Personal Extenuating Circumstances
Changes for 2010/11 academic year
Why?
• Simplify for students – students were confused by
PCAP, concession, and other adjustments.
• More linear – rectify some anomalies in processing
and appeal mechanisms.
• OIA recommended universities review practice in
this area.
• More efficient – may save effort at academic unit
and University level.
Overview – previous arrangements 2009/10
Overview – 2010/11 arrangements
Overview –arrangements for 2011/12 (tbc)
PEC – for 2010/11 academic year
• New PEC form replaces PCAP, extension request
and concession form.
• Single form for students.
• 2010/11 is a transition year.
• 2010/11 academic unit has more authority – i.e. to
approve advance deferrals.
• New PEC Committee – replaces Scrutiny SubCommittee. Has role through the year. Involve
someone from outside the discipline.
Also
– recommended new DPD Permission form.
– new 2010/11 Concession procedure
PEC Committee options – 2010/11
•
•
•
•
Not approve.
Extension.
Exemption.
Deferral to next normal occasion (if evidence and
advance notice).
• Refer to UCC – 2010/11
• Refer to other authority – e.g. DPD, Exams for
temporary adjustment.
• Hold for pre-Board of Examiners meeting and
recommendation for discretion.
PEC – for 2011/12 - tbc
• Subject to Senate approval, 2011/12 University
Concessions Committee dissolved and more
authority transfers to academic units. Additional
authority, e.g.:
– To give back attempts
– To set extraordinary exams
• Revised and single appeal process: Academic and
Extenuating Circumstances Appeal Procedure.
• Further benchmarking and case studies for newly
delegated authority – and for new Appeal
procedure.
PEC Form - for 2010/11
• To be completed by
student.
• Trying to get students to
focus on how they were
affected.
• -> Staff role is to
determine outcome,
rather than student
trying to ask for a
specific outcome.
PEC Form - for 2010/11
• Attempt to guide staff by
having some outcome
options clearly noted
on the form.
Some issues - work at academic unit level
• Decision on E.C. item (e.g. advanced deferral) is
no more significant than decision on degree class,
individual mark etc.
• Evidence evaluation is same as for former PCAP
• Greater control of student submissions is desirable
• Reduced paperwork for concessions
• More rapid decisions
• Support from NeSS / SAP developments tbc
c.1000 concessions in 2009. Paperwork prepared by the academic unit –
including recommendation and level of support. 85% approved and all but
2 in line with recommendation from academic unit.
Some issues – reporting and standards
• PEC Committee membership from outside the
discipline.
• Annual reports to FTLC – AMR items?
• SPS to collate a report for UTLC.
• SPS to do a future benchmarking exercise.
For further information, please contact
Maggie Donnelly or Katie Twomey:
Telephone: 0191 222 6153
Email: [email protected]
Temp: Website:
www.ncl.ac.uk/students/progress/student-resources/help/PEC.htm