Boards of Examiners and COVID-19

Additional guidance for staff on arrangements for the Boards of Examiners for Summer 2020 is available on Academic Registry's wiki page.

Key resources

It is important that you should be familiar with:

• QA35: Assessment procedures for taught programmes of study (link to main index)
  QA35 guides the preparation for and conduct of Boards of Examiners. Appendices to QA35 include standard BEU and BEP agenda and minute templates, and guidance about scaling.

• Faculty- and School-specific information regarding the management of Boards of Examiners’ business and meeting coordination. Assistant Registrars (Faculties/School) or the Head of Learning Partnerships can advise.

Additional guidance:

• Taking clear and appropriate minutes at Boards of Examiners
• SAMIS manuals for staff who deal with assessment and progression

Related information

• Academic Administration Calendar (for timings of Boards of Examiners and Boards of Studies)
• Assessment, Marking and Feedback (QA16)
• Assessment regulations
  • New Framework for Assessment documents and appendices
  • Examination and Assessment Offences (QA53)
• External Examining (Taught Provision) (QA12)
• External examiners’ induction materials
• Individual mitigating circumstances
  • IMCA main document
  • IMC classification scenario Excel spreadsheet & instructions (Part 3, UG students)
  • IMC classification scenario Excel spreadsheet & instructions (Part 4, PGT students)
• Programme & Unit Catalogues
• Regulations (see Regulation 15.7 for undergraduate maximum periods of study)
• SAMIS manuals and training
• Scaling guidance (QA35, §6.6 and appendix 4)

Guidance sessions

Guidance and context for Chairs of Boards of Examiners is available from Academic Registry in addition to exam board support coordinated by Assistant Registrars (Faculties/School) and the Head of Learning Partnerships.

Contact James Olver to arrange a guidance session from Academic Registry.

SAMIS & Business Objects training

Training sessions are held on how to use SAMIS and Business Objects.

Meetings: Effective committee servicing

Emily Commander, Head of Strategic Governance, offers a general guidance session for staff servicing committees (note: not examination board-specific).

Induction

The following induction is strongly advised if you are acting in one of the following roles for the first time, or need a refresher:

Chairs and Directors of Studies:

• Speak to your Assistant Registrar (Faculties/School) or the Head of Learning Partnerships regarding your training/support needs.

• Make sure you are familiar with QA35, its appendices, and the examination board resources highlighted on this page.

• Arrange a session with Academic Registry for background context to the role of examination boards.

• Make sure you are familiar with the relevant assessment and IMC regulations (see “Key contacts” below if you have specific questions about their application to complex student matters).

Secretaries:

• Speak to your line manager (and/or your Assistant Registrar (Faculties/School) or the Head of Learning Partnerships) regarding your training/support needs, and best practice in Board preparation and servicing.

• Make sure you are familiar with QA35, its appendices, and the examination board resources highlighted on this page.

• Familiarise yourself with the general committee servicing resources available from the Strategic Governance and attend a committee servicing training session for its useful background and skills building.

Independent Observers:

• Speak to your Assistant Registrar (Faculties/School) or the Head of Learning Partnerships regarding your training/support needs.

• Discuss the role with the Head of Registry Services if further guidance is needed.

• Make sure you are familiar with QA35, its appendices (especially Appendix 1A: Independent Observers and Appendix 1B: Report template, and the examination board resources highlighted on this page.

Key contacts

First point of contact for examination board queries

Assistant Registrars (Faculties/School) or the Head of Learning Partnerships