Safety Net Policy for 2019/20

Cardiff University has announced a principle that no student should be disadvantaged in terms of their achievement as a result of the disruption.

In order to apply this principle, the University has created a Safety Net Policy to be administered by Examining Boards.

The Safety Net Policy aims to address both the disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (since 16 March 2020) and, where applicable, the disruption caused by strike action (November and December 2019, and February and March 2020).

The University has defined the purpose of the policy as being

to do what is possible to ensure that module marks and degree classifications are not affected by any potential dip in academic performance during the period of disruption, while at the same time ensuring degrees awarded by the University;

• are valid and reliable
• are of an equivalent standard to degrees awarded in previous years
• where applicable, fulfil the requirements of the relevant Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs).

In some circumstances, programmes that are subject to Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) requirements may be unable to apply all elements of this policy. The University is obliged to ensure that PSRBs are kept informed of any variations that are proposed to ensure that programmes maintain their accredited status and students are able to graduate with the appropriate skills/competencies. If it is not possible to apply all elements of this policy because of PSRB requirements, students must receive an explanation of how the safety net policy will be applied, including detailing the elements of the policy which will not apply.

The safety net policy details a package of measures. Some of these measures apply to all students, some to postgraduate students, some to non-final year students, and some to final year students. Students in different positions will have different concerns, so it is important that you look at the sections relevant to you and contact Student Advice if you have any questions.

Safety Net that applies to all taught students

Variation of teaching and assessments

The University has designed a framework to vary the arrangements for all students, with a view to ensuring that teaching and learning can be delivered remotely by the end of the academic year. The framework for variation permitted Heads of School to change the delivery of teaching and the method of assessment in response to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It also permitted Heads of School to make variations due to the disruption caused by industrial action (November and December 2019, and February and March 2020).

As far as we are aware, the details of adjustments have been finalised and should have been communicated to you by now. If not, or if you have any concerns about the adjustments, please contact Student Advice.

To ensure that students are not academically disadvantaged, the frameworks have provided Heads of School with the opportunity to ensure that:

• assessments used are appropriate, and where possible continue to test the module learning outcomes
• students are provided with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the programme learning outcomes
• assessments are conducted with care and due diligence and ensure that students are not academically disadvantaged.

Students who are unable to access the remote learning content or undertake remote assessments should have been advised to contact the School in order that other variations can be considered and, where appropriate and possible, actioned. Disabled students should have been advised to contact the Disability and Dyslexia Service if they require a review of reasonable adjustments as a result of the alternative arrangements.

Each Examining Board should be informed of the variations made to ensure that it is aware of the actions taken by the Head(s) of School, including those variations for individual students. The University has said that Students are not required to report these variations to the Examining Board.

All external examiners should also have been informed of the frameworks for variation and the actions the University has been taking. Schools should inform external examiners of all variation to assessments to ensure they have a clear understanding of the changes and how the programme learning outcomes remain protected.

Extenuating Circumstances

The University has created a new Extenuating Circumstances procedure, in light of the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus and, in particular, access to medical evidence. This procedure allows you to report circumstances that are impacting your ability to study and/or perform at your usual level and apply either for an extension or to defer an assessment until the re-sit period. One very important change to be aware of is that, unless your circumstances relate to a protected characteristic or caring responsibility, if you choose to sit or submit, the University will deem you as declaring yourself fit to do so. You can find out more about his new procedure and how it applies to you on our webpage.

Failed Modules

If you fail modules which are completed in the 2019/20 Spring semester (double semester modules – Autumn and Spring – and Spring semester modules), the Safety Net Policy says that the Examining Board should disregard that fail and automatically offer you a further 1st, 2nd or 3rd attempt (depending on what attempt you were on). This attempt should be offered at the next available opportunity for re-assessment, which in practice usually means the re-sit period in August.

For example, if you fail the module at the 1st attempt, the resit attempt number will remain at attempt 1 and the resit mark will not be capped at the minimum pass mark.

If you fail the module at the 2nd attempt, the resit attempt number will remain at attempt 2 and the mark will be capped at the minimum pass mark.

In addition, the resit rule, which normally prevents students from resitting modules before the start of the next academic session if they have failed more than a specified number of credits, will not apply in 2019/20. This means that you can resit an unlimited number of credits during the resit period.

Failed modules and normal condonement rules

The condonement rules will continue to apply as specified in the academic regulations. The Assessment Regulations specify that an Examining Board will award a student credit in module(s) to permit progression or an award where:

• for level 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 (undergraduate) credit a module mark of 35%, 36%, 37%, 38% or 39% has been achieved and the student's level/year result in that level/year of study, in all contributing modules, is at least 45%; or
• for level 7 (postgraduate taught) or 8 credit a module mark of 45%, 46%, 47%, 48% or 49% has been achieved and the student's level/year result in that level/year of study, in all contributing modules, is at least 55%;
• and other criteria, as specified in the assessment regulations, are satisfied.

Scaling

If the Examining Board does not feel that marks reflect the standard achieved by the cohort and attainment expectations in comparison with previous years, the Safety Net allows assessment or module marks to be scaled (adjusted either upwards or downwards).

Scaling does not apply to individual marks so, if marks are scaled, it will be for the whole cohort. The guidance given to Examining Boards on the scaling policy is quite complicated but, in summary, it says that if the Examining Board, using their collective academic judgment, feel that the standard of work does not match the grade achieved under the marking rubric, they can adjust the marks of the cohort to address the imbalance. The Board is not allowed to change marks simply because performance was not as expected. In order to protect the integrity of the award, the Board must still ensure that the standard achieved matches the grade given.

Discounting

The University’s regulations permit Examining Boards to discount module marks that have been affected by a defect or irregularity in the conduct of the assessment (up to a maximum 1/6th of the taught credit contributing to the calculation of the final mark) when calculating the final mark to classify a student’s award.

The current variation of assessments will not necessarily be considered a defect or irregularity. Examining Boards will receive reports on the conduct of assessments and will determine if there has been a defect or irregularity in the conduct of an assessment. If there has been a defect or irregularity in the conduct of the assessment which cannot be remedied by other means, the Examining Board may decide to discount module marks as provided for by the academic regulations.

Safety Net that applies only to final year undergraduate students

When degrees are classified, the Safety Net policy states that Examining Boards should use the higher of:

• your final mark at the end of the year (mark A); or
• your average mark, calculated for assessments completed on or before 16 March 2020 (mark B).

Your School should calculate and inform you of your mark B, before the Examining Board meets at the end of the academic year.

• Mark (A) is calculated using all module marks that contribute to your final award, weighted according to the classification rule for the programme and credit value of the modules.
• The average mark (B) will be calculated and weighted according to the classification rule and credit value of the assessment/modules, but using only marks of assessments/modules which contribute to the final award and that were completed before 16 March 2020.

The average mark (B) will be used as a reference point to determine a student’s potential outcome. A student will not receive a lower degree classification than that indicated by the average mark (B).

Secondary rule

Examining Boards also use a secondary rule to raise a student’s classification into a higher classification based on the profile of the student’s marks. The secondary rule is modified under the Safety Net Policy.

For 2019/20, if half or more of your credits, which contribute to the classification of your degree have been achieved in the higher classification boundary, the Safety Net states that the Examining Board should award you the higher classification. This includes credits achieved in your dissertation but not credits achieved during a year out/sandwich placement.

Safety Net that applies only to postgraduate taught students

Degree classification

For postgraduate taught students, the University has said that it is not possible to calculate an alternative average mark to be used as a reference point to determine a student’s potential outcome, as insufficient modules will have been completed. This means that postgraduate taught award classifications will be calculated in the usual way.

Secondary rule

The University is proposing that the modified secondary rule will ensure that postgraduate students are not disadvantaged. If you feel you have been disadvantaged, please contact Student Advice.

For 2019/20, if half or more of your credits, which contribute to the classification of your degree have been achieved in the higher classification boundary, the Safety Net states that the Examining Board should award you the higher classification. This includes credits achieved in your dissertation but not credits achieved during a year out/sandwich placement.

Progression

Heads of School may permit students to commence work on the dissertation before the completion of the taught stage of a Master’s programme if they are satisfied that the required prior learning has been completed.

Safety Net for students graduating after 2020

The University’s message at the moment is that, for non-final year students, they recognise marks for assessments this summer may contribute to your degree classification.

They have promised

that the safety net policy will be updated to ensure that the principle that no student should be disadvantaged in terms of their achievement as a result of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be applied for modules completed in 2019/20 which contribute to your final mark and degree classification.

There is no more detail offered yet on how the policy will be applied for the classification of degrees after this year, due to the level of uncertainty the University face over the coming weeks and months, and the possibility of further disruption to study. Further information should be communicated to you when it is available.

Contact Student Advice

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410