School of Law

Meeting/Committee

Minutes

Date. Time

Chair: / Dr Matt Stone
Present: / Marie Breton, Keshinee Buhorah, Yvonne Cattrall, Kristina Enger, Eugenie Fournet, Aleisha Hollis, Jan Bornheim, Kojo Koram, Rhita Njuki, Clotilde Pegorier, Julie-Marie Penner, Marthe Rossaak, Oda Selle, Kim Stockley, Meagan Wong,
Apologies: / Penny Brearey- Horne
Secretary: / Liz Harvey
In attendance:
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 23RD NOVEMBER 2016
Approved / The minutes of the SSLC Committee held on 26 April 2016. These minutes were not circulated before the meeting therefore were not approved. DSM to circulate after meeting.
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
The school is looking to continue building on its various student engagement initiatives.
Noted
Agenda Item 4 External Examiners reports including School responses.
Mark Elliot, the award external examiner, had commented on the Equity and Trusts module even though he is not the external examiner for this module. The module external examiner had not voiced any concerns relating to the way the module has been taught. Some slight changes have been made to the assessment including the tutorial participation element. Mark Elliot also commented that there was not a choice of questions in the exam paper. This is not correct, there is one compulsory question with a choice of other questions.
Agenda item 5
Curriculum Review
The Curriculum review is an overarching strategy used to look at all degrees. The review has different stages and in the last academic year it was at stage one. This included the introduction of the Capstone project.
This academic year, curriculum review will look at ensuring students fulfil their potential. It has been reported that there are fewer good degrees for BAME students at Essex. There is a project currently being set up to look into this. This round of the review will also include a review on how we teach and encouraging diversity in our teaching. It is hoped to have a meeting with student representatives once the background work has been completed. This deadline for completion is May 2017.
Agenda Item 6 Timetabling
There have been problems with the timetabling this year. One of the major factors contributing to this is the Central Timetabling Office being under resourced and issues taking a long time to resolve. The senior management team in CTO are aware of this and looking at ways to improve matters.
Agenda item 7 Fourth Year Student business
An issue was raised about lack of information for students going into their 4th year who wish to consider taking the dissertation module. Meeting to be arranged for next term for incoming 3rd and final year students.
The dissertation module will be phased out, to be replaced by the Final Year Research Project (the ‘capstone’ module).
Students on the 4 year Law and Politics degree scheme find that in their final year all modules that are taken are core. A suggestion was made that students are informed of this so that they can take a core module in their 3rd year thus enabling the students to take an option in their final year.
Students in the final year of the joint degrees are not receiving information about events taking place. There was a complaint about the timing of the events as some run in the early evening. The reason for this being the events have to be set for when there are no lectures.
There was concern about the EU lectures. Students reported that one of the lecturers does not employ the use of power-point or handouts. Sometimes the information during lectures can be confusing. Matt will look into this.
A request was made for more employability events for those students who wish to pursue a career at the Bar, and those who pursue a career outside of law.
It was pointed out that the Law Careers event focuses more on those students who wish to undertake a career as a solicitor and not those wishing to go to the Bar. The School will look to see if it is possible to bring barristers in from the magic circle.
The Bar Society has recently visited the Inner Temple and organises these types of visits on a regular basis.
Noted
Agenda Item 9 Third year student business
Students wanted to know why there was not a reading week. It was explained that with the change to the curriculum and the introduction of 15 credit modules it would not be possible to fit in all the teaching.
Agenda item 10 – 2nd year business
Students reported that feedback in tutorials varies from module to module. It was suggested that a common guidance policy be introduced so to ensure parity across the modules. Lecturers may have different approaches to delivering tutorials, but they will ensure that the key principles are covered.
This year assessment has been attached to some of the tutorials. The School wants to see how this runs this year and hopefully next year it is planned to get more module teachers involved with assessment in tutorials. The idea of assessment in tutorials is to promote ongoing engagement with teaching.
Students asked for the introduction of taster sessions for option modules so that they can choose the options they find interesting. The School will look into the viability of an event for option modules before April 2017. The University does however, have a policy whereby you can change an option module in the first two weeks of term.
Clotilde complained that students are flooding her with emails after her lectures. She has asked for a better way to address the questions and suggested that students research the answer rather that asking her for the answer.
Students are concerned that they do not have a date for the January exams. Yvonne has had a draft timetable so students will be getting theirs soon.
Agenda item 1st year business
Students are concerned that lecturers are assuming that all students have a basic knowledge of English matters. Some students whose first language is not English are experiencing problems in lectures. Students from the 2nd, 3rd and final year assured them that it will all fall into place. Help is provided via the Talent Development Team.
Some students have complained they had not yet heard from their personal tutors. Matt recommended that students approach their tutors directly and let him know if there is a problem.
Any other business
No other business

Secretary name: Liz Harvey

Secretary job title: 2nd year administrator

Date 28 November 2016