Registrars Email

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the ‘Registrar’s Bulletin’ a new, regular communication to keep you up-to-date on all the activities of the Registrar’s Office and on Teaching and Learning developments across the University. Each month, I will update you on issues such as new academic policy, developments in central administration systems, operational and assessment issues.

This bulletin is just one part of a new mix of communication activities from my office – I hope you find it useful and look forward to hearing your feedback.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and look forward to working with you again in the New Year.

Philip

Grade Point Average and Honours Classification

The General Regulations set out the agreed position with regard to the classification of Honours in a steady state environment:

However, discussions are currently ongoing at Undergraduate Programme Board level around transitionary rules to take account of issues which have arisen as we embed modularisation across the university.

Programme Offices are communicating with students on the rules that apply to each programme. Click here for Programme Office contact details.

A full list of the classification rules for all programmes will be provided shortly via a supplement to this bulletin.

GPA and honours classification

Developments in Teaching and Learning

Semester 1 examinations

Changes to grading scale

Grade Calculator - REVISED!

Repeats policy update

Registrar’s Office structure

Recent communications

Have your say!

Developments in Teaching and Learning

UCD has been successful in gaining an award of €1.9m from the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), a HEA initiative aimed at assisting HE institutions to build the capacity for innovation required to address changing expectations nationally and internationally.

UCD received funding for two initiatives, one in the area of Institutional Leadership (HR/Staff Development) and the other in Teaching & Learning.

Teaching and Learning Initiative: Reforming 3rd Level. This initiative allows us to begin building on the foundations laid down through the introduction of modularisation and semesterisation. It comprises three closely-related strands:

Transforming student learning – focusing on the implementation of an ‘Enquiry and Problem-based Learning’ approach, within which students develop skills in critical and creative thinking, communication and problem solving. The approach will build on existing work in this area, pilot an initial 10 re-designed modules, evaluate, and increase the roll-out to further modules as appropriate. UCD will work with national and international partners to share best practice and experience of the development of this exciting area.
Stimulating innovative teaching – development, dissemination and recognition of excellence in teaching across the University. It will include the identification of a number of teaching and learning ‘scholars’ and the creation of a ‘Community of practice’ to highlight the issue.
Widening participation – which will include a rigorous evaluation of the impact of our access programmes, together with a plan to leverage our modular curriculum to facilitate access to a university education for the wide-range of part-time and other non-standard learners.

This award relates to Cycle 1 of the fund and covers the period up to 2009.

Semester 1 Examinations
Final examination dates
Students have been advised that the final dates for end of semester examinations are now available for them to view on the Assessment and Logistics website.

Assigned seating for all students – no more Examination Cards
Following on from the successful introduction of the seat numbering system last year, assigned seating will be provided for all students - whether modular or traditional - in the Semester 1 examination session. All Examination Centres will use the seat numbering system, with assigned seat numbers being displayed prior to each examination at the relevant Examination Centre. Students will be assigned a different number each time they sit an examination, thus preserving the anonymous marking process.

Changes to Grading scale
Following the last ACEC meeting on the 8th of November, changes have been made to grading scale. These changes have been reflected in the General Regulations (4.4.1) which can be accessed on the modularisation website.

Grade calculator - Revised
A useful grade calculator is available to assist staff involved in grading modular assessment components. It replaces the version used during the last academic year. This calculator should only be used for aggregating at component level e.g. questions on an exam paper. Aggregation at module level must be carried out in Gradebook. Click here to access the calculator and to see instructions for use.

Repeats Update

As you may recall, a proposal regarding the elimination of the Autumn Repeats diet was approved in principle by the Academic Council at its meeting on 5th October 2006.

Since my last communication to you on this issue, the basic proposal was subsequently approved by Academic Council Executive Committee on the 8th of November, subject to consultation and talks with student and staff Unions.

Final discussions are now taking place on the implementation details of the policy, the outcome of which will be communicated to you with relevant guidelines as soon as possible.

Basic elements of agreement on Autumn Repeats

1. Autumn repeat examinations will no longer be offered within modular programmes.

2. There will be an opportunity for students to repeat the assessment for a module in the subsequent semester (that is a repeat of a Christmas examination should be offered in the Summer, and a repeat of the Summer examination should be offered the subsequent Christmas).

3. Where modules are assessed in innovative ways, there may also be innovative ways to remediate failure, and these should be encouraged.

4. Where repeat assessment and/or examinations are offered in the subsequent semester, they will be delivered within the 15 week semester, and not outside this time.


	New group launched within Registrar’s Office Each month, this bulletin will highlight the work of a different area of the Registrar’s Office. This month, we introduce a new group – SySDEM. This group has been created as part of the continuing evolution of the Registrar’s Office, and in response to the demands of, and experience of, delivering Modularisation in UCD. SySDEM replaces the Modularisation Operations Team (MoPT) with which many of you may be familiar.
The group is currently led by Michael Sinnott and is a multi-skilled and multi-disciplinary team. The group will link in closely with each area of the Registrar’s Office, providing ‘shared services’ in a way that responds to changing circumstances. The group will also provide services to students and staff, focusing on 6 main areas: Curriculum information: Managing and developing the capture, configuration and publication of curriculum information Enrolment and registration: Managing and developing enrolment and registration, student advance and progression Support: Providing support to Programmes, Schools, Graduate Schools and other units. Support provided covers enrolment, systems, structure, and training Module demand and capacity: Managing the process of measuring the demand for modules and providing sufficient capacity to meet that demand Systems: Driving the development of the various systems that support students including admission, registration and assessment. The group will work closely with IT Services in this endeavour School and programme liaison: Providing trained staff to liaise with programmes and schools to enable the delivery of linked administrative services. Our next bulletin will focus on the work of the Academic Policy and Programme Development. For more information on the units within the Registrar’ Office, visit our homepage. Back to Top
Hot Links: Copies of communications previously issued on modularisation now held on modularisation and semesterisation website. Communications issued in November are listed below, all of which can be accesed in the 'Communications' section of the Modularisation and Semesterisation website: All Staff Email re PhD Regulations - 20th Nov Registrar's Email re Review of Modularisation - 13th Nov Modular Operations Email re Assessment Verification, part II - 13th Nov Registrar's Email to Programme Office Directors re Sem 1 Modular Assessment - 10th Nov Email from Director of Assessment re Modular Assessment - 10th Nov Modular Operations Email to Heads of School re Assessment Verification - 2nd Nov Registrar's Email re Outcome of Task Force re Resits and Repeats, Part II - 2nd Nov Registrar's Email re Outcome of Task Force re Resits and Repeats, Part I - 1st Nov Back to Top

Have your say: I am very interested in your thoughts on how we can improve the effectiveness of our communications with you. Please click this feedback button share your and ideas on how we can work together to make this happen:


Registrar's Office homepage: http://www.ucd.ie/registrar/ Email the Registrar's Office at: communications.registrar@ucd.ie Modularisation and Semesterisation website: http://www.ucd.ie/modularisation.htm Student desk: Tel extn 1554. Email: studentdesk@ucd.ie