Assessment Mitigations Policy and Process Task and Finish Group

Terms of Reference and Membership 

Aim and scope of work 

The aim of the task and finish group is to review the current regulatory and policy framework governing assessment mitigations and associated processes in taught programmes at the University of Bristol and recommend to University Education Committee a redeveloped framework.  

This work will be informed by student and staff feedback on current arrangements, a review of approaches at other institutions, data on UoB students use of mitigations (including by demographics) and the regulatory advice of the Office for Students and the Office for the Independent Adjudicator. 

Terms of reference 

Review: 

• identify areas for improvement related to regulations, policy and associated guidance that governs assessment mitigations – coursework extensions, self-certification for absence from assessment and exceptional circumstances 

• the processes for dealing with assessment mitigations requests – support, submission, documentation, impact categorisation, decision-making, communication 

• the policies and processes in place across the HE sector 

Redevelop: 

• a framework for assessment mitigations 

• processes related to dealing with assessment mitigations 

• communications with students around assessment mitigations  

Membership 

Job title	Name
Associate PVC Education Quality and Standards [Co-Chair]	Professor Kate Whittington
Executive Director for Education and Students [Co-Chair]	Steve Hall
Faculty Academic Director (Inclusion, Belonging, Community) (FSEN)	Dr Joel Ross
Faculty Head of Education and Student Success (FALS)	Abi Stickland
Senior Tutor (FHLS)	Dr Emily Bell
Deputy Director of Education Quality and Policy, AQPO, ESS	Mike White
Academic Quality Manager, AQPO, ESS	Sam Jones
Head of Assessment, ESS	Charlotte Verney
Education Officer, ESS	Charles Gunter
UG Education Officer	Mia Stevens
PG Education Officer	Sharan Khemlani
Group Secretary (APQO, ESS)	Katie Smith

Stakeholder group will include representation from 

Bristol Students’ Union Academic Advice team, Student Health Service, ESS Enquiries team, ESS Content team, Faculty Academic Directors (Programmes, Curriculum and Assessment). 

Consultation   

Consultation will take place with Faculty and Course Reps, Education Directors Network, Student Experience Committee, University Learning Enhancement Committee and University Academic Quality Committee.  

Reporting line 

The Assessment mitigations policy and process Task and Finish Group will report to the University Education Committee (UEC). 

Meetings 

It is anticipated that the Task and Finish Group will meet periodically between April 2026 and June 2027. 

Outline schedule of work 

Date/Month	Action/item
March 2026	Student focus groups take place.
March 2026	SEC receive student focus group output and draft T&F group ToR
April 2026	UEC sent on T&F grp ToR for approval
April 2026	First meeting of the T&F group
May - Oct	T&F group develop plans
Nov- Jan	Consult on plans
Sept - Jan	Plan for any required systems implementation
Feb - April	Refine framework with feedback
May/June 2027	University Education Committee considers final changes for approval
August 2027	New framework comes into force for the 2027/28 academic year