1736 – Student Conduct
SUMS was asked to: “Undertake a contained comparative study of current practices: policies and process
around student conduct and discipline and bring forward options that might with benefit be adopted by the
University.”
SUMS reviewed the Essex code and compared it to peer universities. It was found that Essex exhibited
good practice regarding student non-academic misconduct, although there were a few areas where practice
could be improved.
1738 – Course Approval - Lean Review
The University of Essex asked SUMS to facilitate a Lean review of the University’s new course approval
process, examining how the process currently operates for new courses and modules: UG, PGT and PGR.
SUMS reviewed the current process and information flow and worked with a wide variety of stakeholders to
map the current process, the key issues and the process variants. The initial mapping of the way the process
currently operates helped to provide an understanding of the complexity of the process and the opportunities
to improve it.
SUMS then worked closely with the University’s Quality & Academic Development team and a wider group
of stakeholders to challenge, appraise and redesign the process to be simpler and more effective. Using the
principles of clearer process stages and gates, we were able to reduce the number of stages, clarify the
purpose of each stage and clarify the roles and responsibilities.
Our proposals for a simpler three-stage process will reduce the time and effort to get new courses approved
– whilst ensuring that each stage provides the right level of challenge, value and development. The proposals
will enable the University to increase the maturity of the process and enable it to deliver a high level of
developmental challenge to new course development and approvals.
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SUMS Consulting Annual Review 2016