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Changes to Student Casework Framework

Changes to Chapter 6 including a new Academic Appeals procedure

Contents:

Academic Appeals Procedure
Updated summary of the Student Complaints Procedure
Updated summary of the Student Disciplinary Procedure
Student Academic Misconduct Procedure
Structural Changes to Chapter 6

Academic Appeals Procedure

The new Academic Appeals Procedure is a formal process in which students can request a review of a decision made by the Board of Examiners or an equivalent academic body (for Postgraduate Research Students) responsible for making decisions about student assessment, progression or award. 

The separation of the Academic Appeals Procedure from UCL’s Student Complaints Procedure allows for closer alignment with the sector and is developed in line with the Quality Assurance Agency - QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education Advice and Guidance, Concerns, Complaints and Appeals and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator - OIA Good Practice Framework: Handling Complaint and Appeals.

Summary of key changes

  • A change to the definition of an academic appeal to align with the sector.
  • Students are encouraged to seek clarification of an assessment or Exam Board decision from their Department or Faculty prior to submitting an appeal. 
  • Initial consideration of the appeal will be conducted by the Casework Team. If accepted, the appeal will proceed to the Stages of the Procedure which is paper-based unless further consideration is required by an Appeal Panel or subsequent Appeal Review Panel, also paper-based. The student can be invited to a hearing where it is considered appropriate.
  • A Stage 1 Appeal will be considered by an Appeal Assessor who can be a Faculty Tutor (or nominee) with no prior involvement. An Appeal Assessor may also be a member of the Casework Team. 
  • A Stage 2 Review will be considered by an Appeal Review Panel, its membership is as follows:
    • the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience) (Chair) 
    • a senior member of staff from a list approved by the Academic Committee, usually a Faculty Tutor or Faculty Graduate Tutor, as appropriate to the status of the appellant;
    • a senior member of staff usually a Director or Head from a Professional Services Division, Department or Faculty;
    • a Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer, UCL
  • The decisions that can be made at the Appeal and Appeal Review Stage is included for transparency and consistency in applying the Procedure.

Link: Chapter 6, Section 7: Academic Appeals Procedure

Updated summary of the Student Complaints Procedure

Summary of key changes

  • The Student Complaint Procedure is amended to take into consideration the separation of the combined Procedures removing references to academic appeals. 
  • The Student Casework Team conduct the consideration of a formal student complaint at Stage One to allow for a clearer escalation process at Stage Two for closer alignment with the OIA Good Practice Framework.

Link: Chapter 6, Section 8: Student Complaints Procedure

Updated summary of the Student Disciplinary Procedure

The membership of the Discipline Committee and Discipline Review Body within the Disciplinary Code and Procedure in Respect of Students has been updated. Panel membership external to UCL is removed to allow for closer alignment with the membership of the Academic Appeals and Student Complaints Procedures. The change to the membership is to provide consistency, transparency and fairness in the consideration of cases for students across the Procedures.

Link: Chapter 6, Section 2: Student Disciplinary Code and Procedure

Student Academic Misconduct Procedure

Summary of key changes

  • The Expedited Academic Misconduct Process has been extended for use in 2022-23.
  • A new penalty of Suspension has been introduced as the Academic Misconduct Panel adjudication level. Where a student is suspended from UCL they will forfeit any remaining first attempts, and return as a repeating student with those remaining assessments capped.
  • Some instances of Plagiarism, Collusion, or Falsification by Research students in work presented for upgrade or final examination are now included within the Student Academic Misconduct procedures with appropriate penalties.

Link: Chapter 6, Section 9: Student Academic Misconduct Procedure

Structural Changes to Chapter 6

Some structural changes have been made to Chapter 6 to accomodate removal of some sections and the new Academic Appeals Procedure. Full details are available on the Academic Manual Structural Changes for 2022-23 page.