Academic Board

Membership

• Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Experience (Chair)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Planning (Deputy Chair)
• Vice-Provost
• Students’ Union Vice President: Education
• Chairs of School Quality Management Committees
• Representative from BSUL
• Head of Library & Learning Services
• Head of Student Wellbeing Services
• Academic Registrar
• Director of Learning Innovation, Development and Skills
• Head of Careers and Employability
• Head of Academic Portfolio Development

Secretary

Provided by Academic Governance and Quality.

Quoracy

A simple majority of members.

Frequency

The Education Committee will meet four times per academic year.

Purpose and reporting

To oversee the delivery of the Education Strategy, and report to the Academic Board on the outcomes of processes to ensure compliance with external regulatory requirements on access, continuation, completion, attainment and progression.

Terms of reference

The Education Committee will be responsible for:

1. Advising Academic Board on the development and enhancement of the curriculum and academic experience and the delivery of the relevant strategies;
2. Oversight of action taken by the Schools of study and professional services to respond to student feedback and enhance the student experience at all levels of study;
3. The development, implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures relating to learning, teaching and assessment;
4. The oversight of the performance and strategic delivery of activities across the student journey relating to access, continuation, completion, attainment and progression and employability, including the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures
5. Oversight of the outcomes of School activities and processes related to the assurance of the quality of learning and teaching
6. The development, implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures relating to student wellbeing, learning support and resources;
7. Advising on any other matters referred by the Academic Board.

Membership

• Director of Learning Innovation, Development and Skills (Chair)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Planning (Deputy Chair)
• Head of Academic Portfolio Development
• Students’ Union Vice President: Education
• Four members of Academic Staff nominated by the Chair of Education Committee, for a period of two years

Secretary

Provided by Academic Governance and Quality.

Quoracy

A simple majority of members.

Frequency

The Curriculum Approval Panel (CAP) will meet four times per academic year.

Purpose and reporting

Reporting to Education Committee, the Curriculum Approval panel is responsible for the approval and oversight of new programmes and programme-level modifications.

Terms of reference

The Curriculum Approval Panel will be responsible for:

• Approving, on behalf of the Academic Board, new programmes of study;
• Approving modifications to existing programmes in accordance with the Modifications Procedure;
• Ensuring that risk that has been identified within programme design or within programme-level modifications has appropriate mitigation;
• Ensuring new programmes have been designed to comply with academic regulatory schemes, internal and external;
• Ensuring Programme Design and Approval, and Modification procedures have been adhered to;
• Approve the membership of, and receive reports on the activities and decisions of Academic Approval Panels;
• Approving Academic Framework exemption requests.

Membership

• Head of School or nominee (Chair)
• Deputy Chair nominated by the Head of School
• Senior Academic Representative(s)
• Subject Leaders (and/or those with equivalent responsibilities for teaching, learning and assessment) within the School(s)
• Link Tutor(s)

Secretary

• Secretary (Administrator/Administrative Assistant, Schools Operations)

Quoracy

A minimum of five members (including the Chair).

Frequency

The School Quality Management Committee will meet three times per academic year.

Purpose and reporting

To oversee the operation of and outcomes from quality assurance processes for programmes within the School. To report good practice and risks to the Education Committee.

Terms of reference

The School Quality Management Committee is responsible for the oversight of quality assurance processes for programmes within the School including:

1. Advising the Education Committee on:
   a) programme and module modification and review
   b) external examining and advisor appointments, reporting and responses
   c) subject board membership
   d) programmes delivered by partner providers
   e) relationships with professional, statutory and regulatory bodies
   f) moderation and second marking requirements for partner provision
   g) student feedback in relation to the quality of learning and teaching
2. Oversight of the School Risk Register
3. Advising on any other matters referred by the Academic Board or its subcommittees.

Membership

• Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise (Chair)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor External (Deputy Chair)
• Students’ Union Vice-President: Education
• Heads of School (or nominee):
  • Art, Film and Media
  • Business
  • Design
  • Education
  • Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
  • Music & Performing Arts
  • Science
  • Bath Spa University London
• Up to three appointed members of staff as follows:
  • Early stage researcher
  • Academic staff representative
  • Research professor/reader
• Head of Library & Learning Services or nominee
• Head of Research Support
• Postgraduate Research Student Representative

Secretary

Provided by Academic Governance and Quality.

Quoracy

A simple majority of members.

Frequency

The Research and Ethics Committee will meet four times per academic year.

Purpose and reporting

To ensure that the research culture and environment, the quality and standards of research awards and the management of ethical considerations meet the strategic needs of the University and the expectations of external stakeholders and regulators, and advise the Academic Board accordingly. For this purpose, the term “research” includes knowledge exchange and consultancy.

Terms of reference

The Research and Ethics Committee will be responsible for:

1. Advising the Academic Board on strategies relating to the development and enhancement of research and the research environment;
2. The review, approval and implementation of policies and procedures relating to research and ethics;
3. The oversight of the quality and standards of postgraduate research degrees
4. Determining whether a research student has complied with the requirements of the course and its assessment, and granting the appropriate research degree award on behalf of Academic Board
5. Ensuring that external expectations and statutory requirements relating to research and ethics are met; and
6. Advising on any other matters referred by the Academic Board.

Membership

• Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise (Chair)
• Head of Research Support: Graduate College Manager
• External member
• Research Projects and Governance Manager
• Academic Schools: Ethics Leads
  • Art Film and Media
  • Business
  • Design
  • Education
  • Music and Performing Arts
  • Sciences
  • Writing, Publishing and the Humanities

Secretary

Provided by Graduate College.

Quoracy

A simple majority of members.

Frequency

The University Ethics Panel will meet three times per academic year.

Purpose and reporting

Reporting to the Research and Ethics Committee (REC) and for ensuring that the highest standards of integrity in university research are maintained. It takes responsibility for the consideration of general ethical issues relating to the teaching and research of the University, and for the consideration of Research Ethics Approval forms referred to it by School Ethics Committees.

Terms of reference

The University Ethics Panel (UEP) is responsible to the Research and Ethics Committee (REC) for the consideration of general ethical issues relating to the teaching and research of the University, and for the consideration of Research Ethics Approval forms referred to it by School Ethics Committees. Its key tasks are to:

1. Uphold adherence to the University's compliance against the Concordat to Support Research Integrity by all University staff and registered students who undertake research, wherever that takes place, and by all individuals who undertake or contribute to research on University premises and facilities;
2. Promote awareness and understanding of research ethical issues throughout the University;
3. Advise on any ethical matters in research that are referred to it from within the University;
4. Keeping abreast of new externally-driven developments, policies and regulations concerning research ethics and, where appropriate, ensuring that the University meets all necessary requirements.
5. The ongoing review of the University’s guidance on Research Integrity and Ethics’ including providing guidance on its interpretation
6. To receive and consider annual reports from School Research Ethics Panels.

Membership

• Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Enterprise (Chair)
• Postgraduate Coordinator
• Higher Degrees Tutor from the Schools of:
  • Art, Film & Media
  • Business
  • Education
  • Design
  • Music and Performing Arts
  • Sciences
  • Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
• Representatives from:
  • Strategic Research Centres
  • Library & Learning Services
• Student Academic Representative

Secretary

Nominee of the Chair.

Quoracy

A simple majority of members.

Frequency

The Postgraduate Research Management Committee will meet six times per academic year, and papers that need to be considered over the summer recess will be circulated digitally around the panel via the Summer Fast Track Scheme.

Purpose and reporting

To oversee the delivery of PGR strategy and regulations, and report to REC on the PGR student milestones and student outcomes.

Terms of reference

1. To consider matters relating to the development of programmes of study for research degrees and research degree supervision at BSU;
2. To advise, as appropriate, the Academic Board and the Vice-Chancellor;
3. To consider and approve students in relation to registration, progression and related matters;
4. To consider and approve examination arrangements for research degrees including mechanisms for appeal and review of examiner's recommendations.

Membership

• Vice-Chancellor or nominee (Chair)
• PVC: External
• Four Heads of School nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
• Students’ Union President or nominee
• An independent member of the Board of Governors

_{Where membership allows for a nominee, the nomination should be for the full academic year except where a nominee leaves post mid-year.}

Secretary

Nomination of the Vice-Chancellor.

Purpose

To consider nominations for honorary awards and to make recommendations to the Academic Board for approval and subsequent notification to the Board of Governors.

Terms of reference

The Honorary Degrees and Titles Committee will be responsible for:

1. Determining procedures for securing nominations for honorary awards on at least an annual basis;
2. Considering nominations for honorary awards in accordance with the Regulations for the Conferment of Honorary Awards and Titles approved by the Academic Board;
3. Making recommendations to the Academic Board for the approval of honorary awards; and
4. Advising the Vice-Chancellor as Chair of Academic Board on any proposal to withdraw an honorary award.

Membership

• Senior Academic appointed by the Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Chief External Examiner(s)
• Heads of School (or nominees)
• Head of Academic Governance and Quality

Secretary

• Academic Registrar (or nominee)

Frequency

The Central Assessment Board shall be convened in accordance with the assessment and awarding timeframes.

Purpose

Following advice from the Subject Boards, to award, on behalf of the Academic Board, the grant of awards or progression onto the next stage of study in accordance with the assessment regulations and awarding frameworks.

Terms of reference

The Central Assessment Board will be responsible for:

1. Determining whether a student has complied with the requirements of the course and its assessment and may proceed to the following stage of the course; and
2. Granting the appropriate award on behalf of the Academic Board.

Membership

• Senior Academic appointed by the Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Module External Examiner(s)
• Academic Staff with a significant responsibility for assessment

_{Where membership allows for a nominee, the nomination should be for the full academic year except where a nominee leaves post mid-year.}

Secretary

• Administrator/Administrative Assistant, Schools Administrative Services

Frequency

The Subject Boards shall be convened in accordance with the assessment and awarding timeframes.

Purpose

In concert with the Central Assessment Board, to assess students and to recommend the grant of awards or progression onto the next stage of study in accordance with the assessment regulations. The Subject Board is responsible for all assessments within the modules which it is considering and for providing advice on these to the Central Assessment Board which then makes the recommendation for an award or progression to the next stage of study.

Terms of reference

The Subject Boards will be responsible for:

1. Considering the marks for individual students within each module; and
2. Providing advice accordingly to the Central Assessment Board.