Brooksby Melton College

HE Course Handbook 2013/14

A guide to your course

Course Title: Business HNC / HND

Contents

Welcome Statement..............................................................................................3Our 3 Core values are:.......................................................................................3From your Programme Team, Business Support Team and Senior Manager......4

Student Academic Calendar 2013/14....................................................................5Semester Dates..................................................................................................5Monday 27 January - Friday 6 June.....................................................................5

Communication Systems.......................................................................................6Please ensure that you:......................................................................................6Contacting Staff.................................................................................................6

Opening Hours of Relevant Offices........................................................................7Levels of Study...................................................................................................8HND Level (HE5).................................................................................................8

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CONTENT.............................................................9HNC/D Programme Structure:............................................................................9

Programme Management and Delivery...............................................................10Induction..............................................................................................................11

Attendance and Withdrawal.............................................................................11Student Discipline............................................................................................12

Teaching and Learning........................................................................................13Teaching and Learning Methods......................................................................13Study Skills.......................................................................................................14Learning Resources..........................................................................................15What We Offer..................................................................................................15Borrowing Material...........................................................................................15Other Services..................................................................................................16Tutorial and Individual Learning Plans (ILP)......................................................16Additional Learning Support.............................................................................16Personal Development Planning and Professional Skills...................................17Information Literacy.........................................................................................17Unit Assessment and Methods.........................................................................17

Assessment.........................................................................................................19Pearson Edexcel...............................................................................................19QAA Guidelines.................................................................................................19Assessment Strategy........................................................................................19

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Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Assignments:.....................19Assignment & Assessment schedule................................................................19Submission, marking & feedback policy...........................................................20Pass Criteria.....................................................................................................20Merit and Distinction Criteria:..........................................................................20Mitigating Circumstances.................................................................................21Feedback on Assessments...............................................................................22Moderation of Marks/ IV process......................................................................22Referencing......................................................................................................23Unfair means, complaint and appeals against assessment decisions - internal processes.........................................................................................................24Publication of Results and Awards Ceremonies................................................25Requests for reviews of decisions of final assessment boards of examiners (Appeals)..........................................................................................................25

Learner services..................................................................................................26Programme Tutor:............................................................................................26Programme Leaders:........................................................................................26Unit Leaders:....................................................................................................26Learner services:..............................................................................................26Pastoral Support and Guidance:.......................................................................27Academic Support and Guidance:....................................................................27Support for Students with Disabilities, Learning Difficulties or Specific Needs:27Accommodation:..............................................................................................28Support for International Students:..................................................................28Counselling support:........................................................................................28Careers Advice and Employability:...................................................................28Financial support:.............................................................................................28

Health and Safety................................................................................................29Evacuation.......................................................................................................29Use of Computers.............................................................................................29Student Experience..........................................................................................29HE Forum.........................................................................................................30HE Committee..................................................................................................30Fresher’s Week.................................................................................................30Student Union..................................................................................................30

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Welcome StatementOn behalf of all the Academic and Business support staff we would like to welcome you to Brooksby Melton College. Our aim is to provide you with an excellent service and to make your studies with us as rewarding and enjoyable as possible. If you feel there is anything we should change to enhance your learning experience, we would welcome your suggestions. We expect you to attend all relevant classes and enter into the spirit of College life so that you develop yourself and help develop others whilst here. You can do this by making sure you participate fully in all learning activities and join in with everything the College has to offer. The college is a strong believer in equality of treatment and opportunity and thus expects all staff and students to treat each other with respect, consideration, and dignity (as you would expect them to treat you). In this context, we would welcome any comments which help us to maintain our equality policy.

Our 3 Core values are: We believe that our students and customers should enjoy, benefit

and be successful from the time they spend with us. We believe that all staff should contribute to improving the

experience of our students and customers. We believe the College should be an open and respectful place to

work and study that promotes and rewards achievement

Each of these values we look to embrace each year with ALL staff and students alike which we hope will support you and your studies. Finally I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in your programme of study.Happy studying and a warm welcome

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From your Programme Team, Business Support Team and Senior Manager.Frequent reference is made throughout this Programme Handbook to College policies, procedures, regulations and codes of practice which apply to you. Parts of these are sometimes summarised here for your benefit. In all cases, these summaries are subject to the full College versions referred to. In the case of any conflict between the latter and any summaries presented here, it is the full College versions which will apply.

This Programme Handbook is designed to assist you in finding relevant study information. Where applicable, it should be read in conjunction with Brooksby Melton College and College policies, procedures and regulations. These are accessible via your Brooksby Melton College Moodle log in. - http://moodle.brooksbymelton.ac.uk

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Student Academic Calendar 2013/14The following dates apply to most taught HND programmes at the College. It should be noted that there may be some variation in Programme dates for some programmes. Students should check specific programme dates with their Academic School/Institute. Please also note your Reading weeks within each semester and college closure dates.

Semester Dates

Fresher’s Week Monday 9 September – Friday 13 September

Semester 1Monday 16 September – Friday 24 January

Reading Break: Monday 21 to Friday 25 OctoberChristmas Vacation: Monday 16 December to 3 January

Semester 2

Monday 27 January - Friday 6 JuneReading Break: Monday 17 to Friday 21 FebruaryEaster Vacation: Monday 14 April to Friday 25 April

Reading Week: 26 May to 30 May

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Communication SystemsGood communication between staff and students is important to make sure everything runs smoothly and to fix things quickly and effectively. Good communication on a one-to-one basis is also important to make sure individual student needs are addressed and met. Communication to individual students is usually through Brooksby Melton College e-mail. In some cases letters may be sent to your local address. The notice boards located at the HE and International centre will also contain important information and you should check these regularly.Most lecturers may post announcements through Moodle, the student virtual learning environment (VLE). It is important therefore that you familiarise yourself with how to access this electronic information. In any case, students will be given tuition to aid in the use of Moodle. You will find that general information about the programme may sometimes be communicated to students in the sessions and via email.

Please ensure that you: regularly check your College e-mail address regularly scan the notice boards to make sure you are aware of

important events, changes etc.; check that any changes to your personal details are updated on the

College database by contacting learner services within 24hrs of the change on lcox@brooksbymelton.ac.uk

Contacting StaffWhen contacting staff regarding course related questions or issues the Forum on Moodle is expected to be used. If it is a personal matter then please contact the staff member via email. If further discussion is required, you may arrange a mutually convenient appointment. Staff will endeavour to respond to your emails within 3 working days. However, their response may be constrained by other work demands or annual leave.

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Opening Hours of Relevant OfficesThe location and opening times (term time) of relevant offices are detailed below:

Office Location Telephone No.

Programme Area Office Brooksby Hall 01664 855307Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30am - 5pm

Learner Services Buckingham Centre – Brooksby Campus

01664 855233

Opening Hours: Mon – Thur: 9am - 5pm & Fri: 9am - 4:30pm

Library Buckingham Centre – Brooksby Campus

Melton Main Campus

01664 855300

Opening Hours: Mon – Thur: 8.45am - 9.00pm & Fri: 8.45am - 5.00pm & Sat: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Social Areas Stable Bar HE/International centre

- Brooksby CampusMelton Main Campus

& King StOpening Hours: Mon – Thur: 8.30am - 8.00pm & Fri: 8.30am - 4.00pm

Student Union King Street K14Opening Hours: SU Office: Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.00pm

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Levels of StudyEach level of your programme involves greater academic challenge and progressively higher levels of intellectual comprehension and analysis together with the application of subject specific and transferable skills. Each successive level also involves more independent academic activity on the part of the student.

HND Level (HE5) The HND offers a progression route for students who have completed an Edexcel BTEC HNC (HE4).The Edexcel BTEC Level 5 HND provides greater breadth and specialisation than the HNC. HNDs are mode free but are followed predominately by full-time students. They allow progression into employment either directly on achievement of the award, or following further study to degree level.The HND provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and practical skills in the workplace. Full-time students may have the opportunity to do this through formal work placements, or part-time employment experience, or through role play exercises within a realistic student company setting within their units and projects.The qualification prepares students for employment in the relevant sector and will be suitable for students who have already decided that they wish to enter this area of work. Some adult students may also wish to make the commitment required by this qualification in order to enter a specialist area of employment or progress into higher education. The qualification also prepares students for employment. Some students may wish to use this qualification in order to enter a specialist area of employment in the sector, where students may work towards professional membership or study for professional body examinations.Students studying and successfully completing the HND with a MERIT profile will automatically be able to progress to a Top-Up BA/BSc degree delivered at BMC validated by our partner university. Those students who for mitigating circumstances have not achieved a MERIT profile at HND will be given the opportunity to join a study skills course to up their skills with view to gaining access to the top-up degree at discretion of the programme academic board.

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PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CONTENTHNC/D Programme Structure: HND in Business is a 240-credit qualification that enables direct entry on to the final year of a degree programme, your modules and programme of study are set out below.

Course Title: Business HNCAwarding Body: Edexcel

Year 1

Module No.

Module Title Credits

1 Business Environment 152 Managing Financial Resources and Decisions 153 Organisation and Behaviour 154 Marketing Principles 155 Aspects of Contract and Negligence 159 Management Accounting: Costing and

Budgeting15

38 Business Events Management 1547 Employability Skills 15

Year 2

Module No.

Module Title Credits

6 Business Decision Making 157 Business Strategy 158 Research Project 2011 Financial Systems and Auditing 1514 Working with and Leading People 1519 Marketing Planning 1542 Project Management for Business 15

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45 Business Ethics 15

Programme Management and DeliveryA list of key contacts for students on your programme of study is provided below:

STAFF NAME CONTACT DETAILS

Nick Selby Email: nselby@brooksbymelton.ac.uk Telephone: 01664 855 269Internal Extension: 265

Adam Finkel-Gates Email: afinkelgates@brooksbymelton.ac.ukTelephone: 01664 855 496Internal Extension: 228

Clare Ibbotson Email: cibbotson@brooksbymelton.ac.ukTelephone: 01664 855 299Internal Extension: 270

Lorraine CoxLearner Services

Email: lcox@brooksbymelton.ac.ukTelephone: 01664 850850Internal Extension: 428 / 291

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InductionYour programme of study is delivered by Lecturers within the programme area, and occasionally visiting lecturers from industry. A Programme Tutor from programme area will be assigned to you at the start of your programme of study.When you first join Brooksby Melton College, you will undergo an induction programme. Most of the activities associated with this programme will take place during your first week with Brooksby Melton College. This Induction into the college is designed to familiarise you with Brooksby Melton College and provide essential information to ease the uncertainty of being in a new environment. At the induction, students will be issued with Identity Cards. These are to enable access to many of the facilities, including a library tour. You will also have the opportunity to meet with programme staff and be trained on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Moodle, discover your very own Individual Learning Plan (ILP), sometimes also referred to as your Personal Learning Plan, (PLP) and understand our electronic assessment submission system Turn-it-in. You may even have a go at setting up your own webpage on Mahara found in your personal learning space. You will also be introduced to our Fresher’s team and the programme of organised events to welcome you to HE and BMC.

Attendance and WithdrawalYou are responsible for attending all learning and teaching sessions associated with your programme of study. You should notify your Lecturer/s in advance if you expect to be absent from timetabled session. Prior permission must be obtained from your Programme Leader for planned absences for two or more days during term time. In relation to unplanned absences, you should contact your Programme Lecturer or Leader within 24 hours of the missed session/s. If you fail to explain any absences, you may be contacted by your Programme Leader. We will endeavour to help you if your absence is due to mitigating circumstances.A student may be asked to supply documentary evidence to justify their absence. Where there is no valid reason for unsatisfactory attendance, a student may be issued with a formal written warning. Furthermore a formal report on a student’s attendance may be made to the student’s

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sponsor, including an employer, the Local Authority and/or the Student Loan Company. A student who fails to respond to warnings about their attendance may be required to enter into a formal Attendance Agreement. Such students may be withdrawn from their programme if they breach the terms of their Attendance Agreement.In accordance with UK immigration law, a report will be made to the UK Border Agency, if an International student holding a student visa is absent from the University for more than 10 working days without authorisation.Full details of the ‘Student Attendance Policy’ are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section of the VLE.

Student DisciplineThe College has a disciplinary procedure which relates to complaints about unacceptable behaviour of students. This procedure can be accessed via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on Moodle.

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Teaching and Learning

Teaching and Learning MethodsA variety of teaching and learning methods are employed throughout the programme in order to ensure the acquisition and development of appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. Some of these you will experience during formally timetabled classes with a lecturer. Others you may adopt personally to facilitate your own learning.It is important to realise that the time spent with a lecturer during formally timetabled classes is only a small part of the learning time identified for a unit/project. In addition to the contact time with lecturers, a significant amount of personal study should be undertaken. It is advisable to allow at least 5-7 hours of personal study time, per week for each unit. This personal study time should be spent, for example, engaging in general background reading, preparing for seminar activities, working on projects or assignments, revising for examinations or rehearsing for performances. Early in your studies guidance will be provided as to how you can make best use of this time. As you progress through your programme however, this guidance will become less structured and prescriptive. Through the HND we are preparing you to be able to deal with the increased rigours of a third year top-up programme it is expected that, should you choose to progress to BA/BSc you will be able to demonstrate significant independence in your study taking responsibility for the management of your own learning time.The methods described below are the ones most commonly employed by lecturers during your time in the classroom. However, individual lecturers are free to introduce techniques that they view as especially suitable in aiding learning in their specialist area. (See Unit Descriptors in the Appendix for specific teaching and learning strategies)

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Lectures: are designed to cover the basic issues, themes and material of the unit. Lectures are designed to make you think as well as give information and they should be treated as critically as any other source of information. Lectures may include screenings of film and video materials which you may not otherwise be able to see. Seminars: You will meet with staff in smaller group seminars. Seminars may be led by staff or by students. They aim to promote discussion and to allow you to engage directly with course material and ideas. Seminars allow intensive and focussed consideration of issues. Your active participation is therefore encouraged and expected. You may be asked to undertake specific reading or preparation beforehand. In many modules you will be asked to make a presentation in a seminar. Information on what this might mean will be provided by the seminar tutor.Practical sessions, classes and workshops: Much practice is taught through staff-led sessions. Workshops enable you to work directly with course material and may be more exploratory and discursive. All these types of practical session provide you with information, materials and opportunities which cannot be gained in any other way. It is vital that you attend all practical sessions. This will be detailed in the module handbook. If your attendance falls below this you cannot expect to pass the module. Your active participation is encouraged and expected. Tutorials: are individual discussions with members of staff. They are usually based on assignment preparation or feedback. It is up to you to arrange a tutorial with the member of staff concerned as you think necessary. Remember, you may request an advice tutorial as part of your preparation for an assessment, whether practical or theoretical. This is an important learning tool, and should not be ignored.Self directed study: Much of your learning as a HND student should take place in your own self managed study time. Contact teaching time on practical modules accounts for approximately 2% to 40% of the hours. You should expect to spend between 5 and 10 hours each week outside of timetabled contact times studying for each unit you take. This time may be spent researching, reading, preparing material, observing, carrying out work experience and completing assignments.Study SkillsAll students at Brooksby Melton College will undertake Study Skills sessions within tutorial groups or as part of wider teaching and learning opportunities across the HE campus.The programme will consist of: 

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Cite Me I'm Yours: Harvard Style Cite Me I'm Yours: Numeric Style Essay Writing Giving a Presentation Note Taking Preparing for Dissertations and Projects Report Writing Writing: the basics Revision and Exam Techniques

Learning ResourcesAll learners become members of both college Learning Resource Centres once they receive their Identity Card. A member of staff is available at the Issue Desk to provide help and guidance. Opening hours are advertised in the Learning Resources Guide, which is given to all learners during their induction. Both Centres are quiet study areas and all learners are required to comply with the Learning Resources code of conduct. Learning Resources, including the OPAC search catalogue is available on-line via the Moodle homepage.

What We OfferOur range of facilities and services is increasing and evolving all the time. We welcome ideas to help us to continually improve and update our resources, which comprise; books, journals, videos, DVDs/CD ROMs, careers information, computing facilities including eresource, email and internet access. We are always happy to help with any requests for resources.Completed assignments are handed in at the Learning Resources Issue Desk and will be returned to you by your tutor.

Borrowing MaterialReservations for resources may be taken for items that are currently on loan. Back copies of journals may also be borrowed. Learner Identity Cards must be produced each time you withdraw resources from the Learning Resources Centre. Fines are charged for overdue materials.

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Other ServicesStationery items may be purchased from the Learning Resources Issue Desk. Other available services include photocopying, binding and laminating.BMC Library http://heritage.brooksbymelton.ac.uk:3030BMC Ebrary http://site.ebrary.com/lib/brooksbymelton

Tutorial and Individual Learning Plans (ILP)BMC offers a comprehensive tutorial support package throughout their study time and students will be entitled 2 x 20mins individual sessions with the Programme Tutor as well as group sessions. At induction you will be introduced to this process and how to access and utilise out VLE Moodle and access your ILP, assessment plans, and submission processes.These include regular:

1-2-1 tutorial meetings with Programme Lecturer Group tutorial Online Moodle ILP (Individual Learning Plan) tracking/supporting -

attendance, grades, target setting across units and programmes. Online Moodle electronic assignment submission and plagiarism

checks. Comprehensive programme resources, guidance and support,

available through each programme page on Moodle.

Additional Learning SupportAdditional learning support may take many forms at the College, the nature of which is decided by the Learning Support Team after a referral from your Programme Tutor.These could include:

A Learning Support Assistant (LSA) who works with you one to one outside of normal classes.

Small group workshops, which enable students to work with other students who have a similar literacy and/or numeracy need.

A Learning Support Assistants (LSA) who will give you in-class support during normal teaching sessions.

Special support during the examination process which might include additional time, someone to read or write for you.

Special equipment, including software to help you with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Full details of the procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle

Personal Development Planning and Professional SkillsThroughout your programme you will be encouraged to reflect on the development of your academic and professional skills, and make recommendations for self-improvement as a result of this.

Information LiteracyBrooksby and Melton College is committed to helping you graduate as an ‘information literate’ person. This means that you will be able to identify, locate and retrieve standard (subject) and other material in printed and electronic form, using appropriate resources by the library and your subject area. You will be able to synthesise and present retrieved materials in ways appropriate to the task in hand. Throughout your programme, you will be given every opportunity to develop your skills in this area, through workshops, seminars, tutorials and self-directed learning.

Unit Assessment and MethodsAssessment serves several functions. The obvious and primary function is to evaluate student achievement. However, assessment also serves to help students organise and develop their learning. Feedback from assessment serves an important educational function and can help students develop their skills and understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. A range of assessments are employed on the programme, including essays, reports, seminar papers, portfolios, presentations, performances, demonstrations and examinations (see Appendix for unit descriptors). Essays: For a number of units, students will be required to produce a coursework essay or essays. Essays assess understanding of the thrust of the question set, whether you have introduced and appreciate the relevance of appropriate material to the topic in hand and understand its implications, whether you can analyse and evaluate information and whether you can communicate your ideas clearly. Coursework essays are typically set to assess the learning outcomes related to understanding key concepts, demonstrating critical evaluations, and demonstrating the capacity to think independently. The required length of coursework essays can vary depending upon the purpose of the assignment for which the

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work is assessed. You will be given guidance by the teaching staff on any specific requirements. Reports: A number of units require the student to write reports, which are sometimes based on a given case-study. These reports identify published background research and rationale for their study, the way in which the study was carried out, and the results and analysis of information. Usually, a standard format is used to aid clear, precise and unambiguous expression. Students are given explicit guidance on the format required for the report. Presentations: Students are required to make oral presentations (e.g. from notes or from an essay, using presentational aids where appropriate) in a number of units. Some units may specify such a presentation as part of their assessment, whilst seminar presentations in other units may not be part of the formal assessment.Examinations: A number of units will require you to sit an examination. Different examinations take different formats and it is important that you check with your Unit Lecturer the question format and what materials if any can be taken into the examination room.Seminar papers: Students will be required at times to meet in small groups under the guidance of the Programme Lecturer to share and exchange information, discuss theories and explore new ideas raised in a lecture or piece of literature.The assessment methods for each unit are identified in the Unit Descriptors attached in the Appendix and looked at the beginning of the teaching period. The Unit Descriptors also provide information on assignment submission dates and will allow you plan your work load effectively. These will all be available also on Moodle.

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AssessmentWe following overall adherence to the QAA codes of practice for HE, the Quality Assurance guidelines to processes from validating body Pearson Edexcel and the submission, assessment and policy procedures of BMC. Important information on assessment regulations and other information on assessment (including marking criteria and definitions of grade descriptions) are contained in the Assessment Regulations. Full details of our assessment procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle. Specifics for each Assessment for each Unit are detailed on the Unit Descriptors on page

Pearson Edexcel Awarding and Validating body http://www.edexcel.com/Pages/Home.aspx

QAA GuidelinesQuality and Guidance body for HE http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Assessment StrategyThe assessment strategy for the programme is designed to ensure that students achieve the overall aims and learning outcomes of the programme, as well as the learning outcomes for individual units and allow for differentiated learning and assessment methods.

Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Assignments:

Assignment & Assessment scheduleUnit Descriptors available from Moodle provide you with information and a plan of how and when your programme will be assessed. This will be gone through with your lecturers at the start of your programme. It will include information on hand in dates and feedback dates and is planned so as to spread the assessment load out throughout your programme. Your Programme lecturer will also keep an accurate, up-to-date record of your progress in relation to the programme on your PLP’s and this will be used in your one to one reviews and to inform other members of the faculty how you are progressing with the programme to ensure support from staff across the department.See Moodle for specific assessment information.

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Submission, marking & feedback policyThe college has put the following guide lines in place to ensure students are given adequate opportunity to achieve their justified grade in all assessed work. Your work will be formatively assessed continuously throughout your programme of study and informal feedback given.Summative assessment is defined as those pieces of assessed work and their associated submission dates identified in the assessment or assignment schedule in your unit descriptors. It is important that whilst you may want to aspire to achieve the highest possible grades, that is not always realistic. The time and effort you put in to any one assessment needs to not put your ability to pass all units at risk. Your programme leader will guide you on this

Pass CriteriaAll work must be submitted by the submission date which is printed on the assignment briefIf for any reason they are unable to meet the specified deadline they you should: Inform your lecturer at least ONE WEEK before the original date and state the reason(s) why this is the case. If your lecturer determines that the reason is valid then a new deadline will be set. An extension will normally only be granted once for any individual assessed piece of work.Any unauthorised late submission of work may result in disciplinary action.Pass Criteria or a competency judgment: If the work does not meet the Pass criteria or the student is deemed not competent you should be provided with guidance on what needs to be completed and a new deadline set. If the pass criteria or if competency is not met on the second attempt, other alternative methods of assessment may be considered.

Merit and Distinction Criteria:If the work does not meet the Merit / Distinction criteria, you will be provided with guidance and a new deadline set. They will only be allowed this one opportunity, per assessment, to upgrade your work to meet these criteria.If Merit and Distinction work is submitted late, without an agreed extension the work will only be marked once with no opportunity to

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resubmit. Significant delays in submitting assessments may result in work not being marked.Plagiarism, or copying, is a very serious issue and will not be tolerated. Students work must be your own and any work found to have been taken from the Internet or other sources will be discounted from assessment decisions. Assessments failed for plagiarism can be re-attempted to an agreed deadline. Repeated plagiarism in any unit will result in your work being restricted to Pass in that unit and will result in disciplinary action being taken. Further details on plagiarism and assessment malpractice can be found in the Assessment Malpractice Policy.Full details of our Assessment Malpractice Policy and Procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle: Some of your work will be sampled by another person internal verifier who will ensure that standards are being maintained in accordance with the requirements of the awarding body. This may involve someone watching your lecturer assess you. Sometimes the awarding body send someone in to the College (External Verifier) and they may want to talk to you or see you being assessed. Full details of our IV process and procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE YOU KEEP A COPY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED BY WHATEVER METHOD

Mitigating CircumstancesSometimes circumstances happen outside your control that may affect your performance or your ability to submit assessments or sit examinations. It is important that you read the procedures for submitting requests for consideration of mitigating circumstances. Requests for consideration of foreseen mitigating circumstances should be submitted no later than 5 working days prior to the last relevant assessment to give sufficient time for administration and Panel consideration. Unforeseen mitigating Circumstances requests should submitted no later than 5 days after the last relevant assessment.

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It is important that requests are accompanied by relevant documentary evidence. Full details of the procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle.Feedback on AssessmentsThe programme team will aim to mark your work within four working weeks to allow for robust I/V processes to take place. Please be patient when awaiting feedback for marked work; we pride ourselves on the thoroughness of our marking and this is therefore a time-consuming activity.When your marked work is returned to you it will be accompanied by written and, where possible, verbal feedback which will help you to understand the rationale for the mark achieved, and also help you improve your performance in future assignments. All written work will be returned via Turn-it-in and grades will be posted on our electronic grade tracking system on Moodle, linked to your PLP area. If you do not meet a PASS grade at any assessment point, feedback will be especially important, as you will need to rectify any shortcomings within a given timescale. Requirements to try and achieve a PASS grade or above assignment may be different from the original, assignment.

Moderation of Marks/ IV process There is a robust system of moderation in place for ensuring the quality and consistency of marking both within units and between them. For each assignment submitted the identified marking lecturer first marks the scripts or other form of submission. A sample equating to approximately the square root of the programme cohort (e.g. 5 submissions selected from a cohort of 25 students) is selected, representative of the range of marks awarded. A second lecturer then marks this sample. This second marking is normally undertaken without sight of the first marking lecturers summary comments or knowledge of the mark awarded, although where the script or other form of submission has been annotated, the second marker would have sight of these annotations. The two sets of marks are then compared and, if in close agreement, a final moderated mark determined. If the two sets of marks are significantly different then further action is agreed which may require the whole cohort of scripts/submissions being remarked. A similar sample of assignment scripts/submissions is then sent to the external examiner for further moderation. The external examiner may also wish to come and visit the college and view performances and sample student submissions at will in the case of website or Mahara online

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submissions. In most cases this sample would be the same as that which had been internally moderated. However where time is limited internal and external moderation may have to occur in tandem. In this case, two samples would be selected, one for internal moderation and one for external moderation. The external examiner’s comments are taken into account at the relevant programme examination board at which time any further adjustment of the assignment marks is agreed.In the case of final year projects, all are internally moderated and a sample is externally moderated. The college also has an HE Committee has a Curriculum and Quality Assurance Group that meets each Semester, to ratify marks across all HND programmes to ensure consistency and parity in the process for marking work across all our HE Programmes.

Referencing In any coursework assessment it is essential you clarify your sources of information in the appropriate manner. All written work must be referenced using the Harvard System, whenever you draw on another writer’s ideas; you should give a clear Reference to their original work.  That is, you need to say which particular book or article you are working from.  You should also give the page number and the date of publication so that your reader can find the same details.  The details of the reference can be provided in a full list of references at the end of your assignment. In an essay you often have to discuss other people’s ideas and when you do so you are expected to use a ‘citation’ that is, a brief reference to where those ideas came from.  You could use phrases such as:-      As Jones argues …….. As Smith states……. According to Williams……. etc. Following these statements a reference is required e.g. (Smith 1998), (Jones 2002), or (Williams 2003).Full details of the Harvard Referencing system can be found on Moodle and will be covered in your Study Skills sessions. Your Programme Leader and/or Lecturers will be happy to provide clarification and explanation if required. It is your responsibility to ensure that all references used in the text of your coursework are properly referenced and acknowledged.

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Unfair means, complaint and appeals against assessment decisions - internal processesYou may wish to initially explore an informal approach by discussing the matter directly with the person concerned, e.g. the Programme Lecturer, Leader or Programme Team Manager. If you are not satisfied with the response from your Programme Area you can access the formal procedures. Full details of our Internal Appeals procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle. Assignments should be word-processed in Arial 12 point font, be double-spaced, on A4 size paper. Writing should appear on only one side of the paper, (in case it needs to be printed off following electronic submission), be fully justified and with each page being numbered in the footer, numbering to be centred.There should be a title page detailing the programme, unit title, assignment title, student name and number, marking lecturer and date of submission. It is good practice to put your student number in the top left hand side of the header of each page, and the date of submission in the top right. BMC has a responsibility to ensure that the standards of its awards are maintained and that its qualifications are not achieved through the use of unfair means. The regulations on the Use of Unfair Means in Assessment cover not only students who deliberately set out to cheat e.g. by taking unauthorised material into exams, but also those who do not follow normal academic rules, e.g. by failing to acknowledge the ideas of others through proper referencing. Unfair means includes plagiarism (giving the impression that you have written or thought something when you have borrowed it from someone else), collusion (working collaboratively with another student and then submitting the work as all your own work), and cheating in examinations. You should familiarise yourself at the earliest opportunity with the BMC’s Assessment Malpractice Regulations which are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section of Moodle.

Publication of Results and Awards Ceremonies Following the Programme Assessment and Progression Boards in June you will be able to assess your level of progression and attainment awards towards your HNC and HND.

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Please note that these results are provisional until they have been ratified by the external Examiner for Edexcel. Please ensure you check your BMC email address for details of ratified results and any make-good work.The Awards Ceremony takes place in July; students will be sent an invitation to the July Ceremony in April.

Requests for reviews of decisions of final assessment boards of examiners (Appeals) The College’s regulations set out a number of grounds on which you can ask for a review of an assessment decision.These include:

illness or some other factor which affected your performance but which you were unwilling or unable to divulge before the Assessment Board made its decision;

a material administrative error, the assessments were not conducted in accordance with the College’s regulations, or some other irregularity;

The decision of an Assessment Board about the use of unfair means or the consequent academic action is unreasonably severe.

The grounds do not include questioning the academic judgment of an Assessment Board. You can request a review of an Assessment Board decision by writing to the Head of Learning (Melton), giving reasons and including supporting evidence within 14 days of publication of the Assessment Board’s decision. Full details of the Assessment Board Decisions procedures are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section of Moodle ‘Appeals about assessment decisions’.

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Learner servicesProgramme Tutor: Every student at the college has a dedicated Programme Tutor who will support and guide students in their overall learning and personal development.

Programme Leaders: are keen to help make the time you spend with them as academically stimulating and rewarding as possible. The lecturers have a well deserved reputation for being approachable and interested in their students’ progress. Through their experience, they are also aware of the difficulties students’ face which, through no fault of their own, may hinder students’ capacity to perform effectively. In this regard, lecturers aim to make sure they do everything to help such students achieve their potential, despite these difficulties.

Unit Leaders: These are members of academic staff responsible for the day-to-day management of a particular unit. Unit Leaders organise the unit teaching structure with other unit lecturers, plan and collate unit assessments, ensure that all students in the unit are aware of attendance and assessment requirements of the unit, ensure that attendance registers are maintained, and act as the identified individuals who you can consult if you experience academic problems in the programme.They will work with students to tackle these difficulties and make sure that such difficulties are taken into account in relation to assessments. There is a wide range of support mechanisms for our students through Learner Services.

Learner services: are based on both the Brooksby and Melton Campuses. The service has an experienced team of advisers to support and guide students on a wide range of academic and career-related matters. It also provides information on further opportunities in education and training. The service has a key college role in ensuring the health, safety and overall well-being of all students during their time at the college. It also promotes the voice of students collectively by supporting the college processes for student consultation and representation. It offers free, impartial advice and guidance to prospective, current and exiting students on career opportunities. This can be either on a 1-1 basis or through group work and tutorials. Targeted support is offered to support students wishing to progress to employment, further education or training. The careers information library includes information on career and educational opportunities.

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The College’s Learner Services team is accredited to the Matrix Standard for the provision of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG).

Pastoral Support and Guidance: Your Programme Tutor is responsible for ensuring that any personal problems that may affect your ability to study are given due consideration and that you are given appropriate advice. We strongly advise that you keep your Programme Tutor informed of any problems you may be having. You will have opportunity to meet with your Programme tutor on a weekly basis in 20 group tutorials and 2 personal tutorials each academic year. Your Programme Tutor will normally also indicate which times of the week she or he is available for a drop in consultation if required.

Academic Support and Guidance: Your Programme Tutor will deal with student academic queries or problems that relate to the requirements of the programme over and above those of individual units. These lecturers’ will support you in the fulfillment of requirements for your programme. In the event of not being able to resolve the problem, your Programme tutor will refer you accordingly.

Support for Students with Disabilities, Learning Difficulties or Specific Needs:Brooksby Melton College welcomes students with disabilities and/or additional support requirement and will make every effort to support their needs. We will help you to develop strategies, discover skills and independence by a multi-team, student-centred approach. We encourage you to work with us to achieve your full potential. We have contacts with local and national external bodies concerned with inclusion, disability awareness and disability provision. Advice is provided by our ALS team on an individual, strictly confidential basis. Students are advised to identify any potential learning support needs directly to their Programme Tutor in the first instance, who will then refer them to the ALS team at the college. Support for full-time and part-time students is available through the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Please see the Department for Education and Skills website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/index.html

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If you are not sure whether you qualify for DSA you can also telephone 01664 850850 ext 489 or send an email to Helen Herries at:herries@brooksbymelton.ac.uk Alternatively call into the Learner Services to make an appointment.

Accommodation: All accommodation related issues are managed by Barbara Dixon bdixon@brooksbymelton.ac.uk and Lorraine Cox lcox@brooksbymelton.ac.uk.

Counseling support: A free, confidential and professional counseling service is available to all students and college staff. A qualified counselor is available to offer guidance on issues such as alcohol and drug problems, bereavement, bullying, depression, panic and anxiety, domestic violence, eating problems, financial hardship, relationship problems and unplanned pregnancy. Counseling support is also available on college and academic related matters.

Careers Advice and Employability: Your Programme tutor is your main point of contact for subject specific careers guidance through the tutorial programme. Many departments also run units specific to developing your employability skills.

Financial support: Learner Services can offer advice on matters relating to the financial needs of students. It will also provide guidance to students on financial support for learning bursaries, procedures for payment of accommodation and travel concerns. Full details of the procedures for paying for your course through Student Finance England are available via the ‘Policies and Procedures’ section on the Home page of Moodle.

Health and SafetyEvacuationIf the evacuation alarm sounds you should immediately stop what you are doing and evacuate by the nearest convenient exit. If you have a disability that may make your evacuation difficult, please mention this confidentially to your lecturers.

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Use of ComputersGeneral guidance on the safe use of computers will be given to you as appropriate at induction and you should at all times follow this guidance. In particular you must:Not use the computers for longer than 90 minutes at a time without a 15 minute complete break from the screenYou should preferably plan your work to enable you to have shorter sessions such as 30 minutes followed by 5 minutes of change or 60 minutes followed by 10 minutes of change.You should plan your work so that you do not use the computer for longer than 3 hours a day with at least a day’s break in between.

Student Experience The college wants all students to make a positive contribution to life of the college. BMC seeks to encourage the involvement of students in the decision-making processes of the college by supporting systems of student representation at course, department, campus and college levels.At the start of your studies you will be given the opportunity to nominate yourself to act as the Year Rep for your course. Elections for representatives are held early in semester one. The year rep is assigned to collate feedback from peers on all academic and non academic issues. Course related matters should be raised by student representatives to your programme lecturer or manager, so that these can be addressed as appropriate, this may include via the Programme Team meeting. Feedback and Minutes are available on request. Some may then be passed through to two wider academic boards, the HE Forum and HE Committee.

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HE ForumTwice per year a HE Student Forum is run to gather, listen and respond to HE representatives from a cross all HE programmes in the college. Matters addressed include Accommodation, Academic, Student Experience, Student Union etc. We have a twice yearly HE student Forum that is your opportunity to make your voice heard directly to Programme Team Managers, Senior Managers, Facilities, Welfare, Library and IT Managers. BMC strongly promotes and supports consultative and feedback mechanisms that allow students to express their needs and the degree to which these are being met. Any matter raised in the HE Forums or directly to staff, be responded to either directly within the HE Forum meetings or afterwards through our ‘You Said - We Did’ campaign.

HE CommitteeWe have an internal HE Committee that meets regularly through the academic year to review all academic and institutional matters regarding HE. One programme rep will be appointed to the HE committee as student representative. The HE committee is the strategic group managing the HE experience and reports to the college Senior Management Team & the Quality & standards subcommittee of the Board. Periodically HE course reps will be invited to attend these meetings as part of our ongoing quality processes. The committee addresses all concerns from academic standardisation, to marketing, to reviewing student services and the development of curriculum opportunities. Meeting minutes and agendas will be circulated and published on the college portal and moodle.

Fresher’s WeekEach year we have a fun filled week of activities in Fresher’s week. Your chance to meet fellow students across college HE programmes and join in on trips, clubs and society events and activities.

Student UnionWe already have a supportive relationship with De Montfort University Student Union regarding our BA year 2 and 3 Performing Arts students http://www.demontfortstudents.com/ and are building links with Bolton University for our BA 3rd year Business students http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Students/AdviceAndSupport/StudentsUnion/Home.aspx

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At BMC we are in talks with the National Union of Students (NUS) http://www.nus.org.uk/To bring all our university level students from HNC through to HND and BA/BSC Top-Ups and fully validated BA/BSc programmes the same Student Union benefits as with any larger University. This year we are forming our own new Student Union with its own office at our King Street Campus in room K14, 01664 850850 ext TBC and own email address at hestudentunion@brooksbymelton.ac.uk or hesu@brooksbymelton.ac.uk We will be holding a formal process at the beginning of the year to form a students’ union constitution and elections. Please look out for further information on this process and consider getting involved.We are also in the process on developing your very own HE Student Union Forum Page.

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