Quality and Standards Sub-Committee

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• Minutes
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Standing Orders (Amends approved at Senate on 6 November 2012)
(Sub-Committee of the Education Committee)

These Standing Orders should be read in conjunction with the General Committee section of Standing Orders available on the University's website.

Membership

The Dean for Postgraduate and Undergraduate Education
Four members of academic staff as follows: one member of academic staff from each of the University's faculties, appointed for a three year period by Education Committee, and one member of academic staff with significant experience and expertise in admissions issues, appointed for a three year period by Education Committee, at least one of whom shall be a member of Senate
A student representative nominated by Durham Students' Union
The Secretary to Education Committee
The Assistant Registrar in the Academic Support Office with responsibility for oversight of the quality management of research degree programmes

The Sub-Committee may co-opt up to three members at any time for a period of up to three years. Co-opted members will be eligible for re-appointment
Education Committee shall appoint one of the members of academic staff serving on the Sub-Committee as chair, and another of these members Deputy Chair

Invitation to attend meetings

Other members of the University will be invited to attend the Sub-Committee for relevant agenda items.

Secretariat

The Secretary will normally be a member of the Academic Support Office other than the Secretary to Education Committee.

Meetings

The Committee shall normally meet seven times a year.

Terms of reference

The Sub-Committee shall:

(a) consider and recommend to Education Committee policies for the maintenance and enhancement of the quality and standards of undergraduate and postgraduate provision, taking account of both the internal and external context;

(b) consider and where appropriate make recommendations to Education Committee in response to changes in the national quality assurance framework;

(c) approve on behalf of Education Committee proposals to establish new programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels; approve proposals for the revalidation of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes following periodic reviews; approve proposals for the withdrawal of existing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;

(d) consider Faculty and University overview reports on the annual review of learning and teaching by departments, reporting to Education Committee on the conduct of this process and any issues arising from it;

(e) consider Faculty and University overview reports on the annual review of research degree programmes by departments, reporting to Education Committee on the conduct of this process and any issues arising from it;

(f) consider Faculty and University summaries of external examiners' reports and the responses of departments to these reports, reporting to Education Committee on the conduct of this process and issues arising from it;

(g) consider Faculty and University overview reports on the annual progress review of research degree students by departments, reporting to Education Committee on the conduct of this process and any issues arising from it;

(h) consider Faculty overview reports on the conduct of boards of examiners, reporting to Education Committee on the conduct of this process and any issues arising from it;

(i) consider annual reports on student progression and achievement across the University, reporting to Education Committee on this consideration and any issues arising from it;

(j) consider reports from Periodic Review and Accreditation Panels on the follow-up to periodic reviews, signing off such reviews on behalf of Education Committee and reporting on this to Education Committee;

(k) consider reports from professional, statutory and regulatory bodies on undergraduate and postgraduate provision, and reports from University Review Panels on the follow-up to such reports;

(l) be responsible to Education Committee for considering proposals to establish collaborative partnerships involving undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and monitoring and maintaining the quality and standards of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered through such partnerships. In respect of validated partnerships, the Sub-Committee shall also:
          i. act as a channel of communication and consultation between Education Committee and the management committees for validated programmes;
          ii. provide representatives to, and conduct the process for, the periodic review of validated provision. This shall include making recommendations to Education Committee on the revalidation of partnerships and programmes, and monitoring the progress made by validated partners in respect of the recommendations contained in periodic review reports.

(m) consider proposals to establish institution-wide student exchange agreements, and to establish department-specific student exchanges operating outside the EU Lifelong Learning Programme/Erasmus scheme;

 (n) consider proposals relating to the establishment and variation of the matriculation requirements (including English language requirements) for entry to the University, making recommendations in this area to Education Committee and Senate;

(o) consider and approve qualification equivalencies for the matriculation requirements approved by Education Committee and Senate, and the programme entry requirements approved by the University Executive Committee;

(p) monitor implementation of the University’s training requirements for admissions selectors, and where appropriate make recommendations to Education Committee on issues of policy in this area;

(q) identify examples of good practice for dissemination within the University, and any issues for further consideration by the University, arising from (c) to (p) above;

(r) consider any other matters referred to it by Education Committee.