This is the latest of our weekly newsletters for staff about the work underway to ensure the continuity of Teaching, Learning and Assessment for our students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today we are covering:
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This year, there will be a small portion of the Postgraduate Taught (PGT) population that have moved between different sets of requirements for taught postgraduate awards throughout their duration of study. Part-time PGT students, deferred students and those returning from TWD will have moved between the interim arrangements that were put in place in 2019/20 in response to Covid 19 and the PGT conventions that were introduced in 2020/21. To ensure students will not be disadvantaged, the Covid Package of Support Measures for 2020/21 enabled students registered in the previous academic year to be eligible for newly introduced conventions.
In order to ensure departments are informed on how to apply the measures correctly and consistently, and to ensure the best possible outcome for PGT students, an approach has been agreed and is being shared with departments in advance of upcoming Board of Examiners meetings.
Background
As part of the Covid Mitigation Package of Support Measures for 2020/21, it was confirmed that a new borderline category would apply to all current students in 20/21, both new and continuing, and into future years.
For the academic year 2020/21, the introduction of the borderline category replaces the interim measures that were in place for 2019-20 students. However, the interim measures from last year will still remain for students that were registered in 2019-20 (e.g. those who may be returning from a period of temporary withdrawal / deferral, and part-time students).
The Requirements for Taught Postgraduate Awards 2020/21 have been updated to reflect these measures and incorporate the new borderline category.
How to apply the measures in the academic year 2020/21
For postgraduate taught students that were registered in the academic year 2019/20 and are being considered for their final award in 2020/21, departments should undertake two separate calculations to determine a student’s classification based on the two sets of arrangements for 2019/20 and 2020/21, i.e.:
- Calculation 1: 2020/21 PGT 2% Borderline Category
- Calculation 2: 2019/20 Degree Classification calculation based on the best 120 credits (90 credits for PGDip). (The best 120/90 credits must be based on the modules with the highest marks. It should comprise whole modules and, depending on the credit weighting of modules included, it is possible that the total used for classification will be a slightly higher volume of credit but cannot be any less.)
Whichever calculation leads to the best possible award outcome for the student should then be applied, and a recommendation for award be based upon this by the Board of Examiners.
We are currently working to develop the exam board grids in Tabula and MyWBS to generate a calculation for students eligible for consideration under the new borderline category. The two calculations will then be available in Tabula or MyWBS to enable departments to confirm the best possible outcome for students, so as to avoid any error and reduce any burden on departmental colleagues.
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Summer Exams Timetable
Following consultation with departments, the Summer Exams Timetable is now available via the Exams Website. Students taking exams in the summer have been notified by individual email on how to access their personalised exam timetable from 26 April.
Alternative Exams Portal (AEP) Functionality & Change Log
In response to discussions with departments, and to aid marking processes, the AEP now has three options to restrict the file types uploaded by students for assessments created and submitted through the AEP:
- Allow any file type
- PDF files only
- Microsoft Word documents only
The default for setup is ‘Allow any file type’ but a department can now choose at the AEP setup stage to restrict uploaded answers to either pdf or MS Word. If your department intends to make use of this facility, please ensure that your students are advised in advance. We also recommend invigilators make a clear announcement to examinees in the AEP at the start of the exam.
Following requests from departmental colleagues, there is now a record of enhancements and changes to the AEP since last summer’s exams session. The AEP Change Log can be accessed here.
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Thanks to the incredibly hard work of academic and Library staff, we were able to provide reading lists in Talis Aspire for 75% of modules. This was a fantastic achievement, and we look forward to working with Departments to build on this for 2021/22 modules.
On Tuesday 4 May 2021, the Library will rollover all published 2020/21 reading lists and create drafts for 2021/22. Please do not edit or create any reading lists on 4 May as these changes may be lost in the rollover process.
All 2020/21 reading lists will remain visible to students until September 2021 to ensure continuity of support through to resits and for PGT activity. Once rollover has been completed, the Library will contact Departments to confirm this and advise on any required actions.
Further information and guidance on Talis Aspire and reading lists can be found here
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We are pleased to announce that the University has extended our partnership with Gradintelligence to include access to digital award certificates. This service will enable alumni to choose to share their digital certificates securely with prospective employers, universities and other third parties. Digital certificates will be issued in addition to hard copy certificates.
More information for current students, staff and alumni is available here
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Launched this month, the Queering University programme supports staff and students at Warwick to develop, implement, share and sustain queer pedagogies and perspectives. It encourages teaching & learning and pastoral practices that are inclusive of trans and LGBTQUA+ people, and improves understanding in the classroom and wider university settings.
Find out more on the Queering University Programme webpages
Introducing the Queering University Programme
A live introduction to the programme will take place on Wednesday 5 May, 12pm-1pm, via Teams, to which all are invited.
Register your place here
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