Terms of Reference:

To disseminate information, encourage discussion on issues of common interest and take soundings on proposed University policies. Senate has agreed that School meetings are an appropriate formal forum for discussing strategic and academic plans. Positions agreed or views presented at such meetings will not be binding on Heads of Schools and School Meetings will be advisory to Heads of Schools rather than formal committees of the University. However, Heads of Schools may decide to communicate the outcomes of School Meetings to Senate or other University committees.

Composition: Head of School (Chair); All academic and Professional Services staff in the School; All School Student Representatives in the School.

Terms of Reference:

1. to approve the School Teaching and Learning Strategy and associated operational plans for recommendation to Teaching and Learning Committee and to monitor progress towards achieving objectives;
2. having reviewed reports and assessments of quality in teaching and learning in the School, including peer observation of teaching, and having responded appropriately, to approve an aggregate annual report, incorporating recommended changes of policy and noting any aspects of good practice;
3. having reviewed reports from departments on all aspects of student performance with particular attention to issues of equality and diversity, and having responded appropriately to departments, to report to the Teaching and Learning Committee, incorporating recommended changes of policy and noting any aspects of good practice;
4. having reviewed annually enrolment data for all taught programmes and courses, and having noted in particular the programmes and courses recruiting/enrolling below threshold, to oversee the quality assurance of School decisions with respect to withdrawal, suspension
5. or continuation, and to report these decisions to the Teaching and Learning Committee;
6. to recommend to Academic Programmes and Regulations Committee changes in title of programmes or the introduction of alternative modes of study;
7. to approve, in accordance with procedures laid down by Teaching and Learning Committee, changes to existing courses and minor changes to programmes and report these to Academic Programmes and Regulations Committee;
8. to approve annually the membership of examinations boards within the School;
9. to ratify pass lists from all programmes owned by the School;
10. to approve action plans arising from external examiner reports; to recommend nominations for external examiners within the School;
11. to recommend to Academic Programmes and Regulations Committee amendments to assessment regulations and procedures;
12. to approve Periodic Subject Review action plans and to ensure their implementation;
13. to advise the Head of School on all matters relating to Teaching and Learning as they affect the annual planning round;
14. to report to Teaching and Learning Committee University-wide matters arising from reports from External Examiners, Periodic Subject Review and annual monitoring of courses.

The Committee may delegate to its Chair, or any other member of staff, for the purpose of implementing policy in accordance with Statute XVI.3, powers and functions that it is itself competent to perform.

Composition:  Director of Taught Programmes (Chair); Head of School; Director of Student Support; Heads of Departments within the School (or, in single-Department Schools, two members of academic faculty drawn from across the School appointed by the Director of Taught Programmes following consultation with the Head of School); One undergraduate School Student Representative; One postgraduate taught School Student Representative.

Reports to:  Teaching and Learning Committee and Academic Programmes and Regulations Committee.

Terms of Reference:

(a) to discuss matters related to the student experience in the School including:

1.     feedback from Student Representatives;
2.     issues for information or consultation referred by the Head of School or other School Officers;
3.     informal complaints or concerns that can be resolved locally;

(b) to refer relevant issues to:

1.      School Management Team;
2.      School Teaching and Learning Committee;
3.      Student Experience Forum.

Composition: Director of Student Support (Chair); Director of Taught Programmes; Director of Doctoral Studies; Head of School; Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange; School Administrator; All Student Representatives in the School.

In attendance: Head of Student Support and Experience (or nominee).

Reports to:  School Teaching and Learning Committee and Student Experience Forum.

Terms of Reference:

To discuss matters relevant to the Department including all aspects of academic work.

Composition:  Head of Department (Chair); All members of staff associated with the relevant Department; All Department Student Representatives in the Department.

Key Role: The School Research Committee will support the Head of School and Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange in formulating and implementing the School Research Strategy, promote a strong research and knowledge exchange culture and ethos across the School, review the progress of Departments/Groups and individuals in the context of the School Research Strategy and develop activities that enhance research.

Terms of Reference:

1. to agree the School Research Strategy for approval by Research Committee;
2. to monitor School progress against the parameters set out by Research Committee;
3. to receive and approve Department research strategies;
4. to receive regular reports from each Department research committee (where it exists) about progress against the Department strategy;
5. to facilitate interaction between Departments and Schools to promote interdisciplinary research;
6. to manage the School’s engagement with key funding initiatives;
7. to promote and exchange best practice in relation to the enhancement and management and conduct of research and knowledge exchange activities.

Composition:  Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange (Chair); A representative cross-section of staff from the School, this encompassing the range of research groups / themes / activities pursued by individuals and a range of experience.

In attendance: Director of Research and Enterprise (or nominee).

Reports to:  Research Committee.

Terms of Reference:

1. to determine arrangements for selection, admission and induction of research degree students in accordance with the requirements of Doctoral School Committee;
2. to consider and monitor the delivery of provision for postgraduate research students and postdoctoral staff within the School (in accordance with the requirements of Doctoral School Committee);
3. to determine and monitor arrangements for training and support for postgraduate research student and postdoctoral research staff in accordance with requirements of the Research Councils and the Doctoral School Committee;
4. to monitor the outcomes of the annual review of progress for postgraduate research students, taking action as appropriate and to submit a report to Doctoral School Committee;
5. to monitor (against targets) the performance of Departments in terms of admission, progression, granting extensions to, and completion rates of, research degree students;
6. to consider arrangements for the appointment of supervisors in accordance with national requirements and those of Doctoral School Committee;
7. to recommend changes to University policies and procedures governing research degree and professional doctorate programmes
8. to consider arrangements for the management of research students acting as Associate Tutors;

Composition:  Director of Doctoral Studies (Chair); Heads of Departments (or nominees; or, in single-Department Schools, two members of academic faculty with substantial experience of postgraduate and/or postdoctoral research supervision appointed by the Director of Doctoral Studies following consultation with the Head of School); At least one postgraduate research

School Student Representative; At least one Postdoctoral Researcher.

In attendance: School Administrator (or nominee).

Reports to:  Doctoral School Committee.

Terms of Reference:

1. in accordance with University regulations, to permit a student temporarily to interrupt his or her studies, and determine the conditions for return in line with University procedures;
2. in accordance with University regulations, to require that a student discontinue his or her registration, either temporarily or permanently;
3. to submit a termly statistical report on temporary and permanent withdrawals determined under (a) and (b) above to the School Teaching and Learning Committee;
4. to receive reports from the Director of Student Support on the status of all students who have been permitted or required to temporarily interrupt their studies;
5. to refer, as appropriate, issues relating to student welfare and the student experience which require School or university attention.

Composition:  Director of Student Support (Chair); Director of Taught Programmes; Director of Doctoral Studies; Heads of Departments (or nominees); One Student Advisor from within the School Professional Services Team.

In attendance: Head of Student Support and Experience (or nominee)

 Arts Cluster (covering the School of English, the School of History, Art History and Philosophy and the School of Media, Film and Music).

Terms of Reference:

1. to determine outcomes in relation to lateness penalties, condoned absence/non-submission and to relate those decisions very specifically to the student’s assessment details;
2. to report on a termly basis, to the Student Progress and Assessment Office, a summary of cases dealt with which should comprise:

• proportions of cases condoned/not condoned
• any emerging issues of ‘case law’ or matters of principle or process that need to be shared
• to advise Subject Examination Boards in relation to cases of general impairment within protocols developed by the Academic Programmes and Regulations Committee
• to delegate authority to the Directors of Student Support to make immediate decisions and give reassurances to students presenting very clear-cut cases of specific mitigation.

Composition:  Relevant Directors of Student Support (the Chairing of meetings will rotate, either within or across meetings, as operationally appropriate).

In attendance: Student Advisor(s) from the relevant School Professional Services Team; Curriculum and Assessment Administrator(s) from the relevant School Professional Services Team.

There will be three Cluster-Based Academic Promotion Boards, HAHP will be within the Arts Cluster.

Terms of Reference:

(a) to approve promotions from Grade A Lectureships to Grade B Lectureships and from Grade B Lectureships to Senior Lectureships (and their research equivalents) in accordance with the criteria described in the document on career progress;

(b) to make recommendations to the Academic Promotions, Advancements and Titles Committee on the award of the title of Reader, in accordance with the criteria described in the document on career progress, when also considering that same individual for promotion to a Senior Lectureship.

Each Board will meet annually.

Composition:  The relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Chair); The relevant Heads of Schools within the Cluster; One member from each School within the Cluster, at Senior Lecturer level (and its research equivalent) or above, elected by the entire academic staff of the School, each serving for three years; One other Pro-Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Chair; One member from one of the other Academic Promotion Boards appointed by the Chair.

In attendance: Human Resources representatives as required, one of whom will act as Secretary to the Board.

If no nominations are forthcoming for an elected place on the Committee, the Chair may appoint an appropriate individual meeting the criteria. The Chair may co-opt other academic members to the Board in order to redress gender imbalances in the membership at any time.

Reports to:  Academic Promotions, Advancements and Titles Committee.

The provisions made for health, safety and environment matters will vary from School to School depending on the School’s structure and the hazards and risks associated with its activities. For some Schools these matters may be handled outside of the following formal committee arrangements.

Terms of Reference:  To advise the Head of School on all relevant matters relating to safety, health and environment.

Composition:  The composition of the committee will vary with the structure of each School but should be modelled on the following composition: Head of School (or nominee); School Health and Safety Advisor; Director of Health and Safety (or nominee); Trade Union Representatives; Heads of Departments (or nominees) as appropriate.

Reports to:  Health, Safety and Environment Committee.