APC P.19

2003/2004

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME COMMITTEE OF THE UWIDEC

 

Matters from the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Education (October 29, 2003)

 

The APC is asked to note the following matters relating to the DEC.

 

Distance Education Centre

 

19.  In the absence of a Director, the Chair took the Board through BNCC/DE.P.5, a report on the work of the Distance Education Centre.  He remarked that the DEC should not be without a Director for much longer – an offer had been made and the person should be taking up the appointment within a couple of months.  He also noted that he had had news of the former Director, Professor Koul, who was now back in India. 

 

20.  In noting the contents of BNCC/DE.P.5, the Board observed that many issues were now being handled by the UWIDEC Academic Programme Committee (APC), minutes of whose most recent meeting were tabled as Paper 5b. 

 

21.  The Board considered the data on performance in DE courses and comparisons with on-campus courses and suggested that efforts be made to provide more reliable data in future.  The Board heard of the difficulties some students face with mathematics and statistics, and of the summer immersion course offered at Mona to cope with the same problem among face-to-face students.  It recognised, however, that such remedial courses cost extra and that many students were reluctant to take them for that reason.  The Board suggested that there might be a case for reviewing the current material and its packaging in the courses in question.  It also heard of the beneficial effects of regular attendance at tutorials for these courses.

 

22.  The Chair indicated that the Report mentioned many issues that would need to be managed by the new Director in association with the APC and the Office of the Board.  With respect to plans for the summer, it was agreed that the Faculty of Social Sciences should also be consulted.

 

23.  The Board heard that an approach to a funding agency was being considered in an effort to address the need for improvements at the University Centres.  Material and human resources were needed, but it was also important to include in the changes consequent upon new modes of delivery of distance education programmes. 

 

24.  The Board considered BNCC/DE.P.5a, a proposal for dealing with the e-mail submission of course-work.  The Board observed that the question of what would or would not count as submission needed refinement; with such amendment it agreed that the proposal be submitted to the Board for Undergraduate Studies and the Board for Graduate Studies and Research for their consideration as an amendment to the Examination Regulations.  Action: Secretary.

 

25.  The Board received and noted the contents of BNCC/DE.P.5b, draft minutes of the meeting of the APC on October 22nd.

 

26.  The Chair expressed his pleasure at the reports of

 

·         the Board for Undergraduate Studies’ endorsement of the Board’s proposal that all students be treated in the same way when considering exemptions (minutes 5 and 6);

 

·         the same Board’s acceptance of the mechanism of provisional entry for mature students who lacked matriculation requirements (Minutes 39 and 40);

 

·         the qualified acceptance by that Board and the Board for Graduate Studies and Research of the APC’s being given the authority to admit students to DEC programmes (minute 38) – the Chair noted that some misunderstandings need to be cleared up, but that the Boards were not opposed to the idea;

 

·         the provision of access to databases throughout the DEC intranet (22 and 23) and greater access to UWI Libraries for the SCS (24), though the Chair noted that he would continue to press for more under both heads.

 

27.  The Chair also drew attention to the decision (minute 42) to post the APC’s documentation on the Board’s website.

 

28.  Dr Paul observed that the T.A. Marryshow Community College also has on-line access to databases which he offered to make available to students of the SCS in Grenada.  The Chair expressed the Board’s deep appreciation for this offer.

 

29.  Professor Richardson drew attention to the omission of representatives of the School of Education at Cave Hill from the APC meeting.  The Chair acknowledged the oversight and undertook to address it in the more extensive review of the APC’s membership that would take place before its next meeting.  Action: Chair.

 

30.  The Board agreed that Dr Ghany might table the paper at his Faculty Board, in the absence of a representative from the Faculty at the meeting.