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  1. Upcoming Deadlines and Dates
  2. Durham University Board of Examiners (Overarching)
  3. Conversion of Marks
  4. Durham IT accounts for new staff
  5. Staffing Updates
  6. Common Awards Student Guide 2024/25
  7. Further Information

1. Upcoming Deadlines and Dates

2nd August - TEIs to submit their updated T9: Staff CV Summary Table - please ensure you download the latest version of the form from this page.

2nd August - Deadline: TEIs to submit Common Awards Management Committee membership lists and quoracy arrangements, as well as dates for upcoming CAMCs.

2nd August - Deadline: TEIs to submit Common Awards policies, to include the following:

  • Admissions
  • Accreditation of Prior Learning
  • Academic Progress Notice
  • Academic misconduct
  • Complaints and Appeals
  • Overlength work
  • Placements
  • Research Ethics (and misconduct)

23rd August - Deadline: CIS new account request closes for staff starting at the beginning of the academic year

3rd September - DU Overarching Board of Examiners (Summer)

2. Board of Examiners (Overarching)

In preparation for upcoming TEI Boards of Examiners meetings, please see below for the list of documentation/data reports required by the University following each Board:

  • confirmed module marks for completing students registered on Common Awards programmes (see our guidance on submitting module marks) within 48 hours - report V4 DU - Marks List - 48hr in Moodle;
  • Moodle marksheets for students recommended to the Overarching Board of Examiners within 48 hours;
  • outcomes of the scrutiny of SACs applications (see our guidance on SACs on the website for more information);
  • minutes of TEI Boards of Examiners within 2 weeks of the date of the meeting - please use the agenda and minutes templates Templates and Forms page.  

Confirmed module marks for continuing students (Moodle report V4 January marks ALL Boards) should be returned in January 2025, following all TEI Boards.

Winter Graduation will take place on Thursday 9 January 2025

3. Conversion of Marks

Ahead of the Board of Examiners, we would like to remind TEIs of the principles surrounding the conversion of marks.

Some assignments, like language tests, might produce quantitative scores. Those scores are not the marks for that assignment. In principle, they will always need to go through some process of conversion – where conversion involves making qualitative judgments about what is meant by different levels of achievement in a quantitatively scored test, and then translating those qualitative judgments into numerical marks in the normal way. 

Further information on Converting Test Scores into Marks is available on our website.

4. Durham IT accounts for new staff

Information has been sent to TEI key contacts regarding how staff new to Common Awards, or those without an account, can apply for one.  New accounts will be activated from 1st September 2024 and not before this date.

Details of each TEI key contact can be found here Contact Details - Durham University

5. Staffing Updates

  • Teaching Fellow in Theology and Ministry Post (Maternity cover):

As Dr Emily Kempson will be going on maternity leave early in the next academic year, we are currently advertising for a Teaching Fellow in Theology and Ministry to cover Emily’s leave. We would be grateful if the details could be shared with colleagues.

The post is available from October 2024 to September 2025. Please note that although 'Teaching Fellow' is the standard terminology for a post of this kind in the university, this post does not involve a substantial teaching component. The appointee will help to plan and deliver Common Awards events, contribute to policy discussions, and support us in our work with theological education institutions.

The closing date is 11 August; further information and details of how to apply can be found at the following link: Job Description - Teaching Fellow in Theology and Ministry (24001211) (taleo.net)

  • Please note that the Common Awards team may be less responsive than usual during August whilst a number of staff members take annual leave.

6. Common Awards Student Guide 2024/25

Last year the Common Awards Team introduced a ‘Welcome to Durham University’ Student Guide, this has now been updated for 2024/25 and attached to the Bulletin email. 

The guide was created in response to the Common Awards Student Survey feedback, to help improve students’ understanding of the Common Awards partnership, the relationship between their TEI and the University, the role of the University in their time as a Common Awards student, and any key information they may find useful. The guide is intended to complement induction information already shared by TEIs.

We would be grateful if you could make the Guide available to your students. Whilst it has been written as an introduction to Common Awards, it may still be useful for your continuing students as well as 2024/25 new starters.

7. Further Information

The full 2024/25 calendar is available here.

With thanks,

The Common Awards Team