Terms of Reference and Constitution for the Strategic Academic Planning Group (SAP)

Coventry University

1 Purpose and Scope

The Strategic Academic Planning Group is responsible for pro-actively determining the academic portfolio of the University and for keeping it under continual review.

2 Terms of Reference

.1 To determine the academic portfolio of the University by:

(a) using management information to advise Faculties, Schools and academic units on new areas for development;

(b) approving new course developments and the use of Strategic Initiative Funding to pump prime such developments;

(c) co-ordinating the project management of new course proposals through the establishment of Course Development Groups;

(d) setting standards by which quantitative data related to current activity levels (for example, the number of students per course, number of modules per member of staff, etc) will be assessed and used to inform decision-making;

(e) monitoring and reviewing existing provision using the criteria identified in (d) above;

(f) informing the production of all prospectuses, publicity material and the University web site in relation to course provision.

(a) To advise the Academic Executive on strategic course developments and reviews.

(b) To work in partnership with the Quality Assurance Committee on all matters relating to quality assurance and enhancement.

3 Constitution

.1 The constitution of the Strategic Academic Planning Group is:

(a) the Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee, ex officio;

(b) an Associate Dean from a Faculty that is not represented under 3.1(c);

(c) two Heads of Department with teaching profiles;

(d) the Registrar and Secretary, ex officio;

(e) the Assistant Registrar or representative, MIU;

(f) the Head of the Recruitment and Admissions Office, ex officio;

(g) a representative from the International Office. .2

D:\Docs\2018-04-10\06cbf30992739722f52e2f6af600f0ff.doc- 1 - The committee shall strive to maintain a membership that reflects a rich diversity, taking positive action to achieve this where necessary. In meeting this objective the committee shall have the power to co-opt additional members.

.3 The Chair shall be the Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee.

.4 The Deputy Chair shall be the Registrar and Secretary.

.5 Deans and the Director of Marketing & Communications shall be invited to attend the Horizon Scanning meetings in October and April in each academic year.

.6 The Chair is entitled to invite other persons on an ad hoc basis as required, for example the lead person for a proposed course.

.7 The two Heads of Department with teaching profiles shall have their appointments rotated on a three year basis.

.8 Total membership: 8; Quorum: 4

4 Administrative Arrangements

.1 Conduct of Meetings and Minutes will be in accordance with the procedures and notes for guidance promulgated by the University Registrar & Secretary.

.2 Meetings are normally held once per month in accordance with the committee calendar.

.3 The Secretary is designated by the University Registrar & Secretary.

.4 Circulation of Papers (electronic format) All members of the Group Persons specifically invited by the Chair to attend Deans of Faculty/School Faculty/School Registrars, and equivalent in CSHE and CUE Vice-Chancellor Pro-Vice-Chancellors Assistant Registrar (Quality Enhancement Unit) Communications and Marketing Finance Library Computing Services Estates

D:\Docs\2018-04-10\06cbf30992739722f52e2f6af600f0ff.doc- 2 - 5 Notes

The role of members of the group .1 Representation Role from: Recruitment and  provide information re UCAS data, application and conversion data for all Admissions courses, trend information from application sources  undertake other horizon scanning information such as A2 level enrolments, provision in other universities etc.  provide data and information regarding horizon scanning MIU  Provide and analyse data re current activities using standards agreed by the Strategic Academic Planning Group and produce reports for consideration of the group.  assess the financial viability of new course proposals/bids to the Strategic Initiative Fund  provide data related to financial viability of current provision

Secretary  Undertake duties of secretary to SAP

Calendar of Activities

.2 The group shall meet once a month to consider any new course proposals. The lead person for a proposed course will be invited to attend the meeting to present their proposal and to answer questions or provide further information to aid decision making

Month Activity August September October Horizon Scanning - review of available data November Confirmation of student recruitment for the year (trend data) December Review of undergraduate prospectus and decision on offering for future year January Review of applications for next academic year – inform marketing activity February Review of postgraduate and part-time prospectuses and decision on offering for future year March April Horizon Scanning – review of available data May June July Review of HESA return for the university (trend data)

Horizon Scanning Requirements

.3 The following data will be required to support the work of the Group:

 A2 trends – changes in popularity of A2 subjects  General trend data from UCAS regarding popularity of courses (which may lead to new developments)  International data – British Council etc  FE data  RAO data regarding prospectus requests, web site hits etc  Soft intelligence regarding what other universities are doing.

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