Contents  

1. Introduction  

Purpose of this Handbook  

2. Useful Contacts  

2.1 Key Support Roles 

3. Learning Support  

3.1 Induction  

3.2 Learning Materials 

3.3 eLearn  

3.4 How will students support each other through the course?  3.5 How to access Elearn 

4 Staff/Student Obligations 

4.1 Student Charter  

4.2 What you can expect from your Tutor 

4.3 Student Feedback  

4.4 Student Representation  

4.5 Annual Monitoring 

5 Course Information  

5.1 Module Descriptions  

5.2 Learning Outcomes  

5.3 Assessment Methods  

5.4 Course Duration and Pace of Study  

5.5 Undergraduate degrees by Distance Learning  

5.6 Postgraduate degrees by Distance Learning  

5.7 Maximum Course Registration Timeframe – postgraduate courses  6. Study and Assessment  

6.1 Activating your Modules

6.2 Assessment  

6.3 Submitting your Assessment  

6.4 Help with Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism  

6.5 Modules Assessed by Examination  

6.6 Alternative Examination Venues  

6.7 Submission Deadlines  

6.8 Assessment Deferrals  

6.9 Assessment Extension  

6.10 Mitigating Circumstances  

6.11 Failure to Submit  

6.12 Notification of Assignment Grades and Examination Boards  

6.13 Re-assessment  

6.14 Criteria for Classification of LEICADAwards  

6.15 Appeals against the decision of the Examination Board  

6.16 Inactivity, Re-registration and Withdrawal  

6.17 Complaints Procedure  

6.18 Equality and Diversity  

6.19 Student Engagement Policy  

6.20 Guidelines for the Selection and Appointment of Student Representatives  1. Introduction 

Welcome to the course; you have joined one of our program. Our aim is to provide you with the  opportunity to establish a firm foundation for a successful career in your chosen discipline.  

You will be studying alongside students from a variety of backgrounds. Though you are expected  to invest time and effort into your studies you should also take every opportunity to have fun  and enjoyment. We hope that you will find your learning experience to be productive, enjoyable  and successful.  

Purpose of this Handbook 

The purpose of this Handbook is to introduce students to online distance learning study through  Life Evergreen Institute of Career Development, and to lay down the standards that Leicad requires from students. It also sets out the way in which we operate.  

In this document, you will also find guidance on various key personal skills (such as effective  reading and writing), which underpin effective study and also contribute directly to good working  practices.  

The Handbook should be read in conjunction with the Programme Handbook which contains the  information you need to know about the structure and aims of your course and the modules (also  referred to as units) you are required to study.  

2. Key Support Roles 

Student Support Team  

The role of the LEICAD Student Support Team is to ensure that you are progressing well in your  studies and they will assist you throughout your programme with any administrative query  relating to your studies. At the start of the intake your Student Support Co-ordinator will help to  ensure that you are familiar with processes, procedures, rules and regulations and will support  you with working through the Induction Module on elearn. After completion of your Induction  Module your Student Support Co-ordinator will be in regular contact to support and guide you. They will also email you reminders of upcoming deadlines. The Team can be contacted at  studentsupport@leicad.co.uk 

Please do not hesitate to make contact if there is something you are unsure of or need guidance  about.  

Director of Student Achievement 

The Director of Student Achievement is responsible for overseeing the work of the Student  Support Team.  

Tutors 

Each module you study has a dedicated module tutor. All tutors are approved subject specialists.  They will help you by facilitating your academic progress and, to this end, they will set tasks and  activities in the appropriate areas of elearn, LEICAD’s Virtual Learning Environment.  

The primary means of support will be delivered online through elearn. Where appropriate, tutors  may also provide support by approved 3rd part system and also onsite.  

The tutoring process is viewed as an essential aspect of development and support for students.  It is informally based and designed to encourage two-way communication; either peer-to-peer  or student to-tutor. Your module tutor will provide you with academic advice and guidance and  answer your questions of an academic nature. 

For all other queries, you are encouraged to contact your Student Support Team at LEICAD directly via studentsupport@leicad.co.uk 

Programme Team Leader  

The Programme Leader has overall responsibility for the structure and delivery of the course. You  will meet him/her as you progress with your studies, as Programme Leaders also teach on the  programmes they lead.  

3. Learning Support 

3.1 Induction Before you commence study on the course you are required to undertake an online  induction module which contains all the information you need to get you started including how  to use elearn (LEICAD’s Virtual Learning Environment or VLE), how to access support, and a range  of activities to introduce you to key study skills which will help you with the course.  

There is also an interactive quiz to consolidate your understanding of the skills, processes and  procedures you will encounter during your studies.  

The aims of the Induction are for you to:  

∙ Get to know staff and fellow students  

∙ Gain a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of your course of study  ∙ Access a range of resources to support your study  

∙ Ask questions relating to any aspect of the learning experience.  

∙ Become acquainted with LEICAD procedures and policies.  

At the start of your intake, you will receive an email with your username and password for elearn,  which will allow you to access your Induction module by logging onto elearn and selecting the  Induction module.  

The induction includes several lessons each with learning materials, activities and discussion  areas. This structure will be replicated in each module once you start the course. It is  recommended you work through each lesson and carry out the activities; these can be found in  the ‘My Induction Learning’ menu.  

You should also refer to the information under ‘My Programme’, ‘My Support’, ‘Getting started’  and ‘My Resources’. A guide to navigating the induction module is available under ‘My  Resources’. If you join the Induction module before the formal intake start date, there will be a  number of tasks already available for you to work through. You will be given access to your  Interactive Quiz on the first day of the new study period. A reminder notice will be posted on  elearn on this date. It is important that you complete and pass the Quiz within the first four weeks  of the intake; after these four weeks have elapsed, access to the Interactive Quiz will be blocked.  If you have not passed the Quiz by this time, you will have to wait until the next intake to  complete your Induction and progress onto your first module – this could be up to three months 

away! Once you have successfully passed the Interactive Quiz, your first module or modules on  elearn will be automatically released to you.  

To access additional / future modules click on the ‘release now’ button. If you experience  difficulties during this process, please contact the Student Support Team.  

3.2 Learning Materials 

You will access your core learning material for the course via elearn under ‘My Learning’. For  further explanation of elearn see 3.3 below.  

The module learning materials (in ‘My Learning’) are designed to facilitate your learning and to  allow you to achieve the learning outcomes for each module. The material is interactive and  contains practical activities, which have been designed to enable you to apply theoretical  principles and frameworks. As with the induction module, each is broken down into lessons  containing learning materials, activities and discussions. Try to use your own background when  completing the activities and draw the best ideas and solutions you can from your own  experience. To get the best out of your learning experience, you are encouraged to discuss your  ideas with other students or your colleagues; this will make learning much more stimulating.  Remember, if in doubt, or if you have any questions about the modules or how to study, ask your  Tutor.  

A good way to do this is via the discussion area in the relevant lesson. This way other students  who may have similar questions will also benefit. If you wish to purchase your own textbooks,  suggested reading is included on the module eLearn pages.  

A range of online library resources is made available to LEICAD students (via Elearn – My  Resources – Resource centre menu), which supplements the learning materials within elearn.  LEICAD’s resources include libraries of electronic books (e-books).  

LEICAD aims to provide an electronic copy of the core text for each module, although students  should be aware that the availability of books in electronic form is subject to publishers’  permissions. In the event that a core textbook cannot be provided in e-book format, suitable  alternatives may be available. There are occasions when students may wish to purchase the hard  copy of a core textbook, in the event that it is not available in the LEICAD library.  

In all cases, a range of e-books is available to facilitate your wider reading around a particular  topic.  

3.3 elearn 

elearn is LEICAD’s online facility designed to enhance your learning experience and help you  through your studies. It provides access to:  

∙ Your Induction 

∙ Your Modules – once you have successfully completed the induction quiz. This includes  module materials, lessons and assessment details  

∙ Resources such as online electronic libraries and support information (user guides, links  rules and regulations, contact details, your student handbook) 

∙ Discussion forums and messaging facility  

∙ My Notebook – you can make notes within each lesson and these will be collated and  accessible from the ‘My Notebook’ link at the top of each module page.  

You will also find links on Elearn to:  

∙ Unify – access to LEICAD’s online platform for the student voice, allowing students and  staff members to communicate with each other and to raise and act upon student  feedback.  

∙ Study Skills – access to online resources to assist with study skills including referencing,  academic writing skills, numeracy and exam skills.  

∙ Careers resources – access to comprehensive personal and career development  resources. After selecting ‘view more’, click on the green ‘Career Portal’ button to enter.  You will find a detailed explanation of the key functions of elearn and how to use them  during your Induction.  

The website will be updated regularly with new and relevant information as it becomes available.  Tutors may make announcements or add notes to relevant sections or engage with you in  discussion forums. There is also a page for your own personal profile and photo. You are  encouraged to add information about yourself, as other students may find it interesting. Elearn will be our principal way of communicating with students registered on this course so it is  essential that you visit elearn on a regular basis. 

Please remember to look at the ‘News & FAQ’s’ section for new messages and discussions. If you  require assistance navigating elearn or with any of the feature on elearn, there are a range of  guides under the ‘My Resources’ menu.  

3.4 How will students support each other through the course?  

We believe success on the course will be enhanced through the development of a supportive  learning community. One of the ways in which we will achieve this is through facilitated online  discussions within elearn and other tutor-initiated activity, where you will have the opportunity  to undertake group tasks with other students.  

3.5 How to access elearn 

You can access the Elearn site directly by entering the following web address in your web  browser: https://leicad.co.uk/auth/login 

1. Enter your username and password and click ‘Login’. 

2. Select the relevant Module from the “My Modules” section in the middle of the screen.  4 Staff/Student Obligations 

4.1 Student Charter 

At LEICAD, we are passionate about supporting people, achieving our best and inspiring progress.  To help us support and inspire you to achieve your best, we have created a Charter – it’s a set of  guidelines that we can all follow, highlighting how we can work together to ensure you have a  great learning experience.  

By embarking on this course of study, you confirm your commitment to LEICAD’s Student Charter  (1). 

4.2 What you can expect from your Tutor 

The tutor will provide learning support and advice to learners in the following manner:  

∙ Providing a welcome forum post at the start of the module.  

∙ Providing a response to your email or forum post, wherever possible within 2 working  days (Monday – Friday).  

∙ Providing formative feedback within 7 working days (Monday-Friday).  ∙ Initiating task and discussions via the module discussion forum on elearn.  ∙ Moderating discussion boards and inputting as required.  

∙ Live online chat sessions, where appropriate.  

∙ Live on-site sessions, where appropriate. 

∙ Live on-site practical sessions, where appropriate.  

∙ Monitoring student participation and progress.  

4.3 Student Feedback 

LEICADis committed to providing you with the best possible service and we believe the best way  to improve is to listen to your views. We value your feedback and encourage you to pass on your  comments, compliments or concerns.  

There are a number of ways you can do this. If your comments relate to a particular module, the  best way to provide feedback is by completing the Module Evaluation Survey. This will appear on  your module page just before your assessment deadline. You are also encouraged to provide  feedback to your Student Representative via LEICAD’s Unify forum which you can access via  elearn. The Student Representative will post issues raised onto feedback boards and present this  feedback on behalf of the student body to the relevant course committee meetings. You can also  provide feedback at any time to the Student Support Team.  

Please note that all feedback will be dealt with in strictest confidence and wherever possible  anonymity will be maintained. Your feedback will be considered at LEICAD’s quarterly course 

committee meetings, following which an update will be posted to the student feedback forum  on elearn.  

4.4 Student Representation 

Student representation is a mechanism that helps LEICAD ensure that the student voice is fully  represented in decision making. Representation provides opportunities for students to feed  directly into not only Course related developments, but also the wider activities of LEICAD.  Becoming a Student Representative is not only a great opportunity to make a positive difference  to your learning experience and that of your fellow students, but it is also great for your CV. Find  out more about LEICAD’s policy on Student Engagement later in this handbook.  

There will be an elected student representative. There is also an elected Student President and  officers on Academic Board, Quality and Standards Committee, Access and Participation and the  Learning and Teaching Committee. You can access LEICAD’s Unify forum via elearn or via a mobile  browser: https://leicad.co.uk using the same email address and password you use to access  elearn to post your feedback and comments and to contact your student representative. 

You will also be able to communicate with all students across your course, including those  studying at on-site campuses and in fully online distance learning mode, and ultimately with all  LEICAD students, via the Unify platform. Find out how you can become a Student Representative  later in this handbook.  

4.5 Annual Monitoring 

At the conclusion of each year, academic departments are invited to reflect on the strengths/  weaknesses of the previous year through the Annual Monitoring process. An important part of  the process is a consideration of the student feedback provided by the Courses Committee and  the module evaluation questionnaire.  

The views of students are considered extremely important to the successful running of your  specific course and of our courses as a whole. Your input is, therefore, very important and may  significantly influence both the content of our courses and the processes by which they operate.  

Other reference sources considered include: External Moderators’ reports, students’ module  results, students’ registration, retention and completion statistics, and the action plan from the  annual monitoring report of the previous year.  

LEICAD is committed to providing the highest quality of education possible within the limits  imposed by the resources available, to ensure that you benefit from the academic, social and  cultural experience. Where candidates feel that their legitimate expectations are not being met,  whether it is an academic or non-academic matter, they have the right of access to the  Complaints Procedure and Academic Appeals Policy contained in this handbook although it is  hoped that most complaints can be settled at a local level.  

5. Course Information

5.1 Module Descriptions 

The learning outcomes, content and assessment details for each module are described in Module  Definition Forms (MDFs) which can be found in your offer pack. 

5.2 Learning Outcomes 

Your tutor will provide you with an assignment brief for each assessment, which explains what  you have to do to achieve the learning outcomes and assessment criteria and how the work will  be assessed.  

5.3 Assessment Methods 

The assessment methods used for each module on your course are detailed in the Module  Definition Form and in each assessment brief, which can be found on your module page in elearn on the My Assessment Tab.  

5.4 Course Duration and Pace of Study 

Degrees are made up of levels and credits. An undergraduate degree is 360 credits split into three  equal sized levels (called 4, 5 and 6 on the national framework). Each level equates to one full  time academic year (9 months).  

A master’s degree is 180 credits all of which are at Level 7 and is the equivalent of 12 month of  full time study year. At LEICAD, normally, 120 of these are taught modules with a 60-credit  dissertation. We recognize that most of our students are studying alongside work and so cannot  proceed at full time pace. Our programmes are designed to be flexible but need to have time  limits built into them.  

There are also operational constraints which means that not all modules are available all the  time. The programme is scheduled to allow you to move through the programme to meet your  own needs but does require that you take some responsibility for scheduling your study to ensure  that you can complete within the time limits.  

For online study we operate a schedule based on quarters; i.e. there are four start and finish  points in the year. Students on a full-time distance learning programme (only available on some  level 7 and level 8 programmes) are expected to study at a prescribed rate to ensure that they  complete within the time period. This will involve working on two modules each quarter for three  study periods. You will work on your dissertation alongside this and have the final study period  to dedicate to the dissertation, allowing you to complete within 12 months.  

The pass mark on level 4, level5 and level 6 modules is 40% and for Level 7 and Level 8 50%. If  you do not achieve this grade you are allowed a referral opportunity. If, after this, you have still  not achieved the required grade you are allowed a second opportunity to study the module again.  We refer to this as a retake of the module and this normally gives you two further assessment  attempts subject to any professional and regulatory body requirements*. Any attempt after the 

first has a grade capped at the minimum pass mark (i.e. 40% for undergraduate and 50% for  postgraduate modules).  

We cannot allow a rate of study faster than a full-time rate, so we have rules designed to prevent  students from having too large a workload at any one time. These take into account new modules  you want to commence and any referrals or retakes needed.  

5.5 Level 4 – Level 6 by Distance Learning 

Your course is equivalent to a full-time three-year degree. You have 3 months to 6 Months to  complete each level. If you do not complete a level within 8 months, then you are not able to  continue on the programme*. You may not begin studying more than two new modules per  quarter. We include retake modules as ‘new’ for the purpose of this provision. Please note that  due to timetabling constraints there may not always be two modules available in every quarter.  A large part of Level 6 is the dissertation. You can either do this as the final piece of work or in  parallel with other modules, however you must have passed at least two modules at the final  level before you can be allocated a supervisor or start your dissertation. You should refer to your  Programme Handbook for guidance.  

Maximum Course Registration Timeframe – undergraduate courses. 

The maximum periods of registration for an undergraduate programme or level of study leading  to an award are detailed in the following table. These have been designed to take into account  the requirements of distance learners with variety of needs and include any periods during any  additional time required as a result of mitigating circumstances. 

Individual programmes may be designed to be completed in shorter periods than the maximum  registration period set out above. Such periods will be stated in the programme specification  which can be found in your Programme Handbook. Please note that the maximum period of  registration will be shorter if you have been admitted with Recognition of Prior Learning and the  maximum period of registration will be calculated proportionately. 

5.6 Postgraduate degrees by Distance Learning 

Flexible study mode 

Your course is equivalent to a full-time one year Master’s degree but the course is flexible and  the normal minimum completion time is 6 months. The maximum permitted time is 2years. You  may not begin studying more than two new modules per quarter. We include retake modules as  ‘new’ for the purpose of this provision. Please note that due to timetabling constraints there may  not always be two modules available in every quarter. You must have passed at least five modules  before you can be allocated a supervisor and start your research project.  

Full-time study 

If you are studying a distance learning postgraduate programme at a full-time rate then you are  expected to complete the programme within 12 months, including the dissertation. You will study  at a set pace, completing two modules in each study period for the first three study periods. You  will start on your dissertation in the second study period, allowing you to start thinking about the  title, gain ethics approval, and begin your research, and you will have the fourth study period to  dedicate to completing the dissertation.  

5.7 Maximum Course Registration Timeframe – postgraduate courses 

The maximum periods of registration for a postgraduate programme or level of study leading to  an award are detailed in the following table. These have been designed to take into account the  requirements of distance learners with variety of needs and include any periods during any  additional time required as a result of mitigating circumstances.  

Individual programmes may be designed to be completed in shorter periods that the maximum  registration period set out above. Such periods will be stated in the programme specification.  Please note that the maximum period of registration will be shorter if you have been admitted  with Recognition of Prior Learning and the maximum period of registration will be calculated  proportionately.  

Study Planning

The rules may seem complicated but in practice work in a straightforward way and for the vast  majority of students they facilitate flexible access to learning and allow completion to suit  individual circumstances.  

We will publish a timetable so you can plan with confidence and our Student Support  Coordinators are happy to give advice.  

6. Study and Assessment 

6.1 Activating your Modules 

There are four module start dates during each calendar year: January, April, August and October.  A module delivery schedule showing which modules are available in each quarter can be found  on the induction page of elearn. You will be required to activate your modules on elearn to begin  studying. Access to new modules will be available from the module start date, as long as any  prerequisites for those modules have been satisfied. Your first module following successful  completion of the induction quiz will be automatically released. If you decide that you are not  able to complete your module at this time, you may be able to defer. Please refer to section 6.9  below.  

In order to benefit from the full schedule of module activities, you should activate your module  as soon as possible on or after the official module start date. You will have up to four weeks from  the official module start date in which to activate your module:  

JANUARY- APRIL  

∙ April submission  

∙ Module release window: 31st Jan- 28th Feb  

APRIL-JULY 

∙ July submission  

∙ Module release window: 30th April- 28th May 

AUGUST - OCTOBER 

∙ October submission  

∙ Module release window: 1st Aug- 28th Aug  

OCTOBER - JANUARY  

∙ January submission  

∙ Module release window: 31st Oct - 28th Nov  

Please remember that if you miss this deadline you will have to wait to join the module at the  next available module start date. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made to this rule. If you  are studying on a full-time distance learning programme it is required that you activate two 

modules for each study period; for all other students it is normally expected that you activate  and study 20 credits at a time. Each module (with the exception of major projects and  dissertations) will have a credit value of 20 credits, so it is expected that you study one module  at a time. If you wish to study at a faster pace it is recommended that you contact the Student  Support team to discuss your options before activating any additional modules. The maximum  number of new credits you may have active at any one time is 40 credits. Details of credit values  for each module can be found in your Programme Handbook.  

6.2 Assessment 

Once you activate a module at one of the official start points, you will be expected to study the  module and complete your assessment by the published submission date. This will normally be  around 10 weeks after the start date of the module. A module delivery schedule which includes  assessment submission dates can be found on the induction page on elearn.  

Please check the module delivery schedule before you activate your module to ensure that you  will be able to commit to studying the module and meet the assessment deadline. The submission  date(s) for each module are also displayed on the relevant module page on Eelearn. If you know  of a reason why you will not be able to meet the assessment deadline, you are advised to delay  the activation of your module until the next available module start date.  

If you have already activated your module and find yourself in this position, please refer to the  section on deferral. Assessment briefs (with the exception of examinations and 24 hour  assessments) will normally be released at the start date of each module. The assessment briefs  will contain the following information:  

1. Module title, Assignment title, word count 

2. Submission instructions  

3. Assignment brief/tasks detailing what the candidate needs to do.  

4. Student Guidelines where applicable to assist you in your understanding of the exact  requirements of the assessment.  

5. Specific performance criteria mapped against the grading structure  

For more information about word count please refer to the Word Count Policy.  6.3 Submitting your Assessment 

Your assessment brief will include instructions on how to submit your assessment. If your module  is assessed by examination, please refer to section 6.5.  

Normally, you will be required to submit your assessment electronically to the assessment  submission area on your module page on elearn by following the assignment submission link. By  submitting your assignment you will be agreeing to the Student Declaration, which confirms that  the work you have submitted is your own original work. You will also be agreeing for your work  to be scanned through LEICAD’s plagiarism detection system. It is LEICAD’s policy to scan all 

assessments through the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. Before your assignment  submission deadline, you are advised to upload a draft assessment to elearn. You will then be  able to view the Originality Report generated by Turnitin, which will show any matches in your  work to external sources that have not been correctly referenced. Please allow up to 48 hours  for the Turnitin report to be generated by the system and become available to you, particularly  when you re-upload for a second time or more. To view your Turnitin originality report, click on  the percentage ‘similarity index score’ which will appear next to your assessment once the report  has been generated by the system.  

The final submission you make prior to the deadline will be the work sent for marking regardless  of whether this is your draft assessment with no exceptions. If you experience difficulties  uploading your work to elearn, you should contact the Student Support Team immediately. You  should also contact Student Support before the deadline if you are unable to submit your work  by the deadline. Late submissions without notification cannot be accepted. See Section 6.7 for  more details.  

6.4 Help with Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism 

You must ensure that you carefully read the information on plagiarism provided within the  Induction module on elearn and complete the Plagiarism Quiz before commencing your first  module. You can return to this quiz later in your studies to refresh your understanding of key  definitions relating to unfair practice and referencing. You must also ensure you have read and  understood LEICAD’s regulations on Unfair Practice. 

Staff involved in the assessment process will use a range of techniques along with their academic  judgement, knowledge and experience to assist them in the detection of unfair practice. One of  the tools that LEICAD utilizes to help staff identify potential unfair practice is Turnitin. The  Turnitin system allows your Tutor to check your work for improper citation, incorrect or  inadequate referencing or potential plagiarism by comparing your work against its continuously  updated databases. All assessments submitted for formal assessment will be scanned through  the Turnitin software.  

Before formal submission of your assignment to elearn, you can upload your draft assignment to  Turnitin via the same submission portal that you will upload your final version to. This will enable  you to view the draft originality report generated to Turnitin and thus you will have the  opportunity to make corrections to your assignment before making your final submissions. The  last submission that you upload before the deadline is the version that will be marked. In addition  a guide is available on elearn (under My Resources – Guides) to help you review your Turnitin  originality report and identify any problem areas. It is essential for you to read this information  before you start planning for your first assessment. Please remember that the Turnitin report is  just one of the sources of evidence that will be considered when investigating suspected cases of  unfair practice. It is important to understand that a Turnitin originality report showing a match  to an external source may be used as evidence during the investigation of suspected cases of 

unfair practice. However, an originality report that shows a low or even a 0% match cannot and  will not be accepted as evidence that no unfair practice has taken place.  

6.5 Modules Assessed by Examination 

If your course includes an examination you will be required to confirm details of your preferred  examination venue at the commencement of the module. A member of the Examinations Team  will contact you to assist you with making arrangements for your examination. A free of charge  examination venue is available at our office or in the Hospital. Overseas students will take online  exam in a well secured environment with a live camera. 

6.6 Alternative Examination Venues If it’s not practical for you to take your exam at one of our  free venues, our exams team will assist you with arranging your exam at an alternative venue. Our Examinations Team maintain a list of approved worldwide examination centres which can be  found on the Induction module page. You will be responsible for making contact with the venue  directly to establish their availability to host your examination. The Examinations Team will guide  you through this process. You will also be responsible for paying charges directly to the venue.  Charges are set by the venue and will therefore vary. You may wish to propose an alternative  College or University examination centre to be considered for approval by LEICAD. You are not  permitted to use an examination venue with which you have family, employer or other  associations.  

An approval process will be undertaken by LEICAD to ensure that the institution is of good  standing, has the capability to host examinations and meets LEICAD’s approval criteria. For more  information about the process for approval of LEICAD examination centers please contact  exams@leicad.co.uk 

6.7 Submission Deadlines 

Assignments must be submitted by the hand-in date as stated on the assignment brief. The  submission date(s) for each module are also displayed on the relevant module page on elearn. If  you require an extension, for an exceptional reason only, you must apply using the appropriate  form, before the agreed hand-in date. The granting of an extension is not automatic and must be  formally approved. 

6.8 Assessment Deferrals 

Upon opening a module, you have one deferral opportunity that can be used against your first  submission. The deferral deadline can be found on your module page and can be actioned  through elearn. If you select to defer a module this means that your submission deadline will  move to the following submission period, however you will still be able to access the module  materials. You will need to answer the new question which is relevant to that period. If you have  already had an attempt at a module then you are unable to defer. Please note that if you are  studying a full-time distance learning programme you will not have the option to defer a module. 

6.9 Assessment Extension 

An extension is defined as permission to hand in a piece of assessed work after the published  hand in date, without incurring a penalty. Extensions to assessment deadlines may be granted in  exceptional circumstances normally up to a maximum of seven days following the published  hand-in date and time in accordance with the Extension Policy. How do I make a request for an  extension to an assessment deadline?  

∙ You need to complete and submit the extension form before the deadline date, the form  can be requested from your student support co-ordinator.  

∙ You should describe your reasons for the short extension and if you have any evidence to  support your request submit this with the form to your student support advisor. ∙ The application will be considered and you will be notified by your Institute email  (normally within 24 hours) of the outcome. If the request is approved, you will be given a  new submission date. Providing you hand in your coursework on or before the extension  submission date, you will receive full marks for the work.  

∙ If your application is declined you will need to attempt the assessment otherwise a non submission will be recorded and any resubmission will be capped at 40%.  

How much information do I need to provide for an extension? 

You must include all relevant facts. Your application may be rejected if you fail to complete the  details concerning identification of the module(s) and assessments for which you are making an  application. You must ensure that you provide the specific assessment dates. You must state the  date from which the mitigating circumstances affected your work, and the date that you were  able to resume your normal pattern of study. These dates should correspond with any  information provided in your third-party evidence (if you are able to provide any). You must also  make sure that you explain the impact that these circumstances have had on your performance.  Try to make your submission clear, but concise.  

6.10 Mitigating Circumstances 

Mitigating circumstances are genuine circumstances beyond your control or ability to foresee,  and which impair your assessed work. If your circumstances are such that an extension of up to  seven days would not be sufficient or if you feel that, despite being granted an extension, your  performance in a piece of coursework will be seriously impaired, you may formally submit a  mitigating circumstances application accordance with LEICAD’s Mitigating Circumstances Policy  

If accepted, you will be granted a deferral which means you will be given permission to postpone  submission of your assessment and undertake a new piece of work at the next available  submission period.  

How do I submit a request for mitigating circumstances?

∙ It is recommended you discuss the matter with student support coordinator initially so  that the mitigating circumstances can be reviewed.  

∙ You need to complete and submit the mitigating circumstances form no later than five  working days after the deadline.  

∙ The form should clearly state the dates when your circumstances occurred and which  assessments are affected. You should also describe the mitigating circumstances and how  they have or would impair your performance in the assessment.  

∙ You should also attach supporting third party evidence to the form. (Please see guidance below on acceptable evidence).  

∙ If you are unable to submit your supporting evidence with the form, you will normally  have up to ten days from the original deadline in order to do this.  

∙ Your completed form and evidence should be submitted to a student support  coordinator. This will then be considered by the Student Affairs committee.  ∙ If your application is accepted this will be confirmed to you by email and you will be given  a new submission deadline.  

∙ If your application is declined you will need to attempt the assessment if the deadline has  not passed, otherwise a non-submission will be recorded.  

What evidence do I need to provide with a mitigating circumstances application?  

Requests for mitigation must be accompanied by supporting evidence, normally from an  independent third party. You are advised to keep a copy of any evidence you submit. We realise  that in some cases it may be difficult to do this, however lack of third-party evidence will mean  that your request is unlikely to be granted. Medical evidence must bear the GP’s practice stamp,  and/or be on appropriate letter-headed paper. Please note that some doctors may charge a fee  for providing you with medical certification for over 7 days. We are not liable to pay this fee on  your behalf. Examples of other third-party evidence that might be acceptable in support of  nonmedical circumstances may include:  

∙ A death certificate;  

∙ A letter from a counsellor who you have been seeing;  

∙ A letter from your employer verifying the extenuating circumstances;  ∙ A Police Report and incident number.  

6.11 Failure to Submit 

If you fail to submit your assessment or attend your examination, and have not been granted a  deferral, you will automatically receive a mark of zero. If you are entitled to reattempt the  assessment (i.e. you have a referral opportunity), your next submission must be taken at the next  scheduled assessment period and your grade will be capped at 40% for undergraduate  programmes and at 50% for postgraduate programmes. You will also be required to complete  the new assessment brief for the new assessment period. If you are referred in a module (i.e. you 

do not achieve a pass) you will have one further opportunity to be re-assessed in the module.  Further details on re-assessment can be found under section 6.12 of this handbook.  

6.12 Notification of Assignment Grades and Examination Boards 

LEICAD normally returns marked feedback forms for assignments directly to candidates within  20 working days from the official submission date. For exam modules this will be from the date  the examination paper is received by LEICAD from the centre the examination is sat. You will  receive your provisional grade and assessment feedback from LEICAD via email/elearn.  

All grades must be confirmed by the Examination Board before confirmed grades can be released  to students. Grades are therefore provisional and subject to change until they have been  confirmed by the Examination Board. Where marks have not been confirmed by the Examination  Board, the feedback will indicate this. Examination Boards will consider and confirm students’  progress and final award. Examination Boards are a key part of the quality assurance processes  to ensure that standards are comparable with those of other schemes within the higher  education system.  

The Examination Board is attended by the External Examiner, who will review the work of  students, the marks awarded and the assessment process as a whole before confirming grades.  Examination Boards normally take place in March, June, September and December of each year.  Students will receive notification of confirmed grades within 5 working days of the Examination  Board, except in exceptional circumstances.  

6.13 Re-assessment 

LEICAD operates re-assessment procedures that are designed in compliance with LEICAD’s Regulatory Framework.  

If you are referred in a module (i.e. you do not achieve a pass grade) you will have one further  opportunity to be re-assessed in the module, by reworking the original submission. You will be  automatically registered for this resubmission as per the table below: 

If you fail your resubmission of the assessment, you may be permitted to re-study the module  and to be granted two further re-assessment opportunities. However please note that:  

∙ This is subject to the discretion of the Examination Board  

∙ The option to retake failed modules does not apply to major projects and dissertations

∙ This is subject to the requirements of external or Professional, Statutory and Regulatory  Body (PSRB) accreditation if applicable to your programme.  

If you have no further re-assessment opportunities in a module you will be contacted by your  student support coordinator to discuss your options.  

The maximum grade that can be awarded for any re-assessment including re-taken modules is  capped at 40% for undergraduate programmes and 50% for postgraduate programmes. Marks  achieved for individual assessment elements undertaken on the original take are not carried  forward to the re-take of the module. 

As assessments change at every assessment period, please note that it is your responsibility to  ensure you submit the correct paper. If in doubt, please contact the Student Support Team.  

6.14 Criteria for Classification of LEICAD Awards 

The criteria for LEICAD awards are set out in LEICAD’s Regulatory Framework and outlined below. 

1. The final award is achieved when a student has gained the number of credits required.  An award classification will be calculated as described below. Where a student exceeds  the credits required for a level, the highest marks of any option modules will be taken.  Where APL is awarded the Award mark will be based only on modules actually completed.  A. Pass Awards 

2. All awards comprising fewer than 120 credits and all exit (i.e. not target) awards are pass  awards.  

B. Classification for Certifications with Honours 

3. The minimum credit requirements for each programme are specified in the Programme  Specification which can be found in the programme handbook.  

4. The base class of award will be determined in accordance with the Full Honours  classification scheme, according to the established percentage band equivalents:  

<35% = fail 

 35-39 = pass 

40 - 49% = third class 

50 - 59% = lower second class 

60 - 69% = upper second class 

>70% = first class 

5. In calculating base class, account will be taken of the credit value of each module mark.  The classification will be based on a weighted arithmetic mean of the highest graded 180  credits of which minimum 100 are at Level 6 and the remainder at Level 5. Any grade at  Level 5 or Level 6 which attracted an unfair practice penalty in category must be included 

in the classification calculation as part of the 180 credits total. All major projects must be  included in the calculation.  

6. The classification of final year top-up degrees will be calculated based on a weighted  arithmetic mean of the highest graded 100 credits achieved at Level 6. Any grade at Level  6 which attracted an unfair practice penalty in category must be included in the  classification calculation as part of the 100 credits total. All major projects must be  included in the calculation.  

7. The weighted arithmetic mean used to calculate the classification will be rounded to the  nearest integer.  

8. Students who have failed to reach the standard for the final award may be awarded an  exit award where this is specified in the Programme Document.  

9. Students who are granted module exemptions through Recognition of Prior Learning will  only be eligible for an exit award if at least 50% of the credits required for that exit award  are achieved through LEICAD.  

C. Pass, Merit and Distinction awards 

10. For Postgraduate Awards, the base class for an award will be determined on the following  grade boundaries:  

• 50-59 = Pass  

• 60-69 = Merit  

• 70 and above= Distinction  

11. The classification will be calculated based on the weighted arithmetic mean of all credits  excluding the lowest graded 20 credits.  

12. If a student is exempt from more than 1/3 of credits, then they will not be entitled to a  merit or distinction.  

6.15 Appeals against the decision of the Examination Board 

An appeal is the process by which a student requests that the Examination Board reconsider a  decision or mark awarded, or a decision on Unfair Practice. Appeals will only be considered if  there has been an arithmetical error, irregularities in the assessment process, or if there are  exceptional mitigating circumstances that for good reason could be made known to the  Examination Board prior to the meeting.  

Appeals which question the academic judgement of the marker cannot be accepted. For further  information and details on how to submit an appeal, please refer to the Academic Appeals  Process.  

6.16 Inactivity, Re-registration and Withdrawal 

LEICAD requires all of its students to undertake annual re-registration. Each year on the  anniversary of your enrolment, you will notice that when you log into your elearn account that  you will be asked to confirm your personal details. If you fail to complete the required re enrolment process on elearn when prompted, this will result in you not being able to access your 

elearn study materials. It will also mean that you will not be registered as an active student and  will therefore be unable to continue on your course.  

6.17 Complaints Procedure 

If you have a complaint relating to any aspect of your educational experience, it is recommended  that you contact your student support coordinator in the first instance. Wherever possible, the  Institute would wish to see any complaint resolved as close as possible to its origin, and with a  minimum formality. For full details of the complaints procedure, please refer to the Student  Complaints Procedure.  

6.18 Equality and Diversity LEICAD is committed to providing equal opportunities for staff,  students, applicants and all persons with whom it deals and will not tolerate any discriminatory  behavior with respect to ethnicity, race, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender  identity, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, maternity, age or disability, including  mental health.  

6.19 Student Engagement Policy Introduction 

LEICADis committed to ensuring that the student voice is fully represented in decision making.  This occurs through both feedback and representative activities. Feedback is achieved through  completion of module surveys, annual student surveys (including the National Student Survey for  eligible students), and through engagement on Unify. Modules are reviewed after each time the  module is delivered. Information from these surveys is taken to Course Committees; the Quality  and Standards Committee; and the Academic Board. Students are also provided with contact  details of named staff from LEICAD’s Student Support Team who can deal with specific problems  as and when they arise.  

Representation provides opportunities for students to feed into the wider activities of LEICAD. It  has to be recognized that the distributed nature of the majority of LEICAD’s student body is less  conducive to conventional meetings and that therefore focused use is made of on-line  communications to achieve the desired outcomes. The software platform Unify is provided to  facilitate student representative communications and to enable all students to have their say,  wherever they are located. Additionally, Staff Student Liaison Committees take place every  semester at the campus to discuss issues specific to the Blended Learning mode of study. Blended  Learning student representatives are invited in order to ensure that students have the  opportunity for formal input into the management of the programmes.  

Students will receive details of the student representative process as part of their induction. The  principles outlined by LEICAD and set out below will be adhered to.  

Purpose of Student Representatives 

Student representatives will be required to:  

1. Provide a student voice at all levels of Course management; 

2. Voice problems, suggestions or requests raised by members of the student body;  3. Act as a representative on relevant Course Committees (and/or Staff Student Liaison Committees as appropriate);  

4. feed back to the student body on issues discussed during relevant meetings;  5. Provide student involvement in the planning and development of Courses.  

Course Committee 

The Course Committee provides an opportunity for staff and student representatives to meet  together for discussion and consultation about their programme of study and other matters  relating to the quality of students’ academic experience and will be held at least twice per year  for each Course. Student representative normally attend via online.  

In some cases, where appropriate, multiple Courses will be considered at the same meeting.  Composition:  

The Course Committee will include the student representative(s) and designated members of  LEICAD Academic/Administrative staff.  

A Chairperson and Secretary will be appointed as per the Terms of Reference for Course  Committees. All members will have the right to submit items for inclusion on the agenda and  raise items for discussion. Full minutes should be kept of each meeting including a note on items  requiring action.  

Items for Discussion/Agenda: 

These will include, inter alia:  

1. Discussion of matters raised by students, and matters on which LEICAD wishes to seek  student views;  

2. The outcomes of student evaluation of schemes (via end of module surveys) and LEICAD responses; and  

3. Consideration of proposals for new schemes and any changes to current schemes.  

Academic Board and its sub-committees  

There will be student representation on the Academic Board, the Quality and Standards  Committee, and the Learning and Teaching Committee. Individuals who nominate themselves for  these posts must be existing student representatives from across LEICAD’s courses. Where there  is more than one nomination, representatives for Academic Board, its sub-committees will be  elected by all student representatives. You can see who your Course Representatives are via  Unify, as well as the Learning and Teaching Committee, Quality and Standards Committee and  Academic Board Representatives. Your LEICAD Student President can also be found on Unify. 

6.20 Guidelines for the Selection and Appointment of Student Representatives Why is student representation important?  

Students are a key stakeholder in everything that LEICAD does. Through student representation  LEICAD ensures that the student voice is heard when making decisions about the learning  experience of all students. Representation gives students the opportunity to share their opinion  not only on their programme developments, but also the wider activities of LEICAD.  

The role of the student representative 

Student representatives are members of LEICAD’s Course Committee which meets at least twice  per year to consider programme-related issues. The student representative’s role is to gather  feedback from fellow students on what works well with the programme, areas for improvement  and any concerns to be addressed. LEICAD gives student representatives all the tools to collect  this information effectively. Student representatives will then highlight and present key findings  to LEICAD’s Course Committee for consideration.  

Blended Learning student representatives also have the opportunity to attend on-campus Staff  Student Liaison Committees, held each semester to discuss any campus-specific issues.  

Distance Learning student representatives will have the opportunity to attend on-line Staff  Student Liaison Committees. In addition to this, one student representative will also be made a  member of LEICAD’s Academic Board which again meets every 3 months to make decisions on a  wide range of issues, such as new programmes and also reviews LEICAD’s provision to ensure  that it remains fit for purpose.  

The Quality and Standards Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Academic Board, also  includes an elected student representative in its membership. The Committee’s responsibilities  include developing and monitoring of LEICAD’s policies and procedures, managing changes to  existing programmes and approval of new programmes, and maintaining oversight of the health  of existing programmes, and advising Academic Board of the outcomes.  

One student representative will also be a member of LEICAD’s Learning and Teaching Committee  which meets quarterly to develop the LEICAD Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy.  

What are the benefits of becoming a student representative? 

Becoming a student representative is an opportunity to gain valuable skills that look impressive  on your CV, while networking and engaging with peers and academic tutors. That aside,  becoming a student representative allows you to communicate the important views of your  student community to senior members of staff at LEICAD; ensuring your voices are heard and  changes are made in the right places.  

Making the student representative role a convenient and positive experience for you The good  news is that student representatives normally attend the meetings via online, so location is not 

an issue and there is little inconvenience when participating. You will also have the advantage of  online feedback boards to assist you in collating student views. Being a student representative  can also demonstrate your dedication to learning and ability to work with fellow students and  bring their views to a new audience.  

How student representatives are appointed 

Representatives are elected to represent all students from a programme (or group of  programmes). Any active student can nominate him/herself as a student representative for that  programme when the election period has been announced providing they have at least one  calendar year of their programme remaining. Student Representatives elected to the Academic  Board, Quality and Standards Committee, and Learning and Teaching Committee must be existing  Student Representatives at programme-level. Elections are announced and facilitated using  Unify.  

How you can become part of this 

To be considered for the role of student representative for your programme, you will need to  respond to the call for nominations with a short statement about yourself, why you believe you  will make a good student representative and why students should vote for you. Voting will then  be opened to the student body for a limited period of time using Unify. The student  representative sitting on the Academic Board, the Quality and Standards Committee, and the  Learning and Teaching Committee will be elected by programme-level student representatives,  following a similar nomination and election process.  

How you can contact your current student representative today 

We encourage students to discuss with their student representative any ideas for improvement  or feedback about their programme. You can do this by posting on your course area on Unify (accessible via elearn). You can also express your views about issues raised by your fellow  students in the same way. We will let all students know when the next period of nominations will  be open. We hope you can join the debate!  

OUR CHARTER At LEICAD, we are passionate about supporting people, achieving our best and  inspiring progress.  

To help us support and inspire you to achieve your best, we have created a Charter – it’s a set of  guidelines that we can all follow, highlighting how we can work together to ensure you have a  great learning experience. To ensure you have a great learning experience, we ask that you:  

∙ Treat everyone that works or studies with LEICAD with respect and comply with our  policies and regulations  

∙ Engage positively with your course, your tutors and fellow students to make the most of  the learning opportunities we provide 

∙ Help us understand your motivations, personal schedule and targets so that we can help  you achieve your goals  

∙ Keep your tutors and student support coordinators updated on your progress, how you  are feeling and if you have any concerns that may be holding you back. 

∙ Commit to your studies by attending and taking part in scheduled activities. ∙ Seek help and advice when you need it and make the most of the support available to  you. 

∙ Complete and hand in assessments on time, with diligence and honesty, whether or not  they count towards the final mark and take on board the feedback we provide to help you  succeed. 

∙ Be a ‘LEICAD ambassador’ and promote good, positive behavior at all times  ∙ Tell us what you think by providing helpful feedback through evaluations, surveys and  your student representative.  

To help you have a great learning experience, we will:  

∙ Provide a warm welcome and be respectful and professional at all times  ∙ Continually deliver high quality, engaging teaching and learning opportunities and access  to a wide range of online learning materials  

∙ Publish clear and accurate information about your course and our policies, procedures  and regulations  

∙ Support you on your journey by actively encouraging you to engage with and successfully  complete your course  

∙ Work with you to clarify your career aspirations and give you the tools to achieve your  goals  

∙ Give you helpful and timely feedback on your assessments, offering guidance for  improvement and supporting your development  

∙ Equip you with the resources and academic and pastoral support needed to achieve the  learning outcomes for your course 

∙ Help you develop a set of personal and professional skills over and above your academic  studies as laid out in our ‘graduate attributes’ (explained in your Programme Handbook) ∙ Create opportunities to work with others and network with students from all around the  world  

∙ Boost your employability by building on your transferable skills throughout your studies ∙ Encourage you to develop professional ethics, to strive for equal opportunities and to  value diversity  

∙ Listen and respond to constructive feedback and support you to participate in the  development of the University. 

To help you make the most of your time at LEICAD, your Student Representative Network will:  ∙ Be focussed on and responsive to you, our students and always have your best interests at heart

∙ Encourage you to speak up to help influence and improve the way the Institute develops and is  managed  

∙ Represent your views and interests through the student representative and communicate any  outcomes  

∙ Be open and honest with the Institute and its students  

∙ Encourage interaction with your fellow students from all over the world to enrich your experience  of studying with us  

∙ Ensure you are treated fairly, respectfully and are aware of your rights and responsibilities and  encourage interaction with students from different countries and cultures around the world.