Manual of Policies and Procedures 2020-2021
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Manual of Policies and Procedures 2020-2021 Version 1.13 (1-9-20) Contact Dean of Academic Quality Approval Date 09 July 2020 Latest Update Version 1.13 – (1/1/20) Approval Authority Academic Council Date of Next Review July 2021 MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTENTS Manual of Policies and Procedures Contents Page Introduction and Contacts .......................................................................... 6 Part B: Awards ........................................................................................... 7 Section 1: Rules ........................................................................................... 7 Section 2: Appointment of Honorary Fellows, Visiting Fellows and Visiting Professors ................................................................................................... 9 Part C: Programmes of Study ................................................................... 12 Section 1: Approval of a New University Centre for the Delivery of Degrees and Other Programmes of Study ......................................................................... 12 Section 2: Use of ‘Advanced’ in an Award Title ................................................ 14 Part D: Programme Approval .................................................................... 16 Section 1: Programme Development Policy .................................................... 16 Section 2: Programme Approval Procedures (including Re-approval) .................. 18 Section 3: Non-Award Course Approval Procedures (including Re-approval) ........ 27 Section 4: Module Approval Procedures ......................................................... 32 Section 5: Variants of and Modifications to Programmes and Modules ................ 37 Section 6: Programme Critical Review ........................................................... 44 Section 7: Procedures for Programme Withdrawal ........................................... 46 Section 8: Module Withdrawal Procedures ...................................................... 50 Part E: Programme Monitoring ................................................................. 53 Section 1: Annual Programme Monitoring Reports ........................................... 53 Part F: Admission and Registration ........................................................... 57 Section 1: Criteria for Admission .................................................................. 57 Section 2: Admissions Appeals and Complaints Procedure for Applicants ............ 65 Section 3: Applicants who have a Disability or Long-term Medical Condition ........ 70 Section 4: Accreditation of Prior Learning ....................................................... 72 Part G: Academic Progress and Discipline ................................................. 77 Section 1: Academic Progress Monitoring ....................................................... 77 Version 1.13 Page 3 of 271 MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTENTS Section 2: Personal Tutor Policy .................................................................... 81 Section 3: Rules and Procedures for Suspension of Registration and the Granting of Interruption of Studies ................................................................................ 84 Section 4: Termination of Registration ........................................................... 88 Section 5: Student Discipline Policy ............................................................... 90 Part H: Examination and Assessment ....................................................... 94 Section 1: Assessment Rules: Postgraduate Awards: September 2018 onwards ... 94 Section 2: Assessment Rules: Undergraduate Awards: September 2013 onwards 98 Section 3: Assessment Rules: Graduate Certificate and Diploma Awards: September 2014 onwards ........................................................................................... 105 Section 4: Deferral of Assessment Procedure ................................................. 109 Section 5: Extension of Deadline Date for Assessments Procedure .................... 111 Section 6: Rules on Mitigating Circumstances and Concessions ........................ 112 Section 7: Rules for the Preparation and Administration of Examinations ........... 117 Section 8: Rules for the Conduct of Examinations: Information for Candidates ... 120 Section 9: Rules for the Invigilation of Examinations ...................................... 123 Section 10: Academic Malpractice Procedures ................................................ 127 Section 11: BPP University Assessment Strategy and Framework ..................... 138 Section 12: Marking Policy .......................................................................... 147 Section 13: The Agreement and Implementation of Reasonable Adjustments ..... 154 Section 14: Policy on Holding Examinations at a Venue Outside the UK ............. 161 Part J: External Examining ..................................................................... 163 Section 1: Procedures for the Nomination, Appointment and Induction of External Examiners and for Responding to External Examiners’ Reports ......................... 163 Section 2: Criteria for the Appointment of External Examiners to BPP University Awards .................................................................................................... 168 Part K: Complaints and Appeals ............................................................. 173 Section 1: Policy on Academic Review .......................................................... 173 Section 2: Student Complaints Policy and Procedure ....................................... 174 Section 3: Student Appeals Procedure .......................................................... 180 Section 4: Frivolous or Vexatious Complaints Policy ........................................ 188 Part L: Equality and Diversity ................................................................. 190 Section 1: Disability Disclosure Policy ........................................................... 190 Version 1.13 Page 4 of 271 MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTENTS Section 2: Learning Support Policy ............................................................... 195 Section 3: Wellbeing and Mental Health Policy ............................................... 209 Section 4: Fitness to Study Policy ................................................................ 214 Section 5: Fitness to Practise Policy ............................................................. 219 Part M: Collaborative Provision ............................................................... 228 Section 1: Approved Partners and Endorsed Providers .................................... 228 Section 2: Approval of Employer Partners for Work-Based Learning Opportunities ............................................................................................ 234 Section 3: Approval of Clinical Partners for Clinical Observation Opportunities .... 239 Part N: Rights and Duties ....................................................................... 241 Section 1: Academic Freedom Complaints and Appeal Procedure ...................... 241 Schedule G: Definitions........................................................................... 243 Schedule H Common Internal and External Acronyms ............................ 254 Modification History................................................................................ 257 Version 1.13 Page 5 of 271 MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES INTRODUCTION AND CONTACTS Introduction and Contacts This Manual of Policies and Procedures has been developed in support of the General Academic Regulations (GARs) and takes its authority from them. For the purposes of interpretation of these policies and procedures, the General Academic Regulations (Version 13.0) shall take precedence unless the Academic Council has authorised a specific derogation (GARs, Introduction). Such derogations are set out in the GARs, Schedule F. This Manual is a living document and may be amended with the approval of the Education and Standards Committee subject to it remaining within the scope of the GARs. Readers are encouraged to make suggestions for improvements to the policies and procedures set out within the Manual to assist the University in operating effectively and efficiently. Should you have any queries related to a specific procedure, please contact: Academic Quality ([email protected]) Version 1.13 Page 6 of 271 MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES PART B: AWARDS Part B: Awards Introduction This part sets out the policies and procedures of BPP University which are related to the title and awarding of qualifications. Section 1: Rules Authority 1. These rules are made in furtherance of the General Academic Regulations (GARs), Part B, Section 1, Paragraphs 6 to 10 and Part C, Paragraph 12. These procedures should be read in conjunction with the General Academic Regulations on Awards and Programmes of Study. Principles 2. Titles of awards shall communicate the level of the awards consistent with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (“Qualifications Frameworks”), in force at the point of approval of the programme. 3. Titles of awards must be accurate and simple. The title must accord, as a description of programme content and outcomes, with the normal expectations of higher education bodies, relevant professional bodies, students and employers about the level of knowledge, understanding and skills to be expected from