If you are having difficulty reading this email, click here for an online version.

 

Blue line

Modularisation activity in 2007

Assessment - repeats policy and key links

Focus on: Academic Policy and Programme Development Unit - APPD

Programme and School Liaison roles

New programme replaces
March Open Days

Horizons website

Guidance Counsellor Manual
receives accolades from schools

Student information online

Have your say!

 

 

 

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to our first Registrar’s Bulletin of 2007.

As we move into the final year of our work to modularise our entire undergraduate and graduate curriculum, I will use this bulletin to share progress and key documents with you on this and other activities across the Office of the Registrar.

This month, we focus in particular on the work of the Academic Policy and Programme Development team, who have just launched a new website. The site provides you with access to current policy and regulations, contact details for key position holders such as Vice Principals for Teaching and Learning and Directors of Graduate Schools, plus information on the composition of academic committees.

The bulletin will also help to promote awareness of educational development initiatives at UCD.

I hope that you find the bulletin useful – please do let me have your feedback and indeed let me know of any topics that you would like to see covered in upcoming editions.

 

Philip

Dr. Philip Nolan,
Registrar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Photo of Philip Nolan
   
 

 

Blue line

Modularisation 2007

Following on from last year’s achievements, work is now ongoing to complete the modularisation of our programmes and to prepare the detail of all programmes to be offered in the 2007/08 academic year.

This work involves close co-operation between a wide range of staff across the University, including:

  • The Registrar’s Office

  • VPs for Teaching and Learning

  • Graduate School Directors

  • Heads of Schools and School Heads of Teaching and Learning

  • Module coordinators

  • Undergraduate Programme and Graduate School Boards

  • Undergraduate Programme Offices and Graduate School Administrators

 

Progress

Module Co-ordinators, Schools, Programme Boards and Graduate School Boards are now working together to decide on the range of undergraduate modules to be offered next year, changes to be made to current modules and overall programme structures*.

Representatives from my office (specifically representatives from the Academic Policy and Programme Development Unit and from the newly-created SySDEM team) are meeting in person with programme representatives on a programme-by-programme basis to discuss common issues and approaches in relation to:

  • Local timelines for gathering programme and module information

  • Module and programme information capture

  • Timetabling

  • Programme development

Progress will be monitored at regular meetings of the University Undergraduate Programmes Board (UUPB) and University Graduate Programmes Board (UGPB) (see below for a description of these boards)). The review of programme structures and module descriptors will include a particular emphasis on student workloads and assessment.

Timeline

A detailed timeline of activity has been prepared and agreed by the UUPB. This overall timeline allows for customised timelines on a programme by programme basis - dependent on the extent of the work to be carried out to complete modularisation.

The ultimate aim is to have module information complete and approved by Heads of School and programme structures approved by the ACEC by the 4th of April.

This week saw the launch of the Module Descriptor Form to module co-ordinators. Module co-ordinators will use these forms to record and submit full details of their modules to the central system.

Academic approval process – introducing the UUPB and UGPB

As was the case with last year’s modularisation work, all module information and programme structures will go through a rigorous approval process. Two new academic Boards have been set up to approve modularised programme structure and content before it is submitted for final approval to the Academic Council Executive Committee:

1: The University Undergraduate Programmes Board – UUPB (replaces UMPC)

The Board supports the work of the Academic Council Executive Committee in reviewing and making recommendations on the design, delivery, assessment and quality of the educational programmes within its remit, and by developing proposals on policy and regulations governing those programmes.

The remit of the Board includes all programmes governed by the Undergraduate Programmes Boards of the University.

Click here for an overview of the composition of this board.

2: The University Graduate Programmes Board - UGPB

The Board supports the work of the Academic Council Executive Committee in reviewing and making recommendations on the design, delivery, assessment and quality of the educational programmes within its remit, and by developing proposals on policy and regulations governing those programmes.

The remit of the Board includes all programmes governed by the College Graduate Schools and any graduate taught Programme Boards established by the University.

Click here for an overview of the composition of this board.

For more information on this topic, contact: elizabeth.noonan@ucd.ie
 

 

*KEY TERMS

Programme structures:
This term relates to how the elements of a programme come together and includes detail on the credit frameworks (see below), core, option and elective module lists and progression rules.

Credit Frameworks:
Describes the overall credit load for a programme and how that is broken down on a stage-by-stage basis in terms of the balance between programme (ie core and option) and elective credits.

Majors and Minors:
These terms refer to the proportion of credit allocated to each subject within a degree. Degrees can be configured into different combinations. For example, a student may choose to configure their degree as a ‘joint major’ – where they study two subjects of equal credit value (each normally 25 credits at each stage). Alternatively, they may choose a major/minor combination, where the major element attracts more credits than the minor (normally a 30/20 credit split).
 

 

<< BACK TO TOP

 

Blue line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 

 

Blue line

Assessment - Repeats Policy and key links

Here are links to two recent communications on repeats policy:

Other useful documents include:

<< BACK TO TOP

 

Blue line
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

Focus on: The Academic Policy and Programme Development unit - APPD

The Academic Policy & Programme Development Unit (APPD) was established last Autumn and replaces the Academic Administration unit. The unit is led by Elizabeth Noonan, Director of Academic Policy and Programme Development. APPD’s main functions are to:

  • Provide effective administrative support to the academic community

  • Develop and implement policy in collaboration with the academic community

  • Support the academic community in establishing required programme structures

  • Provide secretariat support to the University’s academic committees

During the last four months, APPD has been involved in the development of several academic policies: 

  • A draft Credit for Work Placement Policy is currently in its consultation phase and will be submitted for approval to Academic Council in February.  The policy has been developed through an advisory group led by Dr Bairbre Redmond (Vice-Principal for Teaching & Learning, College of Human Sciences) and provides a policy framework for the development and implementation of work placement within the Horizons curriculum. 

  • The Student Complaint Policy was approved by Academic Council on 6th December 2006, subject to minor refinement, and is due for full implementation in the near future.  This policy provides a clear and speedy mechanism for resolving issues of complaint from students by focusing on informal problem solving, but also allowing for a more formal approach where necessary.  UCD is currently training staff to become mediators to facilitate this policy. 

  • Policies currently under development include: a Code of Practice for Research Supervisors and Students; Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning and Elective Provision.
 

Over the next four months, APPD will be working closely and collaboratively with programmes, Schools and other areas of the Registrar’s Office to:

  • Enable all taught programmes to finalise their structures (credit frameworks, majors/minors and associated modules, timetables) and modularise their remaining stages for 2007/08

  • Enable Schools to confirm their module details

The Unit will also continue to support the policy and academic governance requirements for the implementation of the UCD Graduate Schools project

The Unit provides support for the following committees: Academic Council, Academic Council Executive, Teaching & Learning Board, University Undergraduate Programmes Board, University Graduate Programmes Board and Academic Audit Committee.


For more information on APPD, please visit the team website.

 

 

Log on to the APPD website for:

  • Current academic policy

  • Contact details for VPs for Teaching
    and Learning, Heads of Schools,
    Programme Board members,
    Programme Office Directors

  • List of academic committees and their members

  • APPD team members (under ‘contact us’)
 

<< BACK TO TOP

 
  Blue line
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

Programme and School Liaison – ensuring a tailored response


In our last bulletin we introduced the SySDEM group within the Registrar’s Office
The group has assigned a number of experienced staff to act as Programme and School liaison staff. They will work with a particular UCD School, Graduate School, Programme Office or Graduate School Office to understand their needs and enable the delivery of linked administrative services tailored to meet those needs.

Click here for a list of the Programme and School Liaison staff.


<< BACK TO TOP

Blue line
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

New Student Ambassador programme for school visits to UCD to replace March Open Days

UCD is operating in an increasingly competitive market for talented school leavers and mature students. We need to give our prospective students a clear and comprehensive view of what life is like at UCD in order to help them make an informed decision in relation to their future academic careers.

We know that as part of their decision making process, students like to visit our campus to see for themselves the environment in which they would be studying should they choose to come to us. Traditionally, we facilitated this through Open Days each March. Feedback has suggested however, there were some drawbacks to this approach:

    • The timing, some six weeks after prospective students submitted their CAO preferences, was in a sense "too late"
    • The campus seemed rather "empty"  as students were mostly off campus during the Easter study and fieldwork period
    • Visitors found it difficult to get a sufficient level of personal feel for UCD

To improve the experience for prospective students, we are changing to a system of visits that will be organised on a more individual basis. The visits will take students through a two-phased journey, tailored to their situation:

  • Fifth year and transition year students will be welcomed to UCD individually or as class groups, under the new Student Ambassador programme. The Ambassadors will work to understand the needs of groups or individuals interested in visiting the campus and will design and facilitate a tailored tour to meet those needs. There is also the opportunity for these students to sit in on lectures and to discuss their choices with staff and students.
  • Sixth year and mature students will be invited to Open Days in December. These will focus on UCD programmes, allowing students to speak to academics and current students representing each of the programmes and facilitating their consideration of their CAO choices.

Initial feedback from Schools is very encouraging and we believe that this approach will offer prospective students a much richer understanding of UCD.

For more information, please contact Kathy Murphy at 01 716 8703 or email ambassadors@ucd.ie.

<< BACK TO TOP

Blue line
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

Horizons website

Information on student ambassadors has been posted onto the Horizons website, which is aimed at prospective students. The site provides a wealth of information for would-be UCD students, including the most detailed programme and module information provided by any Irish university. Click here to view the site.

<< BACK TO TOP

Blue line

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

Positive feedback from Guidance Counsellors on new UCD information manual

A comprehensive manual has been prepared for Guidance Counsellors in Irish schools to help them answer the many questions posed by their students regarding third level education at UCD.

The manual provides general information on life at UCD; the UCD Horizons concept; the admissions process; as well as information on fees and grants and scholarship opportunities.

Crucially, it also provides very detailed information on each UCD programme. The manual sets out an overview of each programme (listed by DN code), discusses career and postgraduate opportunities and then goes on to list the modules attached to the programme.

Feedback from counsellors has been hugely positive. We believe that the manual will go a long way to presenting UCD as an attractive and compelling option for school leavers across the country.

For more information, contact Elish Carr at 01 716 8711 or by email at Elish.c.carr@ucd.ie

<< BACK TO TOP

 

Blue line

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue line

Student registration - consigning SRI Forms to history


Online Applications has gone live in the International Office. This project will enable all graduate (and non-standard undergraduate) applications to be received online and processed directly in Banner without need for an SRI form. This project is a key enabler of the Graduate School Initiative.

Online registration is simply a more efficient way to record student details onto Banner. It does not affect the academic requirement or process to approve entry to graduate programmes, which takes place through college Graduate School Boards (or college graduate taught programme boards) and the University Graduate Programme Boards.

Please contact applications@ucd.ie if you would like to start receiving online applications to your programme.

Click here to look at the Online Applications test site.

 

<< BACK TO TOP

Blue line
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Blue line

Image of communication

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:

feedback

<< BACK TO TOP

Blue line