UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
COMBINED HONOURS MANAGEMENT BOARD
2.00 – 4.00 pm, Wednesday, 11th May 2005
Present: Peter Starie (Chair), Acting Head of Curriculum Development
Dave Russell, Associate Dean (Curriculum), FHSS
Paul McVeigh, Associate Head (Curriculum), SSHLS
Brad Beaven, History
Theresa Callan, Politics & International Relations
David Carpenter, Sociology & Social Policy
John Caro, representing Creative Arts, Film & Media
Sherria Hoskins, Psychology
Zanna Inthorn, representing Media Studies
Maggie Linnell, Psychology
Bran Nicol, English
Caroline Strevens, Law
Anna Syngellakis, European Studies
Jacki Tapley, Criminology
Charlie Watts, Entertainment Technology
Patricia Wooldridge, Creative Writing
In Attendance:
Elaine Asser, Adminstrative Officer, Curriculum Development
Alison Ingamells, Secretary, Curriculum Development
1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Dave Allen, Film Studies, Laurie Ede, Media Studies, Stuart Olesker, Drama and Creative Arts, Kay Peggs, Sociology, Chris Reid, Economics, Fiona Goss, HRM and Marketing and Tricia Coverdale-Jones, EFL.
Peter Starie welcomed the two representatives and the new CHMB member, Theresa Callan and outlined the remit of the Combined Honours Management Board.
2. NOTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17TH NOVEMBER 2004
The notes of the meeting of 17th November 2004 were received and approved.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1. Notes of the Meeting held on 2 June 2004 (Note 2)
Action Complete
3.2. Consideration of Production of CH Marketing Material (Note 3.2)
Action Complete
3.3. Referencing Standards (Note 3.5)
Peter Starie reported that the University Working Task Group on plagiarism and the reviewing of the referencing penalty system would be finalising their recommendations within the next few months. The reference penalty system will be proposed for adoption across the University by 2006.
3.4. Induction (Note 5)
This item will be covered in Item 12.
3.5. Level 1 Options (Note 6)
Peter Starie reported that he had voiced to the University Curriculum Working Party Group the disquiet felt by members of the CHMB that a reduction in the number of 10 credit units would lead to a more restricted choice of options for Combined Honours students. This has been reflected in the draft report on the proposals for the University Curriculum Framework, coordinated by Valda Bunker.
Transfers (Note 7)
Action complete
4. MINUTES OF THE SSCC & ROLE OF SSCC
4.1. Management of Assessments including Exam Timetabling
Paul McVeigh confirmed that there had been a problem with the submission of assessments being too close in the English subject area and that students had now been given a later date. The relevant departments would ensure that this did not re-occur in 2006.
Dave Russell reiterated University policy on anonymous marking and the distribution of assessments, emphasising that assessments should not be left in boxes for students to collect. The policy of Humanities is to use Hemis Numbers and to hand assessments back through departmental offices but members confirmed that this did not always happen within the faculty and that it was not a general policy across faculties. Peter Starie will liaise with Andy Rees to consider whether it was appropriate to include the process of returning assessments more formally in the University Code of Practice.
Action: Peter Starie
4.2. Preparation for Semester 2 including Timetables
The start date for seminars was discussed and it was agreed that it was essential to ensure that the start dates were made explicit on the student timetables. Sherria Hoskins reported that Psychology students were issued with the dates of seminars and also a list names for the seminar groups. Peter Starie will investigate whether the student portal can be used more efficiently for this process.
Action: Peter Starie
4.3. Management of Option Choice for Semester 2 (including dissertations)
Sherria Hoskins reported that she has reconfirmed with students that the request for a wider choice of options on the Psychology with Criminology course was not structurally possible given the demands of the Psychology accreditation route. The department is exploring the possibility of decreasing the project at Level 3 to include more options in 2007.
Peter Starie reported that students had requested more information on dissertations in Year 1. Members pointed out that this information was clearly set out in the Student Handbooks but that a footnote on the Option Choice form might reinforce this. Members were also reminded that students should be fully advised on how their choice of options could affect their final award title.
4.4. Other Matters
The SSCC expressed concern about the variation in terms of hours and feedback in dissertation supervision across the university. It was agreed that the CHMB would request that an item be added to the AD (C) Group Meeting recommending that a protocol be developed requiring minimum/maximum standards for dissertation supervision within and across faculties for Combined Honours students (at the very least) and for all students (if possible).
Action: Peter Starie
The SSCC student representative for ICJS students was unsure of whom to approach within Criminology. Jacki Tapley pointed out that the details were in the Student handbook, on Web CT and were stressed at Induction.
It was suggested that departments encourage Combined Honours student representatives to make more use of the Web CT site to advertise themselves to other students. The possibility of a Web CT site for Combined Honours representatives was suggested.
Peter Starie raised the issue of whether Combined Honours should continue to have a SSCC for Combined Honours student representatives across the Faculties, as, despite strenuous efforts to contact students, attendance at the second meeting of the year was poor. It was agreed that, although there were few representatives, the points raised were pertinent to the management of Combined Honours.
It was noted that the CHMB had discussed and reviewed the SSCC and recommended that it continue to operate two meetings a year, as it raised fundamental issues for Combined Honours students, and the management and operation of the programme.
5. THE OPTION CHOICE PROCESS
It was agreed that the process of choice had improved but that there was a need to harmonise systems with a common window of choice across the university and generally improve communications.
6. DISSERTATION/EXIT AWARDS
An amended edition of the Staff Development Briefing Note on Dissertations and Exit Awards was submitted to the CHMB. Peter Starie reported that several students at the end of this academic year would emerge with a Major/Minor award – the question was raised as to whether students were fully aware of how option choices affected awards. At the moment all calculations were manual but it was suggested that the new Jupiter project would be able to provide the answer in future years.
The problem of accurately assessing interdisciplinary dissertations was discussed. Dave Russell and Peter Starie stressed that students must be carefully advised throughout the dissertation process but that the final decision on whether a dissertation was a single subject dissertation or an interdisciplinary dissertation would rest with academics.
The 2005 cohort will be the first large group to graduate and it was agreed that procedures would be reviewed in 2006. This review would incorporate a consideration of the credit points for awards.
Items 7, 8, 9 and 10
These items of Course Data were covered at the same time.
It was noted that there were no significant differences between the progress and the standard of Combined Honours students and Single Honours students. Peter Starie pointed out that the data took a considerable amount of time to collate and asked whether it was a reasonable use of the Administrative Officer’s time. The CHMB agreed that the data was useful, highlighting problems across both single honours and combined honours.
11. UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM APPROVAL COMMITTEE
Peter Starie advised the CHMB that the 9 new combinations and the existing revised English Language and Literature had all been approved by the UCAC on 4th May. There were no conditions attached but he outlined the nine recommendations of the panel.
12. TIMETABLING & INDUCTION
Draft enrolment times have been confirmed by Registry and the Faculty of Humanities will leave Thursday morning free for visiting the ‘away department’. It was stressed that Course Leaders and Deputy Course Leaders will need to communicate carefully so that students can visit both teams.
The possibility of arranging a Combined Honours social event was raised and Peter Starie agreed to approach Valda Bunker to discuss possible funding.
Action: Peter Starie
13. COURSE CLOSURES
Dave Russell reminded the CHMB that any decision on course closures would not take please until the autumn.
14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
15. DATES OF FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
2 pm, 16th November 2005, Boardroom, University House
2 pm, 8th March 2006, To be Arranged
2 pm, 10th May 2006, Boardroom, University House
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