FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY AND
FORENSIC SCIENCE
Programme Handbook
Academic Year 2016/17
Chemistry and Forensic Science [all programmes BSc and MChem]–
September 2016 Intake
Table of Contents
1.
Welcome............................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Faculty ........................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Interim Dean of Faculty ............................................................................... 2
1.3 Programme Team ........................................................................................ 2
2.
General Information ............................................................................................ 2
2.1 Contact Information .................................................................................... 3
2.2 Semester and Term Dates ............................................................................ 4
2.3 Communication ........................................................................................... 4
3.
Support for Your Learning................................................................................... 5
3.1 Academic Support: Module Leaders/Tutors .................................................. 5
3.2 Organisational Support: The Year Tutor ....................................................... 5
3.3 Personal Support: The Personal Academic Tutor ........................................... 6
3.4 Library ........................................................................................................ 6
3.5 Computer Facilities ..................................................................................... 6
3.6 Other Support for the Programme ................................................................ 6
3.7 Study and Social Spaces ............................................................................... 7
4.
Programme Information ...................................................................................... 7
4.1 Programme Specifications ........................................................................... 8
4.2 Recognising Prior Learning .......................................................................... 8
4.3 Bespoke Health and Safety Information ........................................................ 8
4.4 Attendance and Requests for Absence ....................................................... 10
4.4.1 Attendance Monitoring ................................................................... 10
4.4.2 Notification of Absence From Taught Sessions ................................ 11
4.4.3 Extenuating Circumstances Policy ................................................... 11
4.5 Assessment Information ............................................................................ 11
4.6 Developing Good Academic Practice .......................................................... 13
4.6.1 Policy for Late Submission of Coursework ....................................... 13
4.6.2 Academic Misconduct ..................................................................... 13
4.6.3 Academic Regulations & Policies ..................................................... 16
4.7 Student Charter ......................................................................................... 16
4.8 Student Representation and Giving Feedback ............................................. 16
4.9 Complaints and Appeals ............................................................................ 17
5.
Programme Monitoring and Enhancement ......................................................... 18
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5.1 External Examiners .................................................................................... 18
5.2 External Examiner Feedback ...................................................................... 18
5.3 Enhancements to the Programme .............................................................. 19
ii
1.
Welcome
Welcome to the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Bradford. We hope
that you will quickly settle in for a happy return to, or first enrolment at, the
University.
General guidance and information on the university experience for all students
can be found in the Student Handbook.
1.1
Faculty
The Faculty of Life Sciences prides itself on being a friendly and supportive
Faculty. We have excellent facilities and staff who are supportive of each other
and of our students. The Faculty of Life Sciences is the overarching Faculty and
is made up of five academic Schools: the School of Archaeological Sciences, the
School of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, the School of Medical Sciences
(which includes Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Sciences and the Institute of
Cancer Therapeutics), the School of Optometry and Vision Science and the
School of Pharmacy.
There is a great team spirit in the Faculty and I hope you will soon get to know
the staff and feel that you can approach us if you need help with anything. In
particular you should make sure that you meet and get to know your Personal
Academic Tutor. This is the member of staff who will advise and look out for
your personal welfare as well as your academic progress.
Please consult this Handbook carefully. It is designed to give answers to many
questions that you are likely to have and will provide guidance to help you
settle into the academic year.
We value your views about how we can improve your experience at University.
We strongly recommend that you maintain contact with your Personal Academic
Tutor and Programme Leader, complete student feedback questionnaires and
work with, or even as, student representatives.
We look forward to your contributions to our work and wish you well in your
studies at the University of Bradford. Above all, we hope you will enjoy, and will
be challenged by, this experience.
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1.2
Interim Dean of Faculty
Dr Josie Fraser
The Interim Dean can be contacted at [email protected].
1.3
Programme Team
Contact details for key staff in Chemistry and Forensic Science are listed in the
following table.
Key Staff
Role
Head of Department
Programme Lead
Examinations Officer
Stage 1 Tutor
Stage 2 Tutor
Stage 3 Tutor
Stage 4 Tutor
Placements Tutor
Admissions Tutor
Health and Safety Officer
Forensic Science Lead
Student Support Staff
Mrs Karen Crosier
Miss Beverley Thomas
Chris Hunter
Name
Professor Stephen Rimmer
Dr William Martin
Dr Richard Bowen
Dr Stephen Hickey
Dr Alison Marks
Vacant
Dr Sanjit Nayak
Dr Richard Telford
Dr Philip Drake
Mr Alan Hague
Mr Rob Janaway
Richmond C21
Richmond C21
Richmond C21
5526
4640
4643
E-mail
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
A full list of staff email addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the
Faculty of Life Sciences staff contacts page. Staff room numbers can be found
on Blackboard (our Virtual Learning Environment) in the folder ‘2016-7
Chemical & Forensic Sciences Course Information’. Staff (and student) email
addresses can also be found using the search facility on the ‘contacts’ section
of the University website.
2.
General Information
This handbook provides important information relating to the whole of your
programme of study. It should be kept as a source of reference and read
together with other relevant information which will be provided at the start of
each academic year and made available through the shared information area on
Blackboard.
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2.1
Contact Information
The Student Support Office in the Faculty of Life Sciences provides a service for
undergraduate and taught postgraduate students.
The Student Support Office
Location: Room C21 in the Richmond Building
Opening hours: 09.30 am – 4.30 pm Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday
10.30 am – 4.30 pm Thursday
Telephone: 01274 234661
Email: [email protected]
This office is your first point of contact for information and advice and students
can drop in at any point during office opening hours. Staff in the Student
Support Office can provide help with most types of enquiry (for example,
helping with completion of general paperwork, providing access to
departmental forms and assisting you in the submission of coursework). They
will also be able to advise you who to contact if you have a query or problem
but are not sure who you need to see.
Please add the Student Support Office and your Personal Academic Tutor (see
Section 3.3 below) to your phone contacts so that you can contact them easily if
you need to.
ADMINISTRATIVE
ACADEMIC
The table below lists some of the more common queries/problems and details
of who you should contact to get the help or advice that you need.
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Question/Problem
I have a question about a specific module’s
content
I have a question about a reading list for a
module
I don’t understand content covered in a
module
I am struggling with the transition to
University life or work
I have a query about my timetable or
induction arrangements
I don’t know where a room is or where an
activity is taking place
I can’t access Blackboard/eVision/Turnitin
I’m unsure of the assessment deadlines/handin arrangements
I want to change my module choices (first two
3
Who to Contact
Module Leader
Module Leader
Module Leader
Personal Academic Tutor
Student Support Office
Student Support Office
Student Support Office
Module Leader/
Student Support Office
Student Support Office
PERSONAL
weeks only, and subject to timetabling
constraints)
I want to transfer course or withdraw from the
course
I’m having personal issues or am ill and it’s
affecting my ability to study
I’m having personal issues or am ill and am
unable to attend University for a period of
time
I’m having personal issues or am ill and wish
to suspend my studies
I’m going to miss an assessment due to
personal reasons
Personal Academic Tutor/
Student Support Office
Personal Academic Tutor
(See also Programme
Handbook Section 4.4)
Personal Academic
Tutor/Student Support
Office (See also
Programme Handbook
Section 4.4)
Personal Academic
Tutor/Student Support
Office
Personal Academic
Tutor/Student Support
Office (See also
Programme Handbook
Section 4.4)
Further information about the roles of Module Leader and Personal Academic
Tutor is given in section 3.
Your contact details should be kept up to date by using our web service,
e:Vision. (There is a link to e:Vision on the University home page.) You need
to keep us up to date with changes to your home and term-time addresses and
your contact details in case we need to contact you in an emergency or about
University business.
If you have any special circumstances that may temporarily affect your ability to
attend classes, submit coursework or attend assessments, then you must notify
the Student Support Office and provide documentary support at the earliest
opportunity.
2.2
Semester and Term Dates
The standard University Semester and term dates can be found on the Study at
Bradford section of the University website.
2.3
Communication
If we need to get a message to you, we will usually contact you using your
University e-mail address. It is therefore very important that you check your
University e-mail account each day.
The use of e-mail is governed by the University’s Policy on E-mail
Communication. Further information on the use of e-mail can be found in the
Student E-mail User Guide.
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3.
Support for Your Learning
General guidance on the support available can be found in the Student
Handbook.
Information about University Library and IT services can be found on the
Information Services section of the University website.
All programmes of study are under the direct supervision of a Programme
Leader/Head of School who is responsible for all academic matters relating to
your year of study. Any problems that you may encounter or aspects that are
not clear can be discussed confidentially with them and you may contact them
for matters of support and guidance in cases that you do not wish to discuss
with your Personal Academic Tutor or Year Tutor. If you wish to discuss
personal matters outside the School, in a sensitive confidential environment, do
not hesitate to contact the University Counselling Service which is located in
Student Central.
The Hub (Student Support Centre) is a good source of more general assistance
and information.
The University also has a Disabilities Office, which offers support, information
and advice for prospective and current students.
It is in your interests to keep us informed of any circumstances relevant to
your academic and personal well-being in Bradford.
There are a number of mechanisms operating within the Faculty of Life Sciences
to provide academic, organisational and personal support for students.
3.1
Academic Support: Module Leaders/Tutors
If you need academic help or support with any specific subject, you should
speak to the Module Leader for that subject. Module tutors, who help with the
teaching on the module, expect to be approached by students and will be
happy to help if you are having academic difficulties. Send the member of staff
an e-mail giving a brief description of the problem and asking for help.
3.2
Organisational Support: The Year Tutor
If difficulties arise which affect a number of classes and/or students,
eg timetabling issues, assessment schedules, or disruption of classes for any
reason, then the Year Tutor is the best person to contact.
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3.3
Personal Support: The Personal Academic Tutor
Every student is assigned an individual member of academic staff as a Personal
Academic Tutor (PAT). The main roles of a Personal Academic Tutor are:
 To monitor your progress through the degree programme
 To provide references
 To act as your representative at examination boards
 To act as a contact point should you have any personal problems for which
you need advice or support. Your PAT should be seen as a first point of
contact but may suggest other support services to contact. Any member of
academic staff will be happy to help if you don’t feel your PAT can help.
You should have regular meetings with your PAT in line with the University’s
policy on academic tutoring. Further information about the PAT scheme can be
found in the Personal Academic Tutoring: Guide for Students.
3.4
Library
The main University Library (JB Priestley Library) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 360 days a year. As well as books and journals it provides a variety of
spaces in which you can study. Each School within Life Sciences has its own
designated Subject Librarian who will help you find and manage information.
The Subject Librarian for your course is Mrs Sarah George, email
[email protected].
For more information please see the Library
Resources for Life Sciences.
3.5
Computer Facilities
Information about computer facilities on campus can be found on the ITServices web pages. If you would like help with IT or need to report a problem,
please visit IT-Services Help or telephone 01274-233333. Alternatively, face-toface help is available at the IT Help Desk on floor 01 of the JB Priestley Library.
3.6
Other Support for the Programme
Each module that you will study will have specific material to support students
on Blackboard, including links to online resources. Please consult Blackboard
for individual modules for further information.
In addition you will find a folder on the Blackboard home page called ‘2016-7
Chemical & Forensic Sciences Course Information’ which contains information
related to your individual programme of study. This is updated each year and
contains information on timetables, handbooks, work-based learning
placements, examinations, pass lists, student support and much more. We
would recommend you check this regularly.
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3.7
Study and Social Spaces
The library has space for individual study. There are also group study rooms
with good facilities in the Library, which you can book via the Library website.
The University also has an abundance of informal, student-friendly meeting
places where you can sit with friends over a coffee, catch up on some study
notes or talk through your lectures without worrying about disturbing your
fellow students or being asked to keep the noise down.
The three-storey Student Central building has many social spaces including a
Costa Coffee outlet and a selection of bars. The middle floor is home to the
Students' Union and the perfect space to learn in a buzzing social environment.
You can find out more about study and social spaces in Student Central on the
Students' Union website.
There are many food and drink outlets across the campus and further details of
these, including locations and opening hours, can found on the Food and Drink
section of the University website.
The Atrium in Richmond Building houses a restaurant, coffee bar, deli sandwich
bar and book shop. The Atrium is a popular area for quiet relaxation,
socialising and informal meetings.
4.
Programme Information
The Chemistry programmes at the University of Bradford are designed around
the university’s key mission statement ‘Making Knowledge Work’. Our degrees
will give students a solid background in the chemical sciences, but then
introduce students to the application of chemistry in specific areas of modern
chemistry. These areas have been chosen to reflect the main employment
destinations for 21st century chemistry graduates: Materials Chemistry,
Analytical Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry.
Our degrees have been structured to give students choice and flexibility. During
the first two years, students will develop a sound understanding of theoretical and
practical aspects of chemistry, with core content delivered across the traditional
areas of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. However, we believe that an
intellectually fulfilling university experience should allow students to sample
subjects from outside the Chemistry subject area. Hence all our chemistry courses
allow students to take 20 credits of elective modules in stages 1 and 2, with
subjects offered from across the university’s teaching portfolio. Students studying
the forensic science BSc will take 20 credits of forensic science at stages 1 and 2
in lieu of these elective modules.
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The third year Chemistry courses will introduce students to specialist content in
medicinal, materials and analytical chemistry. Forensic Science students will study
forensic science to a greater level of detail in stage 3. Students will also have the
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opportunity to study a specific subject by choosing to a greater depth during an
extended dissertation.
As a Bradford Chemistry or Forensics graduate, students will be uniquely placed
to deploy the skills that have developed across the programme to ‘Make
Knowledge Work’.
4.1
Programme Specifications
You can access the programme specification for your programme on the
Academic Quality and Partnerships Office website.
4.2
Recognising Prior Learning
If you have, within the last 5 years, completed and hold a Higher Education
qualification (such as a degree or equivalent) that is closely related to your
current programme of study you can apply to have your previous award
recognised and gain exemption from some relevant modules in your
programme of study. Details can be found on the Academic Quality and
Partnerships Office website.
You should contact your Programme Leader as soon as you arrive to find out
how to make this application. Applications must be completed and submitted
by the end of semester 1, week 5 (see section 2.2). You will need to show
that the learning outcomes from your previous study match the learning
outcomes of the modules for which you are claiming exemption, and the
amount of study and the level of the study must also match the modules you
are claiming exemption from. You will also need to have passed the relevant
modules during your earlier study. You will need to provide your certificates,
as well as the details of the curriculum and learning outcomes from the
programme you have previously studied.
If you have evidence of experiential learning, for example your job has involved
you taking responsibility and using skills that cover all the learning outcomes of
a module, you may also apply for an exemption. This will require the internal
and external examiners for the course making an assessment of a portfolio of
evidence you submit from your work and in which you demonstrate how the
learning outcomes have been met.
4.3
Bespoke Health and Safety Information
In an Emergency ring 01274 238888 to reach University Security (8888 from
an internal telephone). All Security staff are trained First Aiders.
For non-emergencies security can be contacted on 01274 236999 (internal
6999) or Richmond reception on 01274 234894 (internal 4894).
For the University policy on health and safety visit the Health, Safety and
Wellbeing website.
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The Safety Liaison Officer in Chemical And Forensic Sciences is Mr Alan Hague,
J23, [email protected], 3800.
The University’s Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing is Mr Steve Wiggins (tel:
01274-235764, e-mail: [email protected]), who you should contact in
the event that Mr Alan Hague is not available.
All Students should refer to the Health and Safety booklet mounted on
Blackboard at ‘2015-6 Chemical & Forensic Sciences Course Information’.
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4.4
Attendance and Requests for Absence
Students must attend all scheduled sessions. If you need to request or notify
us of an absence, please follow the guidelines below.
4.4.1 Attendance Monitoring
A system of attendance monitoring is used by the University. This means you
must use your student card to ‘check in’ at all timetabled activities. It is vital
that you have your student card with you at all times to do this. We have a
responsibility to monitor your safety and welfare as well as making sure that
you engage properly with your programme of study. Attendance monitoring
helps us to do this. We are also obliged to update sponsors or funders of your
studies should your attendance fall below a certain threshold.
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Students must not check in on behalf of another student. Such behaviour will
be dealt with through the University’s Disciplinary Procedure.
4.4.2 Notification of Absence From Taught Sessions
We know that from time to time you may have to be absent from a taught
session for a good reason such as illness. If you need to request or notify us of
an absence please follow the guidelines in this section of the handbook.
You should report your absence by filling in the appropriate form.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TomRN18PnBuRAEHwv3x_886J3bQ9cvkf7uIuEwUNqA
Any absence, HOWEVER SHORT, which involves missing a formal assessment
of any sort WILL require an Advanced Notification or Extenuating
Circumstances Form to be completed and appropriate evidence to be provided.
4.4.3 Extenuating Circumstances Policy
If you are unable to attend an assessment because of circumstances beyond
your control, or if you are unable to submit a piece of coursework on time, then
you should submit a request to have ‘extenuating circumstances’ taken into
account. This must be done before the assessment. You can also submit a
request to have extenuating circumstances taken into consideration if you have
completed an assessment, or submitted a piece of work on time, but feel that
your performance has been significantly impaired by illness or other
circumstances. This must be done within 7 days of the assessment.
To find out how to do this, what evidence you need, and how to obtain the
forms, consult the detailed guidance on Extenuating Circumstances which you
will find in your course information folder in the Blackboard organisation for
your course.
4.5
Assessment Information
You will have noticed in Section 2.2 above that there are two scheduled formal
examination periods, one at the end of each semester. These are the times
when you will take most of your end-of-module written exams, though the
January exam period may also include ‘coursework’ exams for linked 20 credit
modules. The rest of your practical exams and coursework assessments will be
scheduled during the rest of the normal teaching sessions.
To help you to plan ahead, a summary of assessments for all core modules on
your programme of study is given below. (Please note that not all modules are
included. If your optional modules are not shown here please consult your
module handbook or contact your module leader for further information.)
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Stage 1
Module
Mid-Term Exam
Coursework /
workshop
Organic Chemistry 1,
CFS4023-B
12th December,
14.00
16th January,
09.00
Semester 2 Exam Period
Physical Chemistry 1,
CFS4024-B
9th January,
Semester 2 Exam Period
09.00
Semester 2 –
See Module
Handbook
Inorganic Chemistry
1, CFS4022-B
14th December
11.00
Semester 2 –
See Module
Handbook
Semester 2 Exam Period
---------
Continuous
See Module
Handbook
Practical Chemistry 1,
CFS4026-D
Final Exam
Mathematics exam –
Semester 1 Exam Period
Further information with more details about each assessment can be found in
the relevant module handbooks, which are also available on Blackboard. The
assessment timetable will be updated as additional information becomes
available. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to reschedule an assessment
or submission date. You will be notified if this is the case.
The core inorganic, organic and physical chemistry modules contain a mid-term
assessment in December / January. You will receive the results of this
assessment within 20 working days.
In the practical chemistry module you can expect to receive regular feedback on
your laboratory note taking in the class.
A full list of the University Ordinances and Regulations can be found on the
Academic Quality and Partnerships Office website.
However, there are four exceptions to these regulations as listed below:
2. In order for students to progress from Stage 2 to 3 of the programme of the
Integrated Degree of Master, students must have an average mark of 55.0% at
the first attempt across all 120 credit studied in Stage 2. Students who do not
achieve this will be required to transfer to the BSc (Hons) Chemistry
Programme.
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3. In order for students to progress from Stage 2 of the programme of the
Integrated Degree of Master if they have an average mark of 55.0% at the first
attempt across all 120 credit studied in Stage 2.
4. Students to progress between Stage 3 and 4 of the programme on
completion of 120 credits at 40.0% or more. Compensation is not permitted.
5. The MChem award is calculated based on the marks accrued in stages 2, 3
and 4 of the programme in the following weightings: Stage 2-10%, Stage 3-40%,
Stage 4-50%. The award of BSc will be calculated according to the standard
university regulations: Stage 2-20% and stage 3 80%.
4.6
Developing Good Academic Practice
We request that each student signs and returns to the Faculty an agreement for
professional conduct the first time they register for study on a programme.
4.6.1 Policy for Late Submission of Coursework
You will be informed of the date of submission for each piece of coursework
and this date must be adhered to in all cases. Late submission of coursework
without good cause will result in a mark of zero being awarded for the work in
question.
Where coursework (for good reason) is likely to be late, students must
complete an Extension Request form, available from the Student Support Office.
Extensions are not granted automatically. Each case will be considered
individually and you will be notified whether your request has been accepted or
rejected.
4.6.2 Academic Misconduct
What is academic misconduct?
One of the key factors in a University education is the knowledge that your
achievements will be fully recognised by your friends, family and employers. It
is important that the University maintains and upholds its high academic
standards, consequently the quality of the University’s awards is undermined by
academic misconduct; this is not good for the University or for its students as it
damages the reputation of the University and undermines the value of your
degree in the marketplace.
“Academic misconduct” means cheating. If you cheat and get caught, it will
have serious consequences for your University career. If you cheat and don’t
get caught, it will soon become apparent when you get a job that your
qualifications do not match your ability. All instances of academic misconduct
brought to the attention of the University will be investigated, and the
University reserves the right to use any fair and reasonable means to identify
instances of academic misconduct.
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It is not acceptable to say that you do not know what academic misconduct is
because you have never read any of the guidance.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism may be defined as “taking and using another person’s thoughts,
writings or inventions as one’s own”. In other words, it is a form of intellectual
fraud or theft. Plagiarism may be overt, i.e. copying another person’s work, or
may be more subtle, i.e. paraphrasing an idea or invention without
acknowledging it as another person’s work.
The Library website has information about plagiarism, and how to avoid it.
You will be asked to sign a coversheet declaring your academic integrity for
submission with each piece of coursework.
All new students must complete the Plagiarism Avoidance for New Students
course. You will find this in Blackboard. The course consists of five lessons
followed by a diagnostic test. The answers to the test questions are all
contained within the lessons. If you do not achieve the 70% pass mark, you will
be referred to a member of academic staff for further help. You must complete
this test before submitting your first piece of coursework
In some practical or workshop sessions, experiments are performed in groups.
However, the work handed in for assessment must be your own work
expressed in your own words and not taken verbatim from another student,
database, textbook or the Internet. There are serious penalties for any student
who breaks the University Regulations referring to assessed work.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you look at the information about
plagiarism and referencing that we provide in handbooks and on Blackboard.
If you are an overseas student you may find UK referencing conventions quite
different from those in your home country. Respecting intellectual property,
that is ownership of an idea or a piece of academic work, is important.
Remember: if you are unsure of the rules, ask your module leader, Personal
Academic Tutor or Subject Librarian for advice or visit the Library website.
Numeric Referencing Style
Students will be required to provide references to the sources used to produce work.
This shows what students have read, supports the arguments and acknowledges the
work of others.
The referencing system used in this programme is called Numeric.
The reference consists of two parts:
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1. A citation in the text. This is a number next to the information you have used.
The number points to the reference list.
2. The reference goes in a reference list at the end of your work. The list is in
numerical order. The list contains the full details of all of the sources referred to
in the text.
For details on how to create your reference list, go to the Library website.
Academic Skills can provide advice and guidance on study skills and maths
skills. Further information can be found on the Academic Skills website.
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Conduct in examinations
Your conduct in examinations is covered by the University Regulations on the
Conduct and Invigilation of Examinations.
4.6.3 Academic Regulations & Policies
Follow the link to the Academic Misconduct website to learn more about
University policies of particular relevance to students, including:




4.7
Academic misconduct/breach of assessment regulations
Procedures to be followed in the event of a suspected breach of
Assessment Regulation (and associated Penalty Framework)
Regulation on the presentation of work for formal assessment
(plagiarism)
Regulation on the conduct and invigilation of examinations
Student Charter
Our Student Charter is intended to set out the minimum procedural
expectations relating to the student experience for both staff and students.
Your active involvement with staff in your learning, in Faculty-level activities, in
institutional processes and with the Students’ Union is absolutely key to
fostering a sense of collegiate community. You engage with us as partners and
as such, both staff and students have expectations and obligations with regards
to the processes in which they engage. You can find our Student Charter on the
Study at Bradford section of the University website.
4.8
Student Representation and Giving Feedback
The University of Bradford is committed to working in partnership with students
to develop its learning and teaching practice and environment. Student
representation is an essential part of this, and ensuring students can be active
in shaping and enhancing their own experience. Our student representation
scheme operates as a partnership between the University and the Students’
Union, and forms a key part of how we engage students and our overall
approach to understanding, supporting and enhancing the student experience.
Student Representatives can take student views to various staff/student events
and decision making meetings, committees and boards. All students have the
opportunity to put themselves forward to be a Student Representative or be
represented by a fellow student.
There are also numerous other ways to be involved and give feedback, both
formally and informally. These include:
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
Completing student experience surveys (such as the National Student
Survey, Bradford Student Survey and Postgraduate Taught Experience
Survey).

Attending various meetings for student and staff discussion – such as
student forums.

Completing module evaluations.

Giving user feedback on services (e.g. the library and IT).

Getting involved with Student’s Union activity.

Taking part in research, focus groups, interviews or student led meetings.

Volunteering or applying for specific roles or opportunities to enhance
teaching and learning or the wider student experience at the University.
It is important to remember that giving positive feedback on student
experiences is just as important as raising issues of concern or suggesting
changes. We support students and staff in engaging in on-going dialogue that
is underpinned by a shared approach of open-ness and mutual respect, and
therefore encourage constructive feedback that aims for enhancement.
Further information about Student Representatives can be found on the
Students’ Union website.
At least two representatives from each Stage will be elected at the start of the
academic year to act as student representatives on the staff / student liaison
committee. The role of the student rep is to act as a conduit between the
student body and the staff -collect good news (and bad!) from your peers and
present it at the committee. The SSLC will also be asked to comment on
curriculum developments in the School.
Dates for the SSLC 2016/17
Meeting 1 – Wednesday October 19th, 13.00
Meeting 2 – Wednesday December 7th, 13.00
Meeting 3 – Wednesday February 15th, 13.00
Meeting 4 – Wednesday April 5th, 13.00
4.9
Complaints and Appeals
Students have the right to appeal against any decision taken by their Board of
Examiners. The grounds for appeal are (broadly): circumstances affecting
performance of which the Board of Examiners (was unaware; procedural
irregularities, including decisions outside the extenuating circumstances policy;
administrative error; prejudice or bias; inadequate supervision.
You should note that it is not possible to appeal to have assessments remarked
because you think you should have done better. You should also note that for
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an appeal under the first of the above categories to be considered, you need to
show a good reason why you were unable to inform your School of the
circumstances in advance of the Board of Examiners meeting. The appeal
regulations are designed to correct injustice, not as a means for disappointed
or borderline students to be reconsidered.
The University will not normally permit an appeal by a student until a Board of
Examiners has made a decision with regard to a student's progression or
award. Students may however, appeal against a failed module or placement
mark prior to that module being formally considered by a Board of Examiners
or by the Research Degrees Committee, where that failure prevents them from
progressing within their award.
All Academic appeals for the Faculty of Life Sciences should be submitted to
[email protected]. Where it is not possible to submit an appeal
online, a hard copy may be handed in to Richmond C21, addressed to SLS
Appeals. An emailed receipt will be issued on acceptance of the appeal.
For information regarding making complaints please visit the Complaints
section of the University website.
5.
Programme Monitoring and Enhancement
5.1
External Examiners
Professor Barry Lygo, University of Nottingham
Professor Paul Pringle, University of Bristol
Professor Gareth Morris, University of Manchester
Professor Robert Forest, Office of H.M. Coroner, Lincolnshire
5.2
External Examiner Feedback
Professor Gareth Morris stated in his report that: “Both the new commitment to
seeking RSC accreditation, and the current revision of Chemistry-related degree
programmes and modules, are greatly to be welcomed. With buoyant student
recruitment nationally to Chemistry, there is a real opportunity to build a
stronger and more sustainable degree programmes.” – new courses have been
launched.
Professor Robert Forest noted: “It is very apparent that students receive little
preparation in statistics, beyond the very basics. A basic knowledge of statistics
and metrology is becoming increasingly important to forensic scientists.” – the
teaching of statistics has been incorporated into the stage 1 laboratory course.
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Professor Robert Forest suggested: “One small thing that would be useful would
be the provision of a Word template for use in preparing dissertations.”
The 2015/16 External Examiner Reports will be available to read on the
Academic Quality and Partnerships Office. (You will need to use your University
email password to access this.)
5.3
Enhancements to the Programme
Enhancements made to the programme for this academic year based on
feedback include:
Stage 1 of the chemistry courses at Bradford are new for the 2016/17 academic
session. The new courses have been designed to provide an improved student
experience.
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Laboratory time has been increased so that all students spend at least one day a
week conducting practical work.
The adoption of 20 credit linked modules will allow for students to gauge their
performance at the ’mid-term’ assessment and seek advice to correct any
deficiencies or improve their performance before the final exam.
Key employability skills have been further developed and embedded in the
curriculum.
The course now includes ‘elective’ modules, allowing students to focus their
studies in a particular direction or to broaden their academic horizons by taking
a module from a different faculty.
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