University of Glasgow

Academic Standards Committee

Minute of Meeting held on Friday 27 January 2017 at 9:30 AM in the Melville Room

Present:

Professor Marc Alexander, Professor John Briggs, Ms Helen Butcher, Professor Tom Guthrie (Convener), Mr Matthew Hastings, Dr Maria Jackson, Dr Niall MacFarlane, Professor Douglas MacGregor, Dr Margaret Martin, Dr Charlotte Methuen, Dr Anna Morgan-Thomas, Dr Anna O'Neill, Ms Anna Phelan, Ms Joanne Ramsey, Dr Helen Stoddart. 

In Attendance:

Mrs Ruth Cole, Mr Fred Hay (vice Mr John Marsh), Dr Robert Doherty (for item ASC/2016/28.5).

Apologies:

Dr Jack Aitken, Professor Frank Coton, Dr Gordon Curry, Professor Neil Evans, Dr Raymond McCluskey, Ms Kate Powell, Dr Bryony Randall.

 
ASC/2016/25 Minutes of the Meeting held on Friday 25 November 2016 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record. 

ASC/2016/26 Matters Arising 

 

ASC/2016/26.1 Report from the Meeting of Academic Regulations Sub-Committee held on 3 November 2016: Single Schedule of Aggregation (ASC/2016/15.1) 

Academic Regulations Sub-Committee had not met since the last meeting of ASC, so there had been no further developments in relation to the single schedule of aggregation. 

ASC/2016/26.2 Guidelines on the Exercise of Exam Board Discretion: Use of Different Criteria in Different Discretionary Zones (ASC/2016/16.2) 

Guidance would be disseminated shortly to Schools and RIs on the requirement to advertise discretionary criteria in advance. 

ASC/2016/26.3 Undergraduate College Annual Monitoring Summaries for 2015-16: Overview (ASC/2016/7.5) 

The Convener noted that the issues highlighted by ASC for special attention had been relayed to EdPSC. EdPSC had requested that further information be sought from Estates and Buildings in relation to some of the reported difficulties concerning teaching spaces, with a view to identifying what action might be taken pending the creation of new spaces through campus redevelopment.  

ASC/2016/27 Convener's Business 

The Convener reported that the College of Science and Engineering had advised that a new programme proposal required consideration by an ASC programme approval group. Members would be approached for their availability in due course. 

ASC/2016/28 PGT College Annual Monitoring Summaries for 2015-16 

 

ASC/2016/28.1 College of Arts 

Dr Stoddart introduced the report for the College of Arts, which highlighted many positive developments and work that had potential for showcasing the University. Several different issues relating to teaching space had been raised (suitability, accessibility, hours of opening, cost for additional events). There was mixed feedback in relation to recruitment, with some areas reflecting very positively on the support provided, and others feeling less well supported and referring to the impact of fee increases.  

ASC/2016/28.2 College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences 

Dr O'Neill introduced the report for the College of MVLS and picked out the following as areas raising concerns: counselling and student support, the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, dissatisfaction with the Urkund plagiarism detection software, and the timetabling issues and costs associated with teaching being located over a wide geographical area. Areas of development included the introduction of programmes with January start dates and increasing on-line distance learning provision, though the latter raised IT resourcing issues. 

ASC/2016/28.3 College of Science & Engineering 

Dr Casey was unable to attend the meeting to present the report for the College of Science and Engineering. The report noted overlap in the issues being raised at PG level with those raised at UG level, and flagged concerns again that the timing of the monitoring process was undermining its usefulness. Only three out of the seven Schools in the College had submitted returns, though Dr Martin noted that she was only aware of her School's return having been requested very recently.  

ASC/2016/28.4 College of Social Sciences 

Dr Doherty presented the report on behalf of the College of Social Sciences. He noted that many of the issues being raised were specific to the context of the programme in question, though there were also some recurring themes, such as an increase in discontent relating to teaching space (after what had appeared to be an improvement in the previous year). One issue highlighted was a large increase in the number of good cause claims being submitted since the introduction of the process in MyCampus. The reasons for this were unclear and the Convener noted that it was possible that a lack of clarity on how students should request extensions could be contributing to this, and it might be that the processing through MyCampus had resulted in claims that had previously been handled informally now being identified correctly as good cause cases. This was an issue that Academic Regulations Sub-Committee would be looking at. Another issue raised in the report, relating to the criteria for the award of merit and distinction, would also be reported on by ARSC in due course. 

ASC/2016/28.5 Overview 

The overview report noted that the PG Annual Monitoring summaries contained many of the themes reported through the Undergraduate summaries (teaching spaces, staffing, assessment and feedback, Evasys, MyCampus and Moodle).

In addition, the overview identified the following themes in the Postgraduate Reports:

  • Recruitment and Marketing

It was suggested that in some areas greater collaboration was needed between Schools, MaRIO and the Alumni Office to market programmes more effectively, and that PGT bursaries and scholarships had a very significant impact in attracting applications. The reports, supported by the experience of ASC members, noted difficulties arising from a lack of certainty about the number of students expected to register for a programme, and noted that even measures such as the requirement for a deposit to be paid did not always appear to act as an incentive to commit to Glasgow.

  • Standards of English

Concerns were raised about the standard of written and spoken English in a number of areas and several comments had been made regarding the need for customisation of support services. It was noted that in the report from the College of Social Sciences there had been a suggestion that on the Chinese Studies programme some assessments in Chinese should be permitted. Members noted that this would not be appropriate if language teaching was not part of the programme, so further information was requested.

Action: Clerk

  • Student mental health and learning disability support 

ASC had identified this as one of the key areas to be highlighted from the UG Annual Monitoring reports, and at PG level similar concerns regarding increasing demand and services being overstretched had been recorded. Professor Briggs advised the Committee that additional resources had now been committed for the next budget round.

  • Wheelchair access

Accessibility of teaching rooms continued to be a major issue particularly in the College of Arts.

  • IT and Library facilities

The need for enhancement and customisation of PC clusters for PG students had been highlighted by the Colleges of MVLS and Social Sciences. Concerns had been raised particularly in relation to the needs of students at the Dumfries Campus, where IT and Library facilities were provided through the University of the West of Scotland.

  • Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey

Several Colleges noted that response rates for the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey were low. Members were aware of issues associated with both paper and on-line returns. It was anticipated that information on good practice with a view to increasing response rates was to be circulated, and this was welcomed.

[Clerk's post-meeting note: Guidance on improving response rates is now available on the Senate Office website at: www.gla.ac.uk/services/senateoffice/qea/courseevaluation/#tabs-5]

It was also suggested that the PTES survey was conducted too early in the year to enable students to provide feedback on some of the question areas such as the 'understanding feedback' section.

In addition, ASC highlighted the following areas:

  • Plagiarism 

Two College reports had referred to concerns regarding the outcomes from cases of plagiarism. Ms Butcher advised that Senate Office welcomed dialogue with academic areas to explore any concerns, noting that while it was important to achieve consistency, each case was treated on its own merits. Ms Butcher also noted comments regarding the shortcomings of Urkund and stated that these views were shared by members of Senate Office involved in student conduct matters as well as by Senate Assessors. In particular, there were concerns about whether Urkund was fit for purpose in relation to improving students' understanding of plagiarism. Members discussed the difficulties associated with postgraduate students coming to Glasgow with differing understandings of what was acceptable academic practice, and the desire to find ways of identifying problems at an early stage in order to avoid students being severely penalised, without academic standards being compromised. 

  • Work placements  

Work placements and practice-based learning was identified as a growth area, requiring more support. 

  • Administration

Members noted comments made in the College of Arts report concerning the introduction of more cumbersome procedures in relation to external contributors (e.g. external examiners). It was also noted that in the College of Social Sciences report the Adam Smith Business School had referred to bureaucratic procedures in place at all levels of University administration, and members agreed that further information should be requested on the particular issues being referred to.

Action: Senate Office

ASC concluded that the above-noted issues required University-level attention. They would therefore be forwarded to the relevant areas for action and would be highlighted to EdPSC as key areas of concern arising consistently across many areas of the University.

Action: Senate Office

ASC/2016/29 Periodic Subject Review 

 

ASC/2016/29.1 Six-Month Update 2015-16 

ASC/2016/29.1.1 Archaeology

ASC received the six-month update report from the review of Archaeology. The Convener of the PSR Panel considered that the recommendations had been, as far as possible, given full and appropriate consideration. The ASC reviewers reported that the responses were satisfactory.

ASC was satisfied with the subject area's responses to all the recommendations and no further updates were required. The subject area was commended for providing responses which directly and comprehensively addressed the issues raised. 

ASC/2016/29.2 Update Reports 

ASC/2016/29.2.1 Economics

ASC received the update report from the review of Economics. It was noted that the Learning and Teaching strategy was now in place. ASC agreed that no further updates were required in relation to the responses. However, ASC agreed that at the next review of Economics the question of the operation of office hours should be highlighted to the PSR panel and raised with students.

Action: Senate Office

ASC/2016/29.2.2 Theatre, Film & Television Studies

ASC received the update report from the review of Theatre, Film and Television Studies. The subject area had provided further information regarding career progression and development opportunities for temporary staff. ASC was satisfied with the information provided and agreed that no further updates were required.

Members noted that there appeared to be some confusion in the use of the terms Graduate Teaching Assistant and Tutor. It was agreed that clarification should be sought from HR on whether this could be simplified by adopting the term 'Tutor' for all such staff members.

Action: Senate Office

ASC/2016/30 Items Referred from The Glasgow School of Art 

 

ASC/2016/30.1 Programme Approval (Additional Information): BDes (Hons) Sound for the Moving Image 

At its November 2016 meeting ASC had considered a proposal for the introduction of the BDes (Hons) Sound for the Moving Image. Further information had been requested on how the transition from FE to Year 3 of the Honours degree was to be managed and what additional support for students was envisaged. Additional information had been provided by the Head of Postgraduate Programmes together with GSA Undergraduate and Postgraduate Committee (Programme Approval) minutes from 11 May 2016. ASC was satisfied that these demonstrated that the issue had been given careful consideration and comprehensive support systems were being developed. ASC had also requested further information on the accreditation process. It was noted that GSA had taken initial steps but that the accreditation process could not be completed until the first cohort had graduated.

ASC was satisfied with the further information that had been provided and therefore approved the validation of the BDes (Hons) Sound for the Moving Image for a period of six years commencing September 2018.  

ASC/2016/30.2 Programme Approval (Update): BSc (Hons) Immersive Systems Design 

At its meeting in November 2016 ASC had considered a proposal for the introduction of BSc/BA Immersive Systems. ASC had requested that GSA reconsider the ILOs, specifically to address the distinction between the BA and BSc, and the pathways to be followed by students on the different degrees. GSA's response indicated that, following reconsideration of the ILOs, it had been decided that the proposal would be amended to go forward solely as BSc (Hons) Immersive Systems, with revised documentation to be presented to the relevant GSA committees during 2016-17.

ASC agreed to approve the validation of the BSc (Hons) Immersive Systems Design for a period of six years commencing September 2018.

ASC/2016/30.3 GSA Singapore/Singapore Institute of Technology Collaborative Review 

ASC received the report from the GSA Singapore/Singapore Institute of Technology Collaborative Review which was held on 4 October 2016, noting that a further report on how the conditions and recommendations had been met would be provided to GSA Academic Council in March 2017.

ASC noted the reference in footnote 3 (paragraph 3.11) to employment outcomes for graduates being 'less than favourable' and therefore suggested that the wording of Recommendation 6, concerning the enhancement of employability, should incorporate an explicit reference to employment outcomes.

ASC/2016/30.4 Major Programme Amendment Approval (Update): MLitt Fine Art Practice - New Performance Pathway 

At its November 2016 meeting, ASC approved the validation of the new Performance pathway for MLitt Fine Art Practice for introduction in September 2017. ASC had requested clarification on how equality implications had been considered in the approval process. ASC received a statement provided by the Programme Leader, supported by minutes of the GSA Undergraduate and Postgraduate Committee (Programme Approval) 21 September 2016. Members were satisfied that these demonstrated that GSA were fully engaged with equality considerations relating to the new pathway.  

ASC/2016/31 Date of Next Meeting 

The next meeting of the Academic Standards Committee will be held on Friday 24 March 2017 at 9.30am in the Melville Room

 

Created by: Mrs Ruth Cole