Present:Dr P Lambert, Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) (Chair)

/ Minutes of Meeting
Meeting: / FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES LEARNING, TEACHING AND QUALITY COMMITTEE
Date and Time: / Wednesday 23rd October 2013 at 1.45pm
Venue: /

1WN3.17

Ms E Barratt Hacking, Department of Education

Mrs G Eggleston, Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office

Dr R Joiner, Department of Psychology

Prof A Lewis, Psychology

Dr S Martin, Department of Education

Dr P McGuigan, Department for Health

Dr R Maconachie, Department of Social and Policy Sciences

Prof J Sessions, Economics

Dr T Skinner, Department of Social and Policy Sciences

Dr K von Oppen, Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies

Dr C Wilson, Department for Health

Dr C Winnett, Economics

Ms M Woodward, Learning Partnerships Office

Miss K Pickett-McAtackney, Student

In Attendance:Miss S E Jacobs, Faculty Assistant Registrar (Secretary)

Miss A Hill, Deputy Graduate School Manager

Apologies:Dr J Brice, Graduate School Manager

Dr H Diamond, Politics, Languages and International Studies

Prof S Gough, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies)

Mrs A Spencer, Undergraduate Manager

Miss S Williamson, Students’ Union

Action
1184. / MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the meeting held on the 12th June 2013 (paper1) were agreed to be an accurate record of the meeting subject to a minor clarification of minute 1173 (4), Feedback to Students, to indicate that the points raised in discussion were made by members of the committee from across the Faculty.
1185. / MATTERS ARISING
(1) / Minute 1172 (2) Turnitin Plagiarism Detection
Dr Skinner reported to the Committee that following the success of the pilot in a Year 2 compulsory undergraduate unit in the Department of Social and Policy Sciences during 2012/13,in 2013/14 this will be repeated in a Year 1 compulsory undergraduate unit. Students will be given access to the Turnitin similarity report for their coursework submissions alongside on-line tutorials to guide them through the interpretation of the report.
(2) / Minute 1172 (3) Anonymous submission of coursework
The Committee noted that the latest Moodle upgrade provides the opportunity for coursework to be submitted anonymously. The Chair explained that the LTEO Moodle support staff can provide advice and training to Departments for this.
(3) / Minute 1172 (3) Submission of work for assessment
The Chair reminded members that Unit Convenors are expected to include in their course outlines, and on Moodle, details of the method by which coursework is to be submitted for all units.
(4) / Minute 1175 Review of Feedback Policies
The Committee noted that the following Departments were asked to make further revisions to their Feedback Policy and/or Student Handbook:

Department of Economics
Department for Health
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Department of Psychology

/ Ecs
Health
PoLIS
Psych
It was agreed that the documents could be considered by the Chair on behalf of the Committee.
The Committee was reminded that all feedback policies must be included in Student Handbooks but it was also noted that posting on an appropriate Moodle page for easy access by students is an example of good practice.
1186. / TERMS OF REFERENCE, MEMBERSHIP AND SCHEDULE OF BUSINESS
(1) / The Committee noted the Terms of Reference of the Committee for 2013/14 (paper 2).
(2) / The Committee noted the membership list for 2013/14 (paper 3) and welcomed this year’s new members to their first meeting.
(3) / The Committee noted the draft schedule of business for 2013/14 (paper 4). The Secretary will make a number of amendments and additions before circulating to members and placing on the Faculty web page for this committee. / SJ
(4) / The Committee noted the schedule for unit and programme changes for 2013/14 (paper 5). It was noted that this document, as well as the other Faculty Guidance Notes (FGNs), are available via the Faculty Staff Resources web page: . The Committee also noted that while the absolute deadline for the approval of intermediate undergraduate unit changes and intermediate postgraduate unit and programme changes is the April meeting departments are encouraged to submit them as early as possible in order that the web-based programme and unit catalogues can be finalised in time for students to be invited to make their option choices for the following year.
1187. / CHAIR’S BUSINESS
(1) / Retention Policy for Coursework
The Committee noted a new guidance document for the retention of summative assessments (paper 6). The Committee noted that Ms Lisa Thrower, Faculty Programmes Officer, will be able to advise academic and administrative staff on the implementation of the policy.
(2) / NSS
The Chair congratulated Faculty colleagues on the results of the 2013 NSS. The Committee noted that the VCG had concentrated on rankings rather than % scores and as a result had asked a number of Departments who had made positive improvements in their % scores, but who had dropped in the rankings for their subject, to undergo a review to be conducted by Gwen van der Velden and Peter Lambert. All departments, whether identified for specific review or not, are being asked to submit an action plan/report to the Faculty Executive Committee and Faculty Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee meetings in early December. / DoLTs
(3) / HEA Fellowship
The Chair reported that members of staff are to be encouraged to apply for HEA Fellowship. In a two year pilot scheme the Faculty-will offer the incentive of a small contribution to individual K Accounts for both membership and application for membership. This will be announced formally at Faculty Executive Committee and be communicated by Heads of Department. .
(4) / IMC Procedural Review
The Chair reported that the Faculty Programmes Officer is undertaking a review of current procedures in the Faculty. It is anticipated that a proposal for the future conduct of IMC Panels, with the intention of improving the consistency of procedures and decision-making, will soon be available for discussion. Some members indicated that they would welcome a more consistent approach while others expressed some concerns with regard to the potential loss of detail should all requests be considered by a group of staff who do not know the student being considered.
(5) / SSLC 2012/13 Annual Report
The Committee noted the Students’ Union document which had been considered at the last University LTQC meeting (paper 7). The Committee noted the LTEO will be circulating a document with details of the actions for Academic Departments and Faculties arising from this report. It was also noted that a template for SSLC minutes may be created to help ensure that all matters discussed are appropriately recorded in the minutes.
(6) / Students’ Union Student Feedback Campaign
The Committee noted the Students’ Union document which had been considered at the last University LTQC meeting (paper 8). Again, it was noted that the LTEO will be circulating a document to Faculties and Academic Departments with details of actions to be taken.
The Committee noted that feedback policies are currently expected to be included in Student Handbooks. It was suggested that posting on Moodle is also a good idea. In discussion, members of the Committee commented that the current hardcopy Student Handbooks are not fit for purpose. It is believed that the majority of students do not refer to them. It was suggested that a web-site, which is easily navigable, would be preferable.
In discussing the importance of feedback to students, members raised some concerns with regard to the level of engagement of students with the feedback they are given. It was suggested it would be good practice to include on all feedback to students an invitation to approach the Unit Convenor if they are having difficulty understanding the feedback they have been given. The Committee also commented that feedback from students (unit evaluations) is equally important but that participation in this is often poor. The Committee noted that the annual review of feedback policies with students at SSLC meetings is an opportunity to discuss such matters.
(7) / Faculty Teaching Development Fund
Details of a Faculty Teaching Development Fund were circulated to members. This will be communicated to staff via Heads of Department but will also soon be posted on the Faculty web page. All staff members are encouraged to submit bids for learning and teaching projects for which they would like a small amount of funding.
(8) / Annual Unit Monitoring
The Chair reminded members that Unit Monitoring Reports need to be accessible to students and in order to make this easier the Faculty e-Learning Officer will be developing during this semester a standard approach for Departments to publish the UMRs on Moodle.
1188. / QA CODE OF PRACTICE
The Committee noted the revisions to the QA Code of Practice implemented with effect from 1.8.13 (paper 9). Members were reminded that the current QA statements and associated forms are all available on the web.
1189. / CONSULTATION: EDUCATION STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES 2013/14 – 2015/16
The Committee made the following suggestions in relation to the proposed strategy (paper 10):

It was clarified that the proposed objectives had been developed on the basis of the risks identified in the right-had column of the document.
It was suggested that the perspective of distance learning part-time students was not adequately represented in the document.
While the document makes claims of global and international relevance, there is no reference to the encouragement of students to take FLC language units.
It was suggested that paragraph 1.2 could be interpreted in several different ways so would benefit from some re-wording.
Reference to training for students and staff in the use of innovative delivery methods might be usefully added.

In discussion, some members of the Committee commented on the shortcomings of Moodle in comparison with other VLEs.
1190. / DEGREE SCHEME REVIEWS
The Committee noted the list of scheduled Degree Scheme Reviews for 2013/14 (paper 19).
1191. / PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS
Department of Psychology
(1) / The Committee noted that the British Psychological Society has confirmed the re-accreditation of the BSc Psychology (paper 20).
(2) / The Committee noted that the British Psychological Society will consider the re-accreditation of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and the MSc Health Psychology during 2013/14.
1192. / UNIT AND PROGRAMME CHANGES
The Committee noted details of unit and programme amendments which have been approved under Chair’s action (paper 31).
1193. / UNIVERSITY COMMITTEES
The Committee noted the minutes of the following committees:

Programmes and Partnerships Approval Committee, 20th March 2013, 15th May 2013, 10th July 2013 (paper 32)
Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee, 30th May 2013 (paper 33)
Academic Programmes Committee, 25th September 2013 (paper 34)

1194. /

FACULTY COMMITTEES

(1) / The Committee noted the minutes of the following Departmental Learning, Teaching and Quality Committees:

Department for Health: 6th May 2013 and 15th May 2013 (paper 35).
Department of Psychology: 17th April 2013 and 10th September 2013 (paper 36).

The Chair reminded Chairs of DLTQC that they should send all minutes to FLTQC for noting. It was suggested that the Undergraduate Manager will be asked to remind the relevant secretaries to DLTQCs to ensure due process is followed. / AS
(2) / The Committee noted theStaff-Student Liaison Committee Annual Reportsfor 2012/13:
i / Department of Economics:

Undergraduate programmes in Economics (paper 37).
MSc programmes in Economics (paper 38).

ii / Department of Education:

PGCE (paper 39)
MPhil/PhD/EdD Education (paper 40).
MA Education/MA TESOL/MA CESD Education programmes (paper 41).
UG Education programmes (paper 42).

iii / Department for Health:

BSc Sport and Exercise Science (paper 43).
MPhil/PhD Health (paper 44).
Prof Doc in Health / MSc Research in Health Practice programmes (paper 45).
MSc Sport & Exercise Medicine / MSc Sports Physiotherapy (paper 46).

iv / Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies:

All UG and PGT/R Politics, Languages and International Studies Programmes (paper 47).

v / Department of Psychology:

BSc Psychology (paper 48).
MSc Health Psychology (paper 49).
Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (paper 50).
MPhil/PhD Psychology (paper 51).

vi / Department of Social and Policy Sciences:

UG Social and Policy Sciences Programmes (paper 52).
PGT / PGR Social and Policy Sciences Programmes (paper 53).
FdSc Funeral Services (paper 54).

vii / Learning Partnerships Office:

FD & BSc Addictions Counselling, Action on Addiction (CATS) (paper 55).
FdSc/BSc Sport Coaching / Health & Fitness, City of Bath College (paper 56).
FdSc Sports therapy, Swindon College (paper 57).
FdSc Sport, Health and Fitness, Weymouth College (paper 58).
FdSc Sport (Coaching), Weston College (paper 59).
FdA Early Childhood Studies, FdA Early Years and Childhood Studies, BA [Hons] Early Years Care and Education, Wiltshire College60)
BSc Social Work, Wiltshire College (paper 61).