Boards of Studies

(i) The planning of appropriate programmes of study and the organisation and implementation of effective teaching.

(ii) The fostering, encouragement and development of research.

(iii) The allocation and monitoring of those duties relating to teaching, administration and supervision, and the discussion of the distribution of those resources, of finance, secretarial and technical support and working space allocated to it, with a view to ensuring the efficient functioning of the Department or Departments within its remit, and the proper conduct of those programmes, for which it is solely or jointly responsible.

(iv) The maintenance, through liaison, where appropriate, with the University Library, of appropriate resources for the acquisition of material for both teaching and research purposes.

(v) The development, through liaison with the University's IT Service or provider, of appropriate IT resources for the support of teaching and research.

(vi) The admission, in co-operation with the Colleges, and subject to such limitations on numbers and entry standards as might be imposed by Senate, of undergraduates to programmes within the Board's jurisdiction; and the monitoring of the academic progress of individual students on these programmes.

(vii) The acceptance of candidates for higher degrees (subject to the approval of the appropriate Committee), making satisfactory arrangements for their supervision and monitoring their progress.

(viii) The proper conduct of examinations in the subject, the recommendation for appointment of internal and external examiners, and the provision of guidance on conventions to the Board of Examiners.

(ix) The maintenance of adequate liaison with other Boards with similar or complementary interests, especially with regard to the provision of Joint Honours programmes. Where such programmes are offered, an Annual Joint meeting of the Boards concerned, or of a substantial number of representatives of the Boards should be held and a 'lead' Department shall be assigned in respect of each programme.

(x) The establishment of suitable and well-publicised arrangements for consultation of the student body, and for the receipt of student opinion.

(i) Ex officio Members

1. All those holding full-time teaching appointments in the area concerned.
2. The Head of the relevant Faculty.
3. Such Deputy Heads of Faculties as may be approved by the Vice-Chancellor on the nomination of the Head of the relevant Faculty.
4. Those holding dual teaching/College appointments shall be ex officio members unless the teaching and research commitment are together clearly less than half time.
5. Heads of Houses shall be ex officio members of the appropriate Board of Studies.

(ii) Student Representatives

(iii) Appointed Members

(i) By Statute, except where otherwise approved by the Council, acting as Budget Officer.

(ii) Chairing meetings of the Board: the Chair and Secretary are jointly responsible for ensuring that meetings are held when required, that proper notice is given and an Agenda agreed between them sent to all members.

(iii) Ensuring that all matters which are the responsibility of the Board are brought to and adequately discussed by the Board and that those decisions of the Board requiring action are implemented.

(iv) Representing the interests and views of the Board in the University at large, and especially on those University bodies of which the Chair is an ex officio member.

(v) Taking executive decisions within the framework of such policy as has been approved by the Board in such matters as the admission of students to, and the exclusion of students from, programmes; and supplying information to the appropriate Committees.

(vi) Preparing an annual financial report detailing expenditure during the previous year and presenting a programme for the coming year for discussion by the Board. After consulting the Board, where possible, taking decisions on the allocation of technical and secretarial assistance, working space and financial resources, and the commitment of routine expenditure. Decisions which are at variance with a majority view previously expressed by the Board must be brought to the attention of the Board, and if necessary to that of the Vice-Chancellor. While the responsibility for the correct use of resources allocated to a particular Board rests with the Chair concerned, such responsibility must be discharged in consultation with the Treasurer whose duty to report irregularities to Council is inescapable.

(vii) After having carried out the procedure for the consultation of other members laid down by Senate, making recommendations to those Committees concerned with promotions and probation which relate to ex officio members of the Board. (In the event of the Chair being as yet unpromoted, the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint a deputy who already holds a senior post to act on behalf of the Chair in dealings with the Academic Progression Committee.)

(viii) After consulting the senior teachers in the Department, making recommendations for the promotion of technical and secretarial staff. (In the case of technical staff, the senior member of the technical staff should be consulted where appropriate.)

(ix) Ensuring that all possible steps are taken to stimulate and foster research within the subject or subjects appropriate to the Board of Studies concerned.

(x) Ensuring that proper departmental records are kept, especially of the academic progress and performance of students, and of financial expenditure.

(xi) Being responsible for interpreting and implementing the University Safety Policy to the needs of their Department and for reporting defects and safety hazards relating to their buildings and areas to the Director of Estates and Buildings who has overall responsibility for buildings, plant and grounds.

(a) Ensuring, in consultation with the Chair, that meetings are held when required, that all members of the Board are given due notice and an opportunity to submit matters for inclusion in the Agenda, and that they are then sent an Agenda agreed with the Chair.

(b) Keeping the Minutes of the meetings of the Board, in which are recorded all decisions of the Board and the names of all those present at the meeting. Circulating the Minutes as indicated in 3(a) above, and presenting them for approval at the Board's next meeting. Maintaining also any other documentation relating to the Board's discussions.

(c) Helping to advise the Board of Studies on appropriate quality assurance procedures to underpin the learning and teaching arrangements.

(d) Bringing before the Board such requests for its views as are from time to time requested by other bodies, and communicating back those views.

(e) Bringing before the Board requests for representatives to other bodies and reporting back the Board's nominated representatives.

(f) Ensuring that references to the Board and to programmes within its jurisdiction in the University prospectuses, Faculty Handbooks and other publications are correct and maintained up to date.

(a) Acting as the Departmental representative on the Faculty Advisory Group

(b) Acting as the main point of contact for postgraduate matters and the University's Graduate School.

(c) Promoting and ensuring best practice within the Board of Studies with regard to:

(v) Feedback from research students.

(d) Overseeing the annual monitoring of research student progress.

(e) Co-ordinating the implementation of the University's Postgraduate Recruitment Strategy including departmental management of schemes such as the Doctoral Fellowship Scheme.

(f) Identifying the resources required to support the University's and Department's strategy in postgraduate research student recruitment.

(a) Promoting the Board's undergraduate work.

(b) Acting as the main point of contact for the University's Education Committee.

(c) Promoting best practice within the Board of Studies for the development of learning and teaching for undergraduate students.

(i) Where there are postgraduates, one postgraduate taught representative and one research student representative elected by the postgraduates in the Department in each October.

(ii) One fourth-year student representative to be elected by the fourth-year students at the beginning of their fourth year.

(iii) One third-year student representative to be elected by the third-year students at the beginning of their third year.

(iv) One second-year student representative to be elected by the second-year students at the beginning of their second year.

(v) One first-year student representative to be elected by the first-year students in the fifth week of the Michaelmas Term.

(vi) Where a Board of Studies offer part-time programmes, one part-time representative to be elected by the part-time students in the Department each October.

(vii) Where a Board of Studies contributes to any or all of the Combined Honours programmes in Arts and Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences degree, at least one student representative from one of these programmes.