General purpose:  A Standing Committee of Academic Council responsible for implementing the University’s mitigation policy and procedures relating to student applications for the waiver of an examination result and/or capping of marks and other related issues (e.g. waiver of fees in repeat years) on the grounds of poor performance caused by mitigating circumstances

The Committee shall undertake any other appropriate duties or tasks assigned to it by Academic Board or Council from time to time.

Terms of Reference:

1. Strategy and Policy

To bring forward for initial consideration by Academic Board:

a) Proposals for ongoing improvement of the University’s mitigation policy and procedures to ensure fairness and consistency in application across the University.
b) Proposals for ensuring accurate record keeping and reporting.
c) To bring forward for initial consideration by Academic Board:

2. Executive functions

Under delegated authority from Academic Council to:

a) Receive and decide on student applications for the waiver of an examination result and /or waiver of capping on grounds of poor performance caused by mitigating circumstances and to report their recommendations to the relevant examination board and academic unit.
b) To report suspected abuses of the mitigation procedures to the Registrar for further investigation.
Receive and decide on applications for the deferral of examinations on grounds of mitigating circumstances.
c) To recommend as appropriate waiver of fees in repeat years on the basis of approved mitigation applications.
d) Where necessary, for the wellbeing of individual students, the Chair together with the Registrar will rapidly adjudicate applications prior to examination periods and report their decisions to the full Committee.

3. Oversight function

On behalf of Academic Council to:   

a) To keep under review trends in student mitigation across the four Colleges of the University and advise Colleges and Academic Board and Council of any matters of concern in its annual report or as the Committee sees fit.

4. Other business as required

a) To submit an annual report to Academic Board and Council and to report on specific matters as requested.

b) To advise Academic Board/Council on such matters that Academic Board/Council may refer to the Committee from time to time.

5. Delegation of authority

The Mitigation Committee retains the overall responsibilities defined in its terms of reference as approved by Academic Council.  The Committee is not authorised to further delegate its responsibilities.   The Committee may establish working groups from time to time to assist in its work.  Working groups shall operate in accordance with the procedures set down in the Academic Council Committee Handbook.

Membership

NB The membership should not overlap with concurrent membership of the Examination Appeals Committee

Approved by Academic Council 28^th January 2011
Membership updated 2018