Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Education Committee - Postgraduate
(Sub-Committee of the Education Committee)
Standing Orders
These Standing Orders should be read in conjunction with the General Committee section of Standing Orders available on the University's website.
Membership
The Head/Deputy Head of Faculty with responsibility for postgraduate learning and teaching within the Faculty (Chair)
One representative from each department within the Faculty, normally the director of postgraduate studies or the chair of the department/school Education Committee
The Director of Postgraduate Training or his/her nominee
A current taught postgraduate student in the Faculty, nominated by Durham Students' Union
A current research postgraduate student in the Faculty, nominated by Durham Students' Union
The Committee may co-opt up to four members at any time for a period of up to three years, subject to the approval of the chair of Education Committee. Co-opted members will be eligible for reappointment.
Invitation to attend meetings
Other members of the University will be invited to attend the Sub-Committee for relevant agenda items, for example representatives of Estates and Buildings, the Computing and Information Services, the Library and members of the Academic Office.
Secretariat
The Secretary will normally be a member of the Academic Support Office.
Meetings
Faculty Education Committees - Postgraduate shall meet at least once per term.
Terms of reference
The Committee shall:
(a) work with the Faculty Education Committee - Undergraduate to develop the faculty learning and teaching strategy for consideration for approval by Education Committee;
(b) monitor the implementation of the faculty learning and teaching strategy as it relates to taught postgraduate and research degree programmes, reporting on progress against the aims and objectives in the faculty strategy relating to taught postgraduate and research degree programmes;
(c) provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of good practice in, in respect of the faculty's taught postgraduate and research degree programmes;
(d) ensure that appropriate mechanisms exist to take into account student views on learning, teaching, supervision and assessment within taught postgraduate and research degree programmes;
(e) act as a channel of communication and consultation between the faculty and Education Committee;
(f) monitor the quality and standards of taught postgraduate and research degree programmes within the faculty to ensure that the University's quality management policies and procedures have been implemented appropriately, and to report to the University on this monitoring in order to assure the University that quality and standards are appropriate and to identify any issues arising from this monitoring that require further consideration by the University;
(g) approve and monitor departmental policies in line with University requirements in respect of taught postgraduate and research degree programmes' learning, teaching, supervision and assessment; academic quality and standards; and student support;
(h) consider the quality of learning resources available to support taught postgraduate and research degree programmes in the faculty, reporting on this consideration to Education Committee and Faculty Board as appropriate;
(i) oversee and support departments in their engagements with external bodies concerted with postgraduate education, for example research councils;
(j) consider the quality of training and development opportunities made available to research students within the faculty, where appropriate making recommendations to Education Committee for the enhancement of this provision;
(k) consider on behalf of Education Committee proposals to amend existing taught postgraduate programmes, and to introduce, amend or withdraw taught postgraduate programmes;
(l) ensure, through the Faculty University Review Panel, that recommendations relating to taught postgraduate and research degree programmes contained in reports of periodic reviews and accreditation exercises by professional, statutory and regulatory bodies are appropriately addressed by departments;
(m) any other matters referred to the Committee by Education Committee.