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Course and Programme Approval

Definition of major/minor course change

Schools have the authority to approve all course changes without the need for College approval. Previously consultations with students/applicants and external academics were mandatory except in the case of simple corrections. This position has been reviewed and it has been agreed that there should be no blanket requirement for consultations. Rather, the significance of the proposed changes should be considered: where the proposal represents major change, consultations should be carried out. It is important to note that consultations are a critical part of the approval process as they provide the opportunity for independent review of the proposal. External academic consultation provides a crucial element of objectivity in helping the University to maintain academic standards at the appropriate level. In addition, consultation with students is an important aspect of informing them of likely changes to provision, which not only contributes positively to student experience but ensures that the University complies with its obligations under Consumer Protection legislation. The proposer’s decision on whether to conduct consultations must therefore be considered carefully. Proposers should be aware that, in scrutinising a proposed course change, the School may judge that the changes are so significant that consultations are required. An early discussion with School approval committees may therefore be advisable.

The table indicates when consultations with an External Examiner and students are required on the proposal for course amendments, based on the changes being categorised as major or minor.

Any proposal containing at least one major change must go to consultation with both students and External Examiners

EXCEPT where each major change:

• Aligns with School, College or University-mandated changes or
• Aligns with the requirements of an accrediting body or
• involved prior consultation with students or
• involved students in their design or
• resulted from student feedback

Please note:

• Major changes typically require or are accompanied by multiple changes to other parts of a proposal, so all revised sections (including changes that would individually be ‘minor’) should be included in any consultation to ensure and maintain overall high quality of the proposal.
• If changes are made to a suite of courses, then the cumulative impact of those changes should also be considered at programme-level, and a programmatic approach to the consultation may be appropriate.
• Where no consultation is required, students should still be informed of any change.
  

When consultations with External Examiner and Students are required on the final proposal for a course amendment, based on the changes being categorised as major or minor

	Field	Major Change (Consultations with External Examiner and Students required *)	Minor Change (Consultations with External Examiner and Students not required)
2, 25	Course title/short title	-	Any
6	Short description	-	Any
7, 8, 9	Requirements of entry/co-requisites/excluded courses	Any	-
12	Typically offered	-	Any
14	Course aims	-	Any
15	Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)	Any removal, addition, or substantive change	Minor rephrasing for clarity or consistency.
16	Learning & Teaching Methods	-	Any
17	Exceptional additions to the Minimum Requirement for Award of Credit	Introduction of requirements additional to the standard rules for the award of credit	Removal of requirements additional to the standard rules for the award of credit
18	Has this course been approved for an exemption from eligibility for compensatory credit?	-	Any
19	Summative assessment methods	Introduction or removal of an assessment method(s), or any change in weighting greater than 20% magnitude	Any change in weighting less than and equal to 20% magnitude
20	Description of summative assessment methods	-	Any
21	Availability of reassessment	Any change which results in more than 25% of assessment being non-reassessable (Permission from the Clerk of Senate also required)	Any change where the total of assessment which is non-reassessable is less than and equal to 25%
22	Formative assessment & feedback	Any reduction in formative assessment	Any change other than reduction
23	Grading basis	Any	-
25	Exam duration	-	Any
30	Location	Any	-
34,35	Collaborative/other teaching institutions	Consult Academic Collaborations in Academic Policy & Governance.	Consult Academic Collaborations in Academic Policy & Governance.
36	Taught wholly by distance learning	Any	-

* Consultation on the final proposal is NOT required with either students or External Examiner when major changes align with School, College or University-mandated changes, accreditor requirements, involved prior consultation with students, involved students in their design, or resulted from student feedback.

Please note that Learning & Teaching Administrator/School Office in other Schools whose students may take the course should be alerted.