E1 Student Participation Policy
Definitions
This policy uses the following definitions:
a. Attendance: The activity of physically attending timetabled taught sessions. Physical attendance is required for both on campus and virtual sessions.
b. Engagement: The activity of engaging in the full range of academic sessions, active use of online study materials and related opportunities to achieve the individual’s full potential, both in—person and virtually.
c. Participation: Measurable activity across a. and b. as applicable to the student and their programme, to have a reasonable chance of success in assessments for credit.
d. Timetabled taught sessions means lecture, tutorial, seminar, lab, workshop or studio-based.
E1.1 The University expects:
(i) Full-time undergraduate students to undertake a minimum of 120 credits in each full academic year. Students who are temporarily part-time to recover credit deficits may enrol on a maximum of 80 credits in each full academic year.
(ii) Part-time undergraduate students, who are not temporarily part-time to recover credit deficits, may enrol on a maximum of 80 credits in each full academic year, except where the programme is validated and approved for delivery of more than 80 credits.
(iii) Full-time postgraduate students to undertake a minimum of 180 credits in each full academic year (or the programme duration).
(iv) Part-time postgraduate students may enrol on a minimum of 20 credits and a maximum of 60 credits towards a stage award.
E1.2 The University expects all students who have enrolled on a module to participate fully in the learning activities associated with each module and to undertake all components of assessment attached to it. The students’ completion of the enrolment and confirmation process includes a commitment to the following Participation Contract:
“I undertake to participate fully in those activities which are described in each module as essential and I will inform the Module Leader if circumstances oblige me to miss any of these activities. I recognise that failure to participate adequately in these essential activities may lead to termination of my enrolment on my programme of study. I understand that I will be invited to explain my failure to participate before termination of enrolment on the programme occurs and failure to engage in this process will be considered to be withdrawal.”
E1.3.1 The University will monitor engagement at taught sessions from the first week of teaching and will undertake to contact students whose failure to participate without agreement or approval gives cause for concern. Taught sessions can be lecture, tutorial, seminar, lab, workshop or studio-based. The contact made constitutes the invitation to explain failure to participate before termination on the programme occurs.
E1.3.2 The University will monitor engagement with on line modules through the virtual learning environment from the first week of delivery and will undertake to contact students whose failure to participate without agreement or approval gives cause for concern. The contact made constitutes the invitation to explain failure to participate before termination on the programme occurs.
E1.4 The participation contract will be considered as breached in any of the following circumstances, unless the student has negotiated alternative acceptable arrangements with the Module Leader(s) or programme leader.
(i) For on-campus students: the student has missed any 3 weeks of taught sessions for one module, either consecutively or intermittently. Or has failed to meet the attendance requirements specifically described in the module details provided to students without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. The student will be given one week to confirm their intention to continue studying on the module and to plan remedial action for recovering the missed learning with the module leader and/or programme leader or their representative.
(ii) For on-campus students: the student has missed 3 or more weeks of timetabled taught sessions for more than one module within a semester without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. The student will be issued with a notice of withdrawal and given 14 days (W14) to respond or take appropriate action. If there is a nil response, or a negative response, the student’s enrolment on the programme will be terminated. A record of the termination and the reason for it will be held on the student record.
(iii) For online students: failure to meet the participation requirements with the virtual learning environment for one module without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. The student will be given one week to confirm their intention to continue studying on the module and to plan remedial action for recovering the missed learning with the module leader and/or programme leader or their representative.
(iv) For online students: failure to meet the engagement requirements with the virtual learning environment for more than one module within a semester without good cause or approved extenuating circumstances. The student will be issued with a notice of withdrawal and given 14 days (W14) to respond or take appropriate action. If there is a nil response, or a negative response, the student’s enrolment on the programme will be terminated. A record of the termination and the reason for it will be held on the student record.
(v) Students Studying on a ‘Student Visa’, on a programme below degree level: Failure to maintain a minimum attendance of 70% for three consecutive months could result in a W14 being issued unless there are exceptional and evidenced reasons to support any absence.
E1.5 The University has a duty to comply with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Sponsor requirements for the monitoring of students studying on a ‘Student Visa’. Attendance Monitoring will be inline with this policy in addition to any other requirements of a Student Visa. Students on a Student Visa will be contacted by an Officer within the International Student Compliance team if there are concerns around engagement or attendance. Students must comply with any action required of them or they may be sent a W14.
E1.6 Students are expected to adhere to the University’s Student Code of Conduct, and to the Code of Conduct of the Professional Body validating their programme where appropriate. The Disciplinary Procedure and Professional Conduct and Professional Suitability Procedure will be followed where students fail to comply with the appropriate Codes of Conduct.