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Glossary of Terms ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Term Definition Academic regulations The University regulations which govern the admission of students, their assessment, progression and achievement of final Awards and where appropriate, classification. Academic standards These relate to the anticipated outcomes of modules, programmes and subjects and to the actual outcomes of student attainment and achievement measured through the assessment process. Accreditation The recognition of an organisation as suitable to assume the responsibilities with respect to the award of University credits or qualifications. It can also refer to the recognition for credit by the University of an individual qualification from another awarding body. Accreditation of Prior Achievement / Learning The recognition of learning which has occurred prior to a student joining the University and the sets of activities and procedures adopted to assess that learning for the purpose of admission with advanced standing. Prior achievement may be certified by a recognised awarding body or derived from experience (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning). Also see Guidelines for Accreditation of Prior Learning. Advanced standing The admission of students to programmes of study leading to awards of the University with recognition of former learning successfully completed at an appropriate level or relevant prior learning which has occurred outside a formal course of study. Advance standing reduces the volume of study required under University regulations to achieve the award for which a student is registered. Annual Monitoring This is an annual check on the academic health of the provision of pathways and the appropriateness of modules, subjects and awards in a school by a responsible team of staff from the relevant school and University Quality Committee members. The process provides the University with information about the academic health of schools, analysis of student achievement and student feedback. Approval The process by which the University satisfies itself that a proposal has been carefully planed and designed; that there are appropriate resources to support it; that it is consistent with internal regulations and that it meets all relevant benchmarks and conditions set by external agencies. Approval period The period of time that a pathway is validated for, usually six years. Also referred to as the validation period. Assessment Board The generic term for an Examination Board at the University of Wolverhampton. There are two main types: Subject Assessment Board and Award Assessment Boards. Award The qualification achieved by students when they have obtained the required credits at defined levels. Award Assessment Board The Examination Board that has responsibility for determining the progression of students and when students have met the requirements for the award, the level and where appropriate, the title, of the award to be received. Extenuating and mitigating circumstances are sometimes considered. The board also determines what action is appropriate when students fail to meet progression or award requirements. 1 Term Definition Award leaders Members of staff who are responsible for curriculum design, teaching, learning and assessment. They undertake annual monitoring and lead the periodic review of provision. Bare pass A student who successfully resits a failed assessment at undergraduate level will be awarded a bare pass (grade D5) for this second attempt. Benchmark Statements Subject benchmark statements describe the nature of study and the academic standards expected of graduates in specific subject areas and in respect of particular qualifications. Provided by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Blended Learning The combination of multiple approaches to learning. For example combining self-paced, face-to-face and e-learning. Chair The chair of a committee manages its overall business and in conjunction with the Quality Assurance Officer conducts the agenda, approves the minutes and ensures actions are followed up promptly. Chair’s action When the Chair of a meeting agrees to close an action outside of the meeting on behalf of the committee members. Collaborative links / partnerships Links with other colleges or institutions (in the UK and abroad) which involve working together to provide many forms of further and higher education. Also see Collaborative Links Handbook Combined subjects Awards whose regulations recognise more than one subject of study in the title of the award. Term used for joint courses in the University’s pre-2002 undergraduate regulations. Compensated pass Where a marginal failure in an undergraduate module is compensated, students will gain credit for the module but the E grade awarded will not change. The recipient of a compensated pass will not have the right to resit assessment in that module. Compensation The process by which an Assessment Board may decide that a strong performance by a student in one part of the curriculum may be used as a basis for the award of credits in respect of a failed performance elsewhere. Components An assessment task specified in a module guide which must be passed for the successful completion of the module. Assessment components may have more than one individual element of assessment. Also see Item. Computer Aided Assessment A form of assessment delivered with the help of a computer. assessment being carried out and / or marked using a computer. Core modules Modules which must be taken and which contribute directly to the pathway outcomes. Core option modules Modules within a defined group, from which a stated minimum number have to be taken in order to satisfy the pathway outcomes. Co-requisite modules A module which can be studied simultaneously with another module. modules are no longer used. Credit framework Defines the number of credits that should be gained in order to achieve an award and how many credits each module should be worth. Set out within the academic regulations. 2 This can involve the Co-requisite Term Definition Credits A measure of the volume and level of learning which would be achieved by successful completion of the defined assessment for any programme or unit of study. Defer The result of a failed undergraduate module between the grades E4 and F1 where the student is allowed to resit the module. Distance learning Programmes of study not requiring attendance at the University. designed learning materials. Also see Policy for Distance Learning. Double marking Where a second or third member of staff reads and grades coursework and/or examinations already graded by a member of staff. Also see Moderation and Double Marking Guidelines. e:Vision The University’s student portal which allows students to perform a variety of essential tasks, such as tracking application progress, applying for accommodation, enrolling and checking module grades and information. Elective modules Free choice modules where the student may select any module from the University’s portfolio, providing pre-requisite and timetabling rules are satisfied. These may be more modules of the principal/joint subject(s), modules from different/contrasting/cognate subjects, skills-based modules or a module from the University Elective Programme. Elements Assessed pieces of work which contribute to components and therefore to overall module grades. Also see Set. Enhancement A deliberate process of change that leads to improvement. Ex-officio Members of staff who are members of a committee because it is stated within their remit. They can attend and contribute to committee meetings but do not count towards the quoracy of a meeting. External Adviser Qualified academic or practitioner with relevant experience from an outside institution that is invited to participate in review and validation activities in order to provide independent external advice about subject specific content. External Examiner Member of staff from outside institutions who act as an independent and impartial adviser. They play a key role in helping the University ensure that academic standards are comparable with those of other institutions and are consistent over the years and that assessment treats students fairly. Also see External Examiner Handbook and related documents. Fail The result of an undergraduate module that a student hasn’t passed and is awarded between grades E4 and ONS. A resit is not permitted. Formative assessment An assessment task that will allow the module leader to gauge how well a student understands a topic. The mark received for this task will not contribute to the overall grade of the module. Foundation Degree A vocational qualification that provides skills required by employers as well as skills specific to a relevant sector of industry. Generic courses Courses that have a broad base and involve the study of modules from a number of disciplines within a broad subject area. Grade Point Scale The system of combined letters and numbers which is used to indicate the grade received for each undergraduate module. 3 Based on specially Term Definition Graduate Certificates / Diplomas Professional courses based largely on undergraduate material, usually taken by those students who are already graduates in another discipline. Also see Regulations for Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas. Held The result of an undergraduate module awarded a grade 0GA (grade awaited) or 0AM (academic misconduct) where the outcome of an investigation or marking is awaited before the grade and result can be confirmed. Higher National Certificate / Diploma An alternative qualification to a degree which has a strong vocational element. typically takes two years to complete. Intermediate award An award available on the achievement of a defined volume and level of credit which is less than that needed for the highest undergraduate or postgraduate award within the University portfolio – can be a Certificate of Higher Education; Diploma of Higher Education; Ordinary Degree; Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate. Intermediate pathway A lower level pathway that a student may follow as they are working towards a higher award. The student may claim an intermediate award when they have completed this pathway. Internal Moderation Carried out through processes within the University, internal moderation is a means of assuring students, Assessment Boards and other interested parties that the standards expected of and achieved by students are appropriate, reliable and consistent. Also see Internal Moderation Guidelines. Item The term used within the Student Record System (SITS) for components. JACS codes The system used by UK institutions to identify the subject matter of pathways and modules. They are also the basis of the UCAS course coding system and used for funding purposes. Joint courses Courses that involve the study of two subjects in combination, typically studied over three years full-time or five to six years part-time. In the University’s pre- 2002 undergraduate regulations these awards were referred to as combined subject awards. Key Proposer Member of staff who is responsible for co-ordinating the development work for reviews and revalidations and validations, They lead the proposal team and are the key contact point between the University Quality Panel and the school. Also see Guidelines for Key Proposers. Learning outcome The knowledge and skills that a student is expected to acquire by undertaking a module. Marginal failure Obtaining an E4 grade in an undergraduate award at level 0, level 1 or level 2. Mode of delivery The way in which a pathway is taught, for example, full-time, part-time or by distance learning. Mode of study The mode of attendance of a student following an approved pathway. Currently modes may be full-time, part-time, a mixture of both or by distance learning. Moderation A means of assuring students, Assessment Boards and other interested parties that the standards expected of and achieved by students are appropriate, reliable and consistent. Also see Moderation and Double Marking Guidelines. 4 It Term Definition Modifications It is sometimes necessary to make changes to pathways after they have been running for a period of time. Depending on the extent of the proposed changes, modifications will either be dealt with by a School Quality Enhancement Committee (SQEC) or a University Quality Panel. Module codes A unique code allocated to each module to enable the module to be identified on the Student Record System (SITS) and in other documentation. The code is usually made up of two letters, followed by four numbers, the first number indicating which level the module is at. Module leaders Members of staff who design, teach and assess modules that contribute to pathways and awards. They contribute to annual monitoring and lead the periodic review. Modules Each pathway is made up of units of study called modules which are separately assessed units of learning which are credit rated at a specific level. Modules may be specified as core, core options or electives. Negotiated courses These courses have a rationale which allows students to study modules from a wide variety of subjects. Open Book Examination An assessment whereby students are permitted to use certain texts / notes to assist them in answering the questions set. Also see Guidelines for open book examinations. Partner institution An institution (in the UK or abroad) that the University has a link with which involves the two institutions working together to provide many forms of higher education. Also see Collaborative Links. Pathway An identifiable grouping of modules within a subject area which make up a recognised programme of study. Pathway leaders Members of staff who are responsible for curriculum design, teaching, learning and assessment. They undertake annual monitoring and lead the periodic review of provision. Pathway outcomes The knowledge and skills that a student is expected to acquire by undertaking a pathway. Periodic review An opportunity to reflect on the evidence and experience of delivering provision during the period of validation. Placement Learning Arrangements made for learning that is a planned and intended part of an academic programme, which typically takes place outside the institution with the support and cooperation of a placement provider. Also see Placement Learning Guidelines Portfolio A collection of modules or pathways make up a portfolio. Pre-requisite module A module that must be taken and passed before a student may proceed to study a subsequent module. Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body An external body that may be involved in delivering or regulating University provision. Progression When a student has passed sufficient credits in order to move from one year of study to 5 Term Definition Proposing Team the next. A team of staff, led by a key proposer, who are involved in validations, reviews and revalidations. Quality This refers to all aspects of the learning support provided by the University to enable a student to meet the intended outcomes of the pathway and award for which they are registered. Quality assurance The process by which the University provides a guarantee of the quality and standards of all awards made in its name. There are different, connected stages of quality assurance: curriculum design, validation and approval of new pathways, annual monitoring, external examining and periodic review. Quality Assurance Officer Members of staff from the Quality and Academic Standards Division, Registry, who provide high level administrative support for quality assurance at University level. In particular they support the processes of academic planning and validation / periodic review and service School Quality Enhancement Committees, University Quality Panels and any other working groups which may be established on an ad hoc basis. Quorum The minimum number of committee members required to attend a meeting in order to conduct the business of the committee. Report monitors Members of staff responsible for reading and reviewing Annual Monitoring reports. Report writers Members of staff responsible for producing Annual Monitoring reports. Resit The opportunity for the retrieval of the failed component(s) of an undergraduate module following the award of an E grade. The term applies to both coursework and examination. Retake The opportunity, following failure of an undergraduate module with an F grade, to study the whole module again to fulfil all the requirements of that module. Retrievable fail An E grade at postgraduate level. Revalidation To validate changes to existing provision following a review. A successful revalidation normally extends the period of validation for a further six years. Review A process normally undertaken every six years on undergraduate and postgraduate pathways. For academic and learning support teams, it is an opportunity to reflect critically on the experience and evidence of delivery. For the University, it is a check that quality and academic standards are being maintained and improved or enhanced. Also see Review guidelines and templates. Route A valid set of pathways, either one pathway in the case of a specialist award or two pathways in the case of a joint award, for which students are registered and which lead to an award. Sandwich courses Courses which contain an extended period of supervised work experience in addition to the academic study undertaken at the University or one of its partner colleges. Set The term used within the Student Record System (SITS) for elements. Single subject Term used in the University’s pre-2002 undergraduate regulations for specialist courses. 6 Term award Specialist courses Definition Courses that concentrate upon the study of a single subject, typically studied over three years full-time or five to six years part-time. In the University’s pre-2002 undergraduate regulations, these awards were referred to as single subject awards. Subject This term is used broadly to describe validated and coherent academic groupings of modules in and between schools, which are the base for offering a range of awards. Subject Assessment Board The Assessment Board which has responsibility for confirming overall module grades for all the modules owned by the Subject. They also determine the appropriate method of retrieval to be undertaken by candidates who fail to pass a module. Extenuating and mitigating circumstances are sometimes considered. Subject leaders The member of staff designated by the responsible Dean of School to lead and manage the staff and modules assigned to that subject. Summative assessment An assessment task that a student must undertake. The grade achieved will contribute to the overall grade of the module. Technology Supported Learning Learning that is undertaken with the assistance of electronic (i.e. online or computer based) support materials. Also see Technology Supported Learning Guidelines University Elective Programme Set up to provide students with an opportunity to study set blocks of modules grouped in specific subject areas. University Quality Panel The University Quality Panel (UQP) is managed by QASD and is a Panel that UQEC delegates responsibility for RRV which is not undertaken by Schools. University Quality Validation Panel Validation The process whereby the University judges a programme of study to be appropriate to lead to the award of an approved qualification of the University. The validation process covers the whole of the teaching / learning experience including all assessment arrangements. Also see Validation guidelines and templates. Validation Panel (VP) The role of VP is to verify academic standards of new, modified or established pathways and to ensure the quality of learning opportunities afforded to students enrolled in these pathways. The VP will have direct involvement in the validation, review and revalidation of pathways. Validation period The length of time that a pathway is validated for. years. Virtual Learning Environment The generic term for the technology and software platform in use at the University of Wolverhampton. 7 A full validation period is for six