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SENIOR TUTORS’ COMMITTEE 
 
A meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Commit ee was held at 2.15 p.m. on Friday 30 October 2020 via Zoom 
Conferencing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
Declaration of Interests 
There were none.  
 
2133 

Minutes and notes of previous meetings 
 
The Minutes of the formal meeting of 10 July 2020 and the informal meetings of 28 
 
September and 9 October 2020 were received and approved (STC.20.114, STC.20.115 and 
 
STC.20.116 respectively). 
2134    Matters arising and for report not itemised below 
There were none. 
 
2135 

Starred items 
  The Commit ee approved the starred items.  
2136 
Chair’s and Secretary’s Reports 
The Chair offered his renewed thanks to Senior Tutors for their ongoing work in the 
continually challenging circumstances of Covid-19.  
 
The Chair reported that the issue of students going home at the end of term was a live 
one but there was stil  a great deal of uncertainty; a recent Government task force meeting 
on the topic had been cancelled at very short notice. The University was lobbying hard to 
ensure that students were not adversely affected, with the use of asymptomatic testing 
already in place at Cambridge to mitigate the onward spread of infection  being 
emphasised. 
 
The matter of students returning in January was also a topic of significant concern, with 
the Chair noting that the collegiate University would be subject to the political and legal 
regime in place at the time. A meeting of the University Senior Leadership Team including 
Heads of School had taken place the previous day and there had been unanimous 
support for the continuance of the existing approach regarding residence –  i.e. that 
students were expected to continue to be resident unless there were travel or ISID issues. 
The Committee noted that there was no intention to change this policy, but that it would 
be kept under review. 
 


2137    Principal items of business 
 2137.1  Covid-related business 
 
2137.1.1  Reports from recent meetings 
 
 reported on the following: 
•  That the Agile Project Team meetings, which had been meeting three times a week at the 
beginning of term, was now only meeting weekly because the testing programme was 
mainly running smoothly. Senior Tutors with concerns or questions about the testing 
programmes were encouraged to continue to send them to 
 so that 
these could be considered by the Agile Project Team.  
•  That the University was publishing data from the testing programmes via the Stay Safe 
Cambridge website. The data from the preceding week had indicated a slight decrease in 
infection rates. Rates of infection to date had been lower than expected.  
•  That it was anticipated that asymptomatic testing would be increased to include swabs 
from half of household members (up from two) in the near future and this would likely 
continue to increase as term progressed. More information would be forthcoming.  
 
2137.1.2  Creation of the Covid Incident Management Team (CIMT)  
The Committee noted that the CIMT had been established the proceeding week as part of the 
latest iteration of the University’s Response  Plan.  The Team had met every week  since  its 
establishment and would continue to do so until the end of Term. The main responsibility of the 
Team was to work with Colleges  as they experienced outbreaks  (ie  two or more  connected 
cases). Core membership included 
 as the Head of the Covid Operations Centre, 
, OEAC, University and Public Health England representatives. It was thought that 
factors leading to outbreaks were unauthorised social gatherings/parties, sports teams socialising 
and the incorrect use of bathrooms and kitchens. It was understood that PHE had been impressed 
with the way the Collegiate University was handling cases and outbreaks, noting that the level of 
compliance with self-isolation rules was infinitely higher amongst the student population than the 
general population. 
 Lessons learned were shared from three Colleges who had experienced recent outbreaks. One 
College had experienced the first significant outbreak, and their experience had considerably 
informed the establishment and approach of the CIMT.  
 
Experience of the CIMT was that meetings with Colleges had been very helpful, supportive and 
constructive. 
 
A recurring theme was the need to consider the wellbeing and mental health of self-isolators 
and suggestions to support this included: 
•  The importance of access to outdoor space. One College with larger scale self-isolation 
instituted a rota so that students did not crowd in the hallways. 
•  The need for clarity about when a student’s self-isolation was due to end; it was helpful, 
but difficult, to give this at the outset. 
•  Students appreciated a town hall style meeting at which the Senior Tutor and/or Bursar 
and/or Head of House provided an explanation of the situation, an expression of support 
and the opportunity to answer questions. 
•  Organising groups of supporters amongst student’s peers to catch up with self-isolators 
via Zoom was a helpful way to reduce the burden on Tutors. 
•  It was useful to note that the Counselling service was experiencing normal demand for 
the season so waiting lists remained relatively short  (c. 2 weeks). Online counsel ing 
continued to be offered. 
•  The SU would be running a weekly self-isolation session every Thursday 4.30 – 5.30pm. 
Senior Tutors were encouraged to communicate this message to their students. 
•  The Committee was reminded of ongoing student mental health projects provided in 
 


partnership with Mind: https://www.cpslmind.org.uk/university-students/ 
 
The Bursar representative reported that Bursars involved in CIMT meetings had also reported 
the meetings were constructive and useful for Colleges.  
 
2137.1.3  Current rates of infection amongst student population and movement within tiers 
The data on rates of infection for w/c 26 October had not been released at the time of the 
meeting.  
 
Covid Gold would be reviewing the University’s tier status weekly. It was currently at yel ow, 
and this would continue but under close monitoring of rates of infection within the University 
and the city itself.   
 
2137.1.4  Recently circulated documents 
  A number of documents  had been circulated by email but were  provided again for 
  information and ease of reference: 
a)  A follow-up protocol for instances where multiple positive cases are identified in 
Colleges (STC.20.117). 
b)  The ‘Response Framework’ approved by Covid-19 Gold Team as the new appendix 
5 of the collegiate University’s Outbreak Response Plan (STC.20.118) 
c)  The Outbreak Communications Plan (which is work in progress) and which will also 
form an appendix to the Response Plan (STC.20.119) 
d)  The update from 
 on the Covid Nudging Project (STC.20.120 
and STC.20.121) 
 
2137.2  Foundation Year Admissions Proposal 
A paper outlining the proposed principles of admission to the Foundation Year Programme 
was received (STC.20.122). 
, Foundation Year Course Director, was welcomed to 
the meeting and introduced the paper. 
 
The Commit ee noted that UAC, Admissions Forum and GBEC had considered and endorsed 
the proposed principles of admission. The Commit ee agreed to approve the principles set out 
within STC.20.122.  
 
The Commit ee was also asked to consider and decide on the matter of College preference 
for applicants to the Foundation Year Programme as outlined in STC.20.123. The Committee 
recorded its preference for applicants to be able to make an open application or express a 
preference for one College in the admissions process. 
 
The Committee noted that the implementation of the Foundation Year was proceeding to the 
agreed timeline. The Chair expressed renewed thanks to 
 for presenting the papers and 
for her continued efforts to drive the Programme’s implementation forward. 
 
2137.3  Admissions 2021-22 
  A paper outlining the plans for the current admissions round was received for information 
  (STC.20.124). 
 
The Commit ee received a helpful summary of all the work being undertaken in preparation for 
the current admissions round. Amongst a number of points raised, the following were noted:  
•  Moodle courses were being developed to deliver interview training which it was hoped 
would be available by 11th November. 
•  The Winter Pool had been scheduled for 13-15th January 2021;  this allows for an 
extended period of interviewing if needed to accommodate additional pre-Christmas load.  
•  It was unclear if formal exams would run in summer 2021 and concerns raised that there 
 


would be additional numbers of A*s awarded. Colleges were encouraged to make lower 
numbers of offers in the current round; it was thought that 1.05 would be a more realistic 
cover ratio than the higher rates in previous years.  
•  A policy decision regarding widening the scope for enhanced adjustment would be brought 
to the next meetings of the Admissions Forum and STC. As WP applicants were likely to 
be particularly affected by Covid-19, it was considered especially important to ensure 
Colleges had means of adjusting for this. 
•  On the topic of grade inflation, it was noted that reducing cover ratios might lead towards 
conservatism in selection, and this may not be WP and APP-friendly. It was noted that if 
this was to be a long-term issue, it ought to be revisited under the Strategic Review of UG 
Admissions. 
•  A report on the progress of the Strategic Review of UG Admissions was expected towards 
the end of November.  Offer levels/ranges would be considered within the scope of the 
review but it would take time to work through  the materials.  Offer levels for 2021-22 
admission had already been advertised, so it would not be possible to change them for 
the current round.  
 
2137.4  Funding for Admissions Assessments from 2021 
A revised paper outlining two options for moving the funding of admissions assessment to a 
more sustainable footing in subsequent admissions cycles was received (STC.20.125). The 
Commit ee engaged in a lively discussion, with serious concerns raised about both options. 
 
Amongst several points raised, the following were noted:  
•  The impact of Covid-19 had not been foreseen and there was increased awareness 
of the financial demands that Col eges were facing.  
•  There had been a 30% increase in the numbers of overseas applicants for the current 
round. 
•  There was clearly interest from other HEIs  re option b (movement to share 
assessments with other HE institutions, with candidates then charged per entry, as in 
the current BMAT model, but offering fee waivers to low income students), but there 
were serious concerns about sequencing and ensuring other HEIs commit ed at the 
outset.  
•  The issue of Oxford’s position (i.e. that they had publicly commit ed not to charge for 
pre-interview assessments) meant that Cambridge would be placed at a disadvantage 
and inroads made re access would likely be lost. 
•  Serious concerns were raised about the WP implications and potential reputational 
damage to the Collegiate University.  
•  The idea of charging specific cohorts of applicants (UK independent school, overseas, 
etc) was thought unpalatable to a significant number of Senior Tutors. 
•  Other income streams  outside the levies envelope  were  also  discussed, with the 
possibility of approaching CUDAR and College Development Directors mooted.  
•  The possibility of running the tests using a dif erent provider was also suggested, but 
this option had already  been considered and discounted. It was indicated that  the 
infrastructure and logistics  of the operation were significant,  and  the tests did not 
generate profit for Cambridge Assessment. So it was suggested that finding another 
provider that would offer the tests for less was not be realistic.  
•  A third option of moving just the Cambridge Test of Mathematics for University 
Admission  (CTMUA)  to a publicly funded model was suggested as a pilot. It was 
understood that many other HEIs already used it.  
 
No consensus could be reached during the meeting and it was noted that the matter would 
need to be decided upon at the Commit ee’s next meeting (ie before the end of Michaelmas 
Term).  The Director of UG Admissions urged Senior Tutors to discuss the matter urgently 
 


with their Bursar,  Head of House and Development Director to allow for a full and frank 
exchange of views across intercol egiate fora.  
ACTION: All Senior Tutors 
 
The Chair expressed gratitude on behalf of the Committee to the Director of UG Admissions for 
progressing this work. 
 
2137.5  Skil s Strategy 2020-25 
The Commit ee was reminded that the Access and Participation Plan had specified a review 
of skil s provision during 2019-20 in order to develop a new strategy for student academic, 
employability and life skil s. During 2019-20, an Advisory Group (including Senior Tutor and 
student members) had been convened to guide the development of a new Skil s Strategy. At 
its final meeting, the Advisory Group reviewed a series of premises and priorities to be used 
to develop a draft Skil s Strategy (2020-25) and to inform an associated action plan (circulated 
as STC.20.126)
 
The Commit ee noted that more work was required but were happy to offer broad support for 
the general direction of travel.  Thanks were expressed to 
 and the Advisory 
Group for the work undertaken thus far. An invitation was made for specific concerns and 
comments to be sent directly to 
.  
 
2137.6  College Transfer Procedures 
At the 28 September 2020 informal meeting of Senior Tutors, it had been agreed that the 
College Transfer Procedures would be suspended until the division of Michaelmas Term 
2020 in the first instance as a result of the ongoing upheaval arising from Covid-19. The 
Panel, in trying to resolve outstanding cases, had found that Colleges were still finding it 
dif icult to accept transfers and the Commit ee agreed to approve a further extension to the 
suspension of the formal procedures until the end of Michaelmas Term. It was noted that 
suspension of the formal procedures did not preclude informal transfers being negotiated 
between Col eges. 
 
2138    Reports by the Chairs of the Standing Committees 
 
2138.1   Business Commit ee 
The Notes of the meeting held on 7 October 2020 were received (STC.20.127). Attention 
was drawn to the fol owing items: 
 
2138.1.2  Minutes 4.1 and 4.2: Membership of Standing and External Commit ees 
  The Commit ee approved the following appointments: 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
2138.1.3  Minute 4.4: UG Admissions Complaints Panel 
  The Commit ee approved  the changes to the terms of reference of the UG Admissions 
Complaints Panel (STC.20.128). It was agreed that the suggested statement outlining where 
liability for the Panel rested should be included at the earliest opportunity. 
ACTION: 
 
 
2138.1.4  STC Commit ee Representation Review 
The Commit ee noted that, in recognition of the ever-increasing burden of commit ee 
representation for Senior Tutors, the Standing Commit ee had agreed to conduct a review of 
commit ee membership with a view to rationalising representation. A matrix of Senior Tutor 
commit ee membership was received (STC.20.129) and Senior Tutors were asked to reflect 
on the following questions with respect to commit ees attended on behalf of STC: 
•  That the commit ees they attended were accurately represented on the matrix. 
•  To consider whether it was a valuable use of their time to attend these commit ees on 
behalf of STC – i.e. was there important business discussed that had significance for 
Senior Tutors or to which they contributed significantly on STC’s behalf. 
•  To consider whether there was specific value that they brought to the Commit ee’s 
discussion in their attendance as a Senior Tutor, or whether another Col ege officer 
might be as well or better placed to contribute insteadIf they served on a commit ee 
with an/other Senior Tutor/s, to consider if there was a good reason for more than one 
Senior Tutor representing STC. 
•  To consider, in their view, whether the Commit ee was doing a useful and necessary 
job.  
 
Responses were to be provided to the administrative secretary via 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx.xx by the 4 December 2020. ACTION: All Senior Tutors 
 
 
2138.2  Student Finance and Welfare 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2020 were received (STC.20.130). Attention 
  was drawn to the fol owing items: 
 
2138.2.2  Minute 4.3: AccessAble 
  The Commit ee received a proposal from AccessAble (STC.20.131) setting out the approach 
and pricing for producing detailed access guides for the Colleges which would allow visitors 
to know what access would be like when they visited Colleges. The Commit ee supported the 
proposal in principle, noting that implementation would be at individual College discretion. 
Senior Tutors were encouraged to take the proposals back to their Governing Bodies for 
consideration.  
ACTION: All Senior Tutors 
 
 


2138.2.3  Minute 4.4: Cambridge Bursary Scheme 
Thanks were expressed to 
 for assessing all the applications. 
The Commit ee further noted that the Strategic Working Group on Access and Participation had 
agreed to close the scheme and that no further applications would be accepted. 
 
2138.2.4  Minute 4.8: Disclosure and Barring Service 
The Commit ee approved the changes to the template Safeguarding policy (STC.20.132), 
noting that the document would remain under review. 
 
2138.2.5  Minute 5: Social Distancing Guidelines from CSU 
A paper and recommendations from CSU on fair enforcement of College codes of conduct in 
the context of Covid-19  was received (STC.20.133).  The Commit ee noted  the Standing 
Commit ee’s discussion and that issues highlighted in the paper were most likely a matter of 
language and presentation rather than practiceSenior Tutors were asked to consider their 
communications carefully, and in particular to ensure that students were ful y aware that no 
disciplinary action would be taken against anyone who reported instances of harassment 
and/or sexual misconduct occurring during breaches of Covid-related distancing guidelines. 
ACTION: All Senior Tutors 
2138.3  Education 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2020 are enclosed (STC.20.134). Attention 
was drawn to the fol owing items: 
 
2138.3.2  Minute ED.142-148/20: Certificate in Pre-Medical Studies 
For its part, the Commit ee  supported  the direction of travel outlined within the proposal to 
deliver a Certificate in Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies (STC.20.135). The Commit ee 
noted that there were potential student loan implications for students. Furthermore, that the 
Mature Strategy Group had considered the proposal at its recent meeting and that matters 
relating to admissions may need to be brought back for consideration by the Admissions 
Forum.  
 
2138.3.3  Minute ED.158-162/20: Update on Changes to Student Immigration 
The Commit ee noted that 
, Head of the International Student Of ice had 
presented an update to the  Standing Commit ee on changes to student immigration 
regulations. The Commit ee’s attention was particularly drawn to the Home Of ice change 
from monitoring attendance to monitoring engagement. It was understood that a review of 
current procedures was planned, and further details would be forthcoming. Guidance recently 
drafted by 
 for the Graduate Tutors’ Commit ee was also circulated as a helpful 
summary (STC.20.136). 
 2138.3.4  Minute ED.165-167/20: Publication of Class-Lists and Provision of Exams Data for Coleges 
Noting the Standing Commit ee’s discussion, the Commit ee  received  the  update  on 
publication of Class Lists and the provision of exams data for Col eges (STC.20.137). 
 
2138.4   Graduate Tutors 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020 were received (STC.20.138). Attention 
was drawn to the fol owing item: 
 
2138.4.2  Minute 20.30.1: Issues relating to remote study 
The Commit ee noted the issues raised and that this had been highlighted to the Senior PVC 
for Education and Head of Education Services. A reminder to Faculties and Departments had 
since been issued and it was expected that this would resolve the issue; Senior Tutors were 
urged to follow up with the Senior PVC for Education with any further concerns.  
 


 
 
2139    Director of Undergraduate Admissions business 
 
2139.1   Admissions Forum 
The Minutes of the Admissions Forum meeting held on 12 August 2020 were received 
(STC.20.139) for information.  
 
2139.2  Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2020 were received (STC.20.140) for 
  information.  
 
2140    Reports from other bodies (

 
2140.1  Colleges’ Committee 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 July were received and noted (STC.20.141). 
 
2140.2  Colleges’ Standing Commit ee 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October were received and noted (STC.20.142). 
 
2141 
 Other business 
 
2141.1   Student mental health projects 
Further to the recent email circulated by 
, the Commit ee was reminded of 
two ongoing collaborations with MIND aimed at supporting student mental health: 
 
  Tools and Techniques for Student Mental Health Workshops Good Mood Café and Calm 
  Spaces 
 
Leaflets were received (STC.20.143 and STC.20.144 respectively), and Senior Tutors were 
encouraged to promote the opportunities widely to students. Suggested wording to include 
within communications to students has been drafted to support this  (STC.20.145)  and a 
referral pack had been created for those in College welfare roles who wanted to  understand 
more about the projects and how to refer students (STC.20.146). 
 
2141.2  MML Students repayment of Erasmus Grant 
A query was raised about bursary students having been asked to repay an Erasmus grant by 
MML, with an implication from the Faculty that the College would pick up the tab. It was 
understood that 20-30 students had been approached for repayment. It was agreed that 
further investigation was required and the Executive Secretary would take the mat er up with 
the Head of the International Student Team and the Faculty.  
ACTION: 
 
 
2141.3  Resources for students: remote working study skil s 
A query was raised about whether there were any resources for student study skil s on 
managing remote working. It was understood that some librarians were running workshops 
and that some general guidance was expected from CCTL but the Executive Secretary 
agreed to follow up with CCTL. 
ACTION: 
 
 

2141.4  Supervisions and movement through tiers 
 


A query was raised about how face-to-face supervisions would be prioritised as the collegiate 
University moved through the tiers. The Chair noted that the assumption from the University 
had been that non-essential in-person teaching included all supervisions and that these would 
therefore all go online as the University moved through the tiers. Senior Tutors were asked to 
advise the Executive Secretary should there be any subjects for which the continuation of in-
person supervisions would be considered essential.  
ACTION: Senior Tutors 
 
The Commit ee discussed the extent to which supervisions were already being held online. It 
was agreed that this was a rapidly changing picture and  varied across Col eges.  Several 
Colleges had undertaken straw polls which had indicated a considerable proportion (50-100%) 
of supervisions had already shifted online.  
 
2142 

Next meeting 
The Commit ee noted that the next meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Commit ee would take place 
at 2.15pm on 27 November 2020A link to join the Zoom cal  would be circulated with papers. 
 


SENIOR TUTORS’ COMMITTEE 
 
A meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Commit ee was held at 2.15 p.m. on Friday 27 November 2020 via 
Zoom Conferencing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
2144   
Declaration of Interests 
 
There were none.  
 
2145   

Minutes and notes of previous meetings 
The Minutes of the meeting of 30 October 2020  were received and approved 
(STC.20.148). 
2146   
Matters arising and for report not itemised below 
   
There were none.  
 
2147   

Starred items 
  The Commit ee unstarred agenda  item 8.1.1:  AccessAble. Other starred items were 
approved. 
2148   
Chair’s and Secretary’s Reports 
 
 

Secretary’s Report 
The Secretary reminded the Commit ee that a number of drafts had been circulated in 
relation to two issues: 1) ensuring students were not discouraged from reporting incidents 
of misconduct/harassment at an event at which they may have breached Covid social 
distancing guidelines and 2) considering sympathetical y the position of those students 
who had left early before the second lockdown without permission. Senior Tutors had been 
agreed on the overarching principles. However, it had not been possible to gain consensus 
on the exact phrasing to be used to allow for agreement of a joint statement. The Secretary 
encouraged al  Col eges to use the drafts if they found them helpful, in whatever form they 
felt appropriate, and if they so wished to publish their own statements based on the agreed 
principles.  
 
The Commit ee was alerted to the issue of workload and deadlines that had been raised 
with the Secretary and others by the CSU sabbatical officers on behalf of students. Senior 
Tutors were encouraged to approach issues of deadlines and workload with flexibility and 
to promote this principle to DoS and Supervisors.   
 


 
The Commit ee was reminded that candidates for certain categories of University Council 
membership would be the subject of an imminent vote by members of the Regent House. 
Commit ee members noted that 
 was standing for election and that it would be 
very beneficial to have Senior Tutor representation on the Council.   
 
2149   
Principal items of business 
 
2149.1 
Covid-related business 
   
 
The Chair expressed appreciation to 
 for all his work in representing Senior 
Tutors on Covid related commit ees and matters.  
 
 reported on a number of matters. The following points were noted:  
• 
Senior Tutors were urged to encourage students to complete the recent survey 
that had been distributed by the University on behalf of PHE. It was thought this 
would yield important data. The initial response rate had been very encouraging.   
• 
That this data would feed into a large genomics project being led by 
 
 (COG-UK) which was already yielding very interesting information 
about the way in which the virus had been transmit ed amongst students.   
• 
That a spike in the rate of infection amongst the student population was thought 
to have resulted from two significant dates: Halloween and the day before the 
second national lockdown had come into force. 
• 
The infection rate since this spike had been reducing, with very few positive 
results arising from the asymptomatic screening programme in the preceding 
week. 
• 
That PHE had been impressed at how well the collegiate University had 
responded to the guidelines and restrictions, particularly students.   
• 
That Cambridge would be placed in tier two of government  restrictions post-
lockdown and that marshals and a police presence would be increased across 
the city to encourage compliance.  
• 
That many documents had been circulated in relation to end of term 
arrangements. PHE had expressed a particular concern for the wellbeing and 
mental health of students who would remain in Cambridge during the Christmas 
vacation. Senior Tutors were encouraged to continue efforts in planning support 
for such students. In particular PHE had indicated they were supportive of a 
proposal for Col eges to introduce temporary household bubbles for those 
remaining. PHE had thought the risks of spreading infection that this would 
introduce were low compared to the benefits this would bring to those students 
likely to be feeling particularly isolated over the period. It was however noted that 
the circumstances of each College and how they operated over this period would 
likely vary considerably. 
• 
That there was stil  a good deal of uncertainty relating to arrangements for 
students return in LT. There were a number of options being mooted but Russel  
Group and UUK representatives were urging Government to ensure any 
approach taken would not target restrictions for students beyond those imposed 
on the general population. 
• 
That there was no direct evidence available on the level of transmission resulting 
from supervisions, but that was likely because the data had not been collected 
in sufficient detail. It was thought this may become clearer as a result of the PH 
survey.  Good ventilation was noted to be key in reducing the likelihood of 
transmission. 
 
 


 
2149.2 
Admissions 2021-22 
   
The Director of UG Admissions and Associate Secretary for Admissions noted the following: 
• 
That an expression of thanks should be noted to 
, her colleagues 
in the CAO Admissions and Data Services Team and the Digital Admissions 
and Moodle teams at UIS for their efforts in supporting this work.  
• 
That all pre-interview assessments had been completed. At-interview 
assessments were ongoing. 
• 
That Moodle refresher training for experienced interviews had been running, 
together with face to face training for new interviewers. 
• 
That overseas interviews were running and  that  unexpectedly most of the 
issues had arisen as a result of problems with eduroam. This had raised some 
concerns about the delivery of domestic interviews due to begin in earnest in 
the second week of December. 
• 
That, noting the limitation of online interviewing particularly in STEM subjects, 
hopes were expressed by the Associate Secretary that face to face interviewing 
would resume the following year. 
 2149.3  Funding for Admissions Assessments from 2021 (Minute 2137.4, 30 October 2020) 
The Commit ee was reminded that a letter was circulated to all senior College officers on 9 
November 2020, on behalf of the Senior Officers of the Colleges’, Bursars’ and Senior Tutors’ 
Committees (received as STC.20.149).   
 
 Ongoing discussion since the previous meeting  in various fora including SWAP had 
highlighted that there remained significant reservations about the introduction of charging 
applicants to take pre-interview assessments in 2021 (as had been mandated by the 
Colleges’ Committee in December 2019). It was recognised that this cut across the progress 
of the Strategic Review of Outreach and Admissions, and also that it ran counter to the very 
positive widening participation work being undertaking, not least the Foundation Year, which 
was due to be formal y launched in January 2021. 
 
 In light of this, the Secretary proposed that the decision  on the future of admissions 
assessments be suspended for one year and instead the Committee consider agreeing to: 
 
a)  increasing the charge for Overseas applications by, say, £30 (i.e. from c.£30 to 
c.£60); 
b)  adopting the TMUA rather than the CTMUA (TMUA was already a charged test, 
which  was provided free of charge as CTMUA for growing numbers of 
Computer Science applicants); and 
c)  continuing to restrict testing to those subjects where they were demonstrably 
useful for deselection. 
 
Senior Tutors were invited to provide feedback on this proposal and their internal College 
discussions and amongst a number of points raised the following were noted: 
 
• 
That another year’s  extension  caused concern to some  members of the 
Committee.  
• 
That despite this unease, imposing radical reform at a time when GCSEs were 
in flux and grade inflation would continue was also considered imprudent.   
• 
That value for money needed to be scrutinised more closely, particularly around 
the logistics of delivering the tests which was where most of the costs arose.  
• 
That it was understood that around half of applicants failed to meet the standard 
university of er level and consequently the possible  introduction of Post 
Qualification Admission (PQA) may have a significant impact on the number of 
 


applicants and therefore the numbers of tests and the associated costs. (Post-
qualification offer-making would have no material impact, however). Members 
were keen to see how this and other sector-wide developments played out 
before agreeing a permanent arrangement for admissions assessments. 
• 
That  the  chargeable public examination model proposed at the previous 
meeting might stil  warrant further exploration; the concerns raised previously 
around the optics of such a model might perhaps be addressed by introducing 
rebates/waivers for WP candidates.  
• 
That one member had concerns about the impact of the cost of the TMUA on 
overseas applicants who would also be paying double  the  application fees 
under the above proposals. 
• 
That reversing the decision on charging for the test would require arguments to 
be presented to Col eges' Commit ee to reverse its decision in 2018.  
 
It was concluded that the Director of Undergraduate Admissions would draft a brief paper to 
outline the projected costs of assessments continuing without any change, together with the 
projected cost savings which might be achieved by enacting a) and b) above. The draft would 
be circulated to Senior Tutors to allow for consultation and discussion between Senior College 
Officers ahead of the Colleges’ Committee meeting on 5 December 2020. 
ACTION: Director of Undergraduate Admissions 
 2149.4  Strategic Review on Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach 
  The Executive Summary of the Interim Report was received as STC.20.150, with the full 
report available on the SharePoint site.  
 
  The Secretary noted that other documents were in the pipeline, including a proposed model 
for the reallocation of applicants across Colleges prior to interview which it was thought would 
cause concern for a number of Colleges given it would not allow them to assess the full 
gathered field of applicants naming them as first choice College. 
 
  Two Working Groups had been convened: one to consider Outreach proposals — this was 
thought to be progressing well  — and the other reviewing admissions processes. The 
Secretary noted that the Strategic Review had yet to address a number of items considered 
critical to Colleges, including governance, more extensive agreed thresholds for deselection, 
IT systems, and cost efficiencies. It was understood that these concerns had been fed back 
to the Review Group. 
 
2149.5 
Strategic Review of Student Mental Health Provision across Col egiate Cambridge  
  A paper outlining the aims, objectives and proposed governance arrangements for the 
Strategic Review of Student Mental Health Provision was received as STC.20.151. The 
Commit ee endorsed the direction of travel and approved the appointment of 
 
 as Senior Tutor representatives on the Steering Group.  
 
The Commit ee noted that the issue of out of hours mental health support had been 
discussed at the Senior Tutors’ Breakfast Meeting in February 2020 and the Head of 
Wellbeing, 
, was keen to seek Senior Tutors’ views on what demand 
there was for out of hours support for Colleges. 
 would contact Senior Tutors 
directly for comment. 
 
2149.6      Joint Working Group on Size and Shape  
   
A note on a meeting between the Vice-Chancel or, the Chair of the Colleges’ Committee 
and the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancel or about the Size and Shape Working Group  was 
received as STC.20.152a. The note was intended to identify and highlight  points of 
agreement between the Colleges and the University. A further paper outlining answers 
to a series of questions on the matter that College members of the Working Group had 
 


provided was also received as STC.20.152b. 
 
The Secretary reported that there was continued divergence in aspirations around one-
year postgraduate taught versus research/doctoral student numbers with the Schools 
broadly promoting growth in the former and Col eges aspiring to growth in the latter.  
 
It was understood that these papers would provide the basis on which discussions would 
continue.  
 
2149.7 
Assessment ET2021 
 
, Head of Education Quality and Policy Of ice, provided  a brief update on 
planning and arrangements for assessment in Easter Term 2021.  It was noted that al  
summative assessment would be running, with the majority of examinations taking place 
online. A few in-person exams would be held with the exceptional agreement of GBEC, 
and Faculties and Departments with approved in-person exams had had to provide a 
plan b) in the event that in-person exams were once again not possible. It was noted that 
most students should have been notified by their Faculty or Department with confirmation 
of assessment arrangements already. It was understood that the Exams Of ice had 
shared the details of agreed assessment arrangements with College Tutorial Of ices and 
members of the Commit ee requested a synopsis to be held via a stable URL that would 
allow Senior Tutors to view the arrangements. 
 agreed to look into the feasibility 
of this for the New Year. 
ACTION: 
    
  The Chair thanked 
 and her team for the considerable ef orts they had made to 
ensure robust assessment arrangements would be in place across the institution.  
 
 
2150   
Director of Undergraduate Admissions business 
 
2150.1 
Admissions Forum 
  The Minutes of the Admissions Forum meeting held on 16 October 2020 were received 
as (STC.20.153). At ention was drawn to the following item:   
 
2150.1.1   Minute 20/118 Adjustment 2021: Criteria 
  The Committee noted the discussion on widening the scope of UCAS Adjustment for summer 
2021. This had further been discussed at the November Admissions Forum meeting, which 
narrowly voted in favour of the criteria being widened to two flags rather than three (which 
would  increase the size of the potential Adjustment field by c. 81% as il ustrated in the 
circulated paper STC.20.154). The Forum voted  overwhelmingly in favour of including 
verified FSM status as a standalone flag, as with the In Care flag and also recommended the 
discontinuation of the Open Offers scheme. 
 
  The Committee discussed the recommendations in detail and agreed that the verified free 
school meals status would be included as a standalone flag but that the criteria being widened 
to two flags rather than three (which would increase the size of the potential Adjustment field 
by c. 81%) should not be progressed. The Committee was also supportive of discontinuing 
the Open Offers scheme on the grounds  that Adjustment met the same goals more 
effectively. 
 
2150.1.2  Undergraduate Admissions Complaints Panel Annual Report 2019-20 
   
The Commit ee received and noted the Annual Report 2019-20 (STC.20.155).  
 
 
 
 


 
2151      Reports by the Chairs of the Standing Committees 
 
2151.1 
Student Finance and Welfare 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November were received as STC.20.156Attention 
was drawn to the fol owing items: 
 
2151.1.1  Minute 3.2 
  The Commit ee was reminded that the AccessAble closing date is 18 December 2020 for 
Colleges to ensure inclusion in the forthcoming round of surveys.  
 2151.1.2  Minute 4: Cambridge Of icers’ Training Corps (OTC) 
  The Commit ee noted the Standing Commit ee’s discussion, and that Senior Tutors may 
be contacted by the OTC regarding the welfare of OTC enlisted students.  
 
2151.1.3  Minute 7: Col ege Mental Health Provision Questionnaire 
The Commit ee noted  that  access to  the results from the Colleges’ Mental Health 
Provision Questionnaire July 2020 had been made available:  http://smhw.chga.uk/ 
(username: user | password: work-from-home) and that Senior Tutors would be notified 
of their College’s number by separate email following the meeting. Senior Tutors were 
encouraged to consider and share their results within their Colleges. It was proposed that 
the survey would  be run annually,  and work had  already  begun  to produce the next 
iteration.  
 
  The Commit ee also noted that the Wel being Team wished to circulate a Tutorial Survey 
to be completed by Col eges to inform work on establishing a baseline of provision as 
discussed at the Senior Tutors’ breakfast meeting on student mental health earlier this 
year. A version incorporating feedback from the Standing Commit ee was received as 
STC.20.157. It was agreed that the survey would be circulated to Col ege Tutorial Of ices 
via an online form at the end of term to allow for an earlier return than discussed at the 
Standing Commit ee.  
 
2151.1.4  Minute 8: Col ege Childcare Provision Survey (Good Practice) 
  The Commit ee noted the circulated paper (STC.20.158), authored by 

CSU Welfare and Community Of icer, outlining good practice gleaned from the College 
Childcare Provision Survey  and particularly the desire of the Standing Commit ee to 
support the proposed introduction of partner cards as outlined in the paper. 
 
2151.1.5  Minute 9: Medical Evidence and Exam Access and Mitigation Commit ee  
  The Commit ee noted the circulated exchange between Secretary to the Exam Access 
and Mitigation Commit ee and the Cambridge SU Disabled Students’ Of icer 
(STC.20.159)  regarding medical evidence for alternative modes of assessment 
applications. 
 
2151.2 
Education 
  The  Commit ee noted that the meeting scheduled for 13 November 2020 had been 
cancel ed owing to lack of substantive business.  
 
2151.3 
Graduate Tutors 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2020 were received as STC.20.160
At ention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2151.3.1  Minute 20.40.4: Update on PG Funding Project 
     A paper authored by 
 was received as STC.20.161. 
 attended to 
 


present the paper and to field questions. 
 
The Commit ee discussed two issues of policy outlined within the paper: 
 
a)  The funding threshold to allow applicants to move Col ege automatically 
b)  Removal of the requirement of College preference to apply for College funding. 
 
On a) there was limited discussion but, of those expressing a view, there was consensus 
to maintain £5,000 as the appropriate funding threshold for automatic movement between 
Colleges. 
 
On b) Commit ee members were supportive in principle, with many indicating that there 
was potential to derestrict some funding opportunities. However, a number of Senior 
Tutors noted constraints that would prove problematic to making all funding opportunities 
open-access and it was agreed that it would be for individual Colleges to consider and 
decide which funding opportunities they would be wil ing/able to derestrict access to. 
 
2151.3.2  Minute 20.40.5: Update on widening participation  
  The Commit ee noted  the  work being undertaken by 
 in the area of 
diversity and widening participation within the postgraduate applicant and student body. 
 
2151.3.3  College Al ocator Working Party (CAWP) 
  A  proposal put forward by the CAWP  to calculate the minimum number of doctoral 
applications required for Colleges via the Al ocator was received as STC.20.162. The 
paper  had  originally  been  circulated at the March 2020 meeting but had  had to be 
deferred due to the pandemic. The paper had been supported by the Graduate Tutors’ 
Commit ee on 27 February 2020 and had since been updated to include the most recent 
admissions statistics. The Commit ee approved the proposal. 
 
  A complementary paper, commissioned by the CAWP, on Accept-Al  Col ege status in 
response to a question from the Accept-All  Colleges themselves,  was  also  received 
(STC.20.163) for information.    
 
2151.4 
Business Commit ee 
  The Notes of the meeting held on 4 November 2020 were received as STC.20.164. 
At ention was drawn to the following item:  
 
2151.4.1  Minute 2.3: UG Admissions Complaints Panel 
  Following revisions to the Panel’s terms of reference approved at the previous meeting, 
the Commit ee approved the appointment of 
 as Chairs of 
the UG Admissions Complaints Panel from 1 October 2020 for three years and noted   
 had agreed to act as the third available Chair for the remainder of her existing 
second term. Gratitude was extended to al  three Senior Tutors for agreeing to serve as 
Chairs.   
 
2152   
Reports from other bodies 
 
2152.1 
UCJC 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2020 were received for information 
(STC.20.165).  
 
2152.2 
Colleges’ Committee 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2020 were received for information 
(STC.20.166).  
 


 
 
2152.3 
Colleges’ Standing Commit ee 
  The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2020 were received for information 
(STC.20.167).  At ention was drawn to the fol owing items:  
 
2152.3.1  CS.20.24: Progress update on the Strategic Review on Admissions and Outreach 
  The Commit ee noted the discussion. 
 
2152.3.2   CS.20.25: Resourcing of the Of ice of Intercollegiate Services 
  The Commit ee noted  that the role and resourcing requirements of OIS would  be 
reviewed in 2020-21. The Secretary had  been asked to join the Working Group 
undertaking the review.   
 
2152.3.3  CS.20.26: Progress towards the reform of the Cambridge Bursary Scheme (CBS2) 
  The Commit ee noted the discussion and that clear intentions for bursary provision in 2021-
22  would  need to be resolved quickly and would  require proactive engagement from all 
Colleges in the Lent Term 2021. It was understood that the two Colleges which had previously 
dissented to the proposals had since indicated their agreement to participate. More would 
follow as discussions progressed.  
 
2152.3.4  CS.20.27: Progress updated on the Working Group on Size and Shape 
  The Commit ee noted the discussion. 
 
 
2153          Other business 
 
2153.1 
Student Skil s Strategy (2020-25) and Action Plan (2020-21) 
  For its part, the Commit ee approved the circulated Student Skil s Strategy and Action 
Plan  (STC.20.168),  which had  been updated with minor amendments following 
discussions at the last meeting. GBEC, for its part, had approved the document at its 
meeting on 18 November 2020. 
 
  The Commit ee noted that a Skil s Working Group was being constituted to take forward 
work during the current academic year, with a particular focus on matters relating to the 
first year of undergraduate study. The Working Group would  include  Senior  Tutors, 
Directors of Teaching, professional services staff and undergraduate students and it was 
intended to include a balance between STEMM and AHSS subjects. 
 
 
2153.2     AOB 
  The UG CSU President asked that Senior Tutors made al students aware of the imminent 
deadline for applications of an adjusted  mode of assessment  (end of full Michaelmas 
Term).  
   
2154         Next meeting 
 
  The next meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Commit ee would take place at 2.15pm on 12 
February 2021. A link to join the Zoom call would be circulated with papers nearer the 
time. 
 


STC.21.23
SENIOR TUTORS’ COMMITTEE 
A meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Committee was held at 2.15 p.m. on Friday 12 February 2021 via 
Zoom Conferencing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declarations of Interest 
There were no declarations of interest. 
2156 
Minutes of previous meeting 
The Minutes of the meeting of 27th November 2020 were received and approved. 
The Notes of the informal meeting held on 29th  January 2021 were  received  for 
information.  
2157 
Matters arising and for report not itemised below 
2158 
Starred items 
The Commit ee approved the starred items (***). 
2159 
Chair’s and Secretary’s Reports 
Chair’s report 
The Chair (Vice Chancel or) reported on two primary matters: 
1) The UK Government is due to issue guidance on students’ return to Universities on
22nd February 2021. As yet, the contents of the announcement are uncertain, although
UUK and the Russel  Group are making ongoing efforts to gain more information.


2)  The UK Secretary of State for Education has issued a letter to Lord Wharton, the 
recently- appointed Chair of the Office for Students (OfS). The appointment of this Chair, 
who has no prior experience in the Higher Education sector, is designed to be a “reset” 
for OfS. There were some positive elements in this letter for Cambridge, namely a 
commitment to risk-based regulation – that is, a recognition that OfS should not focus on 
“high-quality” providers but on providers where there is cause for concern. The letter 
also expressed desire to reduce bureaucracy. However, the Vice Chancellor expressed 
concern that OfS might involve itself in matters of curriculum, highlighting statements in 
the letter about free speech and academic freedom, particularly the suggestion that OfS 
should challenge providers who implement policies which drop certain authors or texts 
from the curriculum, insinuating movements such as “Decolonise the Curriculum”.  
Secretary’s report 
The Secretary reported on the following three matters:  
1) The UK Government has announced additional funding intended for students facing 
financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which Higher Education 
providers wil  be responsible for distributing to their students. Cambridge wil  receive 
£76k, and it is proposed applications, approvals and distribution be managed by the 
same process as other Hardship Funding (i.e. via the Bell, Abbott, and Barnes 
Committee, Postgraduate Hardship Fund, and Special Hardship Fund).  

Head of Student Funding, wil  write to all students and Senior Tutors to lay out criteria for 
applications for these funds in the next week.   
2) An audit of admissions assessments has been requested by the Colleges’ Committee 
and Colleges’ Standing Committee. The overarching aim is to improve the efficiency of 
the processes relating to deselection. Work is ongoing to put together a Steering Group 
for this purpose.  
3) There wil  be an informal meeting of the STC on Friday 19th February (in one week) at 
4.30pm. It wil  be an opportunity to meet with the external provider, SUMS Consulting, of 
the Strategic Review of Mental Health Provision.  
 
 
2160   

Principal items of business 
 
2160.1 
Covid-related business 
 
2160.1.1 
Reports from recent meetings 
The Chair gave thanks to
 for their work on the 
University's Covid-related Committees. 
 reported the following: 
•  Reiterating information from the Chair’s report, Covid-related business is 
somewhat in hiatus until 22nd February, when the Government will issue 
guidance on students’ return to Universities. In the next STC meeting, in four 
weeks’ time (12th March), there should be more to discuss.  
•  At the Covid Management Team meeting, The Director of Health and Safety (  
 focussed on mental health and wel being – every member of the 
University has been affected differently by this pandemic and many are bottling 
up issues and not coping well. 
 encouraged Committee members to 
look at the resources detailed in the Vice Chancellor’s email sent on 11th 
February. The Vice Chancellor agreed that all members of the University must be 
forgiving of ourselves and colleagues, remaining conscious of how we are 
 


interacting and reacting under these difficult circumstances.  
•  A small number of Committee members highlighted an issue with the 
Asymptomatic Testing Programme within their Colleges: cases of a household 
test returning a positive result but all subsequent individual tests on members of 
that household returning negative results. The Chair and 
 responded 
that this is a known issue that has been occurring since the programme’s 
inception. It is the nature of the test and is to be expected, so no action wil  be 
taken.   
 
2160.1.2 
Student Return 
 (Cambridge Students’ Union) presented a College Returns Policy from 
the Students’ Union (STC.21.03), regarding the approach Colleges have been 
taking, and should take, when responding to students who present cases to be 
allowed to return to Cambridge in Lent term despite national lockdown. The 
Committee discussed the poor-practice and best-practice examples and 
recommendations given in the paper: 
•  The Cambridge Students’ Union would support the model adopted by several 
colleges, whereby students requesting to return for mental health reasons do 
not require a doctors’ note or other “professional” proof, but must have 
conversations with their Tutor(s) to fully understand the reality of returning to 
Cambridge. Other Colleges also take this approach.  
•  Other Colleges have received abuse on social media and in the student press in 
response to their cautious approaches to these cases. Misinformation seems to 
be present in the student body about the processes involved and the number of 
cases.  
•  Al  parties - the Students’ Union and Committee alike – recognise the need for 
critical engagement with cases for return, and the need for transparent and fair 
processes, including appeals. However, all recognise that each College is 
different and there cannot be one blanket application and approval process 
across all Colleges.  
•  The Committee supported the two recommendations in the paper, finding them 
reasonable and practicable. 
  
2160.1.3  
Assessment 
 provided an update on Assessment in Easter Term (2020-21): 
•  Senior Tutors wil  have received a paper detailing revised plans for 
assessment via the Key Issues bulletin. 
•  The exam period overall has been extended until 2nd July. Priority students’ 
(final-year undergraduates and postgraduate taught students) exams will still 
take place in the usual exam period. 
•  There has been no decision yet on the possibility of in-person (rather than 
online) exams for some subjects, and the possibility of online proctoring is stil  
being considered. 
•  The General Board’s Education Committee (GBEC) has decided that all 
assessment wil  be summative and that exam results wil  appear on students’ 
transcripts. 
•  The progression requirements for Years 1 and 2 are being waived. However, 
Colleges can stil  review and enter into conversation with individual students 
who are underperforming at the end of their first or second year. 
•  Departments have been invited to consider discretionary options, such as 
using pass/fail rather than numerical marks for certain papers, and 
reconsidering dissertation titles in considering limited access to libraries.  
•  Attention is being given to cohort equity, ensuring that classification 
 


distribution in 2020-21 remains in line with recent years (except 2019-20). 
There is no standard way to do this – it wil  be different for each Tripos. 
•  Several Committee members envisage large numbers of students in College 
residence at the time of assessments, expressing concerns about the 
feasibility of maintaining exam conditions in College. Suggestions were made 
about potential College exam halls, recognising potential issues such as 
ventilation. 
• 
 agreed to take these comments into account and consider issuing 
some advice to Colleges about how to manage online assessments for 
students residing in Colleges. 
ACTION: 
 
 
2160.2 
International Student Recruitment Strategy 
 presented a draft International Student Recruitment Strategy received by 
the Committee (STC.21.04). Key points of this presentation and discussion were as 
follows: 
•  The Strategy has already been seen at the Undergraduate Admissions 
Forum, Postgraduate Admissions Committee, and University Admissions 
Committee.  
•  The overall aim of the strategy is not currently to increase the number of 
international students or applications, but to encourage high-quality 
applications from more diverse countries and across a broader range of 
subjects, partially given the projected decrease in EU student applications in 
response to Brexit. 
•  Overall, the Senior Tutors’ Committee welcomes this strategy, particularly its 
regard for diversifying the range of subject areas to which international 
students apply. 
•  It was highlighted that it would be helpful to read this Recruitment Strategy 
alongside the Graduate Union's International Student Experience Report, 
which was presented to Postgraduate Admissions Commit ee the previous 
day. 
 (Cambridge SU Postgraduate President) would be happy to 
bring this report to this Committee. 
•  The Chair raised that there should be more regard for Widening Participation 
in the Strategy. 
•  Multiple Committee members reiterated the importance of financial support in 
international student recruitment. For the strategy to be successful, and for 
Cambridge to remain competitive with US and other Universities, there must 
be provision of bursaries, scholarships, and/or other financial support for 
international students. Colleges and the University must work together to offer 
this provision. 
 confirmed that CUDAR (Cambridge University 
Development and Alumni Relations) are aware of the International Student 
Recruitment Strategy and are awaiting the finalised version before beginning 
to fundraise for the associated financial support.  
•  With these comments noted, the Committee supported the International 
Student Recruitment Strategy. 
 
2160.3 
Cambridge University Foundation Year 
 provided a paper (STC.21.05) and presented on the launch of the 
Cambridge University Foundation Year: 
•  The Foundation Year was launched on 13th January 2021, with pertinent 
media coverage. 
•  Currently, consideration is being given to how the Foundation Year might 
 


become a springboard for student recruitment, attracting teachers and 
applicants alike. There has already been a virtual event held for 200 teachers 
who showed interest in the initiative. 
•  The Vice Chancellor thanked 
 for her work on the Foundation Year 
and on preparing for the launch, which went extremely well. 
 
 
2161   
Reports by the Chairs of the Standing Committees 
 
2161.1 
Student Finance and Welfare 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th January 2021 were received (STC.21.06)
Attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2161.1.2 
3.2. Bystander Initiative 
The Committee noted  the Standing Commit ee's discussion, particularly that the 
Head of Student Wellbeing is investigating funding for this initiative for the academic 
year 2021-22. 
 
2161.1.3 
4. Race Equality Charter Self Assessment Team Meeting, 30th November 2020 
The Committee supported the Standing Committee's recommendation that a poll be 
carried out at an upcoming STC meeting regarding Race Equality training provision 
in Colleges. 
 
2161.1.4 
9. Administrative Support for College Nurses 
The Committee noted  the Standing Committee's recommendation  that Colleges 
consult with their nurses regarding potential need for administrative support, and take 
appropriate action where necessary. 
2161.2 
 Education 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 29th January 2021 were received (STC.21.08). 
Attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2161.2.1     Minute ED.11-17/21: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Tripos 
Noting the Standing Committee’s discussion, the Committee was invited, for its part, 
to support the proposal (STC.21.09) to revise the Chemical Engineering and 
Biotechnology Tripos. The following comments were made: 
•  Some Senior Tutors are concerned about the proliferation of Triposes 
increasing academic siloization, rather than encouraging interdisciplinarity. 
•  However, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology is not a new Tripos (and 
wil  not increase overall student admissions), but a rationalisation of the route 
into the Tripos from the first year of study. Should this proposal come to 
fruition, it would allow applicants to apply specifically for this Tripos, sharing 
50% of their first-year curriculum with Part IA maths, and 50% being new 
Tripos-specific content. Currently, students must apply for and study either 
Natural Sciences or Engineering at Part IA, beginning their Chemical 
Engineering Tripos at Part IB.  
•  One Committee member raised that this revision should be a positive step in 
Widening Participation: Chemical Engineering attracts diverse applicants, but 
the current unclear entry routes prove inaccessible for some. 
•  Noting these comments, the Committee supported the proposal. 
 
2161.2.2     Minute ED.18-21/21: Design Tripos 
Noting the Standing Committee’s discussion, the Committee was invited, for its part, 
 


to support the proposal (STC.21.10) for a new Tripos in Design (MDes). 
 
 the Course Director, presented a general introduction to the Tripos and 
responded to specific queries raised: 
•  Considering the concern raised in the prior discussion of the Chemical 
Engineering and Biotechnology about increased siloization and proliferation of 
Triposes, 
 highlighted that the Design Tripos has been developed 
in close collaboration with Engineering, and Materials Science and Metallurgy, 
aiming to broaden students’ interdisciplinary study rather than propagate 
silo’s.  
•  One Committee member queried the very specific entry requirements for 
Design listed in the proposal: that applicants must be studying for A-levels in 
Maths, one essay-based subject, and one science subject. 
 
clarified that the intended requirements were for Maths to be compulsory, but 
there is flexibility in the other A-level subject requirements. A typical 
application may include one essay-based and one science subject, but it is 
not a requirement to have both. 
 agreed to adjust the proposal 
wording for future purposes, to accurately reflect entry requirements.  
ACTION: 
 
•  With these comments noted, the Committee supported the proposal.  
 
2161.2.3     Minute ED.33-37/21: Global Executive Masters of Business Administration (GEMBA) 
Noting the Standing Committee’s discussion, the Committee was invited, for its part, 
to support the proposal (STC.21.11) to deliver a new route of the Executive Masters 
of Business Administration (EMBA) partly in China as the Global EMBA. The 
following points were raised: 
•  The GEMBA is intended to be a 20-month part-time programme, delivered 
50% in Shenzhen and 50% in Cambridge, primarily at weekends. Teaching 
hours would be the equal to those for the standard EMBA. 
•  Committee members echoed the concerns raised in Education Committee 
around air travel: the carbon footprint/environmental impact of GEMBA 
students flying between locations multiple times per year does not seem 
aligned with the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. 
•  There may also be issues around the College tutorial input required for 
GEMBA students, such as the provision of financial advice and health 
support. Therefore, there needs to be careful clarification of the intended 
pastoral support to be provided in Cambridge and in China. 
•  Although this Committee is not the appropriate place for this discussion, the 
idea of charging a premium College fee to GEMBA students has been 
mooted. 
•  The Commit ee agreed to send these comments to the Judge Business 
School, provisionally supporting the GEMBA proposal if these concerns are 
addressed.  
ACTION: 
 
 
2161.3 
Graduate Tutors 
The Notes of the informal forum held on 28th January 2021 were received (STC.21.12)
Attention was drawn to the following item: 
 
2161.3.1 
5. Hotel quarantine payments 
The Committee noted this discussion. Committee members agreed to continue the 
discussion of how to deal with cases where students must quarantine in hotels after 
arriving in the UK from certain countries outside of this meeting. 
 
 
2161.4 
Business Committee 
 


The Notes of the meeting held on 13th January were received (STC.21.13). Attention 
was drawn to the following item: 
 
2161.4.1 
3.  Review of Senior Tutors Representation on Commit ees across Collegiate 
Cambridge 
The Committee noted this discussion. The Secretary reported that following a full audit 
of all University Committees with Senior Tutor representatives in their membership, it 
had not proved possible to reduce the number of  Senior Tutor representatives on 
committees. The Senior Tutors’ Business Commit ee wil , however, circulate a brief for 
Senior Tutors’ Committee representatives, to clarify the expectations of this 
representation.  
 
2161.5 
          Director of Undergraduate Admissions business 
 
2162.1 
Admissions Forum 
The Minutes of the Admissions Forum meeting held on 22nd  January 2020  were 
received (STC.21.14). Attention was drawn to the following items:   
 
2162.1.1 
21/06 School Leaving Examinations Situation  
The Commit ee noted the discussion, particularly that: 
•  Offers for 2021 entry were made in the knowledge  that cancellation of 
examinations for UK students was probable 
•  The University's response to the Consultation emphasised the importance of 
keeping students learning for as long as possible. 
 
2162.1.2 
21/07 Review of the Round 
The Director of Admissions updated on the admissions round and the review process 
so far, including feedback from an applicant survey, as well as on Digital Admissions: 
•  A full report wil  be provided in due course, but preliminary indications from an 
applicant survey with over 400 participants indicates how positively this 
academic year’s interviews were viewed by applicants. 
•  The final offer breakdowns have not been confirmed, but it would appear that 
Colleges have been conservative in offer-making as recommended. 
•  Consideration is being given to how to conduct the next round, working closely 
with University Information Services. 
•  With awareness that  some Colleges wish to implement entirely  digital 
admissions in 2021-22, the Director of Admissions urges all Senior Tutors to 
not make any public announcements on this topic until internal reviews are 
completed.  
• 
 formally requested that the Undergraduate Terms of Appointment be 
included in the review of the round. Christ’s College would like to make 
comments on these, both in specific and general terms. 
  
2162.1.3 
21/10 Admissions Assessment Update 
The Director of Admissions reiterated the message from the Secretary's report that 
a Steering Group is in the process of being established to consider this matter. 
  
2162.1.4 
21/13 Cert HE in Pre-Medical Studies 
The Committee supported  the recommendation from Admissions Forum that 
admissions be dealt with via an open application and open offer route, with final 
College allocation made in August for the very small number (approximately three) 
 


of students expected. 
 
2162.2 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
The Minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee held on 16th November 
2020 were received (STC.21.15). Attention was drawn to the following items:   
 
2162.2.1  
7. Strategic Review of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach 
The Commit ee noted that there has been more recent progress in both working 
groups, with interim reports expected soon.  
 
2162.2.2 
12. Planning Round Projections 
The Commit ee noted that estimated places for 2021 entry provided by Colleges 
align with School ambitions as expressed via the planning round. 
 
2163   
Reports from other bodies 
 
2163.1 Colleges’ Committee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 5th December 2020 were received (STC.21.16). 
 
2163.1 
Colleges’ Standing Commit ee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 17th November 2020 were received (STC.21.17).  
Attention was drawn to the following item: 
 
2163.2.1 
CS.20.26 Progress towards the reform of the Cambridge Bursary Scheme (CBS2) 
 reminded the Committee that comments on the proposed reform of CBS2 
must be made by 30th April 2021. 
 
2163.2 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 5th November 2020 were received (STC.21.18). 
 
2163.4 
Steering Group on the Strategic Review of Mental Health Provision   
The minutes of the first two meetings of the Steering Group on the Strategic Review 
of Mental Health Provision, from 8th December 2020 (STC.21.19) and 8th January 
2021 (STC.21.20) were received. 
 
 
2164   
Other business 
 
2164.1 
Suspension of the College Transfer Process 
, Chair of the College Transfer Panel, proposed that the College Transfer 
Process be suspended until the end of the academic year. A primary motivation for 
suspending this process is that with the current Covid-19 situation, many Colleges 
are not in a position to readily accept new students. 
 
The Commit ee supported the decision to suspend this process. 
 
Ongoing cases (i.e. where an initial case was put forward by a student or their 
College before this meeting) wil  continue to resolution. 
 
2164.2 
External Affairs and External Regulations update 
The Commit ee received a report from 
, detailing recent significant 
external affairs and external regulations updates (STC.21.21).  
 


 
 
2165   

Next meeting 
 
The next meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Committee wil  take place at 2.15pm on 12th 
March 2021. A link to join the Zoom call will be circulated with papers nearer the time. 
 


STC.21.40
SENIOR TUTORS’ COMMITTEE 
A meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Committee took place at 2.15 p.m. on Friday 12th March 2021 via 
Zoom videoconferencing. 
 
        
 
 
 
   
UNRESERVED MINUTES 
2167  Declaration of Interests and apologies for absence 
 
 
2168  Minutes of previous meeting 
The Minutes of the meeting of 12th February 2021 (STC.21.23) were approved. 
2169  Matters arising and for report not itemised below 
2170  Starred items 
The Committee approved the starred items (***). 
2171  Chair’s and Secretary’s Reports 
Chair’s Report 
The Vice Chancellor welcomed 
, who wil  take up the role of Senior Tutor 
at Queens’ College, and thanked 
, the previous role holder. He also 
highlighted that a message relating to international travel, arising from conversations with the 
Russell Group and England’s Chief Medical Officer, was sent by email to all Senior Tutors 
earlier in the day, and should be noted.  
Secretary’s Report 
 reiterated the importance of the international travel information mentioned by 
the Chair, and advised that the message should be sent to all students, who must consider very 
carefully before travelling abroad. She also updated that the Steering Group on Admissions 
Assessments (focusing on their use, purpose and cost), has had their first meeting, and begun 
collecting materials and considering key questions, with work ongoing.  
The Secretary asked the Committee to support the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust’s offer to 
develop Mental Health Training for Tutors, and to encourage newer tutors to make contact with 
the CWMT. She also highlighted that the Trust can offer support to students directly, which may 
be especially helpful during the upcoming vacation. 
, from the 
Student Wellbeing team, wil  circulate a link to all Senior Tutors with more information on the 
CWMT.  
ACTION: 
 


Finally, the Secretary brought to the Committee’s attention that there have been claims from 
student representatives that some Colleges are charging conference rates to students for 
accommodation over the vacation. As was the case over the Christmas vacation, given current 
travel restrictions, students should only be charged the standard term-time rate on their rooms; 
and if this causes them hardship, they should apply for relevant funds from College and 
elsewhere. Therefore, Senior Tutors are asked to ensure that students are being charged the 
correct rate.  
ACTION: Senior Tutors 
 
 
2172  Principal items of business 

 
2172.1 Covid-related business: Reports from recent meetings 
 reported the following information:  
•  Most people at the Committee meeting wil  have been present at the Covid Taskforce 
briefing earlier in the day, so there is no need to repeat that information.  
•  The number of Covid-19 cases in Cambridge is currently very low: 24 per 100,000 in 
total, and in Central Cambridge specifically, figures are too low to be specified. This 
presents a broadly optimistic outlook for Easter term.   
•  However, caution is stil  essential ahead of next term: although there have been very 
few positive cases in Cambridge this term, we have been in national lockdown. 
Therefore, there is a possibility of outbreaks once restrictions start easing on 12th April. 
•  The University’s Covid Helpdesk is changing its approach to contact tracing. The current 
approach is “forward tracing”, i.e. identifying the direct contacts of a student with a 
positive Covid test to ensure that they also self-isolate. The new approach wil  be 
“backward tracing”, i.e. conducting an extensive interview with the infected person to 
identify source of infection. This approach was developed in Korea and Japan after the 
2003 SARS pandemic. It is very effective but also labour intensive – so it may not be 
possible to sustain if there is a large outbreak.  
 
The Chair thanked
 for his work on the University’s Covid groups.  
 
 
2173   Director of Undergraduate Admissions business (

 
2173.1 Admissions Forum 
The Minutes of the Admissions Forum meeting held on 19th February 2021 (STC.21.24) were 
receivedAttention was drawn to the following items:   
 
2173.1.1 Minute 21/30: Update on 2022 Admissions Cycle  
 reported on progress in this area: 
•  A survey wil  be sent to all Colleges, to identify areas of agreement and difference in 
College’s plans for timings, types of trainings, and more. It is intended to establish a clear 
direction of travel in the next two to three weeks, so Colleges should expect to take part 
in this circulation very soon. 
•  Work is ongoing on Digital admissions, particularly on the Cambridge Online Preliminary 
Application (COPA) and Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ). Currently, 
thought is being given to which questions should be asked, whether current questions are 
relevant, etc. 
 
2173.1.2 Minute 21/32: Undergraduate Open Days 2021 Proposal 
 asked that Senior Tutors liaise with their Admissions Offices to determine whether an 
element of in-person Open Days (specifically College tours) might be possible in July or 
September. 
ACTION: Al  Senior Tutors 
•  One Senior Tutor asked, as per the Postgraduate Admissions Committee suggestion 
later in the agenda, if it may be possible to roll together Undergraduate and 
 


Postgraduate open day options. 
 agreed that this should certainly be considered 
as a route forward.   
•  Other Senior Tutors expressed concern that there may be a third wave of Covid-19 
infections and/or that Government restrictions on in-person events may be re-
introduced, preventing the possibility of in-person open days. 
 responded that 
the September open days take the form of College tours for offer holders, rather than 
mass open days for prospective applicants, so even with restrictions on large 
gatherings, events with smaller numbers of participants may be allowed. In any case, 
most Colleges are - and should be - planning for both possibilities, of physical and 
virtual open days.    
 
2173.2 Undergraduate Admissions Commit ee  
The Minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions Commit ee held on 1st February 2021 were 
received (STC.21.25). At ention was drawn to the following items:   
 
2173.2.1 Minute 7: Strategic Review of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach 
 reported that: 
•  Following a meeting of the full Strategic Review, there seems to be a clear direction for 
both outreach and admissions. Ahead of the next Senior Tutors Committee meeting,   
 should be able to provide more detailed information, particularly on the Area Link 
Scheme on the outreach side, and re-allocation models on the admissions side.  
•  The matter of admissions and outreach governance is now being considered by a 
working group organised by the VC and the Chair of the Colleges Committee. 
 
2173.2.2 Minute 12: Ofqual consultation on awarding of grades 
The Committee noted that the key points in the collegiate University’s response appear to have 
been taken on board in the recently announced outcomes of the consultation. 
 
2174  Reports by the Chairs of the Standing Committees 
 
2174.1 Student Finance and Welfare (

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd February 2021 were received (STC.21.26). Attention 
was drawn to the following items: 
 
2174.1.1 Item 3.2: Colleges Mental Health Provision Questionnaire 
The Committee agreed that the questionnaire (which is administered annually, as agreed in 2019-
20) should be managed locally (as it was in July 2020) rather than centrally; i.e. it should be sent 
out by individual Colleges to their students. The Commit ee approved circulation of the survey, 
after clarifying the content of the questions.  
 
 responded to a question around privacy and students’ possible apprehension around 
sharing their mental health information with their Colleges, agreeing that an introduction would 
be added to the questionnaire, reassuring students that whilst Colleges wil  receive reports on 
the findings of the questionnaire, no information wil  be identifiable.  
ACTION: 
 
 
2174.1.2 Item 4.1: Office for Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals Annual Report 2019-20 
The Commit ee  noted  the 2019-20 OSCCA Annual Report (STC.21.27)  and the Standing 
Commit ee's discussion. 
 
2174.1.3 Item 4.2: Report and Support 
The Committee noted the Standing Commit ee's discussion, and that a more finalised report wil  
be provided by 
 by circulation over the coming weeks.  
 
2174.1.4 Item 6: Disabled Students' Commission Annual Report 2020-21 
The Commit ee noted  the DSC Annual Report 2020-21 (STC.21.28), with particular attention 
drawn to the recommendations at the end of the report.  
 


 
2174.1.5 Item 8: Student Advice Service Annual Report 2019-20 
The Committee noted the SAS Annual Report 2019-20 (STC.21.29)
 
2174.1.6 Item 11: Racism in Medical Education 
 
The Committee noted the Standing Commit ee’s discussion.  
 
2174.2 Education (

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26th February 2021 were received (STC.21.30). Attention 
was drawn to the following items:  
 
2174.2.1 Minute ED.56-60/21: Libraries Accessibility Service 
Noting the Standing Commit ee’s discussion, the Commit ee note the overview of the service 
(STC.21.31)
 reported: that the purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of this 
service. It launched in November, with aim of helping disabled students to access libraries, 
including College libraries. It includes provision for print and screen readers. Students have to 
be registered with the Disability Resource Centre to use the service, but after that point access 
should be automatic.  
 
The Chair wishes to pass on thanks to 
 and the team at the University Library for their 
quick and thorough work on this.  
 
2174.2.2 Minute ED.72-75/21: Investigating and addressing awarding gaps in the context of Collegiate 
Cambridge 
Noting the Standing Commit ee’s discussion, the Committee noted the next steps for the early 
stage of the project (STC.21.32). 
 elaborated that research is currently being 
undertaken by Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning on awarding gaps, especially with 
regards to Black British students, and students with declared mental health issues. It is being 
highlighted at this Committee to ask if any Colleges have already looked into this issue. All Senior 
Tutors are asked to discern whether any of this work has been done in their College, and if so, 
to contact 
 by email. 
ACTION: all Senior Tutors 
 
2174.3 Graduate Tutors (

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25th February 2021 were received (STC.21.33). At ention 
was drawn to the following items: 
 
2174.3.1 Minute 21.06.1 PG Open Day – consultation  
The Committee noted the Standing Committee’s discussion. 
 reported that: 
•  The Postgraduate Open Day wil  take place online, allowing attendance from prospective 
applications across the globe -  which is important in the content of the International 
Student Recruitment Strategy presented at the last Commit ee meeting (Minute 2160.2, 
12th February 2021).   
•  However, Colleges may also offer in-person visits. 
 thanked 
 for the 
suggestion that these may be rolled in with Undergraduate offer-holder open days.  
• 
 shared a link to a short survey for Senior Tutors to complete immediately 
after the meeting (https:/ cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3sKH7nZwfHpEbSm). 
 
2174.3.2 Minute 21.06.2 Admissions numbers 
The Commit ee noted the Standing Commit ee’s discussion, and that this matter is likely to be a 
focus at the next Commit ee meeting (21st May 2021). As an initial introduction:  
•  Postgraduate admissions are up 16% year-on-year (a 10% increase in Doctoral student 
admissions, and 20% in other Postgraduate student admission). Colleges had set the 
target of increasing uptake by 10%, so these figures are excellent.  
•  The Al ocator Group had raised issue that applications were not being received as quickly 
at less well capitalised Colleges as at their better capitalised counterparts. However, since 
this issue was raised, changes have been made and the process is flowing very quickly.  
 


.  
2175  Reports from other bodies (

 
2175.1 ***Colleges’ Standing Commit ee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 26th January 2020 were received (STC.21.34).   
 
2175.2 Postgraduate Admissions Committee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 11th February 2021 were receivedAttention was drawn to 
the following item: 
 
2175.2.1 Minute 1521: Widening Participation 
The Committee noted this discussion.  
 
2175.3 ***Steering Group on the Strategic Review of Mental Health Provision 
 
The Notes of the meeting held on 5th February 2021 were received (STC.21.36). 
 
2175.4 ***University and Colleges’ Joint Commit ee 
The Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2021 were received (STC.21.37).   
 
 
 
2176  Other business 
 
2176.1 Annual Report on College Transfers 
The Committee noted a report detailing the use of the College Transfers Procedures in 
Academic Year 2019-20 (STC.21.38)
 
 
2177  Next meeting 
 
The next meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Commit ee wil  take place at 2.15pm on 21st May 2021. 
A link to join the Zoom call wil  be circulated with papers nearer the time. 
 


STC.21.66
SENIOR TUTORS’ COMMITTEE 
A meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Committee was held at 2.15pm on Friday 21 May 
2021 via Zoom Conferencing. 
UNRESERVED MINUTES 
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
Declarations of interest 
There were no declarations of interest 
2180 STC Membership and representation 
The Commit ee welcomed 
) as deputy 
for 
 respectively.  
2181 Minutes of previous meeting 
The Minutes of the meeting of 12 March 2021 (STC.21.40) were approved. 
2182 Informal STC meetings 
The Commit ee noted the items that had been discussed at informal STC meetings 
in the 2020-21 academic year. 
• Covid-19 asymptomatic testing
• Contingency planning for the future of the academic year
• The use of face coverings in supervisions
• Lecture handouts
• Student Experience in the Pandemic: STEP towards Mental Health and
Wellbeing
• Contribution to University Library investment in ebooks
• Printed lecture notes
• Admissions interviews in December 2021
• OSCCA’s Report and Support Tool

•  Residence requirements and examination arrangements for Easter 2021  
•  Revision of the formulae of presentation at Graduation   
•  Update on the University Counselling Services  
•  The Mental Health Review interim report 
•  The draft response to Post-Qualification Admissions consultation 
 
The Commit ee noted that at the informal STC meeting on 16 April 2021, it had been 
agreed that the admissions interviews for the 2021 recruitment should take place 
online. The Committee also noted that it had been agreed at a meeting on 30 April 
2021 that  collegam was appropriate for the presentation of University officers, 
College Fellows taking degrees under Statute B II 2 and scholarem was the preferred 
term for presenting students or former students.  
 
2183 Chair’s and Secretary’s Report 

 
Chair’s Report 

The Pro-Vice Chancellor summarised draft plans for teaching in Michaelmas 2021. 
While the intention would be to encourage students to come to Cambridge and 
undertake as much in-person teaching as possible, there was an assumption that 
some students overseas wil  face dif iculties travelling to Cambridge. It was likely that 
lectures would be recorded throughout Michaelmas and that social distancing would 
remain in place. The Committee were invited to comment upon the paper and asked 
to send substantive feedback to 

 
There was a discussion about the plans for the next academic year, with a particular 
focus upon online learning. The Committee heard that there has been positive 
engagement with recorded lectures which are an important tool for accessibility. 
Hope was expressed that the progress made in this area would be maintained. 
There was an acknowledgement that the student body might expect lecture 
recording to continue. Concern remained however, that if all teaching were available 
online, students may be reluctant to return to Cambridge. 
 
The Commit ee broadly supported the outline of the plans for the next academic 
year. The Chair stressed the importance of being as clear as possible when 
communicating with offer-holders and current students about plans. Communications 
would go out to these groups in July. 
 
Secretary’s report 
 reiterated the importance of encouraging students to take part in 
the asymptomatic testing programme (ATP) at the University. It was noted that the 
ATP is a research project and it is therefore important for reasons of research ethics 
that participants are not coerced into engaging. The Committee discussed the 
challenges associated with this and that while encouragement could be provided, 
restrictions could not be placed upon those who did not engage with the ATP. The 
current participation rate at about 55% was higher than in other similar programmes 
and was a significant proportion of the student population. Concerns were expressed 
about further addition of pressure on students who are facing exams. It was noted 
that Colleges could use the data about participation in ATP to inform their internal 
risk assessments and that participation in events could be made dependent upon a 

negative lateral flow test result, and on result at a college-population level, but not an 
individual level.  
 
 informed the Commit ee that the audit of Admissions Assessments 
is ongoing.  
 
2184 Principal items of business 
 
2184.1 E-books for teaching and learning 
 reported that the Levies Panel had approved the request for financial 
support to purchase e-books. The situation was complex and needed monitoring, but 
the overall assumption was that Colleges would reduce spending on printed books to 
meet this cost, and Senior Tutors were encouraged to support the reduction in their 
library’s budget.   
 
2184.2 Supervision Rates 
The Commit ee noted that supervision payment rates would not increase for the next 
academic year, in line with academic pay. It was acknowledged that this related to 
wider conversations on supervisions across the Collegiate University. A group had 
been established to engage with discussion with the Universities and College Union 
and the Cambridge SU on this matter. This group included 
 
.  
 
2184.3 Digital Admissions 
The Commit ee noted the progress report (STC.21.42) and a background paper 
(STC.21.43) on the history and aims of the project. 
 explained that this is the 
first report on this topic and that work is focussed upon preparation for the next 
admissions round and the production of digital candidate files. 
 reported that 
the Levies Panel is expected to approve additional funding for the project, but that 
more work is needed to establish satisfactory governance arrangements. The 
Committee heard that the establishment of a separate project board not involving 
those working on digital admissions was being discussed.    
 
2185 Reports by the Chairs of the Standing Committees 

 
2185.1 Senior Tutor Education Committee (
)  
The minutes of the Standing Committee on Education held on 30 April 2021 were 
received (STC.21.44). Attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2185.1.1 Minute ED.98-102/21: Redesign of the Education Tripos 
 outlined the proposals to redesign the Education Tripos (STC.21.45). 
The plan enabled greater flexibility for students and had received positive feedback 
following consultation. The Commit ee supported the proposal and 
 
agreed to ascertain whether there would be a preliminary examination ahead of Part 
2 of the course.  
ACTION: 
 
 
2185.1.2 Minute ED.103-113/21: Student Mobility 

The Commit ee noted the paper about the Turing Scheme (STC.21.46) and the 
proposal from the Faculty of Law (STC.21.47) to expand their partnerships for 
student exchange programmes.  
 
Concern was expressed that the Turing Scheme would not be as comprehensive as 
the Erasmus Scheme had been and it was noted that schools and colleges could 
also bid for funding from the Turing Scheme. While contingency plans existed for the 
next academic year, there was some apprehension about the future. The Chair 
thanked all those who had been involved in working on the Turing bid. 
 
2185.1.3 Minute ED.120-130/21: Contracts for Undergraduate Supervisors 
 summarised the Senior Tutors’ Education Committee’s discussion on 
this topic and stressed that it had focussed upon the educational impact of the 
proposals. In particular, the Committee indicated that a change in the system in the 
direction advocated in the paper would almost certainly lead to less opportunities for 
postgraduate students to get critical teaching experience. This would mean that 
postgraduate students would lose a set of valuable transferrable skil s. At the same 
time, undergraduates would lose the current variety of voices that is so important to 
their student experience within the academy. This reduction of the number of diverse 
voices in undergraduate education and of career-enhancing opportunities for 
postgraduate students constitutes a serious concern. There were concerns that 
changing the current system would lead to a reduction in the number of individuals 
employed by the colleges to supervise their undergraduate students. It was noted 
that it was beneficial for undergraduates to be taught by a range of supervisors, 
something that the current system allows. It was also noted that it remained 
important to provide supervising opportunities for postgraduate students since this 
supports them to develop transferrable skil s. It was acknowledged the flexibility 
allowed to undergraduate students (and much valued by them) may lead to 
potentially challenging late changes of plan for supervisors. It was suggested that 
perhaps a common code of conduct might be useful. 
 
The Commit ee questioned the authorship of the paper they had received on this 
topic (STC.21.48). It was agreed that this would be clarified. 
 
ACTION: 
 
Since the meeting, we have confirmed that the paper was written by representatives 
from the UCU and CSU  
 
2185.1.3 Minute ED. 131-134/21: Cambridge Field Course 
The Commit ee supported a proposal to run a ‘catch-up’ field trip in September 2021 
(STC.21.49) for students studying Plant Sciences and Zoology which required a few 
students to be in residence in late September.  
 
2185.2 Graduate Tutors’ Committee (

The minutes of the Graduate Tutor’s Committee held on the 29 April 2021 were 
circulated (STC.21.50). Attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2185.2.1 Item: 21.16.1 Matters relating to postgraduate admissions to Colleges 
The Commit ee noted that the College allocator was currently doing a good enough 
job, but that further discussion was needed, and taking place, on its working. The 

Committee heard that plans existed to accommodate the increased number of 
Masters students to be admitted in the 2021-22 admissions cycle, and that there had 
been conversations among the Senior Tutors of the three accept-all Colleges about 
the intended addition of Lucy Cavendish College into this group. The Committee 
supported the changes in principle, but noted that additional detailed discussions at 
all levels were needed before these items could be formally approved.  
 
2185.3 Student Finance and Welfare (
)  
The minutes of the meeting held on the 26 April 2021 were received (STC.21.51). 
Attention was drawn to the following items: 
2185.3.1 Item 4: Care+ 
 summarised the paper which drew attention to the challenges met by 
current students and recommendations for improvement. The Committee agreed that 
the Care+ recommendations (STC.21.52) should be circulated to Colleges.  
 
ACTION: 
 
 
2185.3.2 Item 6: Race Equality Training 
Committee members were asked to note the Legal Affairs and Employment Sub-
Committee recommendation that Colleges organise race equality training locally. 
Members were reminded that the Office of Intercollegiate Services had circulated 
advice about recommended providers of race equality training. 
 
2185.3.3 Item 7: Anti-Casualisation Group 
 reported that the Student Finance and Welfare Committee had focussed 
their discussion on welfare issues associated with this as they did not have expertise 
in contracts. The Committee had felt strongly that it was important to stress that 
teaching was optional for students and that clarity about the amount of work 
individuals should take on would be helpful. There was a discussion about finance 
and that teaching should be used as supplementary rather than essential income 
during studies. There was an acknowledgement that this was an issue that required 
further Senior Tutor input. 
 volunteered to join the Anti-Casualisation 
Working Group.  
 
2185.3.4 Item 8: Disability Resource Centre (DRC) Annual Report, 2019-20 
The Student Finance and Welfare Committee noted the significant service provided 
by the DRC and the demands upon it. The Chair reported that this was being 
discussed as part of the strategic review of mental health provision. 
 
It was noted that the Black Advisory Hub would launch that evening and attendance 
was recommended to Committee members.  
 
2185.3.5 Item 11 Maintenance Rates 2022-23 
The Committee approved the publication of the proposed maintenance rates for 
2022-23 after the meeting by circulation.   
 
2185.4 Business Committee (
)  
The Commit ee approved the following appointments: 

 
The Chair thanked those who had volunteered to take on the new positions above 
and also those who had served on those committees previously for all of their hard 
work.  
 
The Commit ee elected 
 to the Senior Tutors’ Business Committee. 
 
The Commit ee received for information an overview of Senior Tutor representation 
on committees (STC.21.54) and a descriptor of the role of representatives 
(STC.21.55). 
 
2186 Undergraduate Admissions Matters 
 
2186.1 Undergraduate admissions governance 
The Secretary provided an update to the Commit ee and reported that the Vice 
Chancellor and the Chair of the Colleges’ Commit ee had organised four separate 
working groups to   
1.  Consider possible principles for partnership between the Colleges and the 
University. This group had been exploring similarities and dif erences between 
the admissions systems at Oxford and Cambridge. 
2.  Focus upon management arrangements.  
3.  Explore the division of labour and management roles.  
4.  Consider the role that University Teaching Of icers have in college life, 
undergraduate teaching and potentially wider issues of admissions and 
recruitment.  
 
 explained that the first three working groups were due to report by 
the end of term and that the fourth working group would require more time before 
reporting. The Committee noted that some of the groups’ work involved surveying 
Senior Tutors.  
 
 
2186.2 Post-Qualification Admissions (PQA) Consultation  
 expressed gratitude to all those who had worked on this, with 
particular thanks to 
 who had chaired the working group that 
produced the response to the consultation. The response that was submit ed made it 
clear that the University was keen to work with the Department for Education on 
plans for designing a post-qualification admissions system. The PQA Working Group 
still exists and had previously produced a paper about the range of PQA options that 
exist. They had now been joined by 
 as representative of the STC, 
and they wil  continue to work on this and to communicate with the Department for 
Education.  

 
The Chair thanked those who had worked on the PQA consultation and has been in 
touch with the Department for Education to offer the University’s ongoing 
engagement, which has been accepted. 
 
2186.3 Undergraduate Admissions Committee  
The minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee held on the 15 March 
2021 were received (STC.21.57) and attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2186.3.1 Item 11. Overseas Application fee 
The Commit ee noted the approval of the increase in the fee to £60 for the 2022 
admissions cycle. 
 
2186.3.2 Item 12. Applications and Offers on the Current Round 
 informed the Committee that the annual admissions statistics for the 
2020/21 round had been published and that there has generally been a positive 
response to these, especially the figures relating to ethnic minorities. The Collegiate 
University largely exceeded the targets that it had set for 2024/25 and it may be 
asked to increase them.  
 
2186.3.2 Undergraduate Admissions Forum. 
The minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions Forum held on the 30 April 2021 
were received (STC.21.58) and attention was drawn to the following items: 
 
2186.3.2.1 Item 21/43 Matters Arising 
The Commit ee noted the approval of the move from CTMUA to TMUA following 
consultation with the Computer Science Directors of Studies Committee. 
 
2186.3.2.2 Items 21/45 and 21/46 Arrangements for the next Admissions round 
The Commit ee heard that there has been an announcement that the next 
admissions round would be held virtually as detailed in the most recent teachers’ 
newsletter.  
 
 reported that a communications plan exists for the overseas interviews 
which will go ahead in the next admissions round to supplement College offerings. 
The Commit ee noted criticism about the way that the overseas interviews had 
worked and that with support from the Admissions Forum, a working group has been 
established to consider the way overseas interviews could work in the future. It was 
agreed that this working group would report back to the Senior Tutors’ Committee.  
 
2186.3.2.3 Item 21/48 Strategic Review of Admissions and Outreach 
The Commit ee noted the positive progress made with Outreach-related proposals 
and that changes that impact both strategy and delivery are expected in the final 
report from the Review which will be received by the Colleges’ Committee and 
University Council who co-sponsored the review. Approved recommendations would 
be considered and developed in relevant committees in the future. 
 
2187 Reports from other bodies 
The Commit ee received the minutes from 
•  College’s Committee (STC.21.60-61) 

•  Colleges’ Standing Commit ee (STC.21.62-63) 
•  University and Colleges’ Joint Committee (STC.21.64) 
•  Postgraduate Admissions Committee (STC.21.65) 
 
2188 Starred items 
The Commit ee approved the starred items.  
 
2189 Other business 

 
2189.1 Foundation Year Admissions Handbook 
The Commit ee endorsed the Foundation Year Admissions Handbook. 
 
2190 Date of next meeting 
The next meeting of the Senior Tutors’ Committee wil  take place at 2.15 on 16th 
July 2021. A link to join the Zoom call wil  be circulated with papers nearer the time. 
 
 advised the Committee of an informal meeting of the STC on the 
18 June 2021.  

General Board’s Education Committee 
Committee membership 2021/2022 
 
 
(a) the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), as Chair  
 
 
 
(b) A representative nominated from each School and appointed by the General Board, of whom a 
number, to be determined by the Board, shall also be members of the General Board.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c) two persons appointed by the Senior Tutors' Committee, one of whom shall normally be the 
Chair of the Standing Committee on Education. 
 
 
 
 
 
(d) two members of the Postgraduate Committee, appointed by the General Board. 
 
 
 
 
 
(e) one member of the Examination and Assessment Committee 
 
 
 
(f) one member of the Steering Committee for the Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning 
 
 
 
 
(g) one member of the Committee on Student Health and Wellbeing 
 
 
 
(h) the Undergraduate Access, Education and Participation Officer 

 
 
 
(i) the Postgraduate Access, Education and Participation Officer 
 
 
 
(j) up to two additional co-opted members 
 
 
 
 
 
Secretary

 
 
* indicates membership of the General Board 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 555 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
 
A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Wednesday 21 October 2020, via 
Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
There were no declarations of interest. 
 
555.1  Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meetings held on 21 July and the extraordinary meeting held on 2 
October 2020 were approved. 
 
555.1.1 
Matters arising 
 
Minute 553.5.5, July 2020: Establishment of the Postgraduate Committee 
 
The Committee noted that the Postgraduate Committee held its first meeting on 13 
October 2020. 
 
Minute 554.1.5, October 2020: Student Surveys 
The Committee noted that the Minister of State for Universities had written to the 
Office for Students asking it to review the National Student Survey to ‘ensure it 
supports the maintenance of high standards while providing reliable data on the 
student perspective’ and to respond to criticisms about its cost and bureaucracy. The 
Office for Students had launched a consultation, to which the University would 
respond. 
 
555.1.2 
Items since last meeting agreed by circulation or Chair’s action 
 
Chair’s action 27 July 2020 
Approved a change to the Masters in Architecture and Urban Design to add an 
assessment required by the Royal Institute of British Architects.  
 
Approved arrangements for teaching the MPhil in Genomic Medicine in 2020-21.  
 
Chair’s action 18 July 2020 

 

Approved arrangements for teaching the MRes in Connected Electronic and 
Photonic Systems in 2020-21.  
 
Chair’s Action 3 August 2020 
Approved the proposal from the Institute of Continuing Education to teach in 2020-21 
the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in English (Engineering or 
Business Management) through synchronous and blended teaching methods with no 
further changes to the programme.  
 
Chair’s Action 6 August 
Approved proposals for the History and Modern Languages Tripos to be taught by 
online lectures, small group teaching and supervisions online or in person.  
 
Circulated business 7 August 2020 
In May the Committee had approved a proposal from the Institute of Continuing 
Education for an EdX MicroMasters module, to be taught online, which matched a 
module on one of the modules on the MSt Writing for Performance. It was agreed 
that students who successfully completed the EdX MicroMasters module and who 
applied to that same MSt will be given advanced standing, i.e. credit, for the module 
they had already completed. This approval was granted for 2020-21 only. 
 
In August the Committee approved a proposal to extend that approval for a further 
year in 2021-22 to enable students to make that progression on to the MSt. It was 
also agreed the cap on 50 students progression would also be lifted.  
 
In approving the proposals, it was noted that the ‘MicroMasters’ term remains 
problematic and the course documentation should make clear that it is not a Master’s 
degree. Members also advised that the course should be reviewed after Year One 
and Year Two. 
 
Chair’s action 18 August 
Approved the proposals for teaching for the MSt in Real Estate. 
 
Chair’s action 3 September  
Approved a request from the Department of Veterinary Medicine to hold resit exams 
in-person in September and October 2020, in the light of  the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons’ preference for proctored exams. 
 
555.1.3 

Chair’s report 
 
The Chair welcomed 
 as a new member of the Committee, in her 
position as the Chair of the Senior Tutors’ Committee Standing Committee on 
Education. 
 
Covid-19 
The Chair noted the difficult circumstances related to Covid-19 that made the start of 
the academical year more challenging, and thanked colleagues across the University 
and the Colleges for their work in welcoming students back to the University. The 
University’s Covid Gold meetings continued to monitor infection rates, and kept 
under review the approaches of other universities to managing student cases.  

 

 
555.2   
Starred items 
 
The Committee approved the starred item, Academic Standards and Enhancement 
Committee Revised Terms of Reference (E6295). 
 
555.3   
Strategic Discussion  
 
555.3.1 

Assessment in 2020/21 
 
The Committee considered proposals for changes to modes of assessment from 
Faculties and Departments in light of Covid-19 in line with the guidance document 
circulated at the previous meeting (E6282)
 
555.3.1.1 

 
 
a)  School of Arts and Humanities 
The Committee agreed that  
•  the Music Tripos performance exams should be held in person with a 
contingency plan in place if this could not be delivered 
•  the beginners’ language papers for students on the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and 
Celtic Studies Tripos should be held in person; officers would confirm whether its 
contingency plan for a 90-minute timed online exam could be delivered 
•  the beginners’ language papers for the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies 
(AMES) Tripos should be held in person with priority given to those taking papers 
for Part IA and Part II if capacity was limited. Members noted that if possible there 
should be alignment with students taking similar papers for the Modern and 
Medieval Languages and Linguistics Tripos, for which the Committee had agreed 
exams should be held in person. The Committee declined to approve the 
contingency plan for exams with online invigilation and asked the Faculty to 
revise its proposal, given that it remained unclear if online proctoring would be 
available. It was suggested that the Faculty might wish to note that some 
language exams had added a commentary section to the paper to mitigate the 
risk of academic misconduct..  
 
Action: Officers and the representative of the School of Arts and Humanities to bring 
a revised contingency plan for the AMES Tripos beginners’ language papers for the 
Committee’s approval.  
 
b)  School of Biological Sciences 
 
The Committee agreed that  
•  the Psychology and Behavioural Studies Tripos exams would be timed online 
exams 
•  the Natural Sciences Tripos biological papers should mostly be timed online 
exams; a problem-based biochemistry paper for Part II would be an in-person 
exam, and its contingency plan would be a time limited online exam  
•  the Natural Sciences Tripos pathology exam would be prepared as a practical 
exam, and its contingency plan would be an online practical 

 

•  the exams for the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos would be held as in-
person exams to meet the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) 
requirements for proctored professional exams; this requirement meant that there 
was no contingency plan and it was agreed that the Department of Veterinary 
Medicine would continue to work with the RCVS to find a solution. Some in-
person exams would be held online with devices in a proctored location.  
•  Action: Officers and the representative of the School of Biological Sciences to 
work with the Department of Veterinary Medicine to identify an appropriate 
contingency plan for Veterinary Sciences Tripos papers.  
 
c)  School of Clinical Medicine  
 
The Committee noted the experience of the School in delivering in-person online 
exams in recent months and its recommendation that printed copies of papers 
should be available for contingency purposes. The School continued to develop 
proposals for clinical  exams, some of which had complex requirements involving 
vulnerable patients.  
 
Action:
 Officers and the representative of the School of Clinical Medicine to bring 
further detail of the proposed clinical exams and its contingency plans for the 
Committee’s approval.  
 
d)  School of the Humanities and Social Sciences  
The Committee noted that  
•  the Education Tripos exams would be held online except for two papers related to 
drama production and theatre practice which would be held in-person. The 
proposals would be considered by Chair’s action when contingency plans were 
available.  
 
Action:
 Officers and the representative of the School of the Humanities and Social 
Sciences to bring contingency plans for these Education Tripos papers for 
consideration by Chair’s action.  
 
e)  School of Physical Sciences 
The Committee agreed that  
•  the Natural Sciences Tripos physics papers would be held in-person, except for 
Part IA, with a contingency plan for timed online exams of three and two hours, 
and with a preference for online proctoring if subsequently agreed 
•  the Natural Sciences Tripos chemistry papers would be held as timed online 
exams for Part IA 
•  the Mathematics Tripos papers would be held in-person, with a contingency plan 
for timed online exams and with a preference for online proctoring if subsequently 
agreed. 
 
The Committee agreed in principle that the Natural Sciences Tripos Earth Sciences 
exams would include five in-person practicals, but that a contingency plan must be 
approved by  the Committee.  
 
Action:
 Officers and the representative of the School of Physical Sciences to bring 
contingency plans for NST Earth Sciences practicals for the Committee’s approval.  

 

 
f)  School of Technology 
 
The Committee agreed in principle a further small number of in-person exams for 
the School’s MPhil programmes but that contingency plans must be approved by the 
Committee. 
 
Action: Officers and the representative of the School of Technology to bring 
contingency plans for MPhil exams for the Committee’s approval.  
 
555.3.1.2  
Interim report on the Online Proctoring Project 
 
The Committee received an interim report on the feasibility using of online proctoring 
in Easter term 2020-21 (E6285). Online proctoring services generally either used live 
camera feeds or used artificial intelligence to track students’ eye movements. A 
number of Faculties and Departments had made a strong argument for online 
proctoring should they be required to hold their exams online for problem-based 
papers, and it was understood that it would help address students’ concerns about 
the security of the exams process. It was agreed that maths and physics exams in 
January would provide an opportunity to pilot online proctoring given that the 
relevant cohort were no longer in residence. The Committee also agreed it should 
receive a more defined proposal at the next meeting. 
 
Action: Officers to continue defining the available options and to pilot online 
proctoring in exams in January 2021.  
 
555.3.1.3 
Examination delivery 2020-21 
 
The Committee consider further proposals related to the delivery of examinations in 
2020-21 (E6286). Upon discussion, the Committee agreed that where exams are 
held within Faculties and Departments, they should submit a Covid risk assessment; 
that exam start times may differ from the norm; and that the number of exams per 
venue may be reduced.  
 
Members considered the mechanism for moving from Plan A assessments to 
contingency Plan B, noting that the timeframes would depend on assessment type 
and whether re-timetabling was necessary. It was recommended that all exams 
should be placed on Moodle for contingency purposes if possible. The Committee 
agreed that the start times for online exams should be staggered to manage Moodle 
load and better distribute UIS staff support, and that if contingency plans to move in-
person exams to online exams are enacted, the Exams Office should review the 
timetable.  
 
The Committee agreed an approach to timed online examinations, and welcomed 
the proposed model for managing breaches of permitted time but noted that students 
might systematically take advantage of the extra 10-minute upload window to 
continue writing without penalty. The Committee asked to receive a further revised 
version of the model at a later meeting. The ‘next steps’ also proposed in the paper 
were approved and it was agreed that it should form the basis of a general exams 
communication to Faculties, Departments and students. 

 

 
Action: Officers to present a revised model for managing breaches of timed online 
exams at a later meeting.  
 
Action: Officers to develop a general exams communication to Faculties, 
Departments and students based on the paper. 
 
555.3.2  
Foundation Year admissions proposal 
 
The Committee considered the proposed principles of admission to the Foundation 
Year Programme (E6287). The course, an Undergraduate Certificate in Higher 
Education in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, is due to launch in January 2021 
with the first cohort of students matriculating in Michaelmas 2022. The Committee 
considered and was reassured that while not all applicant markers would apply to 
mature students, the use of UCAS tariff points would ensure the programme was 
sufficiently accessible to them.  
 
The Committee agreed the principles of admission to the Foundation Year 
programme, and the proposed model for students’ eligibility. 
 
555.3.3  

Skills survey and action plan 
 
The Access and Participation Plan specified a review of skills provision during 2019-
20 in order to develop a new strategy for academic, employability and life skills. The 
Committee received a draft strategy, developed by an Advisory Group, and which 
was also subject to approval at the Senior Tutors’ Committee (E6288). The strategy 
would be developed iteratively and reviewed annually. 
 
The Committee agreed with the premise that knowledge and skills were dependent 
but that the term ‘skills’ was a broad concept that could be further defined, with 
further discussion of employability skills and academic skills. It was also agreed that 
the strategy should cover both sub-degree students and postgraduate-taught 
students. A number of Schools already provided support for students’ skills 
development at postgraduate level and it was suggested that the strategy should 
incorporate how those resources could be developed.  
 
Action: CCTL officers to revise the draft strategy in response to the Committee’s 
comments.  
 
555.3.4  
Office for Students Coronavirus monitoring and reporting 
 
The Committee noted a letter from the Office for Students (OfS) to universities to 
inform them that they can expect the OfS to contact them should they change from 
the Department of Education’s coronavirus management tier 3 to tier 4 (E6288a). 
The Committee considered how the University would inform students of any changes 
to teaching that could result from changing tier and noted that some universities had 
not needed to make changes to teaching provision even though they had changed 
tier, since much depended on local circumstances and the advice of local health 
officials. The Committee agreed that staff and students would welcome greater 
clarity on how teaching might differ in each tier. 

 

 
Action: Officers to ensure that further guidance is issued to staff and students on the 
relationship between Covid management tiers and teaching arrangements.  
 
555.4   
Business items 
 
 
555.4.1  
Proposals from Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) 
 
The Committee considered proposals from ICE to change programme delivery for 
2020-21 and 2021-22 (E6289). It noted that ICE was already receiving queries from 
students about whether they would be required to travel to Cambridge for study in 
Lent and Easter term in 2021, and it was the Institute’s intention that it would provide 
in person-teaching to those who  preferred it. Students who continued to learn online 
would be the first to graduate with an online-only MSt from the University. There 
were reservations about the adequacy of online resources available to non-
matriculated students and it was agreed that ICE should work with Cambridge 
University Library to confirm appropriate materials and access. The Committee 
agreed that all postgraduate programmes offered by ICE should provide students 
with the option for fully remote study during 2020-21 only. 
 
The Institute also proposed that its undergraduate programmes should be taught 
both online and in person in 2021-22, with students able to study entirely by either 
means or switch between the two. The Committee agreed to the proposals on the 
proviso that is should receive monitoring reports about the quality of provision.  
 
Action: EQPO officers to agree an appropriate monitoring report format and 
frequency with ICE for undergraduate programmes in 2021-22. 
 
555.4.2  
PGR supervisors 
 
555.4.2.1  
Proposal for Supervisor Training Working Group 
 
The Committee considered proposals for the creation of a Working Group to 
investigate internal and external requirements for PGR supervisor training as 
recommended by a recent internal audit, and to recommend models for delivery 
(E6290). The Group would explore how other universities train supervisors, and 
develop a set of options for the University. The new Postgraduate Committee had 
agreed to support the working group. 
 
The Committee approved the proposals for a Supervisor Training working group 
reporting to the Postgraduate Committee and agreed it should consider the working 
group’s final proposals.  
 
555.4.2.2  
Guidance for Degree Committees 
 
The Committee received revised guidance for Degree Committees updated following 
the recent review of governance arrangements for postgraduate students and in light 
of the internal audit in PGR supervision (E6291). The changes related to student 
supervisor ratios, contact and reporting. 
 

 

The Committee approved the revised sections of the guidance  
 
555.4.3  
Guidance for Undergraduate Exams 
 
The Committee considered updates to the Guide for Undergraduate Exams in 
response to a requests from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator following a 
complaint that revealed irregular retention of exam data and a record of exam 
processes (E6292).  
 
While the Committee appreciated that suggestion that the ‘guide’ could become  
requirements, it declined the proposal because the guide had been intended to have 
a different function.  
 
The Committee advised that it welcomed clarification on data retention requirements 
but asked for further specificity about the records to be created and retained. It was 
suggested that a University-wide exam-data retention policy might be welcomed. 
Data retention should continue to focus on maintaining records of the exam process, 
and less so records of academic judgement. Members noted that the Guide’s 
suggestions that examiners place a mark on each page of a script was inappropriate 
for online exams and would welcome further guidance on this.  
 
Members agreed to a minor update to the Guide that departmental responses to 
external examiner reports should be provided to Exams and Assessment Committee 
for oversight, instead of to GBEC. 
 
Action:
 Officers to further revise the Guide and recirculate it to members for sign-off.  
 
555.4.4  

Time limits on the availability of recorded lectures 
 
The Committee received a paper from the Teaching, Learning and Assessment 
2020-21 Working Group discussing the appropriateness of time-limiting the 
availability of recorded lectures (E6293). Members acknowledged the desire of a 
minority of Faculties and Departments  to limit availability to lectures to encourage 
students to pace their learning across the term, but agreed strongly with the principle 
that learning resources should be appropriately accessible.  
 
The Committee agreed that recordings should be assumed to be available for the 
whole year, save if the Faculty or Department determined to limit availability for a 
minimum of a term and two additional weeks.  
 
Action: Officers in EQPO should inform Faculties and Departments, encouraging 
those with any concerns to provide advice and support to students on pacing their 
studies.  
 
555.4.5  

Guardian University Guide 2021 
 
The Committee determined that the Participation Data Advisory Group (PDAG) 
should provide detailed advice on the results of the Guardian University Guide 2021 
(E6294). 
 

 

Action: Officers in EQPO to gather advice from PDAG on the Guardian University 
Guide 2021.  
 
555.4.6  
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee Revised 
Terms of Reference 
 
The Committee approved the revised terms of reference for the Academic 
Standards and Enhancement Committee (E6295). 
 
555.5   

Minutes of other committees 
 
555.5.1  
Foundation Year project board 
 
The Committee noted the minutes of the Foundation Year project board held on 15 
July, 16 September, and 12 October 2020 (E6296a-c).  
 
555.5.2  

Postgraduate Committee 
 
The minutes of the Postgraduate Committee held on 13 October 2020 were not yet 
available and would be presented to the next meeting.  
 
 
555.5.3  

Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
 
The minutes of the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee held on 13 
October 2020 were not yet available and would be presented to the next meeting.  
 
Date of Next Meeting 
The next meeting of the Committee will be on19 November 2020. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 556 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
 

A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Wednesday 18th November 2020, 
via Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Declarations of interest 
No declarations were made. 
 
556.1  Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2020 were approved with 
amendments to clarify that Item 555.3.1.1 related to the Physical and Natural 
Science Tripos.  It was agreed that the model for managing breaches, as detailed in 
Item 5.5.5.3.1.3,  would be re-circulated to the Committee. 
 
556.1.1***Matters arising 
 
Items since last meeting agreed by circulation or Chair’s action 
 
Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business 
The Chair approved a request for the second and final residential period for the 
Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business to be delivered wholly online for 
2020-21.  This period was scheduled for late November and inappropriate given 
lockdown conditions. 
 
Proposals for assessment 2020/21 
 
Contingency arrangements for the following examinations were approved by either 
Chair’s or Officers’ action: 
•  AMES Tripos beginners’ language papers 
•  Veterinary Science Tripos papers 
•  Education Tripos 
•  NST Earth Sciences practical exams 
 
556.1.3 
Chair’s report 

 
Student workload 
The Chair referred to discussions with Cambridge Student Union about student 
workload.  The Student Union has voiced concerns about the impact of the 
pandemic on students’ mental health and capacity to work and have requested 
greater flexibility with regards to workload and submission deadlines.  The 
Committee recognised that Colleges are already providing support to students.  
 
 agreed to discuss this with Senior Tutors and 
representatives from Schools agreed to reflect on whether localised communications 
would be helpful. 
 
Action: 
(i) 
 to refer this matter to the Senior Tutors 
(ii) 
School representatives to reflect on the need for School level 
communications. 
  
OfS consultation 
The Chair reported that the OfS has very recently published plans for a significant 
consultation about assessment of quality, which includes a proposal to change a 
number of conditions of OfS registration.  As the deadline for submission of a 
response is before its next meeting, the Committee agreed to consider a draft 
response by electronic circulation. The consultation and its outcome will inform the 
Committee’s work, including in relation to Learning and Teaching Reviews.  
 
 highlighted the need for part-time and mature students to be considered in 
the consultation response. 
 
556.2  Starred items 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 
556.3  Strategic discussion  
 
556.3.1
 
Teaching and Assessment 2020-21 
 
556.3.1.1 
Proposal for an Online Proctoring pilot 
The Committee considered a report on online proctoring and recommendations 
made therein (E6297).  The Committee noted that where in-person exams are 
scheduled, any decision to move to online examinations (Plan B) will be made by the 
COVID Gold Team, taking account of a change in tier, which in turn will be made in 
consultation with PHE.  The Gold Team recognises the need for a lead time to 
implement Plan B arrangements.  As things stand, the in-person examinations for 
Physics scheduled to take place in mid-January will take place, although the Gold 
Team will review this in early January if necessary. 
 
The Committee approved the proposals to trial online proctoring solutions for the 
Maths PtIII/MAst and formative Engineering examinations in January 2021 (E6298A 
and 6298B), noting the need for resource in UIS to be available to support the trials.   
 
The Committee agreed to review the results of the trials and consider further use of 
online proctoring solutions at its meeting in February 2021. 
 


 
556.3.1.2 
Proposal for revised modes of assessment for 2020/2021 
Following concerns raised by the Disability Resource Centre, the Committee 
revisited the framework for assessment for 2020/21.  These concerns involve the 
use of open book examinations lasting 3 or 6 hours, as all students taking these 
examinations will have the same amount of time with no additional time provided to 
disabled students.  It was recognised that a large number of examinations this year 
are expected to be 6 hour examinations and students are likely already to have been 
informed of the mode of examination.  After much discussion, the Committee agreed 
the following: 
 
(i) 
3 and 6 hour open book examinations will remain. 
(ii) 
Students who need additional time will be given it.  For 3 hour examinations the 
additional time window will be 5 hours and for 6 hour examinations the 
additional time window will be 9 hours.   
(iii)  Students who are given additional time can apply for an alternative mode of 
assessment if they feel unable to take the examination within the extended time 
window. 
 commented that a nine hour window would extend beyond the opening 
hours of the Moodle helpdesk.  A similar issue was raised about the availability of the 
helpdesk to support examination activity over weekends and on bank holidays.  
 
 agreed to take this forward with UIS. 
 
Action: 
 to liaise with UIS regarding availability of Moodle support 
 
556.3.1.3 
Academic misconduct 
The Committee supported a proposal to review current policy and process relating to 
academic misconduct in the light of changes to modes of assessment in 2020/21. 
 
Action: 
the Education Quality and Policy team to conduct the review. 
 
556.3.1.4 
Consideration of arrangements for captioning for online lectures 
The Remote Teaching Learning and Assessment Working Group referred a number 
of matters relating to captioning for online lectures to the Committee, seeking a 
definitive position on the use of captioning (E6301).  It was recognised that some 
students, particularly students with disabilities, might benefit from captioning, and 
this was already being provided to some students by the DRC.  However, the system 
used to capture the captions, Panopto, is very limited, often resulting in captions that 
are inaccurate.  Some academic members of the Committee voiced unhappiness 
with the low quality of the captions; the Committee was clear in its view that 
academic staff should not be expected to review and correct captions. 
 
The Committee held a long discussion but was not able to reach a unanimous 
conclusion as to whether captioning should be mandatory for all online lectures.  
Through a vote the Committee decided that captioning should not be made 
mandatory, and that lecturers should be free to decide whether to use the captioning 
software. 
 
 


The Committee also agreed that the wider use of software which provides captions 
to individual students, currently being trialled through the Disability Resource Centre, 
should be explored. 
 
Action: 
 to investigate wider use of the individual caption software. 
 
556.3.2
 
Strategic review of mental health services across the Collegiate 
University  
The Vice-Chancellor has commissioned a strategic review of mental health provision 
to consider what services should be available and how those services should be 
made available (E6302).  The Committee agreed to nominate 
 to 
represent the Committee on the Steering Group overseeing the review.  Following a 
question from 
, the Chair confirmed that non-matriculated students were 
outside the scope of the review. 
 
556.4  Business items 
556.4.1 
Approval and recommendation to General Board of a Master’s in 
Architecture 
For its part, the Committee approved the establishment of a Master’s in Architecture, 
to replace the current MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design (E6303), and agreed 
to recommend this to the General Board, noting that this would bring the University 
in line with other provision within the sector. 
 
 
556.4.2 
Approval and recommendation to General Board of a Certificate in 
Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies  
The Committee considered a proposal for the establishment of a Certificate in Pre-
medical Studies (E6305).  Although supportive in principle, members asked for 
assurance that students taking the course will be eligible for admission to the 
University’s MB programme, and will be eligible to receive funds from the Student 
Loan Company for both programmes.  The Committee agreed to approve the 
proposal subject to confirmation of these matters. 
 
556.4.3 
Changes to the external quality assurance of degree apprenticeship 
 gave a brief report on the impact of changes to the regulatory oversight 
of apprenticeships, which now come under the remit of Ofsted, and agreed to 
provide a more detailed plan at the next meeting.   
 
556.4.4 
Proposal to move to online course delivery from the Cambridge 
Institute for Sustainability Leadership  
The Committee approved a proposal from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability 
Leadership to move to online course delivery for 2020/2021, noting that if possible 
some elements of the MSt might also be held in person (E6307). 
 
556.4.5 
Guidance for undergraduate exams 
The Committee considered further revisions to the Guidance for undergraduate 
Exams, taking account of feedback provided at the previous meeting (E6308).   
Members agreed that further clarity was needed about the expectations for Faculty 
Boards on annotated scripts and retention of materials containing commentary on 
 


academic judgement.  Recognising that the revision of the guidance follows a 
recommendation from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), to which a 
response is required, the Committee agreed to ask the Head of the Education Policy 
and Quality Office to respond to the OIA and to consider the guidance again at its 
next meeting. 
 
Action: 
 to prepare a response to the OIA 
 
556.4.6 
Student Skills Project:  Strategy and Action plan 
The Committee approved the strategy and action plan (E6309) and noted the 
establishment of a Working Group.   
 
556.4.7 
Proposal to extend pause LTR until 30/9/2022 
 outlined the proposal from the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee to extend the pause in Learning and Teaching Reviews.  
Consultation with Faculties and Departments was impacted by the pandemic, and 
the pause will allow a full consultation to take place, taking account of necessary 
changes in place this year.  In the meantime the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee will continue to monitor quality, primarily through review of 
External Examiner reports.  The Committee approved the proposal. 
 
556.4.8 
Admissions and Outreach Review  
The Committee received an interim report on the review of undergraduate 
admissions and outreach (E6311). 
 
556.4.9 
***Office for Students’ Business Plan 2020-21 
The Committee noted the Office for Students’ Business Plan 2020/2021 (E6312).   
 
556.4.10
 
***National Student Survey – review response 
The Committee noted the University’s response to a recent review of the National 
Student Survey (E6313). 
 
556.4.11 
***Changes to student immigration matters 
The Committee noted the update on student immigration provided by the 
International Student Office (E6314).   
 
 
556.4.12  
*** Amendment to DRC recording agreement 
The Committee approved an addition to the recording agreement, to enable courses 
to seek explicit consent if required (E6315).  
 
556.4.13
 
*** NST Annual Report 
The Committee noted the Annual Report from the Committee of Management for the 
National Sciences Tripos (E6316). 
 
556.4.14 
*** Changes to Statutes and Ordinances 
The Committee approved changes to the regulations for the Diploma in Theology 
and the Ministry, Modern and Medieval Languages, History and Modern Languages 
and Linguistics Triposes (E6317).  
 
 
 


556.5***Minutes of other committees 
 
556.5.1
 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Senior 
Tutors’ Committee on 30 October 2020 (E6318).   
 
556.5.2 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Academic 
Standards and Enhancement Committee on 14 October 2020 (E6319)
 
556.5.3 
Postgraduate Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Committee on 13 October 2020 (E6320)
 
556.5.4 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee on 14 October 2020 and revised Terms of 
Reference for this Committee (E6321) and approved the revised Terms of Reference 
for the Postgraduate Admissions Committee are circulated for approval (E6322).   
 
556.5.5 
Strategic Working Group on Access and Participation 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Strategic 
Working Group on Access and Participation meeting on 6 October 2020 (E6323). 
 
556.5.6 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee meeting on 5 October 2020 (E6324). 
 
 
556.6  Any other business 

 
556.6.1 

Students leaving Cambridge for the winter break 
 queried the application of the recent Department for Education guidance 
about travel during the winter break on in-person laboratory teaching scheduled to 
take place in December.  The Chair confirmed that all in-person teaching must stop 
on 9th December 2020, and alternative arrangements for the laboratory teaching will 
need to be made.  It was noted that the position of PGCE and Veterinary students on 
placement had not yet been confirmed. 
 
556.6.2 
Arrangements for remote study during Lent Term 2021 for PGR 
students. 
The Chair reported that three Schools have requested greater flexibility of current 
rules to allow PGR students to study remotely (work away) if they do not need to be 
in Cambridge.  Guidance is being prepared and further consultation with Schools 
and Colleges will follow. 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
The next meeting of the Committee will be on Wednesday 3 February 2021 at 2pm. 
 


 
 
      
           557 
 
 General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Wednesday 3 February 2021, via Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Declarations of interest 
No declarations were made. 
 
557.1   
Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2020 were approved.  
 
557.1.1 
Matters arising 
 
The Committee noted the reported business:  
Officer action: change to the length of four pre-clinical Veterinary Sciences examinations to 
restore the “normal” examination length. Proposed by the School of Biological Sciences, 
endorsed by 
, confirmed by 

 
Coursework assessments for the optional British Psychological Society accreditation in the 
Faculty of Education’s MPhil/MEd Psychology and Education pathway endorsed by 
 
 approved by 
 on behalf of the Committee. 
 
557.1.2 
Chair’s report 
 
GBEC membership 
The Chair welcomed 
 to the Committee as the new representative of the 
School of Clinical Medicine, and noted the Committee’s thanks to 
 for her 
significant contribution to the Committee. The Chair congratulated 
 
 on their renewed appointment to the Committee and congratulated 
 on 
his appointment to the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee. 
 
Items agreed by correspondence and Chair’s action 
The Chair noted that members had approved the introduction of a ‘No Detriment’ policy for 
final year Tripos students of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics (MMLL), and 
of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) because of the availability of classed marks 
from the year prior to their year abroad.  
 
The Chair had approved via Chair’s action in-person vivas for the two students of the 
Diploma in Conservation of Easel Paintings. 
 
Updated Department for Education guidance on Students returning to, and starting higher 
education, in Spring Term 2021 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
The Chair advised members that the Department for Education had recently reissued its 
guidance which advised universities that very few students should return before 8 March and 
that it remained the Government’s advice that the movement of students to higher education 
institutions should be kept to a minimum. The management of the possible return of students 
from 8 March was being considered. The University continued to consider options for the 
return of students in Easter Term and was considering whether students might have the 
option to remain away from Cambridge.  
 
557.2   
Starred items 
 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 
 


 
 
 
 
557.3   
Strategic discussion  
 
557.3.1 
 
Assessment 2020-21 
 
The Committee reviewed the proposed package of mitigation measures on which Schools, 
student representatives and central offices had recently been consulted (E6325). The 
proposed measures were endorsed, with further clarity being provided about aspects of the 
cohort equity proposal – that boundaries would be altered if only the mark profile is lower 
than in previous years and that greater flexibility will be afforded to Examiners of small 
student cohorts. The Committee agreed to allow Faculties and Departments to consider 
discounting marks, provided the student passed the assessment. The proposal for dropping 
marks, petitioned by the representatives of the Students’ Union, was not endorsed on the 
grounds that it might impact on students meeting learning objectives. It was agreed that 
other measures could be used to address concerns about student workload. 
 
The need for clear communication to Faculties, Departments and students was understood. 
It was agreed that a paper detailing the package of measures will be circulated to Faculties 
and Departments early the following week, and communication to students will follow. A 
clear message around the no detriment policy for students on the AMES and MMLL Triposes 
will also be provided.   
 
Members considered proposals to change the Framework for Assessment 2020-21 to 
enable exams to take place in Easter Term (E6326). The changes were necessary to 
accommodate students who may not return to Cambridge and who may need to sit their 
exams from other time zones. As such, there would likely be an increase in the number of 
exams held within a 24 hour window. Points to consider included whether there should be a 
single release time for exams, or whether they should be staggered to support Moodle; 
whether students could sit exams on consecutive days if both used 24 hour windows; and 
whether the exam timetable might be extended into early July, with finalists prioritised for 
scheduling purposes.  
 
The Committee approved the proposals. Members expressed a preference not to defer any 
exams until September. They noted the importance of supporting Moodle stability by holding 
the exams to an established set of procedures. The Committee agreed to defer taking a view 
on whether in-person exams should be cancelled and be held remotely until guidance from 
the Government became clearer on the likelihood of students being able to return to 
residence. While holding exams in-person might be done in Covid-secure ways, it remained 
important to continue to observe the Government guidance on the movement of students. 
Members agreed that it may be necessary to hold a further meeting after the anticipated 
further government announcement on 22 February.  
  
Online Proctoring Pilot 
The Committee received a report detailing the online proctoring pilot conducted by the 
Faculty of Mathematics and the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry (E6327). The pilot had 
been regarded as successful and feedback from students generally positive. One lesson 
learned was that the number of invigilators required for large cohorts was substantial: further 
use of online proctoring would possibly require financial support from the central University. 
The Committee noted that online proctoring could not be integrated with Moodle and that 
control of exams using this method would be devolved to faculties and departments. While 
useful, online proctoring should be considered a short-term solution only. 
 
Given the limited amount of support available, the Committee agreed that only subjects that 
had taken part in the pilot or had been approved to assess in person would be permitted to 
use online proctoring during the Easter Term examination period, excepting the Department 
of Veterinary Medicine whose accrediting body recommends online proctoring. 
 


 
 
 
 
 
557.3.2 
University Risk Register  
 
The Committee received updates to the University Risk Register on risks related to 
education (E6328) and members were invited to send comments to 
.  
 
557.3.3  
Matters from the Joint Working Group on Size and Shape   
 
The Committee received an update on discussions relating to residency requirements for 
part-time postgraduate courses, and proposals for a review of the quality of postgraduate 
taught courses (E6329). 
  
Residency requirements for part-time postgraduate courses 
The Committee noted the work of previous groups, including the Residency Requirements 
Working Group
, in developing the approach outlined in the paper. The paper proposed to 
distinguish between groups of postgraduate part-time students, such as those who currently 
commute to teaching (such as the MEd students) and those who attend weekend 
residentials. The paper proposed that the former might not require a residency requirement, 
while there might be a range of options for the latter. It was clear that encouraging student 
engagement with the wider Cambridge community was critical. 
  
The Committee agreed that this was an important area of work. However, it was agreed that 
a reframing of the issues towards student and educational needs was required. The 
Committee considered that the current proposals did not emphasise the importance of part-
time postgraduate courses, nor their breadth and their significance the University’s widening 
participation agenda. It was noted that a more fundamental review of the issues, in the 
context of the changes to education and learning which had taken place due to Covid-19, 
might inform further discussions, and the distinction between residency and attendance was 
also highlighted. It was agreed that the Chair and 
 should take the issue 
forward with a small group of Committee members. 
  
Review of the quality of postgraduate taught courses 
The Committee noted that a review of the quality of postgraduate taught courses would be 
undertaken which would review a range of course-level information (from admissions to 
attrition). While important, the Committee noted that it could not be a priority at present, and 
that work would begin on the review in the future. The Committee endorsed the review of 
the quality of postgraduate taught courses. 
 
557.4   
Business items 
 
557.4.1  
Global Executive MBA 
 
The Committee received a proposal from the Cambridge Judge Business School to provide 
a Global Executive Masters of Business Administration to be taught in both Cambridge and 
China (E6330). The proposal had been significantly revised from earlier versions, and 
represented a 50/50 delivery model on both sides. Both the Senior Tutors’ Standing 
Committee on Education and the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee had 
approved the proposals, but with both bodies highlighting issues around the amount of travel 
and its implication for both environmental sustainability and feasibility in times of travel 
restrictions, such as the pandemic. However, it was considered that this was the best current 
model to establish meaningful residency, and that there was no desire at this time to hold 
back the establishment of the programme. The Committee agreed that the Business School 
 


 
 
 
 
should reflect on the impact of the level of movement, and be permitted to consider evolution 
in line with University changes in due course.   
 
The Committee approved the proposal to introduce the Global Executive MBA pathway. 
 
557.4.2  
Proposals for University-wide student surveys  
 
The Committee noted that the University’s three-year contract with i-graduate for use of the 
Student Barometer survey has expired and was asked to advise on proposals for surveys 
which it may use (E6331). The Committee agreed that under the present circumstances, a 
pulse survey, similar to the one used in Michaelmas Term, would be the best option for this 
year. 
 
557.4.3
  
Michaelmas Term Pulse survey results  
 
The Committee received the quantitative and interim qualitative results of the Michaelmas 
Pulse survey (E6332). The Committee noted that, despite the relatively low response rate, 
the results are mostly encouraging and that the free-text comments could be useful in 
addressing some concerns. The Committee also heard that the comments summary and the 
quantitative results will be disseminated to Faculties and Departments. 
 
557.4.4  
Cambridge University Medical Education Group  
 
The Committee considered a proposal for Cambridge University Medical Education Group 
(CUMEG) to work in partnership with Sunway University on the design of its medical degree 
curriculum (E6333). CUMEG has not yet begun negotiations with Sunway University on the 
terms of the agreement. CUMEG sought to understand what GBEC might consider 
permissible. Members welcomed the proposals with the possible licensed use of the 
CUMEG logo on course literature but raised concerns about the potential use of it on 
Sunway University degree certificates which might be misinterpreted as being a joint degree. 
On this basis the Committee declined to approve the proposals.  
 
557.4.5  
International Recruitment Strategy  
 
The Committee received a draft copy of an International Recruitment Strategy (E6334) and 
members were invited to send comments to the Chair or 
.  
 
557.4.6
 
Changes to the Guide on Examinations Data, Records, and Scripts 
 
The Committee received a series of options for the retention of notes of academic judgement 
and an overview of practice in the sector (E6335). Members agreed to send feedback by 
correspondence and asked to receive recommendations at the next meeting.  
 
557.4.7 
Course length policy 
 
The Committee received a draft course length policy (E6336) outlining how published course 
length should be calculated, and specific cases which may affect that calculation. 
Consistency of course length is necessary for the University’s Tier 4 visa licence. While 
supportive of the principles in the policy, the Committee noted that implementation may 
 


 
 
 
 
prove difficult for some subjects, and requested that Officers support Faculties and 
Departments in making course amendments. The Committee approved the policy, noting 
the comment above. 
  
 
557.4.8  
Safety Net report 
 
The Committee noted a report on the use of the assessment safety net in 2019-20 in 
response to the Covid-19 pandemic (E6337). It recognised the noteworthy increase in the 
number of students receiving a first class or upper second. 
 
557.4.9  
External regulation update 
 
Members received and noted a significant number of external policy developments from both 
the Government and the regulator (E6338). The committee welcomed the announcement 
that the Government has abandoned its proposals for the Teaching Excellence Framework 
to be applied at subject level, but noted that proposals for monitoring subject-level data had 
featured in the recent Office for Students’ (OfS) consultation on quality assurance. The OfS 
had also asked all universities to review their compliance with consumer law which would 
form the basis of a report which officers would prepare for University Council. The 
Committee noted that the OfS had relaunched its arrangements for students to make 
‘Notifications’ directly to the OfS 
 
557.4.10  
Changes to Statutes and Ordinances 
 
The Committee approved the changes to Statutes and Ordinances (E6339). 
 
557.5   
Minutes of other committees 
 
557.5.1
  
Examination and Assessment Committee 
 
The Committee noted the confirmed minutes of the Examinations and Assessment 
Committee on 28 October (E6340).  
 
557.5.2  
Doctoral Training Partnerships Committee 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Doctoral Training Partnerships 
Committee on 11 November 2020 (E6341). 
 
557.5.3
 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions 
Committee on 16 November 2020 (E6342). 
 
557.5.4  
Participation Data Advisory Group  
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Participation Data Advisory Group 
meeting on 20 November 2020 (E6343). The Committee noted:  
  
•  the low ranking of Medicine, Veterinary Science, Music, History and English in the 
Guardian University Guide 
 


 
 
 
 
•  that the University has dropped in rankings in the Industry and Income section of the 
Times Higher Education World University Rankings. 
 
The Committee was also asked to clarify and support expectations of who would be 
available to support the evaluation of student data in Faculties and Departments and asked 
for a description of what will be required of each Faculty before considering it. The 
Committee, however, made it clear that this is not currently a priority.  
 
557.5.5  
Board of Executive and Professional Education 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Board of Executive and Professional 
Education of 26 November 2020 (E6344).  
 
557.5.6 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Senior Tutors’ Committee on 27 
November 2020 (E6345).   
 
557.5.7
  
Health and Wellbeing Committee 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Committee on 4 
December 2020 (E6346). 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
 
14.00 Wednesday 10 March 2021 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 558 
 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
A meeting of this Committee was held at 10.00 on Wednesday 10 March 2021, via 
Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Declarations of interest 
No declarations were made. 
 
 
558.1   

Minutes 
The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2021 were approved (E6347).  
 
 
Matters arising 
 
Assessment 2020/21 
 
Following the Committee’s approval of a revised framework for assessment for 
2020/21 (Minute 557.3.1) and taking account of Government guidance on COVID-
19, Faculties and Departments submitted alternative assessment proposals. Where 
necessary these were approved by the Chair on behalf of the Committee (E6348).  
Changes that did not require the Committee’s approval were approved by the 
Education Quality and Policy Office (EQPO).   
 
 
Reported business 
 
Items since last meeting agreed by circulation or Chair’s action 
On behalf of the Committee, the Chair and 
 endorsed changes to the 
Final MB which were made to reduce the number of times students would be brought 
together for in-person examinations. The School of Clinical Medicine had consulted 
widely with the General Medical Council, external examiners, other UK medical 
schools and the student body, as well as with EQPO and the Exams Office. 
 
On behalf of the Committee, 
 exceptionally approved the 
use of Zoom as an invigilation tool for the Lent term professionally accredited 
examinations in the Veterinary Sciences Tripos. 

 
 
Chair’s report 
 
Students on certain courses were permitted to return in March and more will return in 
April. Further Government guidance is expected after Easter which may inform future 
plans on the return of students for in-person teaching. Students are permitted to 
return home for one trip over the Easter vacation.  Students who wish to travel 
overseas cannot rely on University testing but will need to arrange officially 
recognised testing.  Further messaging about international travel will be provided via 
Colleges shortly. 
 
The University libraries are starting to make bookable study spaces available. 
 
558.2   
Starred items 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 
 
558.3   
Strategic discussion  
 
558.3.1 
Education Provision in 2021/22 
 introduced this item. The situation for 2021/22 is not yet clear but it 
is likely that international travel will still be restricted and social distancing measures 
may well remain in place. There is also a possibly of repeated waves of infection.  
 
The Committee agreed that planning should take place on a termly basis with 
contingency plans made for in-person arrangements if possible. It is likely that large 
scale in-person lectures will not be possible in Michaelmas Term; guidance on use of 
education space will be updated to reflect current thinking on social distancing and 
ventilation.  
 
Concerns remain about education provision for students who are unable to travel to 
Cambridge and the impact of social distancing measures on students taking courses 
which require use of particular facilities, such as laboratories. These will need to be 
factored into plans and it may be necessary to prioritise courses with practical 
components. 
 
Guidance will be drafted by EQPO and circulated to the Committee for review before 
being distributed to Faculties and Departments during Easter term. 
 
 
558.3.2 
Framework for assessment 2021/2022 
 provided an update on the work of the Examinations and 
Assessment Committee (EAC) on diversification of assessment and its impact on 
narrowing awarding gaps. He explained how the work of the Committee dovetailed 
with that of Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning and with various groups 
working towards the University’s Access and Participation Plan goals for 2025 
relating to awarding gaps.  
 
 


 introduced the draft framework within which the options for assessment in 
2021-22 were set out. In the longer term, amendments to the Statutes and 
Ordinances and strengthening of the wider infrastructure supporting assessment 
may be required; the framework will facilitate a transition period. There continue to 
be concerns within the University Information Service about the stability, 
performance, and configuration of the Moodle platform. The timeline during which 
assessment plans will be submitted and approved has not yet been confirmed.   
  
The Committee welcomed the work of EAC, offered broad support to the framework, 
and noted that following a consultation period a final version of the framework would 
be submitted for approval by GBEC in April 2021. 
 
558.3.3 
Monitoring and Review 
 
558.3.3.1 
Education Monitoring and Review 
The Committee agreed that an extension of the current pause in the Learning and 
Teaching Review
 process should be mitigated by a light-touch and risk-based interim 
monitoring and review process. 
 
The Committee reviewed a proposed interim process (E6350) to replace the 
Learning and Teaching Review and Annual Programme Review processes, 
recommended by the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee (ASEC).  
The process is a reflective exercise grounded in annual review of a well-defined 
body of data, and would be implemented formally from Michaelmas 2022 with 
optional piloting from Michaelmas 2021.  Deeper-dive enhanced monitoring would be 
enacted after triggers, reflecting concerns or risks in the data or reflective exercise. 
The process would be led in partnership between EQPO and Schools and tied to the 
annual planning round.  Targeted consultation was taken with some departments, 
which welcomed the proposal.   
 
ASEC anticipates that the interim process would in time become the standard and 
replace the Learning and Teaching Review process in full; the interim process will be 
less burdensome and provide more effective, timely support for departmental 
development.  Ultimately the process could take place biennially.  Providing 
appropriate follow-up actions within a reasonable timescale will be essential to make 
the process meaningful and effective. 
 
The Committee agreed that training for student representatives as outlined in the 
paper would need further development. Officers will work with Sabbatical Officers to 
develop this, along with guidance on how best to incorporate student feedback as 
part of the review process.   
 
Whilst supporting the data-rich model, the Committee noted concerns about the 
administrative support required and the risk of shifting resource burden onto the 
Schools.  Further work will take place to outline the most effective and least 
burdensome process, noting that this may vary by School.  The Committee 
welcomed the opportunity to delve more deeply and reflectively into thematic issues 
across the institution, embedded within planning processes.  The risk of reactive, 
 


rather than proactive, enhancement was noted but the Committee did not believe it 
outweighed the wider benefits. 
 
The Committee approved the interim process, to take effect from Michaelmas 
Term 2022.  Volunteers will be sought for piloting during 2021/22. 
 
3.3.2  Exceptional monitoring and review exercise 
The Committee received a proposal (E6351) for EQPO to undertake an exceptional 
desk-based review of academic quality and standards during 2019/20, in place of the 
Annual Programme Review exercise.  This recognises that many decisions made 
during the year were taken after detailed institutional oversight and extensive 
dialogue between Faculties, Departments and EQPO.  The process would be light-
touch and provide an audit trail along with reassurance in the actions taken, in 
preparation for the interim process described in 3.3.1 above.  Discussion took place 
about seeking feedback from student representatives to be included in this exercise.  
Ultimately it was agreed this was not appropriate because of the need to collect and 
parse such data, adding to the resource burden, as well as risking a mixed economy 
where some responses were provided and others not; in particular it would be 
impossible to incorporate 1-year course feedback in this way.  Student survey data 
would be included, both from national and pulse surveys.   
 
The Committee agreed to implement the review exercise for 2019/20. 
 
 
558.4   
Business items 
 
558.4.1 
Academic Integrity 
The Committee was invited to discuss the draft guidance for Faculties and 
Departments on managing issues related to academic integrity in online or revised 
assessment methods (E6352)
 
It was reported that the guidance responded to queries and concerns raised by 
Faculties and Departments. The light-touch guidance included prompts to support 
Faculties and Departments in reflecting on their academic integrity policies and 
communication with students. 
 
The Committee welcomed the paper and noted the plans for further work including 
reviewing the operational aspects of Turnitin. 
 
The Committee approved the Academic integrity and misconduct in digital delivery 
of assessment
 guidance. 
 
 
558.4.2 
Consumer Compliance review 
The Committee received a paper (E6353) providing the Stage 1 report of a 
consumer compliance review conducted following the request from the Office for 
Students that universities should review how they conducted their compliance 
activities in Michaelmas Term 2020. The Stage 1 review found that at an institutional 
level, the University was compliant with consumer protection requirements but, since 
 


there was lower satisfaction among students regarding their access to physical 
resources, this would justify a Stage 2 sampling review of certain Faculties and 
Departments. The Committee welcomed the report and the direction of the review 
which would be presented to the University Council.  
 
 
558.4.3 
Proposals for University-wide student surveys 2021-22 
The Committee received paper (E6354) which presented available options for 
University-wide surveys from 2021-2022 onwards. The Committee heard that from 
the list of surveys reported, PTES and PRES would be the recommended ones to 
run in conjunction with the compulsory NSS.  
  
The Committee agreed to run PTES and PRES with effect from 2021-22 
 
 
558.4.4 
Pulse survey student comments analysis and updated quantitative  
 
 
results 
The Committee received the full analysis of the student comments of the 
Michaelmas Pulse survey (E6355) and an updated document of the quantitative 
analysis (E6356). The Committee noted that the comments analysis includes some 
themes that have been highlighted through other surveys/groups as well and it is 
hoped that its dissemination to Faculties and Departments would be helpful. 
 
 
558.4.5 
Progression models 
The Committee received a framework for the adoption of a progression model for 
flexible courses (E6357). The framework was supported by ASEC. The framework 
chosen is a stacked model, in which each component course stacks into a larger 
whole. Only Cambridge credit will be involved in the creation of these courses, in 
whole-course units only to ensure coherent exit awards from the flexible stack.   
 
It was reported that there would be no implications for courses which already had a 
progression structure but all new progression courses would be expected to use the 
approved model. The Committee noted an area of concern around the fee 
calculation, which would see a student who studied flexibly through a progression 
structure pay more than a student who registered for and completed a Master’s 
degree in the standard route. 
 
The Committee agreed that the progression model should be approved and the 
issue relating to the overall fee should be referred to Fees Sub-Committee of the 
Planning and Resources Committee for discussion
 
 
 
558.4.6 
Data retention guidelines 
The Committee received recommendations for the retention of notes of academic 
judgement (E6358), informed by the recommendations following the outcome of a 
complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), the advice of the 
University’s information compliance officer, and a review of practice at other Russell 
 


Group Institutions. Members noted that the proposed change to the retention of 
notes of academic judgement enhanced the ‘auditability’ of the assessment process 
which was important for bodies like the OIA in its work to verify that assessment has 
been conducted appropriately to inform their review of student cases, and noted too 
that exam records retention was the focus of a further case from Cambridge 
currently being considered by the OIA. The proposed retention period was ‘a 
duration determined at the discretion of the Faculty or Department but taking into 
account the need to retain records for exam reviews (which can be requested for up 
to 28 days after results are released).’ 
 
Members discussed the options to either change the policy to get ahead of any 
further judgement from the OIA, or to defer the decision until the OIA issues its 
judgement. Members agreed to approve the revised guidance subject to it being 
edited to be consistent and clear in its expectation, and that this should be verified by 
Chair’s action. The Committee also agreed that the Guidance should be scheduled 
for review in a year’s time.   
 
 
558.4.7 
STEM Smart Programme Proposal 
 provided an overview of the proposed pilot STEM Smart Programme, 
designed to widen participation in STEM by providing students from 
underrepresented schools and backgrounds an opportunity to gain key skills and 
experience in order to strengthen their University applications.  The programme, 
which will be led by the School of the Physical Sciences with support from the 
Schools of the Biological Sciences and Technology, aims to start in January 2022.  It 
is anticipated that around 750 students will start the programme and around 200 will 
complete it.  The programme will provide useful context as and when a foundation 
year in STEM is developed. 
 
The Committee endorsed the proposal and gave its support to endeavours to 
confirm ongoing funding.  It was recognised that such a programme might lend itself 
to philanthropic funding.  Some Colleges are supporting the programme by providing 
free accommodation for residential periods. 
 
558.4.8 
Update on Online Proctoring Pilot 
An update report on the pilot was received (E6360).   
 
558.4.9 
Foundation Year Management Committee 
The Committee approved the Terms of Reference of the Foundation Year 
Management Committee (E6361)
 
 
558.5   
Minutes of other committees 
 
558.5.1 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Senior 
Tutors’ Committee on 12 February 2021 (E6362).   
 
558.5.2 
Examinations and Assessment Committee 
 


The Committee noted the confirmed minutes from the meetings of the Examinations 
and Assessment Committee on 25 November 2020 (E6363) and 23 February 2021 
(E6364). 
 
558.5.3 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Academic 
Standards and Enhancement Committee on 10 February 2021 (E6365)
 
558.5.4 
Postgraduate Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Committee on 26 January 2021 (E6366)
 
558.5.5 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee on 11 February 2021 (E6367).   
 
558.5.6 
Doctoral Training Programmes Committee  
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee on 17 February 2021 (E6368).   
 
558.5.7 
Student Support Initiative Steering Group 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Student 
Support Initiative Steering Group (previously Strategic Working Group on Access 
and Participation) meeting on 1 December 2020 (E6369) and 25 January 2021 
(E6370). 
 
558.5.8 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee meeting on 1 February 2021 (E6371). 
 
558.5.9 
Board of Executive and Professional Education  
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Board of 
Executive and Professional Education on 25th February 2021 (E6372)
 
 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
 
14.00 Friday 16 April 2021 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 559 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
 

 
 
A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Friday 16 April 2021, via Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Declarations of interest 
No declarations were made. 
 
 
559.1  Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2021 were approved (E6373).  
 
559.1.1 
Matters arising 
 
Minute 558.4.1, March 2021: Academic Integrity 
Since the last meeting, some minor changes had been made to the process for requesting 
Turnitin access. Officers continued to work with the Office for Student Conduct, Complaints 
and Appeals (OSCCA) on this policy area and implications for student cases, noting that 
some minor revisions to the policy on use of Turnitin might be needed for 21-22 alongside 
some minor changes to the terms and conditions for use of the University’s Turnitin licence, 
about which the committee would be kept informed. 
 
559.1.2 
Reported business 
 
It was reported that approval had been given by Chair’s Action to suspend recruitment to the 
Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in English (Engineering or Business 
Management) 
run by the Institute of Continuing Education for one year. No offers of places 
had been made before the suspension.   
 
559.1.3 
Chair’s report 
 
Return of students 
The Department for Education had published guidance on the return of students to 
universities after Easter which only differed minimally to guidance provided in January. The 
Chair noted that the University shared the frustration of others at its inability to make in-
person teaching available to all students until at least the 17th of May 2021. All students that 
already had permission to receive in person teaching would continue to receive it and some 
additional students had been given permission to return since they fell within the definition of 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
practical and practice-based subjects. Any students that wanted to return would be expected 
to contact their College to do so if they were able to meet the criteria for returning based 
upon their health or needing access to study space or facilities. 
 
Gravity Assist 
The Office for Students has circulated to universities a copy of its Gravity Assist report which 
summarised a survey on the shift to technology enabled learning during the pandemic. The 
report identifies six actions that universities should consider taking. The Committee would 
receive a paper for the next meeting on how the University might respond.  
 
559.2   
Starred items 
 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 
559.3   
Strategic discussion  
 
559.3.1 
Framework for assessment 2021/2022 
 
The Committee received a draft framework for assessment for all taught students for 
2021/22 which intended to support the diversification of assessment and maintain for a 
further year some of the forms of exams being hosted on Moodle (E6374). The Committee 
noted that there have been several changes on the document based on consultation 
feedback. The Committee discussed the framework and the following points were raised: 
•  That the Framework was not designed to enable programmes to cease delivering 
papers set out in their ordinances on a temporary basis. It was centred on 
assessment. 
•  That the 6-hour exam window was not retained as an option owing to concerns about 
equality implications. 
•  Concern was raised about the deadline by which departments must specify their 
modes of assessment for next year. They may be able to respond by the end of 
August but not any earlier.  
•  That exams held within a 3 hour window could facilitate allowances for disabled 
students.  
•  Whether small cohorts would be allowed to have in person online invigilated exams. 
The Committee noted that this required further discussion as there could be issues, 
with ventilation, noise, and both electrical and internet load. 
•  Concern was raised that the Framework prohibited different formats of assessment 
other than the ones proposed (p.34). It was agreed that the Framework should not 
preclude other modes if they were workable (e.g., students taking in person 
invigilated exams who then scan and send their papers).  
•  More clarity was needed about the word count and consequences of exceeding it 
(p.5).  
•  Whether the timetable for implementation of the Framework should indicate when 
contingency plans should be provided. 
•  Concern as to how Faculties/Departments will support students if they have 
unreliable internet. 
•  That within the 3-hour window 1-hour exams (and other variants) were allowed.  
•  Clarification as to what would be allowed in terms of setting exam start and end 
times.  

 

 
 
 
 
It was also agreed that a way of managing suggestions for assessment formats not explicitly 
covered by the framework would need to be found. Notwithstanding this, it was agreed to 
support the framework in principle subject to amplifying and clarifying the points mentioned 
above. A marked-up version would be circulated to the Committee with answers/clarification 
for final approval. 
 
559.4   
Business items 
 
559. 4.1 
Assessment matters 
 
559.4.1.1 
COVID-19 Statement on University transcripts 
The Committee considered whether a statement referring to the pandemic should be 
included on transcripts for 2020/21 (E6375). A statement had been added to transcripts last 
year and was a useful means of helping those reading the transcripts to contextualise the 
results. It was agreed that a statement should be added this year that was generic but 
should refer to a little detail, and link to a University webpage where further information could 
be found. 
 
559.4.1.2 
Guidance on Impact Statements for Taught Students 
Assessment arrangements agreed at the meeting in February included the option for 
students to submit impact statements alongside dissertation, project or coursework on the 
impact of lockdown on their access to resources. The Committee considered draft guidance 
for taught students on these impact statements (E6376)
 
Members noted that there was some difficulty where assessment had already taken place 
without impact statements and where accommodations for the impact on students had been 
made. Some argued that the package of assessment mitigation made impact statements 
unnecessary, but there was an overriding concern about the unevenness with which 
students had access to resources, based on whether they were in Cambridge or not. Impact 
statements would go some way to mitigate the risk of equality issues being ignored and 
related complaints given that academic judgement sometimes involved judging how students 
have used and critically appraised sources and resources available to them. 
 
The Committee agreed with the principle of impact statements but asked for some changes 
to the guidance. It advised that wording that implied maintaining a case-by-case record of 
how the impact statement had affected a mark should be removed since a record at cohort 
level should be sufficient and that it was important to record that the impact statement had 
been considered as part of the assessment process. The Committee further agreed that the 
guidance on impact statements should expect students to observe a word limit in their 
statements. It asked that a further version of the guidance should be circulated to members 
with tracked changes.  
 
559.4.2 
Postgraduate matters 
 
559.4.2.1 
Part-time postgraduate research study 
The Postgraduate Committee and the Postgraduate Admissions Committee recommended 
that part-time study should become an option for all postgraduate research (PGR) 
programmes from 2023 (E6377). Exceptions could be made only for courses that contained 
components (such as fieldwork) which would not be workable under that model.  Introducing 
part-time options would contribute to equality of opportunity.  
 
The proposal was well received, and the Chair of the Postgraduate Committee noted that the 
recommendation aligned with UKRI expectations and the University’s widening participation 

 

 
 
 
 
goals. The Committee noted that there would be implications for colleges (particularly those 
that are postgraduate-only) and that Senior Tutors should be consulted more widely, and it 
agreed the recommendations should be shared with the Graduate Tutors’ Committee and 
the Senior Tutors’ Committee. The Committee agreed that a blanket exemption for 
Departments covering their entire offerings would be inappropriate and courses should be 
considered individually. 
 
The Committee endorsed the recommendation and agreed that it should be referred to 
colleges. 
 
559.4.2.2 
Postgraduate research supervisor training 
A report from the Postgraduate Committee on PGR supervisor training recommended that 
new supervisor training becomes mandatory, existing online resources enhanced and a 
framework for local training developed (E6378). The Chair of the Postgraduate Committee 
noted the significance of the initiative, the importance of the supervisory relationship to 
students, and thanked the Working Group. The Committee acknowledged that the internal 
audit had recommended training became mandatory and it considered how much should be 
mandatory, the proportion that would be provided centrally and resource implications. 
Existing online resources would be further developed and the framework proposed central 
and local training. Resource had been identified for an additional post in the Cambridge 
Centre for Teaching and Learning and the existing Working Group would continue to meet to 
further this work. Under the proposed training model, central training (including Equality and 
Diversity training and Prevent training) would be mandatory for new supervisors who would 
be asked to self-confirm that they had completed it. 
 
Members considered whether Prevent training should become mandatory for all existing 
supervisors. The internal audit clearly recommended it should be and therefore it had been 
included within the proposal, although this gave rise to some ethical concerns about Prevent 
and might encounter resistance from some staff. The Committee noted that the University 
had put forward robust criticism of the Prevent duty in its response to the ongoing review of 
Prevent and the Committee agreed to discuss Prevent training as an element of supervisory 
training separately. 
 
Members noted that local training was likely to be most helpful to new supervisors as it 
would be tailored to their discipline and processes, and that local training would have 
resource implications for Faculties and Departments. Members also noted that interest in 
refresher training for existing supervisors might be low; and that it should be clarified 
whether new supervisors needed to have completed the training before taking on students or 
whether it was sufficient to have arrangements in place to take the training. 
 
The Committee broadly endorsed the recommendations on PGR supervisor training. 
 
559.4.3 
Consumer Compliance review 
the University Council (E6379). It noted that the review’s methodology had some similarity to 
others in the sector that had since been published. Members noted the ongoing importance 
of providing students with accurate information about their courses both in principle and 
given the highly regulated nature of course information, and noted that it would need to 
consider if any information already given to offer-holders would need to be changed before 
the next academic year.  
 
559.4.4 
Updates from the Office for Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals 
 
559.4.4.1 
Report and Support 
The Head of OSCCA provided a briefing on its new Report and Support function (E6380) 
which would enable users to make reports in a user-friendly way, without requiring any 

 

 
 
 
 
personal details from those reporting. It would also enable OSCCA to provide tailored 
guidance to those reporting and would enhance its analytical capacity. The Committee noted 
that it’s Health and Wellbeing sub-Committee would monitor the pilot use of the tool, and 
agreed that GBEC should be kept informed about its implementation at a high level.  
 
559.4.4.2 
OSCCA Annual Report  
The Committee noted the OSCCA Annual Report for 2019-20, particularly the analysis 
presented for the first time on cases relating to black, Asian and minority ethnic students. 
(E6381)
 
559.4.5 
Disability Resource Centre Annual Report 
The Committee noted the Disability Resource Centre annual report for 2019-20 (E6382)
 
559.4.6 
 Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Tripos reform 
 
The Committee approved a recommendation from the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee for the reform of the Chemical Engineering Tripos from October 
2023, to form a new Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Tripos (E6383). The new 
course will have direct entry to the Tripos in a four-year structure: Part IA/IB/II/III.   
 
559.4.7 
Changes to Statutes and Ordinances 
The Committee approved a recommendation from the Postgraduate Committee for changes 
to the Ordinances relating to the Master of Philosophy by Thesis: Special Regulations, 
Biological Science (E6384).   
 
559.5   
Minutes of other committees 
 
559.5.1 
Examinations and Assessment Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Examinations and Assessment 
Committee of 3 March 2021 (E6385). 
 
559.5.2 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Senior Tutors’ Committee of 12 March 
2021 (E6386).   
 
559.5.3 
 Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Undergraduate Admissions 
Committee meeting of 15 March 2021 (E6387)
 
559.5.4 
Health and Wellbeing Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Committee of 19 
March 2021 (E6388)
 
559.5.5 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
The Committee did not receive the unconfirmed minutes of the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee of 24 March 2021 which had been marked as to follow and would 
be presented to the next meeting. 
 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
 
14.00 Wednesday 19 May 2021 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 560 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
 

 
 
A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Wednesday 19 May 2021, via 
Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Declarations of interest
 
No declarations were made. 
 
 
 
560.1  Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2021 were approved (E6388)
 
560.1.1 
Matters arising 
 
It was reported that approval had been given via electronic circulation to the 
Framework for Assessment for 2021/2022.  
 
The Chair had approved the use of Zoom as a contingency for the clinical veterinary 
programme in cases where students cannot attend an in-person examination due to 
being required to self-isolate. 
 
 
560.1.2 
Chair’s report 
 
Framework for Assessment 2021/22 
The framework was approved by the General Board and will be included in the 
University Reporter and circulated to Faculties and Departments via the Bulletin later 
this week. 
 
Queen’s Speech 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
The recent Queen’s speech included proposals for two new pieces of legislation, 
relating to Freedom of Speech and Post-16 Skills.  The University and the Students’ 
Union plan to jointly lobby Parliamentarians regarding the Freedom of Speech 
legislation and the University will also engage more publicly through the Russell 
Group.  The content of the Post-16 Skills Bill is not yet known. 
 
Form and Conduct Notices 
In a change from usual practice, Form and Conduct Notices will not be published in 
the Reporter for the rest of this academic year.  A Notice to this effect will appear in 
the Reporter later this week and Faculties and Departments will be asked to include 
this information on their websites. 
 
In-person examinations 
Covid Gold has authorised in-person exams taking place as previously agreed.  
There is a risk however that Government guidance changes making in-person 
exams impossible.  Faculties and Departments are asked to bear in mind the need 
for a lead time of two weeks to transfer from in-person to wholly online examinations.   
 
Admissions statistics 
The University has recently published admissions statistics for undergraduate entry 
in 2020 which shows all relevant targets have been met or exceeded.    
 
 
560.2  Starred items
 
 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 
 
560.3  Strategic discussion  
 
 
560.3.1 
Teaching and Learning 2021/2022 
The Committee received a draft guidance document on plans for teaching and 
learning in Michaelmas 2021 (E6389).  The guidance was considered by Covid Gold, 
which did not express any concerns, and will be considered by the Senior Tutors’ 
Committee later this week.  The guidance is broadly in line with that issued by other 
Russell Group institutions and with guidance recently published by UUK as regards 
the need for contingency planning. 
 
Residence and exemptions 
The expectation for full-time matriculated students to be in residence, subject to 
limited exceptions, was endorsed.  Students with increased susceptibility to 
infectious disease and who have not been vaccinated, and students who are unable 
to attend due to travel restrictions may be permitted to study remotely.  Discussions 
are taking place regarding the possibility of students who need to quarantine 
(including those from red list countries) being able to do so in College 
accommodation.  There is also a possibility that international students could be 
vaccinated upon entry to the UK although this is the subject of continued discussion 
with the Government.  The Committee discussed whether the cost of travel should 
be a consideration in students studying remotely, noting the likely impact on 

 

 
 
 
 
available hardship funding if a large volume of applications is made to support high 
travel costs.  
 agreed to take this forward outside of the meeting. 
 
The Committee agreed that the same approach should be used for managing 
applications for remote study as was in place for 2020/21. Further guidance will be 
provided in due course. 
 
In-person/online lectures 
The Committee agreed that, whilst the aim should be for all teaching to be in –
person if at all possible, the prevailing public health situation is likely to mean that 
most lectures will need to be recorded. Faculties and Departments will need to 
determine the feasibility of in-person practical and lab teaching subject to risk 
assessments and dependent on prevailing social distancing requirements.  
 
Induction and Freshers events 
Arrangements for induction, freshers and refreshers events (for current first year 
students) will be considered by the Senior Tutors’ Committee. 
 
Staggered start 
The Committee recalled that a staggered start to Michaelmas term was not needed 
last year as arrangements were managed by Colleges.  It was agreed to adopt the 
same approach this year unless a staggered start is a Government requirement. 
 
Recorded lectures 
The Committee agreed that recorded lectures from last year could be re-used if the 
lecturer wished, unless lecturers were of the view that the technical quality of the 
lecture was inadequate or the subject matter had changed.  The importance of 
continued interaction with students was agreed and colleagues should be 
encouraged to consider the value of recorded material as a way of enhancing in-
person teaching.  Guidance is being drafted by CCTL and the TEL Service.  The 
Chair and 
 agreed to raise with the Programme Board for Education Space 
the need for technical facilities to allow recording of lectures as they are being 
delivered in person.  The Committee agreed on the need for clarity regarding 
payments to non-UTOs for re-use of pre-recorded material. This will be considered 
further and guidance on the re-use of recorded lectures would be prepared.   
 
Online courses 
The Committee endorsed the proposal that non-matriculated and non-degree 
courses could be delivered wholly online in 2021/2022.  This aligns with its earlier 
decision to allow undergraduate non-matriculated courses delivered by the Institute 
for Continuing Education to be delivered online for next year. 
 
 
560.3.2 
The future of assessment 
, Chair of the Examinations and Assessment Committee (EAC) 
introduced an overview of the Future of Assessment Programme which consisted of 
three projects relating to the Framework for Assessment 2021-22, Diversifying 
Assessment and Assessment Infrastructure (E6390)
 

 

 
 
 
 
He explained that diversified approaches to assessment could contribute to closing 
awarding gaps amongst different groups. The Examination and Assessment 
Committee will act as a form of project board, meeting regularly, monitoring progress 
and providing advocacy and sponsorship. 
 
 outlined two areas of risk: lack of resource and lack of 
engagement.  He was keen to stress that colleagues should not be overly stretched 
by the work the programme will entail and agreed to report back to GBEC if that 
became the case.  With regard to the second point, the EAC terms of reference are 
being amended in order to introduce new members who would be proactive in 
liaising with faculties and departments. 
 
 confirmed that all permanent programme changes will continue to undergo 
scrutiny by the relevant committees through the ordinary processes. 
 
The Committee approved the programme. 
 
 
560.3.3 
Proposal for the introduction of a reading week. 
 (Undergraduate President for Cambridge Students’ Union) 
presented a proposal for term dates to be altered to include a mid-term reading week 
(E6391).  The proposal intended to address the issues faced by students including 
loneliness, compressed terms, high workload, quick successions of deadlines and 
feeling unable to closely engage with academic work due to time pressures.  
 
 extended his thanks to 
 
for their constructive comments ahead of the meeting.   
 
 indicated a number of benefits of a reading week: 
•  Both staff and students would have a break in term time; 
•  Incoming cohorts disadvantaged by disruption caused by the pandemic would 
also benefit from the new structure. 
•  Students would be able to engage more closely with extracurricular activities 
and provide opportunities for the development of soft skills.   
 noted a concern that Faculties and Departments might fill the space 
created by a reading week and suggested that this Committee could monitor 
changes to courses to ensure the time was protected for staff and students.  In 
closing, 
 suggested that bold solutions were required to improve the 
wellbeing of staff and students given that previous recommendations had yielded 
minimal results.   
 
The Chair invited the Committee to comment on the proposal and consider routes 
forward. 
 was supportive of the initiative and what it aimed to 
address but cautioned that this would be a significant reform that would change 
University business.  Concerns were raised about protections being ignored and the 
reading week being filled as this would create a higher workload and a longer term.  
 noted that the proposal offered a blanket approach and that organising 
on a local level could be more effective and had been well received in his own 
Department.  Heads of School had been largely in favour of the proposal but 

 

 
 
 
 
concerns had been raised that any adjustment would be more complicated for 
courses that need access to labs. Some committee members noted their own 
positive experiences with reading weeks as both staff and students, citing the impact 
it had on mental health and wellbeing as a particular benefit.  
 noted that 
moving the start of term earlier and the end of term back would have an impact on 
scheduling (including the arrival of PhD students).  
 noted that research 
time was already squeezed and the University should be mindful of the pressure that 
would be placed on academic staff.  The Committee queried the timing of this work 
and suggested that the introduction of post-qualification admissions might require 
further consideration of term structure.  A trial in a small number of Faculties and 
Departments could help inform any larger decision and 
 suggested 
that smaller changes (such as no lectures on a Saturday) could also be effective.  
 requested that operations be involved in any further conversations.  
 
The Committee agreed to set up a working group to discuss the implications of the 
proposals.  
 
560.4  Business items 
 
560.4.1 
Matters relating to apprenticeships 
The Committee received a proposal prepared by the Director of the Institute of 
Continuing Education to apply for the University to become a registered End Point 
Assessment Organisation. The Committee noted that this is a requirement of the 
Education and Skills Funding Agency for institutions which offer or wish to offer 
integrated apprenticeships, such as the MSt Architecture Apprenticeship (E6392). 
The Committee approved the proposal. 
 
The Committee was also invited to consider the risk analysis and recommendations 
relating to the recent transfer of quality oversight to Ofsted (E6393). The Committee 
approved the recommendations.    
 
 
560.4.2 
MPhil Residence Requirements 
The Committee approved the proposed change to the regulations for the MPhil 
degrees to allow greater flexibility for students to spend time away from Cambridge 
where this is a mandatory or expected part of their course (E6394). Taking account 
of concerns that this will lead to increased numbers of students spending time away 
from Cambridge, the Committee asked the Postgraduate Committee to monitor the 
number of applications to work away over the next year.   
 
 
560.4.3 
Exam data retention guide 
The Committee received a further draft of the guide that had been amended to 
require examiners to place a mark on scripts which would provide a means of 
ensuring that there was contemporaneous evidence of assessment for audit 
purposes (E6395). Members considered other practice, such as the use of mark 
sheets, and agreed that the guide should not specify the format of contemporaneous 
evidence but should provide examples. The Committee also agreed that marking 
digital scripts would be an acceptable practice. In acknowledgement of concerns that 

 

 
 
 
 
exams had already started, it was agreed that the Guide would be implemented from 
2021/22 onwards. It remains unclear whether the Office of the Independent 
Adjudicator will require examiners’ personal notes to be retained, and it was agreed 
that until this was clarified it should not be an expectation within the University.  
 
 
560.4.4 
OfS Gravity assist letter and response 
, Technology-Enabled Learning (TEL) Service, attended to speak to this 
item. The Office for Students has written to all providers in light of its review of the 
pivot to digital teaching and learning during the pandemic. While not representing 
regulatory guidance, it recommends six core components of successful digital 
teaching and learning and prompts institutions to use these components in reflecting 
on their provision and future strategy (E6396). Discussion took place around each of 
the six themes, as well as the current workplan for the TEL Service (E6397).  The 
Committee was supportive of the current direction of travel and had no further 
comments or queries on proposed actions. 
 was invited to the next meeting 
to discuss continued development of the TEL Service. 
 
560.4.5 
Changes to Statutes and Ordinances 
The Committee approved the proposed changes to Statutes and Ordinances 
(E6398)
 
560.4.6 
Proposal to extend the Law exchange programme 
The Committee approved the proposal to add partner institutions outside of Europe 
to the year abroad exchange programme in Law, made in response to the institution 
no longer being eligible to participate in the ERASMUS scheme (E6399). The 
proposal was recently endorsed by the Senior Tutors’ Education Committee.  
 
560.4.7 
Update on the application for the Turing Scheme 
The Committee noted an update on the application for the Turing Scheme, a new 
scheme established to support student mobility (E6400). The results of the 
University’s application will be known in July 2021. 
 
560.4.8 
Annual Report from the Study Away Risk Assessment Committee 
The Committee is noted the annual report from the Study Away Risk Assessment 
Committee (E6401)  
 
 
560.5  Minutes of other committees 
 
560.5.1 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Senior 
Tutors’ Committee on 12 March 2021 (E6402).   
 
560.5.2 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
The Committee noted the confirmed minutes from the meeting of the Academic 
Standards and Enhancement Committee on 24 March 2021 (E6403)
 
560.5.3 
Postgraduate Committee 

 

 
 
 
 
The Committee noted the confirmed minutes from the meeting of the Postgraduate 
Committee on 9 March 2021 (E6404) and the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting 
on 4 May 2021 (E6405)
 
560.5.4 
Examinations and Assessment Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Examinations and Assessment Committee on 29 April 2021 (E6406).   
 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
 
14.00 Wednesday 30 June 2021 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 561 
 
 
General Board of the Faculties 
 
Education Committee 
 
 

A meeting of this Committee was held at 14.00 on Wednesday 30 June 2021, via 
Zoom.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declarations of interest 
 
 
561.1   
Minutes 
 
The minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2021 were approved subject to a 
revision to minute 560.4.2.  
 
 
Matters arising 
 
Items since last meeting agreed by circulation or Chair’s action 
 
•  Approval of the AMES/MML Part II safety net being extended to 2021-22 to 
cover students who intermitted in 2020-21.   
 
Chair’s report 
•   
i. 
The Chair reported the publication of case studies collated by UUK (support-
for-new-students-case-studies.pdf (universitiesuk.ac.uk) 
relating to the transition of 
students from school to university, and the impact of learning loss related to 
the pandemic.  Universities have some responsibility to assist in this transition 
and, as well as Cambridge being included in the case studies it is useful to 
see what other universities are doing. Committee members are requested to 
disseminate the link to colleges and faculties and departments. 
 

ii. 
The Chair reported that this meeting would be the last attended by 
 
of the Education Quality and Policy Office, whom he thanked.  He also offered 
sincere thanks to the outgoing Student Union representatives, 
 
 for their thoughtful and positive contributions over 
the last year. 
  
iii. 
The Framework for Assessment for 2021-22 and 24hr exams. The Chair 
reported that he had become aware of concerns around the impact of 24hr 
exams from Senior Tutors and others.  Some students preferred them, but 
others either felt under pressure, or put themselves under pressure to work for 
much longer than the recommended 3 hrs. While the 24hr option would 
remain available for 2021-22 the Committee agreed that further consideration 
should be given to whether other options might be made available, for 
example 6hr or 8hr windows.  
  
iv. 
UUK Statement of Intent on Grade Inflation.  In June 2019 GBEC agreed to a 
piece of work in response to the UUK Statement of Intent on Grade Inflation in 
order to understand more about awarding and examination practice in the 
University alongside analysis of exam data. This work was paused in March 
2020 because of Covid but emerging exam data shows some grade inflation, 
some quite significant, so it is prudent to resume this work.  This will be done 
over the summer by the Education Quality and Policy Office. 
  
v. 
Education Monitoring and Review.  The Chair gave an update on the 
implementation of the new system of review.  The immediate next steps are: 
  
a.  A meeting with the Schools of Arts and Humanities and Clinical 
Medicine, and with the Institute of Continuing Education. 
b.  To agree the pilot departments (ideally one from each School). 
c.  To meet with colleagues working on the future of Strategic Research 
Reviews for greater clarity on how the two processes will run side by 
side. 
d.  To develop the operational side, including managing the data. 
  
vi. 
The Chair reported that the Teaching and Learning Easter Term Survey had 
recently been circulated to students; results will be reported to the Committee. 
 
 
561.2   
Starred items 
 
The Committee approved the starred items. 
 


 
 
561.3   
Strategic discussion  
 
561.3.1 
Arrangements for teaching and learning in Michaelmas Term 2021 
The Committee held a brief discussion on arrangements for Michaelmas Term noting 
that planning should assume that some social distancing arrangements would be in 
place in the Autumn.  Faculties and Departments will receive revised guidance on 
making arrangements for teaching next term and the use of teaching space shortly. 
 
The Committee heard that it will be difficult to provide definite guidance for next year 
to Faculties and Departments as we will not have an announcement from the 
Government regarding this until at least 12 July. Planning for in-person teaching 
should be with 1 metre social distancing in mind. The Committee also heard that the 
guidance is predicated on Faculties and Departments following the additional 
guidance on teaching safety and that risk assessment will be an ongoing risk 
assessment and that the teaching space guidance will be actively kept under review. 
The Committee was also asked to note that Faculties and Departments should be 
aware that there will not be central support for hybrid teaching and that no final 
decision has been made on testing yet. 
 
561.3.2 
Residence requirements for part-time students 
A brief discussion on residency requirements for part-time matriculated students took 
place, with the Committee noting that work in this area had necessarily been placed 
on hold due to COVID-19.   The Committee agreed to the recommendations 
proposed by the Residency Requirements Review Group in the paper (E6411
pending further consultation and reconfirmed the need for students who are not 
resident in Cambridge throughout the academic year to be able to engage with their 
College.  It was suggested that current part-time students be consulted as part of the 
ongoing work in this area.  The Secretary of the STC expressed concern on behalf of 
the Colleges on the matter of part-time matriculated postgraduates, especially in light 
of the current discussions about an increase in their numbers and the extension of 
the part-time option to all postgraduate courses where this is compatible with their 
nature, as well as the connection with possible non-residential courses (such as the 
Global EMBA). Part-time postgraduates are as much of a commitment to college 
resources as full-time postgraduates; moreover, discussion on residence 
requirements for them and other postgraduate courses is likely to impact in the 
character of the Collegiate University as a residential institution.  The Chair thanked 
 for her work as Chair of the Residency Requirements Review 
Group. 
 
The Committee also agreed a residence period of around 45 days per year for part-
time postgraduate research students, clarifying that this should be an expectation 
and not a requirement.   
 
 
561.3.3 
Proposal for a new Design Tripos  
The Committee received a proposal from the Faculty of Architecture and History of 
Art for a new 4-year degree course in design leading to the award of a Master of 
 


Design degree. The new course was intended to start from October 2024.  The draft 
Report and relevant minute from the Academic Standards and Enhancement 
Committee were received as papers (E6413) and (E6414)
 
The Committee welcomed the proposal, agreed that it was an exciting development, 
and thanked colleagues who had contributed to the development of the course. 
 
The Committee noted the careful discussion of the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee (ASEC), and the other University and College committees 
which had reviewed the proposal. ASEC had drawn the Committee’s attention to 
concerns around the space needed to deliver the course. The Committee noted that 
there were ongoing broader discussions about the use of the University’s teaching 
estate, and the Committee also recorded concerns around the risk to the course if 
appropriate teaching space was not available. The Committee agreed that the 
current wording in the draft Report around the use of the James Dyson Building 
should be amended. 
 
The Committee, for its part, endorsed the Design Tripos to the General Board for 
discussion and approval, noting the Committee’s concerns about space. 
 
 
561.4   
Business items 
 
561.4.1 
Education Tripos reform 
Major modifications to the Education Tripos with effect from October 2023 were 
received as paper E6415. The modifications would provide greater flexibility to 
students in developing specialisms. The Committee also received the relevant 
minute of the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee (ASEC), and 
revised Tripos regulations. 
 
The Committee thanked the Faculty of Education, and 
 who led the 
original Tripos review, for all their work on the revisions. The Committee noted the 
work of ASEC and the Education Quality and Policy Office in supporting the drafting 
of the new regulations. 
 
The revised Tripos would be simpler and more streamlined in structure. This would 
increase student choice and decrease staff workload. The Committee noted the 
discussion at ASEC and ASEC’s support for the revised Tripos. 
 
The Committee, for its part, endorsed the modification of the Education Tripos to the 
General Board for discussion and approval. 
 
 
561.4.2 
Monitoring academic engagement for student visa holders 
In light of a recent change in Home Office requirements the Committee was asked to 
approve proposals for monitoring academic engagement of students on student 
visas (E6416).  
  
 


The Committee approved the proposals but noted that further work is needed to 
encourage improved submission rates using the Postgraduate Feedback and 
Reporting System.  
 
561.4.3 
Matters relating to the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) 
 
561.4.3.1 
edX expansion request 
The Committee was asked to approve proposals to continue the use of edX and to 
expand its use to new MSt programmes (E6417). Members noted the news that edX 
had recently been sold to a for-profit entity which had the potential to affect its 
partnership with the University which should continue to be monitored and kept 
under review. The Committee approved specifically that ICE could continue to 
deliver the MicroMasters in Writing for Performance and Entertainment Industries to 
2025, and that the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee should have 
delegated authority to approve the embedding of a MicroMasters module into non-
matriculated courses. This should, however, be kept under review by GBEC. 
 
561.4.3.2 
Proposal to continue remote delivery of ICE non-matriculated 
undergraduate and postgraduate  
Members noted the need to confirm the delivery mode for these programmes to 
inform recruitment materials (E6418). The Committee approved the continuation of 
remote delivery for ICE non-matriculated UG and PG courses for 2022-23. 
 
561.4.4 
CSU Report on the Effectiveness of the Academic Representative  
 
 
System 
A report on the effectiveness of student representatives had been circulated.  
 
 presented the findings.   
  
The report was informed by discussions with student representatives and some 
written feedback.  It revealed that some student representatives perceive that 
baseline standards are not being met.  The report raised concerns including a lack of 
shared understanding of the Academic Representative role, communication and 
workload. It was suggested that a set of standards should be mutually agreed 
between faculties/departments and CSU, and that a review of the student 
representative role should happen over the Long Vacation of 2021.   
  
The Committee endorsed the report and supported further work involving EQPO and 
CCTL. 
 
 
561.4.5 
Review of Hardship Funding 
 presented the results of a recent review on 
hardship funding (E6420) and the recommendations contained therein.  Two 
recommendations were key: the increase of Chest funding to reduce the reliance on 
non-recurrent sources of funds, and streamlining of the application process.  The 
latter point was noted as critical for improved student experience and parallels 
similar work in scholarship funding, although it was noted that this would require 
significant work and investment to achieve.   
 
 


For its part, the Committee warmly endorsed the recommendations in the report and 
enthusiastically commended them to the Planning and Resources Committee.  The 
Committee further extended its thanks to all members of the Hardship Committee for 
their work and commitment to improvement.   
 
561.4.6 
Review of the Terms of Reference of the Committee and sub-
 
committees 
 
561.4.6.1 
GBEC Terms of Reference 
The Committee approved changes to the Terms of Reference to include a Deputy 
Chair (E6421). The changes were subject to approval at General Board.  
 
561.4.6.2 
***Terms of reference for the Examinations and Assessment 
Committee 
The Committee approved the revised terms of reference for the Examinations and 
Assessment Committee and its sub-committee, the Examinations Access Mitigation 
Committee (E6422).   
 
561.4.6.3  
***Access and Participation Plan Scrutiny Group 
The Committee approved the revised terms of reference for the Access and 
Participation Plan Scrutiny (formerly Steering) Group (E6423).   
 
561.4.6.4 
Technology-Enabled Learning, Teaching and Assessment Working  
 
 
Group 
The Committee approved the Terms of Reference for a new GBEC Working Group 
(E6424) which will replace the Digital Teaching & Learning Sub-committee, currently 
in abeyance, and the Technology-Enabled Learning Development Board. It will also 
pick up business currently being managed via the Teaching, Learning & Assessment 
20-21 Working Group.  The new Working Group will be constituted for three years in 
the first instance.  Membership will be taken forward over the summer and the 
Committee approved appointments via Chair’s action as appropriate. 
 
561.4.7 
***Lessons learned in Digital Teaching and Learning: Progress Report 
The Committee noted the update from the Cambridge Centre for Teaching and 
Learning on the ongoing review of digital teaching and learning (E6425)
 
561.4.8 
***Re-use of recorded lecture material in AY2021-22  
The Committee approved the final version of the Guidance for Re-use of Material 
(E6426), following revisions made in response to members’ feedback, in particular to 
amend the requirement to caption to a recommendation.   
 
561.4.9 
Review of recording policy 
The Committee approved the revised Policy on Recording of Teaching 
Materials/Lectures (E6427), with the inclusion of an appendix which would present 
clarifying statements on the expectation to record and access to recordings, specific 
to the 2021-22 academic year.  While noting that these statements fell outside the 
Policy itself and were exclusively in response to pandemic restrictions, the 
Committee felt they should be presented alongside for greater transparency. 
 
561.4.10 
***Collaborative Postgraduate Provision Framework 
 


The Committee approved the final Framework for Collaborative Postgraduate 
Provision, following changes made after the 18 March 2020 meeting (minute 549.3.3 
applies) (E6428).   
 
561.4.11 
***Code of Practice for Disabled Students  
The Committee approved the revised Code of Practice which will take effect from 
Michaelmas Term 2021 (E6429)
 
561.4.12 
***Research Misconduct Policy  
The Committee approved the Research Misconduct Policy (E6430), noting that it has 
been discussed by the HR Committee and approved by the Resource Planning 
Committee. 
 
561.4.13 
***Academic Integrity Charter and Use of Turnitin Policy 
The Committee noted the recommendation from the Academic Standards and 
Enhancement Committee that the University signs the Quality Assurance Agency 
Academic Integrity Charter, and approved the revised policy on the use of Turnitin 
(E6431)
 
561.4.14 
***Proposal to hold in-person oral examinations 
The Committee approved the proposal to hold in-person oral examinations for the 
Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Practice in Architecture which will take place 
in September 2021 (E6432).   
 
 
561.5 
 
***Minutes of other committees 
 
561.5.1 
Senior Tutors’ Committee 
 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Senior 
Tutors’ Committee on 21 May 2021 (E6433).   
 
561.5.2 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee 
The Committee agreed to receive the confirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee on 12 May 2021 (E6434) and 
the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting on 23 June 2021 (E6435) at a later date. 
 
561.5.3 
Access and Participation Plan Steering Group 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Strategic 
Working Group on Access and Participation meeting on 29 March 2021 (E6436). 
 
561.5.4 
Board of Executive and Professional Education  
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Board of 
Executive and Professional Education on 13 May 2021 (E6437) 
 
561.5.5 
Doctoral Training Programmes Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Doctoral 
Training Programmes Committee on 16 June 2021 (E6438)
 
561.5.6 
Examinations and Assessment Committee 
 


The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Examinations and Assessment Committee on 24 May 2021 (E6439)
 
561.5.7 
Health and Wellbeing Committee  
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Health and 
Wellbeing Committee on 11 June 2021 (E6440) and agreed to recommend to 
Faculties and Departments that they provide menstrual products in University 
buildings.  
 
561.5.8 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Postgraduate Admissions Committee on 10 June 2021 (E6441). 
 
561.5.9 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the 
Undergraduate Admissions Committee on 17 May 2021 (E6442). 
 
561.5.10 
Student Support Initiative Steering Group 
The Committee noted the unconfirmed minutes from the meeting of the Student 
Support Initiative Steering Group on 14 June 2021 (E6443). 
 
 
Date of Next Meeting 
 
14.00 Wednesday 14 September 2021