications of progression decision– Reassessment requirements– Right of appeal

• Confirmation of awards at Senate