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Undergraduat e Student Handbook 2009/10 UG Student Handbook Oct 2009 1
Transcript of business-school.exeter.ac.ukbusiness-school.exeter.ac.uk/documents/handbooks/... · Web viewLevel 2...
Undergraduate Student
Handbook
2009/10
UG Student Handbook Oct 20091
CONTENTS
WHO DOES WHAT 3KEY INFORMATION AT A GLANCE 5TERMS AND SEMESTERS 2009/10 7POINTS BASED SYSTEM 8YOUR DEGREE 9EMPLOYABILITY 12CHANGING YOUR DEGREE, INTERRPTING OR WITHDRAWING 16SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS 17TIMETABLE 20LECTURES, TUTORIALS, CLASSES, PRIVATE STUDY 23ASSESSMENT 24MARKING CRITERIA 28CONDONABLE AND UNCONDONABLE MODULE INFORMATION 29CHEATING 31COMPLAINTS, APPEALS, DISCIPLINE 33IF YOU ARE ILL 35FEEDBACK 37BUSINESS SCHOOL CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE 38HEALTH AND SAFETY 44DATA PROTECTION POLICY 45REFERENCES AND TRANSCRIPTS 46RETAINING LECTURE NOTES AND EXAM PAPERS 47ESSAY WRITING – A GUIDE 48LINKS TO OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES 52
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WHO DOES WHAT
Professor David BougheyPlease contact Student Services to arrange an appoint with Professor Boughey
Director of EducationResponsible for the delivery of all taught programmes.
Undergraduate Student Services [email protected]
Open Monday – Friday, 9.30-4.30.
This team deals with all academic processes and enquiries, including:
Student queries Collecting/disseminating
coursework/feedback Monitoring attendance Exam administration Mitigation administration
If you are unsure of something, which is not in the handbook, please come to the Student Services Centre who will be happy to help.
Mrs Anne Mayes [email protected]
Mr Mike [email protected]
Director of ERASMUS programme
Admissions and ERASMUS/International Study secretaryContact them for advice and support for “With International Study” and ERASMUS students, both incoming and outgoing.
Rachel [email protected]
Employability OfficerContact if you want any help with improving your employability skills, or want any employability advice.
Juliette [email protected]
Senior Teaching FellowContact if- you want to change your degree
programme- you have a serious issue with
your studies that cannot be resolved by your Personal Tutor.
-
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Claire [email protected]
Disability OfficerContact if you need to discuss your Learning Plan, or need a signature on a form requesting IT or other support
Personal Tutors
Gary [email protected]
Jackie [email protected]
Carlos [email protected]
Jonquil [email protected]
Alex [email protected]
Elizabeth [email protected]
Aurel [email protected]
Claire [email protected]
Jack [email protected]
Sarah RoseTBC
Jenny [email protected]
Alexandra (Sandy) [email protected]
You will be assigned a Personal Tutor who you can contact if you have any issues which cannot be dealt with by Student Services
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KEY INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
Opening hours
The Business School is housed in Streatham Court which is open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. The open access computer room, Room 116, is open at all hours but you will need your University card to get in.
There are maps at the end of this handbook.
The Student Services Centre
Located in Streatham Court, at the end of the Lecture Theatre Corridor.
The centre is open to students between 9.30 am – 4.30 pm, Mondays to Fridays.
E-mail: [email protected]: 01392 725611
Noticeboards
Student noticeboards are situated along the Lecture Theatre Corridor: notices concerning your academic work will be placed on these noticeboards. You must check them frequently.
Business School Internal Website
http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/
Student Services uses this website for forms and information and you will directed to this site regularly. You will find it useful to spend some time exploring this site as there is a lot of information that you will need here.
Internal mail for undergraduates will be placed in the mailboxes near Streatham Court Lecture Theatre D. These boxes are cleared at the end of every term, so please check them frequently. The internal mail service is reserved for university or departmental business: please give your family and other correspondents your residential address, not the School’s.
You will be registered with a University e-mail address. All University business must be carried out using this. We will not reply to messages from your private e-mail address (eg hotmail), and you must check your University email frequently as this will be the main form of contact that Student Services will use.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones must be turned off while you are in lectures or tutorials. They should also be switched off on entering the School, and remain switched off while you are in the building.
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Photocopying
Your University card will enable you to use photocopiers at various locations throughout the University. In addition you can purchase EMOS cards from room 102 which will enable you to use the Xerox machine near Room 37. The card will cost you an initial £1 plus £5 for 125 copies (4p per copy). The card can be re-charged, and the £1 will be refunded whenever you choose to return it, but unused credit will not be returned.
Lost Property
Articles lost in Streatham Court will be handed in to the Porter located in the Student Services Centre.
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TERMS AND SEMESTERS 2009/10
Terms
The academic year is divided into two 11-week terms and one 7-week term (summer term). You are expected to be in Exeter throughout these times.
Autumn Term: Mon 5 October – Fri 18 DecemberSpring Term: Mon 11 January – Thu 1 AprilSummer Term: Mon 3 May – Fri 18 June
Semesters
Teaching is organised into two 11-week semesters, with an assessment period at the end of each.
Semester 1 Mon 5 October – Fri 18 DecemberAssessment Mon 11 January – Sat 16 January
Semester 2 Mon 11 January – Thu 1 AprilAssessment Mon 10 May – Sat 12 June
Referred Assessment Dates will be supplied in the Examinations Handbook available in the Autumn Term. Please do not book any holidays over the summer until you have received confirmation that you do not have any retakes.
Conferment of Degrees
Degree Day will fall during the week beginning 12 July, 2010 (This date is provisional). We will not know the actual day till January or February, although the likelihood is that it will be the Thursday, as in previous years.
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POINTS BASED SYSTEM
Students' attention is drawn to the attendance section of the University's Regulations as contained in the Calendar (www.ex.ac.uk/calendar). All students must be in attendance as appropriate to their programme of study and should not be absent from classes or other assigned academic activities without prior permission. International students, should note that attendance monitoring is now a statutory requirement of the Points Based visa system and unauthorised absence from 10 compulsory academic activities will be reported to the UK Border Agency and will result in termination of your student visa.
More information regarding the specific activities counted towards the Points Based system will be communicated in the Autumn Term.
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YOUR DEGREE
The University of Exeter Business School aims to provide you with an education which will give you competence in your chosen discipline and which will encourage you to develop your intellectual capabilities across a range of areas of accounting, economics, management and leadership.
The different degree programmes seek to deliver a progressively deeper understanding of the core subjects, together with a range of electives that caters for a variety of student interests and skills. In many cases you will, if you wish, have the opportunity to take modules from other schools.
Undergraduates take 120 credits in each year of their programme (modules are either 15 or 30 credits), in a combination of compulsory, elective and optional modules.
It is important that when you submit your module choices to Student Services that you have noted all your modules and noted when they will be taught. You cannot change your compulsory modules, but will be given advice about whether you can change an optional module after you have submitted your registration form. It is important that you check that you have been registered for all the compulsory modules as per your programme specification and that you have been registered for the optional modules which you chose. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have been registered correctly.
Level 1 modules focus on the introduction and development of basic skills and concepts relevant to each programme. Level 2 modules typically build on this foundation, introducing more advanced technical material. Level 3 modules generally offer students the opportunity to extend their studies in areas of particular interest at a more advanced level. The amount of choice available varies according to the programme. Programme specifications, which detail the structure of the programme, its aims, learning and teaching methods, etc, are displayed at http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/.
Programme specifications, which set out in detail the aims of each programme and list the modules you need to take, are available on the School’s website, http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/specifications.php.
When you start a new module, you will be given or referred to a module specification (or ‘descriptor’) which will set out in detail the aims and learning outcomes of that module, plus a description of how it will be assessed. Module descriptors can be accessed at http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/modules.php.
In the spring term, students in the first and second year will be asked to make a preliminary selection of their modules for the following year. Information will be available to assist this process.
‘With European Study’ (wes) Degrees (ERASMUS scheme)
Students who did not register for a degree ‘with European Study’ may change their mind and transfer to the 4-year programme during their first year. Students should make an appointment to see Mrs Anne Mayes, the Director of European Studies, to discuss transferring (email [email protected]).
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During the year, there will be information on current partner institutions, visits by staff from other Universities, lists of returning students and lists of incoming ERASMUS students. Mike Robertson will be able to let you have their contact addresses, see the list outside Room 104, or you can read the reports of returning students on our website. http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/european_study/student_guides_index.php
Students spend their 3rd year in Europe studying at one of our many partner universites – see website – or part study part approved work placement, or full year work placement. This year does count towards your degree and, apart from being hugely enjoyable, is very helpful for employability.
If you are considering taking the wes degree then you should investigate the appropriate language modules at the Foreign Language Centre (FLC). Some programmes have room to take languages in both years one and two, but ALL allow you to take 30 credits in year 2. Some of our partners teach entirely in English, some offer some courses in English.
UK/EU students do not pay fees for this year and receive a grant in addition to any other loans/grants. International students pay half the Home fee but are not eligible for the European grant.
With International Study (wis) Degrees
These again take place in year 3 and students can choose to apply once here. There is a requirement to achieve an average of 60% in the year 1 exams in order to proceed with the application. There is no guaranteed grant but some Scholarships may be available. Fees are charged at half the home fees rate for all students. Students will study for the year at one of our partner universities taking exams that will count towards their final degree. Opportunities for part work may well be limited because of visa problems. We currently have partners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and the USA but are expanding links all the time. The School website has the details. All courses will be taught in English but students contemplating studying in a non English speaking country may like to investigate taking the appropriate language at the Foreign Language Centre (FLC) as part of their 120 credits (where there is room). ALL students can take 30 credits of language in year 2. We have our first cohort of students out this year - in Canada and New Zealand - and they will be able to report on their experiences.Further details from Anne Mayes (104) or Anne Worth International Office, Laver Building.
‘With Industrial Experience’ (wie) Degrees
Our ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes involve a placement in business or industry for the duration of the third year and are open to students entering the first year of any programme of study in the Business School in 2009-2010 apart from the BSc in IT Management for Business. The placement will give students the opportunity to put into practice some of the things they will have learned in the first two years and to enter their final year with the insights of their practical experience in the field.
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All students who are registered on the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes must complete a compulsory placement preparation module. This compulsory module starts during the summer term of the first year of study and continues throughout the second year.
For more information about the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes please contact the Business School Employability Team for an appointment: [email protected]
Work Placements
Current second year students are able to undertake an approved work placement between their second and final years of study. Although, unlike those on the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes, these 12 month placements will not form a formal part of the degree programme, we will offer advice and support to any current second year student who wishes to pursue this opportunity. For more information about this option please contact the Business School Employability Team for an appointment: [email protected]
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EMPLOYABILITY
Attaining a good degree classification from a highly-regarded university will give you an advantage when job seeking but, as the global graduate job market remains extremely competitive, you will need to stand out from the crowd to attract the attention of employers.
The University of Exeter and the Business School are committed to ensuring that you receive both a top class university education and are as well-prepared as possible for entering the job market. We are proud of the track record of our graduates who have gone on to rewarding and interesting careers and are dedicated to helping our current and future students emulate these successes.
Through our commitment to the employability of our students you will have the chance to develop skills, understanding and personal attributes that are sought after by employers and that will allow you to settle quickly into working life.
University of Exeter Business School Employability Team
The Business School has a dedicated Employability Team, whose focus from day one of your first year is to work on promoting and enhancing your employability. The Employability Team is involved in developing close links with employers; liaising with employers regarding programme design and development to ensure that our programmes and modules equip you with skills that employers value most highly; coordinating work placements; arranging careers events; and ensuring that you are able to take full advantage of the careers and employability advice and guidance available at the University. The Business School Employability Officer, Dr Rachel Torr, and Work Placement Coordinator, Jenny Phillips are based in Room 2 Streatham Court. Enquires can be made in person, during their office hours, which are listed on their office door and advertised in the weekly ‘Business School Employability What’s On?’ emails, or via email: [email protected]. In addition, Business School Employability information can be found on the Business School webpages: http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/employability/events/ and on the Business School Employability site on web-ct.
Rachel and Jenny work closely with colleagues in the University of Exeter Careers & Employment Service and information about the employability services that are offered to all University of Exeter students can be found on the University of Exeter Employability website: www.exeter.ac.uk/employability
Modules That Foster Employability
All programmes within the School will enhance your employability. Modules involve a mix of subject-specific and generic skills, all of which will be of interest to future employers. In addition, we offer a number of modules which look specifically at enhancing transferable skills, which any student can take subject to the number of ‘free’ credits on the programme. These modules are advertised on the University of Exeter Employability website: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/students/employability_modules.shtml
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School Employability Events
Throughout the year there are a number of School-specific employability eventsorganised for you. These are primarily delivered by top graduate employers, but are also supported by experienced careers advisors at the University. Over the past year events have included mock interview sessions, preparing for psychometric testing, writing CVs and covering letters, and industry specific sessions led by experienced professionals from a variety of sectors. You will be encouraged to attend as many of these events as possible to develop the jobhunting skills that you will require for the graduate market.
A full programme of School-specific Employability events can be found on the University of Exeter Business School webpages: http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/employability/events/ and in the ‘Careers Events’ section of the Business School Employability site on web-ct.
You will need to register in advance for School-based group workshops via the events database on the University of Exeter Employability website: www.exeter.ac.uk/empoyability/events . Events that are specifically organised by the Business School Employability Team for Business School students start with the words ‘Business School Students Only’
The School-specific employability events are in addition to the large range of workshops, presentations and fairs that are organised by the University of Exeter Careers & Employment Service and open to all University of Exeter students. These University-wide events are also listed on the events database on the University of Exeter Employability website: www.exeter.ac.uk/empoyability/events
Careers Clinics are held in the Business School with a University of Exeter Careers Advisor on a regular basis. These twenty minute, 1-2-1, appointments are advertised on the Business School Employability events programme and must be booked in advance in person at Student Services Reception in Streatham Court. To book an appointment with a University Careers Adviser in Reed Mews at any other time call (01392) 264493
The Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award
The Exeter Award is the University’s scheme to allow you to record and receive recognition for the activities you undertake away from your studies. These can include: attendance at employability sessions run by the School or the University’s Careers & Employment Service; sporting or cultural activities; and engagement in work experience or voluntary work. You can also go on to complete the Exeter Leaders Awards which focuses on leadership and outstanding achievement. Visit www.exeter.ac.uk/exeteraward and www.exeter.ac.uk/exeterleadersaward for details.
Business Competitions
All students of the Business School are encouraged to participate in nationally recognised business competitions as well as competitions that have been developed and sponsored by businesses specifically for the School. The School is a strong supporter of the national IBM Universities Business Challenge(UBC: www.universitiesbusinesschallenge.com); we are proud that the University of Exeter has been represented in the final of this competition for the last four years. The School has entered 18 teams for the 2009-2010 IBM Universities Business
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Challenge. Each team is made up of 4 or 5 second or final year undergraduate students.
Part-Time Work and Work Placements
As well as having the opportunity to attend events and activities within the Business School, you will be supported to find and gain practical work experience that is highly valued by employers and that will give you a competitive edge in the graduate job market.
Part-time work opportunities are advertised on Campus via The Works. The Works is run by the Student Guild and you can visit the office in person, in Devonshire House, or browse opportunities online: www.exeterguild.org/jobshop/. The University recommends that students do not undertake more than 15 hours paid work per week during term time so as not to be detrimental to your studies. The Good Practice Guidelines for undergraduate students undertaking paid employment during term time can be found at: www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/students/documents/GuidelinesFinalversion.pdf
Students entering the first year of their degree in 2009-2010 can enhance their employability through the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes, which will enable them to spend a year in approved vocational employment between the second and final years of their programme; see ‘Your Degree’ for further information.
Current second year students are able to undertake an approved work placement between their second and final years of study. Although, unlike those on the ‘with Industrial Experience’ programmes, these 12 month placements will not form a formal part of the degree programme, we will offer advice and support to any current second year student who wishes to pursue this opportunity in their third year. For more information about this option please contact the Business School Employability Team for an appointment: [email protected]
For students not undertaking a 12 month placement there are opportunities over the summer vacations to undertake 8-10 week placements with firms, allowing you to find out about work in a particular industry. Students who undertake a summer placement at the end of their penultimate year of study may be able to make use of it in the Business Project module (BEM3005) in their final year. Further information about this module can be found at: http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/module.php?id=195
Both summer and 12-month placements often lead to a job offer on graduation. Whichever work experience option you are interested in, you will have help to identify suitable companies and opportunities, make applications and handle interviews. For more information about work placements see the links in the ‘Placements and Internships’ area of the Business School Employability site on web-ct or contact the Business School Employability Team: [email protected].
Employability can also be enhanced by European or international work placements undertaken by many of the students on the ‘with European Study’ or ‘with International Study’ degrees; see ‘Your Degree’ for further information.
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Personal Development Planning
All students entering the Business School will be started on the University’s personal Development Planning (PDP) programme. This process is an important one with links to employability. You will receive full information during the first few weeks of term.
Team Building
All first-year students will enjoy a half-day session of Team-building activities at the start of their first term. You will receive full information during Registration.
Business and Economics at Exeter Graduates Association
The Business and Economics at Exeter Graduates Association was founded in 1990 by a group of graduates of the then Department of Economics. It extends a warm welcome to all graduating students within the school.
During the year BEEGA organises three events for undergraduates: a public lecture at the University each November, normally given by an BEEGA
member who has achieved distinction in his or her field a reception in London in the summer a careers seminar at the University in February, when a number of Exeter
graduates talk about their work and advise students on how to enter their particular field.
All these events will be well publicized in advance.
Employability@Exeter
The University’s Employability Unit has its own excellent website at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/
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CHANGING YOUR PROGRAMME, INTERRUPTING OR WITHDRAWING
Some students find after beginning their degree that it is not what they expected, and that another programme would be more aligned to their interests. Sometimes, students face a period of prolonged illness or personal crisis which means that they cannot study effectively.
Students in these situations may wish to consider
(a) Changing degree programme = transfer to a different degree programme, either within this School or in a different school.
Please note that changing a degree after the first few weeks of term is often not possible, and that there is no automatic right to transfer.
(b) Interruption of study = withdraw for a specified period of time, usually for 12 months, and return to the programme at the point at which you left it.
(c) Withdrawal = withdraw completely from the University. You must obtain a Release Form from the Student Services Centre. The School will provide documentation about your academic achievements to date.
You should see the Senior Teaching Fellow, Ms Juliette Stephenson, if you wish to pursue any of these courses of action.
Changing a Module
See staff in the Student Services Centre if you wish to change a module after you have returned your pink form. They will advise you whether it is possible to make the change you want. It is unlikely that you will be allowed to drop a module and take up a new one after the third week of the semester.
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SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
The University offers many support services for students, and you will receive details of these (for example, Study Skills, the Counselling Service, etc) directly from them. There is also information on the Student information pages athttp://www.ex.ac.uk/students/information/http://www.exeter.ac.uk/newstudents/
PERSONAL SUPPORTThe Personal Tutor System
Every student in the School is allocated to a Personal Tutor for the entire time they are studying at the University. Your personal tutor is a member of the academic staff and in most cases they are part of the Teaching Fellow Team. Your personal tutor is responsible for supervising your overall progress through your degree programme. They may or may not be someone who teaches you.
We have improved and extended our pastoral system. During the first year in the Business School you will be taking BSD1000 Development Module. Over the course of this module you will have regular timetabled group meetings with your personal tutor; the focus will be on a range of issues relating to your personal and professional development.
You can also speak to your tutor confidentially if you need urgent advice on any matter – academic, personal, financial or social. You can consult your personal tutor during the ‘office hours’ posted on his/her office door, or make an appointment outside these hours by arrangement, or contact him/her by e-mail.
It is essential that you should feel comfortable with your personal tutor. However, should you wish to change your Personal Tutor, you should contact the Senior Teaching Fellow, Juliette Stephenson.Mrs Anne Mayes acts as Personal Tutor to both the incoming ERASMUS students and to the Exeter students during their year aboard under the ERASMUS scheme.
Academic tutors
For each module you take, you will have an academic (also know as module) tutor. This will be either the lecturer or, in the case of a large cohort of students, one of a team of tutors.
If you experience difficulties with a module, your first action must be to discuss them with your academic tutor. You may not be alone in finding something difficult and it is helpful, indeed essential, to let the tutor know that there is a problem.
If the tutor is unable to resolve your concerns, then you should take them to the Module Leader (assuming that is a different person) – the module outline will tell you who this is. If you are still not happy, you should speak to the Director of Education. You can also ask your representatives on Teaching Committee and Student-Staff Liaison Committee if they could raise your concerns. If you are unsure, please come to Student Services and we will be able to help.
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Please note, your Module Tutor who will run your tutorial is different from your Personal Tutor who will deal with pastoral issues and run pastoral/personal tutor sessions.
Students with Additional Needs
Students registering a disability (including dyslexia) with the University will already have been made aware of the University’s Disability Resource Centre and what it can do for you – see http://www.ex.ac.uk/disability/The School’s Disability Officer is Claire Lavers ([email protected]). She is responsible for ensuring that Learning Plans are implemented within the School, and for signing forms requesting additional IT or financial support.Arrangements made by the University to support students with Additional Needs are carried forward from one year to the next, so you do not need to reapply.
ON-LINE SUPPORT
Once you have your University IT registration, you should begin to explore these facilities to see what is available.
The School website
Contains all you need to know about the School, its staff, its programmes and modules. http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/
The Internal Website will be used by Student Services as the main electronic source of information. You will generally be directed here in the first instance, so it would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with this site. http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/
WebCT
Some teaching staff support their modules with on-line materials; you will be able to log on through the student portal.
SRS (Student Records System)www.srs.ex.ac.uk
The University’s Student Records System contains not only the personal details that you have typed in but also details of your programme and the modules you are taking. With this information, there are a number of services which you can access yourself at the appropriate time of the year. Remember to update your personal details at any time during the year if they change.
Using SRS, you will be able to see and print off for yourself:
Your examination timetable Your examinations results Interim transcripts, showing the list of modules you have taken, and the marks
received, so far.
Other facilities available through SRS are: View your timetable
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Access online payment facilities Edit your contact information and other personal details View your candidate number Request a bank, council tax or student status letter Change your IT Services password Give permission to release specific data to named individuals Access your module enrolment form
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TIMETABLE
When you arrive
You will be issued with a programme timetable which shows all the compulsory lectures for your programme and an additional timetable which will show all modules, so that you can see when the optional modules are running.
It is your responsibility to ensure that if you choose a 30 credit optional module (if your programme allows) that this does not clash with any semester 2 compulsory modules.
The timetable weeks start in August, so below you will see the semester weeks:
Semester 1Weeks 10 – 20Lectures start week 10Tutorials start week 11
Semester 2Weeks 25 – 35Lectures start week 25Tutorials start week 26
During the first couple of weeks of term, a lot of changes are made to the timetable. You will be contacted if there are changes to lecture times/rooms. We may not always be able to contact you if there are changes to tutorials so you must check your timetable every morning before leaving home.
It is important to note that some classes may not run every week. Please check the weekly timetable to ensure that you attend the correct classes on the correct weeks.
If there are problems with your timetable, or you want to request to change your tutorial group please e-mail Student Services.
The timetable grid is explained below:
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The rooms codes are below:Streatham Campus
Building Code
Building Name
AMO AmoryCLA ClaydenCLY Clydesdale HouseDHS Devonshire HouseGPB Geoffrey Pope
BuildingHAR HarrisonHAL Hatherly LabsIAI IAIS BuildingKAY Kay BuildingKNI KnightleyLAV LaverLIB New LibraryNEW NewmanNHS Northcote HouseOLD Old LibraryPCC Peter Chalk CentrePHY PhysicsQUB QueensRHL Reed HallSTC Streatham CourtTHA Thornlea AnnexeTHC Thornlea LodgeTHH Thornlea White
HouseWSL Washington SingerXFI Xfi Building
St Lukes CampusBuilding Code Building NameBAR Baring CourtDAN Dance StudioHOL HolnicoteNCL North CloistersPMS PMS BuildingRCH Richards BuildingSML Smeall BuildingSCL South Cloisters
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LECTURES, TUTORIALS, CLASSES, PRIVATE STUDY – WHAT ARE THEY, AND WHAT ARE THEY FOR?
When you start a new module, you will be given a ‘module descriptor’ which contains details of the module’s aims and objectives, a syllabus, reading list, and information on assessment methods, etc. It will also state how many ‘contact hours’ you have, and give guidance on how much private study you are expected to undertake.
‘Contact hours’ refer to the time you will actually spend with a lecturer or tutor, and the format of these meetings varies from module to module. Most modules are based on the ‘lecture plus tutorial’ format.
Lectures
Most lectures last one or two hours and are given weekly throughout the module. Lectures are (a) a concise method of introducing and explaining ideas which are of central importance, and (b) a method of helping students to understand quite complicated ideas which are found in textbooks or research papers. Most lecturers give advance notice of topics which will be covered, and it is a good idea to do some preparatory work before attending the lecture.
Tutorials/classes
Most first and second year lecture courses have tutorials associated with them. Typically, tutorials take place once a week or once a fortnight. They are periods for discussion and extension of ideas and issues which have been raised, and for your tutor (and your student colleagues) to comment on your written work. Many students are inclined to be reticent about contributing to tutorial discussions, but it is important to realise that tutorials are a time for being prepared to make mistakes, for learning to put forward and discuss ideas logically, clearly, and coherently, and to get used to the fact that if someone is critical of your thoughts, that is not synonymous with being critical of you.
Some maths-based modules may have weekly ‘exercise classes’ of a larger size instead of tutorials, and some modules have drop in ‘help hours’ rather than tutorials.
Please note, your Module Tutor who will run your tutorial is different from your Personal Tutor who will deal with pastoral issues and run pastoral/personal tutor sessions.
Attendance at tutorials/classes is compulsory. It is your responsibility to inform Student Services of the reason if you are absent and depending on the reason, it may count toward your non-attendance record. Non-attendance is treated very seriously and may lead to being excluded from summative assessments such as exams, this in turn could lead to being deemed withdrawn. You will receive a warning if your attendance is unsatisfactory and a chance to improve your attendance to a satisfactory warning. If your attendance does not improve, you will be reported to the Dean.
Private Study
Private study will form a vital part of your degree. The power of critical analysis, the ability to understand and present a logical argument, and the self-discipline to
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organise your own time to promote active study, are all skills that are implicit in a degree programme and developed within private study time.
How much private study should you be prepared to do? A very rough guide, and a minimum requirement, is to take the ‘contact hours’ for each module (i.e. lecture plus tutorial times) and double them. So, for a 30-credit module with a weekly two-hour lecture plus associated hour-long tutorial, you would expect to spend a minimum of six hours on private study – more if it is a subject you find difficult.
This works out at a 36-hour week, more or less the equivalent of working 9-5 Mondays to Fridays!
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ASSESSMENT : Questions and answers
In the Autumn Term, you will receive a specific UG Examinations Handbook. It is essential that you read this book when it is available. It will answer all your queries on exams and you should ensure that you read it as soon as you receive it to ensure that you understand all the rules before exams begin.
When are the examinations?
There are three assessment periods during the year
1. End of Semester 1 – 11th-16th January 20102. End of Semester 2 – 10th May-11th June 20103. Referred/deferred examinations – late August/early September, specific dates will be available in the Examinations handbook. Please do not book any holiday over this period until you have received your results in the summer.
Please Note: The Referred examinations are held in Exeter unless you are resident abroad. UK students on holiday or work placement will need to bear this in mind.
Exam timetables are prepared by the University’s Examinations Office. Your timetable will be made available via the internet.
Your candidate number.
At the start of each academic year, as part of the process of on-line registration, you will be given a new candidate number. This is the number you will write on assessed assignments (which can then be marked anonymously) and on your examination scripts. You can remind yourself of your candidate number via the Student Record System at any time. It is important that you keep a note of this number as you will need to put it on all assessed coursework and to collect feedback.
How is my work assessed?
Modules are assessed by either examination or coursework or, more frequently, by a mixture of both. The module descriptor (available on the web, or given to you by your lecturer) will state clearly how the module is assessed.
Marking criteria – what are the examiners looking for?
The examiners want to see that you have learned the knowledge imparted to you in lectures and tutorials, that you can apply that knowledge to new situations or problems, and that you can express yourself adequately. They are NOT looking for someone who can memorise and reproduce extracts from the textbook, because this does not demonstrate anything except a good memory.
Details of the School’s marking criteria can be found at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/marking_criteria/
The pass mark for a module is 40%. If the module is assessed by both examination and coursework, the final mark, taking both elements of assessment into account, must be 40% or more.
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Do I have to pass everything?
If you are taking SH Accounting and Finance or SH Business Accounting, yes, you do have to pass everything. These degrees are accredited by the professional bodies on the basis that students pass all modules.
On other degrees, you have to pass certain modules in your first and second year. Such modules are known as ‘uncondonable modules’ , and you can find a list in your Examinations Handbook or at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/documents/uncondonable_modules.doc. Passing these modules ensures that you have the basic knowledge and skills to take your compulsory modules the following year.
If you fail a module which is condonable, you may be allowed to pass the year provided that you don’t fail more than 30 credits, and your overall average (including the failed module) is 40% or over. You will not be given the chance to retake condonable modules if you meet this criteria.
What happens if I fail?
If you fail modules and they cannot be condoned (see above), you will be given the opportunity to retake them in August/September. If you fail them a second time, or cannot take them because you are ill, the Board of Examiners will look closely at all the circumstances and make an individual recommendation to you, which may include requiring you to repeat the year, or take additional modules in the following year. We cannot be more precise at this stage.
What happens if I miss an assessment through illness, or personal problems?
If you feel that medical or other exceptional circumstances have significantly affected (or might affect) your performance in an exam, class test, essay or other assessment which counts towards the final mark for a module, you can ask for these circumstances to be taken into consideration by the Board of Examiners at the end of the year. The University calls this process ‘mitigation’.
To apply to be considered for ‘mitigation’, you need to complete a form giving information about the medical or other circumstances which you feel have affected (or might affect) your performance. Further information, and the form, can be found at the Student Services Centre or at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/administration_forms/
The mitigation form and any accompanying evidence must be submitted to the Student Services Centre to be dealt with by the School’s Mitigation Committee in June and September. Decisions arising out of the January examinations are dealt with at this time as well. Consideration of mitigating evidence for second-year students is postponed to the finalists’ Board unless it affects progression to the following year.
How and where do I hand in coursework?
It is your responsibility to ensure that coursework is submitted at the right time and place. You will be required to submit them to the Student Services Centre using BART. BART is a system which we use to issue receipts for assignments and monitor attendance. You will be contacted to tell you how to obtain the coversheet which must be attached the front of your assignment. You will then submit a paper
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copy of your assignment to the Student Services Centre where the coversheet will be scanned and you will be issued with a receipt. You must keep the receipt as it is your proof that you have submitted on time and all assignments must be submitted with the correct coversheet as incorrect or missing coversheets could result in your assignment not being marked. It is also your responsibility to ensure that you keep a copy of your assignment (either electronically or a paper copy) in case it is required by us. We would also advise that if you keep the copies electronically, ensure you back up often. We have had cases of stolen/broken lap tops where the student was unable to re-submit and was required to re-write the assignment.
What happens if I hand it in late?
There are significant penalties for handing in work late. Work handed in up to two weeks after the deadline will receive a maximum mark of 40%. Work handed in after two weeks will receive a mark of zero.
If you are genuinely unable to meet a deadline, you must contact Student Services before the deadline to see whether an extension can be granted. Extensions cannot be granted after the deadline has passed. The form can be found at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/administration_forms/
Students with dyslexia should write ‘Dyslexic’ on the front of their coursework if they wish it to be taken into account. It may compromise anonymity, of course, but will save possible appeals by ensuring that markers did know of the problem and did take it into account.
Cheating and plagiarism
See the document about cheating.
You will be able to use a system called “Turnitin” through WebCT to check your assignments for plagiarism before you submit. If we suspect that you have plagiarised, we may also use this system to check (in addition to our usual methods of identifying plagiarism). Plagiarism can lead to exclusion from the module and is taken extremely seriously.
How is my degree class decided?
Very briefly, your degree class is decided on the average marks obtained in your second and final year (‘with European Study’ students have their year abroad taken into account). The marks you obtain at the end of your first year do NOT count towards your degree classification.
Your second and final years are weighted 1 : 2. If you are taking a degree ‘with European Study’, your second, third and final years are weighted 4 : 2 : 8.
Where the average is borderline (eg 69%) the Board of Examiners will also look at the distribution of marks – how many marks were over 70%, for example.
The rules governing the award of degrees are known as ‘Exam Conventions’, and are available at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/assessment_procedures/.
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Further information
Further information on all aspects of examinations will be available in the School’s UG Examinations Handbook, published in the Autumn Term or University information can be found at www.ex.ac.uk/calendar.
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MARKING CRITERIA
The pass mark is 40%.
Mark Class Comment80 and above
1st All the criteria for 1st, plus outstanding analytical power or originality of ideas
70-79 1st. Clear and stylish writing. Very thorough knowledge of the material. Excellent critical assessment. Well structured and organised. Empirical data very well analysed and integrated in assessed work,
or All the criteria for 2:1, plus substantial originality of ideas
60-69 2:1 Clear writing with a well-defined focus, reflecting a good working knowledge of the material and good competence in its critical assessment. Well-structured and organised. Appropriate methodology. Empirical data and experimental work well analysed and integrated in assessed work
50-59 2:2. Acceptable level of self-expression based on adequate working knowledge of material. Satisfactory structure and organisation of material. Appropriate methodology. Satisfactory analysis of empirical data and experimental work
40-49 3rd Limited level of self-expression based on core material. Quality of writing inconsistent. Structure and organisation adequate at best. Unimaginative use made of appropriate methodology. Limited use of empirical and experimental results.
39% and below
Fail. Lacking in basic knowledge and critical ability. Inappropriate methodology or poor application of appropriate methodology. Major defects in writing and reporting of empirical data and experimental results
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Condonable and Uncondonable Module Information
Uncondonable modules are either the chief core module in the year, or a module which is a prerequisite for a core module in the following year. Business School programmes tend to build on core modules from one year to the next more than programmes in other schools.
It is possible for a module to be condoned for a student on one programme but not for a student on a different programme.
Students on SH Accounting and Finance/SH Business and Accounting have to pass all modules at 40% or more, because of the requirements of the accreditation bodies. No condonement is permitted, even in non-accounting modules.
UNCONDONABLE MODULES
The following modules have been deemed ‘uncondonable’ by the School. That means that the rules of condonement will not apply to these modules, and students must pass the module at 40% or more before being permitted to progress to the following year.
Note:
(1) Students on SH Accounting and Finance and SH Business and Accounting must pass ALL their papers in order to comply with the requirements of the professional bodies offering exemptions from professional examinations.
(2) There are no uncondonable modules on SH Business Studies.(3) There are no uncondonable modules in the final year (apart from (1)
above).
YEAR 1
Degree programme (including ‘with European Study’ variants)
You must pass:
SH EconomicsSH Economics with Econometrics
BEE 1029 Economic PrinciplesBEE 1023 Introduction to EconometricsBEE 1024 Maths for Economists
SH Economics and Finance BEE 1029 Economic PrinciplesBEE 1023 Introduction to EconometricsBEE 1024 Maths for EconomistsBEE1012 Introduction to Finance
SH Business Economics BEE 1029 Economic PrinciplesSH Business and Management
BEM 1007 Theory of ManagementBEA 1006 Accounting 1BEA 1007 Accounting 2
SH Management with Leadership
CLS 1001 Leadership and TeamsCLS 1002 Introduction to Leadership
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SH Economics and Politics BEE 1029 Economic PrinciplesBEE 1014 State and Economy
SH Management with Marketing
BEM1007 Theory of ManagementBEM1015 Marketing and Society
SH Management with Tourism
BEM 1007 Theory of ManagementBEM 1012 Introduction to TourismBEM 1013 Business and Tourism
SH Leadership and Politics CLS 1001 Leadership and TeamsCLS 1002 Introduction to Leadership
SH Accounting with Leadership
BEA 1006 Accounting 1BEA 1007 Accounting 2CLS 1001 Leadership and Teams
YEAR 2
Degree programme You must pass:SH Economics BEE 2016/2017 Intermediate Micro 1 and 2
BEE 2018/2019 Intermediate Macro 1 and 2SH Economics with Econometrics
BEE 2016 Intermediate Micro 1BEE 2018 Intermediate Macro 1BEE 2020 Introduction to Econometric Theory
SH Business EconomicsSH Economics and Politics
BEE 2016 Intermediate Micro 1BEE 2018 Intermediate Macro 1
SH Economics and Finance
BEE 2016 Intermediate Micro 1BEE 2018 Intermediate Macro 1BEE 3016 IAPM
SH Business and Management
BEM 2013 Principles of Marketing BEM 2004 OBHRMBEM 2007 Operations Management BEM 2016 Consumer Behaviour
SH Management with Leadership
CLS 2001 Foundations of LeadershipCLS 2003 Leadership in Action
SH Management and Marketing
BEM 2004 OBHRMBEM 2013 Principles of Marketing
SH Management with Tourism
BEM 2004 OBHRMBEM 2012 Managing the Tourism EnvironmentBEM 2017 International Tourism Management
SH Leadership and Politics POL2052 Foreign Policy: Leadership, Power and ResponsibilityCLS2001 Foundations of Leadership
SH Accounting with Leadership
BEA 2006 Management AccountingBEA2007 Accounting Models for Management DecisionsCLS 2001 Foundations of Leadership
SH Accounting Studies BEA 2001 Financial Accounting 1
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CHEATING
By registering as a student of the University, a student accepts University Regulations, one of which is that “students are not permitted to seek unfair academic advantage”. The University expects academic honesty on the part of its students — that any work a student submits for assessment is their own and is not the result of dishonest behaviour. Consequently cheating in a University assessment is treated as a very serious academic offence and students should be fully aware from the outset of their studies that both the School and the University will not tolerate it.
The University defines cheating as “any illegitimate behaviour designed to deceive those setting, administering and marking the assessment” (Procedures for Handling Cases of Suspected Cheating, including Plagiarism, in University Assessments).
Cheating can include having notes at one’s desk while undertaking an exam, attempting to talk to another student during an exam, having someone else sit your exam, allowing someone else to see your exam paper.
It is essential that students understand what constitutes or what might constitute cheating, and that they are familiar with the University’s policy. http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/plag1.htm Cheating can take many forms and can occur in different types of assessment not just in written examinations.
Any case of suspected cheating will be thoroughly investigated: if you cheat there is a very high probability that you will be caught; if cheating is proved a penalty will be imposed. In 2008/9 some students were withdrawn from their studies as a result of cheating – and had to leave the University with no degree; others were given a 0 for a module mark which seriously affected their degree outcome.
PLAGIARISM
[Plagiarism = the act of representing another’s work or ideas as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement or referencing.]
What this means.
You MUST NOT copy sections of work from a textbook or article, or from internet sources such as Wikipedia. If you do want to use the author’s exact words (and this should only be done for specific and limited comments) you must give the proper reference. You will be given guidance on how to do this, including undertaking a webct module on referencing and academic honesty.
The use of essays bought from an essay bank is ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN.
Why some students copy
We know that some students copy from other authors because they do not have the confidence to express themselves in their own words they have been brought up in a culture where they have been encouraged to
learn large sections of text they have got behind with their assignment and want to save time.
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The School’s point of view
Do not worry about poor English – we know our international students find paraphrasing difficult, and we will not penalise you for poor English, so long as we can understand what you mean.
It is only by expressing yourself in your own words that your teacher can be sure that you have understood the material.
Learning to manage your time is an important part of being a student.
What we ask you to do
On admission to the School, every student will be given a handout to help them understand what plagiarism is, and how it can be avoided. You will be asked to sign a form for every piece of assessed work you hand in, confirming that it is your own work. You are also required to undertake the webct module ‘Academic Honesty and Plagiarism’, which provides detailed guidance on understanding how to reference properly, and how to avoid plagiarism.
If you have any concerns about plagiarism or cheating, please talk to your Personal Tutor or module convenor. The Students Guild and Student Advice Centre are also willing to provide advice and support.
Penalties for plagiarism
The School takes a very firm line regarding plagiarism. If plagiarism is found to have occurred, the School has a range of penalties which it will impose, ranging from a reduction in the mark to expulsion from the failure of the module. In particularly serious cases, the School may refer the case to the University, in which case the outcome could include exclusion from the University.
We do not accept ignorance of these procedures as a valid excuse for plagiarism.
In 2008/9 some students were withdrawn from the University without achieving a degree as a result of having plagiarised. Others received lower or lesser qualifications as a result of plagiarism.
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COMPLAINTS, APPEALS, DISCIPLINE
COMPLAINTShttp://www.admin.exeter.ac.uk/calendar/live/ugfaculty/complaints.htm
The University's formal complaints procedures cover• misinformation about academic programmes• poor teaching or supervision• insufficient facilities• the behaviour of a member of staff• the behaviour of another student• a failing in a University service, academic or non-academic
but they are only to be used after other approaches have failed. Please note that any problem with teaching must be taken to the tutor or lecturer concerned first. This may sound daunting, but it is the correct, and the most useful, way to proceed. Remember that lecturers are reliant on you for feedback: It is in no-one’s interests to let such a situation continue.
Should you feel that your complaint has not been dealt with, you should see the relevant Head of Department and/or the Director of Education. You may also wish to discuss the matter with your personal tutor.
APPEALShttp://www.admin.exeter.ac.uk/calendar/live/ugfaculty/appeals.htm
Before lodging an appeal against their academic results, students should be aware that the grounds for an appeal are strictly limited (Section 3.1), and do not permit an appeal that disputes the academic judgement of the internal and external examiners.
DISCIPLINE
The School may take action against students whose academic performance is deemed unsatisfactory.
School policy is based on the following assumptions: Students are adults, and university is not secondary school. This School will not
spoon-feed students; part of the university education process is learning to cope on your own. Information is provided at every turn, and students who fail to join tutorials, miss deadlines, etc, have no reason to blame anyone but themselves.
While students have a right to an education appropriate for the award of an honours degree, they also have responsibilities - to attend lectures and tutorials, to work diligently at their subjects, undertake the requisite reading and submit work as required and by the specified dates (see Code of Good Practice, section 5).
Students will be deemed unsatisfactory if tutorials are missed without reason, summative assessments are not submitted, or if they behave inappropriately. At this point, a formal school warning will be sent.
If the student’s standards are not raised following the formal warning, the student will be reported to the Dean with a recommendation from the school usually to exclude
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them from taking their examinations and this may then lead to being deemed withdrawn from the University.
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IF YOU ARE ILL
Have you registered with the Student Health Centre or with a local doctor?
You must inform the School if you miss a tutorial through illness..
For absences* of 1 - 3 days, get a message to the Student Services Centre ([email protected] or 01392 725611)
For absences* of 4 - 5 days, you must obtain from the Student Services Centre a Student’s Certificate of Illness and complete it as soon as possible after your return to the School.
For absences* of 6 or more days, a doctor’s certificate must be obtained and sent to the Student Services Centre.
(* days of absence include Monday-Friday only) For absence from an examination or test, a doctor’s certificate must be
obtained, even if the illness is only for one day, or even a part of one day. You must telephone the Student Services Centre and follow your call up with an e-mail, otherwise you will be put down as absent from the exam. Then you must submit the doctor’s certificate to Student Services immediately with a mitigation form; available from the Student Services Centre or through http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/administration_forms/
NB Students must inform the School if their absence will affect group work or
presentations. Self-certificates covering less than one week’s absence will not be considered
sufficient reason for late submission of work. Students who are absent for more than 20% of the term may not be signed up for
examinations.
Ill health or personal problems
If illness or personal problems are affecting your work, you should contact your personal tutor to see whether they recommend that you apply for mitigation.
If you believe that the problems are serious enough to have affected an assignment or examination, you should complete a Mitigation Form which you will find at: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/administration_forms/
The form, plus any supporting information, is seen by a small, confidential Mitigation Committee, whose job is to assess whether you could have achieved a better mark under normal circumstances, and gives this opinion to the Board of Examiners.
At the end of each year, there are always a number of students who lodge an appeal against their results on the grounds that their performance was affected because of ill health or personal problems. Any such appeal will be turned down if you did not inform the School at the time of the illness/problem. If your work is being affected, the School needs to know at the time.
Extensions
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If you would like to request an extension, please complete the Extension Request form which can be found at the Student Services Centre, or http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/information_for_undergraduates/administration_forms/
It is imperative that you submit this form before the assignment deadline. If you fail to submit the form on time, you will not be considered for an extension and the rules of late submission will apply (See Assessment: Questions and Answers).
Additional Needs
If you are an additional needs student, you should have registered with the University’s Disability Resource Centre and ensure that they have passed the necessary information to the School and the Examinations office. You may also wish to see the School's Disability Officer, Claire Lavers; please contact [email protected] to arrange an appointment.
‘Additional needs’ arrangements will be carried forward from one year to the next: you do not need to reapply.
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FEEDBACK
Feedback to students
You may expect to receive feedback on your written work. Its purpose is to help you improve your future performance and you should ensure that you make good use of it.
Written work that counts towards your final mark will not be returned to you; instead, you will receive a 'feedback sheet' from the marker, analysing your performance and informing you of your mark.
If the work does not count towards your final mark, your work will be returned to you; the feedback may take the form of written or verbal comments, either about your own work or about the work of the cohort as a whole. Feedback on examinations may be by providing model answers, or a list of points that should have been covered, or by a commentary on the performance of the group as a whole. We do not return the scripts to you, however you can contact the Student Services Centre to see whether the lecturer will be able to provide individual advice.
Feedback by students
It is important for us to find out about your experience of the School, and to find ways of improving our provision; and we value your views very much. Indeed, we are required by the University to obtain your evaluations.
(a) Modules
Towards the end of each module, you will be asked to complete an on-line evaluation of the module as a whole. The collated results go to the School's Teaching Committee and then back to the lecturer concerned. Your comments are anonymous and it is important that you do complete a questionnaire for every module you take.
(b) Programmes
Finalists have the opportunity to express their views each year via the National Student Survey, and the University runs its own survey of second-year students.
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University of Exeter Business SchoolCode of Good Practice in Learning, Teaching and Research
1. Introduction
1.1 In formulating this document the School is seeking to establish a framework for the development and maintenance of teaching programmes that are flexible to the changing demands of the academic disciplines with which it is concerned, mindful of the requirements of professional bodies and of the economic and business communities and responsive to the needs of the students. The School recognises the responsibilities of the staff towards the student in all of these areas and the necessity of maintaining a balance between conflicting objectives. It also emphasises that students too have responsibilities not only in respect of their personal involvement in the learning process but also in respect of their general contribution to the academic programmes within the School.
1.2 The School's Learning and Teaching Committee, which contains representatives from both the under- and postgraduate student bodies, has the major role in monitoring the School's teaching activities, through the following procedures: approving proposals for new programmes or amendments to existing
programmes approving proposals for new modules or amendments to existing modules coordinating the School's quality assurance procedures reporting on its activities to School Board
1.3 The following guidelines apply to both under- and postgraduate taught programmes.
1.4 Details of all the School's taught programmes of study will be available in the University Calendar and also on the School's web pages. Module descriptors will also be available on the School's web pages.
1.5 In all its practices, the School is careful to observe the policies and procedures set out in the University's Teaching Quality Assessment Manual.
2. Management of a Programme of Study
2.1 No new programme can be offered until it has received formal accreditation from the appropriate Faculty Accreditation Committee. Proposals for a new programme must be made according to the procedures laid down in the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual, which test the viability of the programme both from a resourcing and employability point of view, and require input from a range of stakeholders.
2.2 For each programme of study there must be a Programme Specification, which is a clear written statement of the aims of the programme and a synopsis of the content. This statement should conform to the template as provided in the TQAM. The Programme Specification should be available to students through the School's web pages.
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2.3 No substantive change to any Programme Specification which would adversely affect any student already registered on that programme may be made without the agreement of at least 75% of the students affected. Changes with a direct impact on the calculation of the final result of an award may not be made except with the unanimous consent of the students affected.
2.4 The Programme Specification should be reviewed annually as part of the annual review process (see 2.4 below) to ensure that all the Intended Learning Outcomes claimed for the programme are being acquired through the constituent modules. This mapping of skills is important where a programme may have a number of pathways.
2.5 The School will conduct an Annual Review of Programmes, in line with University requirements. An overview of each programme's delivery over the previous academic year, informed by staff and student evaluations and by statistical data, will be prepared by the programme coordinator and submitted to the Programme Review Monitoring Committee for scrutiny within six months of the final examination board. Minutes of the PMR meeting and a summary of its findings will be submitted to the School's Programme Auditing Meeting, who in turn will report to the University's Quality and Standards Review Office.
3. Design and Operation of a Module
3.1 Every module must be approved by the Accreditation Committee before being offered to students. The template ('module descriptor') provided by the TQAM requires that the following information be provided for students: the module's academic level and credit value the prerequisites and corequisites for taking the module its aims and intended learning outcomes the module coordinator or lead teacher the amount of contact time and private study required for completion of
the module indicative syllabus and reading list the method of assessment, with a disaggregation into elements of
assessment and an indication of their respective contribution to the overall module mark.
3.2 Students must receive feedback on all coursework. Feedback should always help students to be aware of their weaknesses and strengths, and should always relate to the School's assessment criteria (see Appendices I and II) and the mark awarded. Feedback on summative work should be given through a standardised feedback sheet. Where summative work is not part of the assessment, students should be given the opportunity of submitting formative coursework and receiving feedback on it, written or verbal, with some or all of this feedback on an individual basis. This should happen no later than half-way through a year-long module, and two-thirds of the way through a single-semester module.
3.3 Student evaluation is regarded as an important element of module operation. At the end of the teaching period, students will be requested to complete an on-line questionnaire. The questions cover all aspects of module delivery, and submission will be anonymous.
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3.4 At the end of the academic year, module coordinators/lead teachers are required to complete an Annual Review of each module, which takes an overview of the experience of the teachers, the students, examination results, and peer or external review if appropriate. The Annual Reviews will be submitted to the School's Teaching Committee. Modules where concerns are identified will be brought to the attention of the appropriate Head of Department, who is required to respond to Teaching Committee to show how these issues are being, or have been, addressed.
4. Guidelines for different forms of assessment
4.1 The unseen written examination remains the most common form of assessment within the School. Normally, 15-credit modules will be examined by two-hour examinations, 30-credit modules by three-hour examinations. While every effort is made to ensure that examinations are reasonably spread throughout the examination period, circumstances outside the School's control may require students to take two examinations on the same day. Students should be aware of this possibility and plan for it.
4.2 Assignments may be set as a form of assessment. All assignment titles will be approved by a second member of staff for their suitability with regard to content and level of difficulty.
4.3 Group work, for which the same mark is given to every member of the group, may form an element of assessment in some modules. To ensure that no-one person within the group dominates, or fails to contribute, there are separate guidelines for the successful operation of group work activities
4.4 Presentations may form part of the assessment of some modules. Students will have plenty of time to discuss their requirements, for example OHP transparencies, PowerPoint facilities, but will be responsible for operating any equipment themselves as part of the presentation experience.
4.5 Some modules may be wholly or partly assessed by a project report or dissertation. The module descriptor will make it clear how much, and what kind of, support may be expected from teaching staff in these cases.
4.6 When students undertake placements (either in the UK or abroad) the School will follow the guidelines on placements set out in Section 6 of the University's Teaching and Quality Assurance Manual.
5. Responsibilities of students (This section is taken directly from the TQAM Guidelines, section 5).
5.1. A programme of study must be an active partnership between staff and students if it is to achieve its educational aims and intended learning outcomes. These guidelines have addressed the responsibilities of the staff towards the students, but the students must be in no doubt of their responsibilities toward the staff and to each other. Students are not merely recipients; they are major contributors to the quality of the educational provision.
5.2. Students must regard enrolment on a module as a contractual agreement which they are expected to take to its conclusion. They must ensure that they
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are prepared for the module in that they satisfy its stated prerequisites and undertake any required preliminary study.
5.3. Students are expected to attend scheduled activities arranged for their benefit, such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes. They are expected to observe common courtesies to teaching and ancillary staff, including advance information if they are unable to attend, or have to be late for, a scheduled activity. If they are prevented by illness from attending a scheduled activity they should inform the staff concerned as soon as practicable.
5.4. Students are expected to meet agreed deadlines for assigned work. If they are unable to meet an agreed deadline they should inform staff in advance but should not assume that the deadline will be negotiated. Students attending postgraduate and other modules taught through seminars should ensure that seminar papers are available for distribution to the seminar group in good time.
5.5. A member of staff who considers that a student is acting irresponsibly toward the staff, fellow students or to the module in general should endeavour to have a reasoned discussion of the situation with the student. If this is not possible, or fails to improve matters, the member of staff should inform the student's personal tutor, the Student-Staff Liaison Committee or the Head of Department as appropriate.
5.6. Students who consider that a member of staff is acting irresponsibly toward the students or to the module in general should endeavour to have a reasoned discussion of the situation with that member of staff. If this is unsuccessful, or cannot realistically be dealt with in this way, the students should inform the Student-Staff Liaison Committee or the Head of Department as appropriate and without delay.
5.7. Responsibility for engaging in an appropriate style and quantity of study to complete the module successfully rests with the student. A student who recognises the need for guidance in these matters should approach his/her personal tutor who will advise on the facilities available for further counselling if necessary.
6. Support for student learning
6.1 Every student will have a personal tutor whose task is to counsel and advise the student both on academic matters and on any personal matters which the student may wish to discuss. In the case of postgraduate students this role will normally be filled by the Programme Director.
6.2 Additionally, students will have an academic tutor for each module taken. This may be the module coordinator/leader, another member of staff, or Graduate Teaching Assistant. Academic tutors will be required to report at regular intervals on the attendance and performance of students, so that students perceived as being at risk of failing may be identified and helped.
6.3 The School, through consultation with the School's Computing Development Officers and Library Liaison Officer, will make every effort to ensure that library and IT provision is sufficient for the successful delivery of every module.
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6.4 Additional information will be made available to students at appropriate times during the academic year on a range of issues connected with their studies: student handbooks assessment criteria examination conventions complaints and appeals procedures information to assist with choosing elective modules
7. Research postgraduates
7.1 With regard to research postgraduates, School practices and procedures conform to the University Code of Good Practice for the Supervision of Postgraduate Research Students as set out in the University Teaching Quality Assurance Manual. The Code clearly outlines the responsibilities of supervisors, mentors, students and school.
7.2 The University Code is supplemented by the School of Business and Economics' own code. This code covers induction procedures, the nature and recording of supervision and mentoring contact, and a description of the specific resources provided by the School for research students.
7.3 Both University and School codes contain advice to research students who wish to study part-time.
7.4 The University and School codes will be published in full in the 'Handbook for Research Students' provided by the School for every research student at registration.
8. Student representation
8.1 The School recognises the need to actively seek the opinions of students in regard to the content of programmes and modules, the quality of teaching and the general administration of student matters - indeed the University's quality monitoring procedures require student views to be sought on such issues. The major vehicles within the School are the Student-Staff Liaison Committees and School Teaching Committee, and the School will actively seek student participation on these bodies.
8.2 The Staff-Student Liaison Committees (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) should contain as wide a representation of students as possible, i.e. covering all years and all degree programmes.
8.2.1 The Undergraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee will normally elect a student as Chair and Secretary; the School Administrator will act as convenor until these appointments are made. Staff representation will consist of one member of staff from each department, the School's Computing Officer, the School Administrator and the School Secretary. The Committee may request the attendance of other members of staff for the discussion of specific issues.
8.2.2 The Postgraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee will normally be chaired by a member of staff. The Committee normally contains staff and student representatives from every postgraduate programme; the Computing Officer and the School Information Officer are also members.
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8.3 The School's Teaching Committee will include representatives from each year of undergraduate students, from postgraduate students, and from Graduate Teaching Assistants, and staff from each of the School's departments/centres.
University of Exeter Business School, May 2003
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HEALTH AND SAFETY
First aid
The first-aiders for the building are:Location Extension
Shirley Turner Xfi Centre 2552/5269
Each first-aider has a first-aid box, but it does not contain aspirin, paracetamol, or any other drugs.
Accidents
Call a first-aider and if necessary summon an ambulance, directing it to the main car park behind Streatham Court or to the car park near the Porters’ Lodge as appropriate. The nearest casualty unit is at the RD&E in Barrack Road, Wonford (tel 411611).All accidents must be entered in the Accident Report Book kept at the Xfi Centre (opposite Streatham Court) .
Fire drill
Everyone using the building should familiarise themselves with the location of fire alarms, fire extinguishers and the emergency exits.
If you discover a fire:• sound the alarm• call the fire brigade (if using an internal phone, dial 9 then 999)• notify Estate Patrol - call 3999
Then (or if you hear the fire alarm)• leave the building by the most direct route• close all doors• do not use the lift• lecturers should supervise evacuation of classrooms• go to the Fire Assembly points, which is by the bus stop on Rennes Drive behind
the Lecture Theatres• do not return until the Safety Officer tells you
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DATA PROTECTION POLICIES
Students have access to information about them under the University’s Data Protection policies which can be seen at
http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/academic/datapro/
Student confidentiality
For every student, the School has a file containing details of their academic performance, communications with tutors and administrative staff, references, etc. These files are treated as confidential, and staff will not disclose their contents to anyone outside the School, and within the School only on a “need-to-know” basis.
Students wishing to keep information extremely confidential can ask for it to be kept in an sealed envelope, with specific instructions to be noted on the envelope.
Please note:
We do not disclose information about students to their parents, except in very exceptional circumstances eg serious illness. If parents ask for information about their children, we will contact the student in question and ask him or her to make contact with the parent.
We do not disclose information to sponsors or agents without the student’s written permission.
We do not disclose information about students to outside enquirers (eg landlords).
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REFERENCES AND TRANSCRIPTS
References
References will be provided by a centralised process within the School, and based on the student’s own CV. Additional information will be provided by the School’s Employability Coordinator, Rachel Torr ([email protected]).
Transcripts
A transcript is a summary of your academic achievements at the University. It is generated electronically by the Examinations Office after you graduate and sent to you automatically, free of charge. You can obtain an interim transcript at any time by accessing the Student Records System, printing off the document, and taking it to be signed by Registry staff.
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RETAINING LECTURE NOTES AND EXAMINATION PAPERS - EXEMPTIONS
Your degree programme may enable you to claim exemptions from some professional examinations.
[Accountancy students have extensive exemptions, and information is separately available on the web for them.]
Your responsibility
Professional institutions will ask you for full details of your degree (your transcript will provide this) and quite possibly module outlines, lecture handouts, reading lists and examination papers.
It is your responsibility to keep all such material. We cannot guarantee to have it all on file and will make a charge of £10 if we have to provide it for you.
Note: Recently, we had requests of this nature from two students who were here in the 1990s. We were not able to provide all the information they needed. One of them needed the information as part of his emigration documentation, so be warned. You might not think you need it now, but you never know!
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Essay writingA guide
Good presentation of your written work is important. It is a vital transferable skill. Essays and written work which is not presented in an acceptable format may be returned to students, who can be asked to resubmit it. Use of a word processor with a spell checker is strongly advised!
THE SIX MAIN STAGES
The process of essay writing is a difficult one unless you break it up into several stages. The following six stages are recommended for more successful essay writing:
1. Analyse the question 2. Collect the material for your essay 3. Select from the material 4. Make an outline of your essay 5. Write up the essay from your outline plan 6. Take note of your lecturer's comments
Stage 1: Analyse the question
Examine the precise wording of the essay topic/question. What are the key words? These words guide you into writing one kind of answer rather than another. Are you being asked, for example, to compare, contrast, criticise, define, describe, discuss, evaluate, explain, illustrate, or interpret? Examine the exact wording of the question. Does the question ask for a general treatment of a subject, or for a detailed account? Are you attempting to resolve a specific debate (for example: 'To what extent are 'Hybrid' managers business men who know about computers or computer experts who are aware of business issues?') , or are you providing an overview of a subject ('What are the main characteristics of an expert system?')? Will you need to provide the reader with a narrative of events or circumstances? Have you merely to describe the way things were or must you analyse and explain how they came to be that way? How far should your discussion be concerned with current events and theories on the subject? How much contrast and comparison of the different theories and ideas used by various authors should be provided?
Stage 2: Collect material for your essay
1. How much do you already know about the subject before you begin your research? You probably know more than you realise. Begin your research by jotting down whatever you know already, asking yourself what issues are likely to be important in answering the set question or topic. This exercise will help you to be selective in your research, rather than simply working your way mindlessly through all the assigned material, some of which may be irrelevant in places. As you read further, you may want to carry out this exercise again, in order to make sure that your research is always directed and to the purpose.
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2. Gather information from the various sources provided by your tutor. Remember to record your sources of information (e.g. title, author, publisher, date and place of publication of book) so that you can give credit to them if you use them in your essay. Keep a notebook or file for each essay, collecting all relevant notes in one place. Don't get bogged down in taking notes which are more detailed than you really need them to be. A good exercise after reading a chapter or an article is to ask yourself, 'What was the point of that? What was the historian trying to say about the subject? How does it add to my understanding of the problem posed in the essay question?' On a piece of file paper headed with the author, title, date, and place of publication of the source you have been reading, write a paragraph or two answering these questions. You might find that at this point it is fruitful to go back and take more detailed notes which illustrate the importance of the material as you see it, noting page numbers as you do so.
3. As you take notes, try to note page numbers of sources, especially for exact quotes. Be careful to quote accurately when making direct quotations. When summarising or paraphrasing make sure you don't misrepresent the original.
4. Start your research as soon as possible, after you learn the title of your essay. This gives you more time for your search and more time to 'mull over' what you have found. It also gives you a better chance of obtaining as many relevant books as possible on your topic. A week before an essay is due, library resources are apt to be strained. This cannot be offered as an excuse for a short bibliography. Evidence of a wide range of reading is crucial to good essay writing.
Stage 3: Select from the material you have gathered
Asking questions before collecting information (discussed in Stage 2) will ensure that you don't end up with an unmanageable amount, but you will still need to select.
Don't do this immediately after gathering your material. Sleep on it, and then go through your material, discarding anything irrelevant, trivial, or obscure, and anything, which is not supported by sufficient evidence. Don't try to work everything in. You are writing an essay, not a thesis.
Stage 4: Make an outline plan of your essay from this material
The purpose of this stage is to help you to write a well shaped essay. It will help you to sort out main ideas and important details and will ensure that you don't omit anything important or repeat yourself. You are much more likely to get your information down in a logical sequence if you make an outline plan.
1. IntroductionComment on the subject of the essay (what do you understand by it? How is it important? etc.) Comment on what aspects of the subject you intend to deal with, why and how.
2. Main BodyDevelop your line of argument through several main ideas (perhaps three or four, this depends on the topic itself). Support each of these ideas/arguments/aspects with examples and illustrations drawn from your reading and research. Remember that marks are awarded for points supported by references to
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your reading!
3. ConclusionDepending on the essay, you could: make your final point or recall issues raised in your introduction. summarise your main ideas and attempt a firm or tentative answer to the question. Indicate the wider/further important implications of your findings or future trends and possible areas for further study. Your conclusion needs great care; it should not be just a restatement of your argument. A conclusion in an essay should try to say something new or, at least, make a new emphasis or place the material in a different perspective.
It is often a good idea at the planning stage to write the last paragraph of your essay first. This can help to give a sense of direction to your writing so that you know what conclusion you are moving towards. It can also help to ensure that your essay has a firm and definite conclusion, even if your findings or your argument are inconclusive.
Planning in Stage 4 must also take place with regard to length. As a rule of thumb, for a 2,000 word essay, an introduction of 200 words and a conclusion of 400 words might be appropriate. This is not a hard and fast rule. Your own judgment must decide how much space to give to each of these key sections, depending on the essay itself. An introduction or conclusion which is too long or too short, however, can seriously weaken your essay.
Planning must also take place at the paragraph and sentence level. The ideas within the essay itself, of course, must add up to an overall statement; but each paragraph should also have a unity. Each paragraph should deal with one point, or one aspect of a wider point. Sentences, too, should be clear and accurate. Don't try to say too much in one sentence. You don't need to plan the contents of each individual paragraph in Stage 4, but you do need to bear it in mind while you are writing. At the beginning of each new paragraph, ask yourself what point you are going to make here. The outline you prepared in Stage 4 will help you to keep in mind the overall statement of the essay itself, toward which each paragraph should contribute.
Stage 5: Write up the essay from your outline plan.
After allowing another short period to enable further assimilation of material, write up the essay from your outline plan. Your task now is to turn your outline notes into lucid, continuous prose which successfully communicates your facts and arguments to the reader. As far as possible, treat your first draft as the final one. Unless, however, you are an experienced writer, you will need to rewrite your essay, preferably after another day or so. This will enable you to view what you have written more objectively and improve on your first draft. If your thinking is clear and directed, you are unlikely to have many problems with style. Try to write simply and straightforwardly and avoid using the first person singular. Essays are supposed to sound objective, and as if they are argument based on evidence rather than the writer's subjective impressions. Presentation: Remember that the presentation of your essay is important. Let the layout of your essay on the pages reflect the structure of your outline. At the very least, your essay should be clear, tidy and legible. In addition:
1. Leave a generous left hand margin for lecturer's comments 2. Keep a copy of your essay in case your original is lost before your deadline
and for future reference. Essays that contribute to your final grade will be kept by the tutor for inspection by the external examiners.
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3. Cite references for your sources, and at the end of your essay write a bibliography of works referred to. Advice on the proper forms for footnotes and references is given later.
4. Provide page numbers in the upper right-hand corner 5. Use a checklist when going over your first draft (see below).
Word Processing: Students are highly encouraged to word-process essays, although this is not compulsory. Word-processed essays should still follow the guidelines above.
Checklist for the essay-writer:
1. Have you answered the question asked? 2. Have you covered the main aspects and in sufficient depth? 3. Is the content accurate and relevant? 4. Have you arranged your material logically? 5. Have you supported your main points with examples and arguments? 6. Have you distinguished your own ideas from those brought in from other
sources? 7. Have you acknowledged your sources? 8. Is your essay clearly and simply written, without clumsy or obscure
expression? Are the grammar, punctuation and spelling acceptable, and is your essay neatly and legibly written?
Having gone through the checklist, rewrite your draft to eliminate any weaknesses you have spotted.
Stage 6: Take note of your lecturer's comments
Take note of your lecturer's comments when the essay is returned to you so that you can improve on your performance next time around. If you are disappointed by the mark you have been given and you are not sure where you have gone wrong, ask the lecturer concerned for guidance. For a guide to the meaning of the mark your tutor has awarded your essay you should consult the department's marking scale. If you feel that your tutor has marked your essay unfairly you should discuss the matter with your tutor. If you are still concerned about your mark you should discuss the matter with the Head of Department.
Four basic "tips" for style:
1. Write in the active voice, not the passive. i.e. "I wrote the essay", not "the essay was written."
2. Avoid rhetorical questions. "Why was this the case?" 3. Avoid complex subordinate clauses. Try to keep your sentences clear. 4. The author and your essay structure should be invisible. (Do not write "I
believe that to answer this question fully it is important to look at..." Simply write "These issues are central....")
REFERENCES AND CITATIONSLook at the separate handout for advice on how to cite other people's work.
Barry Spaul(Former lecturer in Management, Business School)
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USEFUL LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES
Student Information (University web pages) – information and regulations regarding academic study:Http://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/information
Library and Information Skills for First Year Students in Business School.http://www.library.ex.ac.uk/courses/sobe
Study Skills http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/business-school/information_for_students/study_skills/
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