THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

MINUTES OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

17.07.06

Present:
Professor R Dalziel (Chair), Professors J Morrow, S Pretty, P Rishworth, L
Stefani, E Wainwright; Associate Professors J Manning, J Weller; Dr G Aitken,
Mrs G Brennan (for Dr W Clark)  Mrs M Goldstone, Mrs S Laurenson

Apologies:
Professors D McCarthy, D Ryan, C Triggs; Drs W Clark, N Dawson

In Attendance:
Associate Professor J Wilkes, Mrs D Debbage, Mrs M Rodrigues

1.
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING, 19.06.06

The minutes of the previous meeting, 19.06.06 were CONFIRMED
  2.  MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES 19.06.06


Item 2 (i) : Postgraduate Qualifications: Honours, Distinction, Merit

Education Committee received the responses to Memorandum from Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Academic) to Deans, 06.06.06 from the Faculties of Arts, Education, Law, Medical and
Health Sciences, Science and School of Theology.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that:

(i)
The University adopt a consistent standard across the University for the
award of Honours in Bachelors (Honours), Postgraduate and Masters
degrees

(ii)
The standard be:

First Class Honours: GPA of 7.0 or above

Second Class Honours (first division): GPA of 5.5 – 6.9

Second Class Honours (second division): GPA of 4.0 – 5.4

(iii)
Distinction and Merit for Postgraduate Diplomas and other qualifications
eligible for the award of Distinction and Merit be awarded consistently
across the University on the basis of:

Distinction: GPA of 7.0 or above

Merit: GPA of 5.5 – 6.9

(iv)
Rounding be permitted to one decimal place in determining the overall GPA
of a qualification (eg. 5.46 may be rounded to 5.5; 5.75 may not be rounded
to 6.0)

(v)
Department and Schools use either generic sets of descriptors to describe
grades awarded at the post-graduate level or develop descriptors which
clearly indicate what is expected to achieve a particular class of Honours,
Distinction or Merit (Note: Senate approved in March 2006 the development
of such descriptors by all Schools and Departments. Generic descriptors are
set out in Appendix 1 of the University Policy on the Assessment of Teaching
and Learning)

(vi)
These standards apply to students who enrol in post-graduate qualifications
from 1 January 2007 but that the Departments and Schools have the
discretion to determine the appropriate application so as not to
disadvantage students who are currently enrolled.
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PART I:  REVIEWS

./.  3.
Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the 2003 Review of the

Department of Physics

Education Committee received the Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of
the 2003 Review of the Department of Physics.

Associate Professor Chris Tindle, Head of Department attended the Committee and spoke to
the Report

RESOLVED

(i)    That the Head of the Department of Physics be thanked for the Report

   TO
RECOMMEND

(ii)
That the report be received as a final response to the Review of the
Department of Physics

./.  4.
Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the 2005 Review of the
Department of Psychology

Education Committee received the Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of
the 2005 Review of the Department of Psychology.

Associate Professor Fred Seymour, Head of Department attended the Committee and spoke
to the Report.

RESOLVED

(i)
That the Head of the Department of Psychology be thanked for the Report


(ii)

That the Department be asked to provide a further response to
Recommendations 1, 5-6, 10-12, 14, 17-18, 20-24 to the July 2007
meeting of Education Committee

PART II: ACADEMIC MATTERS AND REGULATIONS

./.  5.
Coursework and Examination Details, Summer School 2007

Education Committee received the Summer School Schedules from the Faculties of Arts,
Business and Economics, Creative Arts and Industries, Education, Engineering, Law and
Science.

The Committee noted that:

•
The Coursework and Examination Details, Summer School 2007 of the Faculties of
Arts, Education, Creative Arts and Industries, and Science require minor
amendments

•
The Chair will meet with Admission and Enrolment Office to discuss the format of
requests for Summer School details used this year

RESOLVED
that:

(i)
The Coursework and Examination Details for Summer School 2007 of the
Faculties of Arts, Education, Creative Arts and Industries and Science be
approved as amended

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(iii)
The Coursework and Examination Details for Summer School 2007 of the
Faculties of Business and Economics, and Law be approved

./.  6.
Regulation Amendment 2006/1890: Examination Regulations

Education Committee received the proposal to amend the examination regulations to provide
for digital submission of the PhD theses.

Members noted that the Board of Graduate Studies has recommended a change to Senate to
allow for the submission of one copy of PhD theses in a digital form.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that Regulation Amendment 2006/1890: Examinations
Regulations be approved

./.  7.
Regulation Amendment 2006/1910: Enrolment and Programme Regulations

Education Committee received the proposal to amend the regulations restricting study
workload for students who do not meet the Satisfactory Progress requirements to allow them
to retain eligibility for StudyLink loans and allowances.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that Regulation Amendment 2006/1910: Enrolment
and Programme Regulations be approved

./. 8.
Regulation Amendment 2006/1911: Academic Statutes and Regulations

Education Committee received the Memorandum from Group Manager, Academic
Administration, 01.06.06, together with the proposal to introduce a combined announcement
for the conferring of degrees and awarding of diplomas to enable those graduands who are
eligible to receive more than one qualification at Graduation to receive both simultaneously
during the ceremony.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that Regulation Amendment 2006/1911: Academic
Statutes and Regulations be approved

./.  9.
Regulation Amendment 2006/1912: Examination Regulations

Education Committee received the Memorandum from Group Manager, Academic
Administration, 07.06.06, together with the proposal to amend the deadline for an
application for a recount of marks as a consequence of the proposal to mail official result
notices only on request.

Education Committee noted that this proposal had been endorsed by Student Affairs
Committee and the Faculties.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that the Regulation Amendment 2006/1912:
Examinations Regulations be approved

./.  10.  University Entrance: Notification of University Entrance Standard Review Outcomes

Education Committee received Letter from New Zealand Qualifications Authority, 09.06.06
notifying the outcome of the review of the University Entrance Standard.

The Committee noted that:

•
Schools have expressed strong concerns about the impact of university entrance
requirements on school programmes

•
Changes to the approved subject list will apply for entry to university from 01.06.07

Noted

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./.  11.  Update on review of the Literacy requirements for University Entrance

  Education Committee received Memorandum from New Zealand Qualification Authority to
NZVCC, 27.04.06 updating the University on NZQA intentions with regard to the literacy
requirements for University Entrance.

Noted

12.  Adult and Community Education Courses

./.
(i) Centre for Continuing Education, Semester 2, 2006

Education Committee received the proposed Adult and Community Education Programme
2006, Semester Two, from the Centre for Continuing Education.

./.
(i) New Start, Continuing Education, Semester 2, 2006

Education Committee received the proposed Adult and Community Education Programme
2006, Semester Two, from the New Start, Continuing Education.

  RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND that the Adult and Community Education Programmes
for Semester 2, 2006 be approved

PART III:  REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES REPORTING TO EDUCATION COMMITTEE


13.  Sir Douglas Robb Lecture Sub-Committee, 20.06.06

Education Committee RECEIVED the report of the Robb Lecture Sub-Committee and
RESOLVED that Professor Yash Ghai be invited to present the 2007 Robb Lectures

./. 14.  Schools Liaison Committee, 14.06.06

RESOLVED that the report be received

./.  15.  Teaching and Learning Quality Committee, 13.06.06

RESOLVED

(i)
That the report be received

TO
RECOMMEND

(ii)
The establishment of a Teaching and Learning Technologies Committee with
the proposed terms of reference and membership

(iii)
That the amended policy on Teaching Excellence Awards be approved


   Taskforce on University Entrance, no report


Lecture Theatre Scheduling Taskforce, no report

PART IV:  REPORTS FROM BOARDS OF STUDIES

Board of Foundation Studies, no report

./.  16.   General Education, 09.06.06

RESOLVED that the report be received


Theology, no report

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PART V: APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND OUTSIDE BODIES, DELEGATED
          AUTHORITIES

No
appointments

17. OTHER
BUSINESS

No other business

APPROVED

Raewyn Dalziel
Chair
Education Committee


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Document Outline