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Bulletin

Senate approves proposals for minor changes to the structure of the academic year

Following consultation with staff and students over the autumn and spring terms, the University's Senate has approved proposals for minor changes to the structure of the academic year, which will be implemented from 2015-16.

The structure of the 2014-15 academic year is unchanged, reflecting the extensive planning already undertaken by schools and professionals services, but there will be small but significant changes to the academic calendar from 2015-16 onwards, principally to improve the balance between teaching and assessment. 

The three key points of the changes in the structure of the year compared to current practice are:

  • A three-day private study period (Monday-Wednesday) for students prior to scheduled unseen exams in the formal mid-year and end-of-year assessment periods;
  • A one-week break between the end of the first period of assessment and the second term of teaching to allow staff time to mark and provide feedback earlier in the spring term; and
  • A two-week Easter vacation that is aligned with the calendar Easter to ensure a better fit with local school holidays. 

The pattern of two 12-week teaching terms is maintained, though with the Easter two-week vacation providing a natural break at some point in the second term. 

The changes were recommended to Senate (the University’s academic body) after consultation with staff and students.

Commenting on the changes, Professor Clare Mackie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), said: “These adjustments will better meet the needs of staff and students, giving an opportunity for timely feedback from assessment at the start of the second teaching period in the spring. 

“And they allow students to be offered opportunities to engage with academic societies and to attend careers events in the week between assessments finishing and teaching starting. 

“While it is never possible to satisfy everyone, we think these changes match good pedagogic practice. 

“Of course, we will keep the academic year structure under review.” 

 

Questions and answers

Why does this have to wait until 2015-16?

Changing the academic year structure for 2014-15 could well disrupt existing plans for student study abroad, field trips and conferences, so giving a year's notice makes sense.

 

What day does teaching start?

Teaching weeks will start on a Monday (scheduled to be 21 September 2015 for the autumn term and 1 February 2016 for the spring term).

 

Does this change the amount of teaching weeks?

No. There will still be 24 weeks of teaching, made up of two 12-week teaching terms, and 39 weeks of contact between students and the University (and so no change to residential contracts).

 

When will the exams take place?

In 2016 the first assessment period is scheduled to begin on Thursday 7 January 2016. The second assessment period is scheduled to begin on Thursday 12 May 2016.

Summary of consultation results

Consultation results from schools

 

Schools’ teaching and learning committees were asked:

 

1. Should there be a student study week before exams?

Four schools said yes, four schools said no, three schools had some other response or did not specifically consider this question.

The decision was to allow three days of private study (Monday-Wednesday) prior to formal assessment periods.

 

2. Should there be a one-week or two-week break between terms?

Eight schools supported a one-week break, one supported a two-week break and two gave some other answer or did not specifically consider this question.

The decision was to allow a one-week break for marking and to run a parallel programme to engage in academic societies and careers events.

 

3. Should there be a University-mandated ‘reading week’ in the autumn term or should this be at the discretion of schools?

Five schools said it should be at the discretion of schools, one said it should be mandated by the University, and five gave some other answer or did not specifically consider this question.

The decision was to empower individual schools to use the 12-week term to pace delivery which may include: reading weeks; consolidation weeks; feedback weeks or any other design.

 

4. What was the preferred length of the Easter vacation?

Four schools opted for two weeks, four schools opted for three weeks, one school opted for four weeks and two schools gave some other form of answer or did not specifically consider this question.

The decision was to allow for two weeks as this kept the residential contracts to 39 weeks.

 

Consultation results from students

 

Students were asked if they preferred the current, 39-week, academic year (2013-14) or a new 40-week model.

 

A total of 339 students (about 3%) of the student body answered this question. Approximately 47% said they “much” preferred the current model, 15% said they “slightly” preferred the current model, 20% “slightly” preferred the proposed model and 16% “much” preferred the proposed model. A further 3% said they had no opinion.

It was decided in response to student feedback to abandon the 40-week proposal and return to 39 weeks.