Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies / Staff Student Committee
Pwyllgor Staff a Myfyrwyr
1/5/2013
Members:
Year 1/Blwyddyn 1
Film and Media Curriculum Group
Chiranjiv Singh Wasan () - Present
Theatre Curriculum Group
Tom Pullen (thp11) - Apologies
Joint Honours Film and TV and Drama
Minna-Triin Kohv ()
Film and TV Studies
Magdalena Mazur () - Apologies
Performance Studies
Laura Oliver () - Apologies
Drama
Arwel Rees () - - Apologies
Year 2/Blwyddyn 2
Performance Studies
Amanda Edwards ()
Scenography and Theatre Design
Briony Hopkins () - Present
Curriculum Group (Theatre)
Leigh-Anne Beattie () - Present
Curriculum Group (Film and Media)
Peter Gosiewski () - Present
Film and Television Studies
Co-Course Reps: Tana Huggins-Harries (); April Bird ()
Media and Communication Studies
Jilly Evans () - Present
Cyfrwng Cymraeg
Bethan Walkling () – Apologies/Ymddiheuriadau
Year 3/Blwyddyn 3
Scenography and Theatre Design
Abigail Wright () - Apologies
Media and Communication Studies
Rhiannon Morris () - Apologies
Cyfrwng Cymraeg
Megan Thomas ()– Present/Yn bresennol
Film and Television Studies (Single and Joint Honours)
Elliot McIntosh () - Present
Drama and Theatre Studies (Single and Joint Honours)
Co-Course Reps – Catherine Deering () – Present; Heather Wong () – Apologies; Barrie Stott () - Apologies
Performance Studies
Lynsey Moran ()– Present
Staff Representatives/Cynrychiolwyr Staff
Mr Richard Cheshire (Chair)
Dr Merris Griffiths (Curriculum Leader, Film and Media)
Ms Catrin Davies (Temporary Departmental Administrator)
1.1 / Confirmed / minutes of the meeting dated20.02.2013
2.0 / Matters Arising
2.1.1
2.1.2 / Noted
Reported / under 2.2 (readers), that the withdrawal of paper copies of handbooks had been reviewed. David Rabey had reported that with TP20420 Theatre in Society there had been particular circumstances that prevented some of the readings being available online. Merris Griffiths noted that she iswas due to report on the results of the questionnaire that she circulated on the subjects of paper v digital readers.
In relation to online documents that there is was confusion when documents such as deadlines are were updated without the students’ knowledge. It was reported that the location of the deadlines document on the website is was not logical and that an e-mail should be sent to all students when the document is was updated. It was also reported that there is was material on Blackboard pertaining to previous years.
Action: CD to remind staff to update Blackboard.
2.2 / Reported / under 3.1.1 (concerns re low contact time in year 1 theatre) that this is was currently being addressed in the Theatre Curriculum Group meetings. MG that the Film & TV curriculum no longer has had core modules in Year 2 but that elements of these modules will would be embedded in first year modules. It was felt that Tthe change has had a positive impact on the distribution of numbers across Year 2 modules. It was reported that the Theatre Curriculum has had retained core modules but not as must take must pass modules.
2.3 / Noted / under 3.9.1 (relevance of the Key Theatre Practices module), that the students’ concerns are were currently being addressed in the Theatre Curriculum Group meetings.
3.0 / Matters from Year 1 Representatives
3.1 / Film and TV (Year 1)
3.1.1 / Noted / that the lecture hall Physics 3.20 is was not suitable for FM10220 Studying Television lectures as the direction of the sunlight makes made viewings difficult.
3.2 / Film and TV (Year 2)
3.2.1 / Noted / that the options for the third year dissertations had been dealt with well and that there had been good responses from teaching staff.
3.2.2 / In relation to FM21620 Writing for Film & TV, that it would be beneficial to have a module similar to FM21520 Imagining the Short in Year 1 as it is was currently a big leap from Year 1 to Year 2
3.3 / Media and Communication Studies (Year 2)
3.3.1 / Noted / that in relation to FM30220 Key Film and Media Practices that the students were grateful that 3 extra questions had been released but that as it was felt that the questions weren’t of relevance to the lectures, the students are were still answering the original questions. MG noted that she felt that it was unfortunate that it had got to that pitch and staff had had to look at what had been taught.
3.4 / Theatre (Year 2)
3.4.1 / Noted / that the essay deadline for TP30220 Key Theatre Practices had been before the final deadline which meant that not all of the deadlines had been covered. RC noted that the comments will would be taken on board. It was also noted that deadlines are were looked at in terms of returning work and that next year lectures will finish before the Easter break.
3.4.2 / that when choosing modules for next year Film and TV 40 credit modules run ran over 2 semesters while Theatre 40 credit modules run in one semester only which limitsed choices.
Action: RC to take forward to Theatre Curriculum Group.
3.5 / Scenography and Theatre Design (Year 2)
3.5.1 / Noted / that in TP21920 that students are were being taught the theory rather than being given practical experience of sound or rigging lights. It was also noted that there is was an overlap with many elements of TP22520 Scenographic Composition.
3.5.2 / that the group sizes in TP22520 Scenographic Composition are were too large – 8-9 per group rather than the usual 4.5. It was also noted that some of the students have had no previous scenographic experience putting both sides at a disadvantage.
3.5.3 / that in TP30220 Key Theatre Practices that classes centred on practitioners while the final essay and presentation questions centre on practices rather than practitioners
3.5.4 / that for TP22520 Scenographic Composition students are were expected to be in the Castle Theatre from 9.00 – 5.00 for 2 weeks while other seminars and rehearsals are were still running and that TP22520 students are were unable to attend these. RC noted that it is was imperative that students attend all other classes despite in principle being required to be in the Castle Theatre.
Action: RC to contact relevant MCs
3.6 / Film and Television Studies (Year 3)
3.6.1 / Noted / that students had not received an e-mail following the deadline for FM32720 to confirm that their assignment had been received. It was also noted by MG that the issue of confirmatory e-mails was an on-going issue for both the submission of assignments and the return of marked work. CD noted that the Department Office has been staffed by two part-time Admin Assistants over the academic year. following CDs secondment and her colleague’s voluntary redundancy. It was noted that the issue of staffing levels will would be addressed as part of the reconfiguration process.
3.6.2 / that there had been a mixed reaction to the third year TV Production module with students finding some of the tasks to be poor or not as of little relevant relevanceas they had hoped. It was also noted that there had been a lack of communication with regard to deadline dates.
Action: MG to pass on to relevant MC.
3.6.3 / that there is was a lack of information regarding the equipment that is available for use in the Department such as the portable blue screen and that the students would like clearer information regarding the equipment that is was available. It was noted by MG that it would be useful to have a library system so that students are were able to see what equipment is was available and what is was in use.
3.6.4 / that the Factual TV and Scriptwriting modules had been well received.
3.7 / Drama and Theatre Studies (Year 3)
3.7.1 / Noted / that the information regarding staffing levels in the Department Office raised in 3.6.1 would be reported back to Drama and Theatre Studies students in response to similar issues regarding e-mails.
3.7.2 / that students had requested that staff office hours are be made available on the Departmental website.
3.7.3 / that the dissertation proposals should be submitted after the summer break rather than in October so that the dissertation process can be started earlier. It was noted by MG that this is was being rolled out to TP students and that the deadline for the first assignment is was being brought forward from January to November to allow more time for the development of the final dissertation.
3.7.4 / that there is was no support for students whose dissertation tutors are were absent. It was noted by RC that in such cases that students should e-mail their Personal Tutor or the Director of Teaching Learning and Learning Teaching for advice. It was also noted that there is was also an issue with students not keeping to their appointments with their dissertation tutors.
3.7.5 / that Shakespeare in Performance had been run concurrently for second and third year students and that the third year students have had not found the module challenging enough. It was noted that both years had been set the same essay questions but that the third year students were required to write 300 words more than the second year students. It was also noted that the library has had film versions of Shakespeare’s plays available but not copies of theatre performances.
Action: RC tolook at alternatives for next year.
3.7.6 / that students would like trips to the RSC and/or London so that they are were able to see more performances. It was also noted that students would like to see more productions of Shakespeare in the Arts Centre.
3.7.7 / that the third year students found going to Gregynog an enriching experience and feel that this should be available to all students.
3.7.8 / that the Applied and Independent Project modules had been enjoyable but that the students felt that they needed more time.
3.7.9 / that some of the core texts listed on reading lists are were not available within the University.
Action: representative to e-mail list to RC
3.7.10 / that third year students have had found it difficult to find rehearsal spaces, especially for the Solo Performance Projects. It was noted that the necessary space and time is was not allocated to the spaces available. It was also noted that the students felt that 3000 words was not enough for the project for this module.
3.7.11 / that the Performance Studies students felt that the modules are were not specific enough to the needs of Performance Studies and are were in fact more relevant to Theatre Studies.
3.7.12 / that it would be enriching for students to be able to use the Arts Centre facilities to stage productions. It was questioned whether the Department would be able to liaise with the Arts Centre on this.?
3.7.13 / that students would like to know the reasons behind Departmental changes. Students are were frustrated as they can no longer access the CPR Collection but that they have had not been given the reason for this. It was noted by RC that the Department is was not able to discuss staffing issues or the contact between CPR and the University.
3.8 / Cymraeg (Blwyddyn 3)
3.8.1 / Noted / that students feel felt that they lacked editing skills and that rather than being able to get on with their final projects that they are were having to learn the editing process and ask the technicians for help.
3.8.2 / that the essays for Genrau Teledu had been submitted before the Easter vacation but have had still not been returned to students. It was noted that the students had received the e-mail confirming the submission of the essays twice rather than a second e-mail to inform them that the marked essays had been returned to the pigeon holes. It was also noted that according to the handbook that the portfolio assignment 1 and the essay assignment 2. However , students had had to submit the essay first as they had been informed by the MC that they had to follow the order in which the assignments appeared on the website.
4.0 / A.O.B.
4.1 / Noted / that RC thanked the representatives for their contribution throughout the academic year. It was noted that the points raised at the meeting are were fed in to the Curriculum Review.
4.2 / it was queried whether the third year students were arranging a Final Farewell and that if so that students should contact CD regarding any Departmental support.
4.3 / it was noted that the third year students had not received any communication with regard to graduation.
Action: 3rd year representatives to e-mail the Graduation Office.