Quality and Standards Committee

Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) assists the Education and Student Experience Committee (ESEC)  discharging its responsibilities for the University's academic quality and standards across all campuses. QSC also provides advice to University senior committees on the implications for quality and standards of any educational strategies and policies under development and on portfolio diversification. 

The full responsibilities of Quality and Standards Committee are available in the published Terms of Reference on the university’s governance pages (see section 4. related regulations, policies and procedures). In summary:

• To oversee compliance with academic regulations
• To oversee academic quality and standards monitoring processes (Annual Programme Review, Periodic Programme Review, External Examiners Annual Reports)

• To oversee the development and regular review of all academic Quality and Standards related regulations, policies, procedures and codes of practice at the University of Nottingham.   To review and approve, where justified, exemptions from university  regulations.

• To receive reports related to quality and standards, including from professional statutory and regulatory bodies and from reporting committees such as Degree Apprenticeship Committee and Credit and Grade Transfer Committee.
• To oversee and receive reports on the delivery of academic appeals and academic misconduct processes.
• To facilitate the dissemination of updates to regulations, policies and quality standards and provide training and guidance on regulatory requirements and their implications

3.2.1 Background

Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) is key to university processes and ensuring standards, with an appointed membership spanning all faculties and campuses with additional members from professional services in 'ex offico' posts (i.e. the role on QSC comes with the underlying role)

The process and terms of appointment is as follows:

• An outline person specification (see below) is available to prospective members.

• As vacancies become available University and Faculty networks will be used to advise academic staff a new member is required.

• Staff in schools may nominate themselves.

• Applications will be shortlisted and suitable candidates invited to interview. The term for service on the committee will be four years.Members cannot return to the Committee as representatives for 5 years after the end of their previous term; members can apply for the Chair and Deputy role within 5 years of a previous term.

3.2.2 Person specification

• Experience of Quality and Standards and related Quality Assurance structures
• Excellent knowledge of the Quality Manual and the University of Nottingham Qualifications Framework (UNQF)
• Awareness of University strategic objectives for education and student experience
• Ability to influence, and champion the committee’s interests and aims as appropriate
• Strong consultation and dissemination skills, with a knowledge of their faculty ESE structures
• Strong analytical and communication skills 
• Critical listening and appraisal skills
• Ability to work within a framework of collective decision-making in the best interests of the University
• Integrity to act without self-interest
• Willingness to contribute knowledge, experience and views
• Vision and commitment

3.2.3 Conditions

• To perform the required duties as listed below
• Approximately 150 hours per year allocated in Workload
• Prior agreement to be sought from line manager

3.3.1 Duties of Committee members

Responsibilities of Quality and Standards Committee (QSC) members include: 

• attendance and engagement in meetings of QSC to lead and participate in groups working on defined quality assurance activities under the oversight of QSC, including the review of allocated sections of the Quality Manual
• consultation and dissemination of QSC matters within the faculty, including attendance at Faculty ESE meetings
• membership of the pool of members constituting Academic Appeals Panels and Academic Misconduct Committees, often in the role of Chair. Determining also whether individual appeals and complaints warrant a hearing before a Panel
• to review and approve, where appropriate, requests for actions to be taken outside regulations, including student/applicant cases and approving nominations for the appointment of External Examiners outside the standard criteria
• participation in programme, school and campus level reviews as part of annual and periodic review processes, including the consideration of External Examiner Annual Reports.

3.3.2 Conflict of duties

Members of QSC may not be able to take on posts at school or faculty level which may sometimes be in conflict with the duties of the role as outlined above.

Members of QSC will not be given items for consideration which have been put forward for approval by their own School.

3.3.3 Support for Committee members

In all of the above activities, members can expect to receive full support and guidance from appropriate members of Registry and Academic Affairs and the Admissions team. 

Governance: University Committees Terms of Reference

How to propose changes to the Quality Manual 

How to submit an 'outside regulation' request to the Quality and Standards Committee