The Manchester protocols
The protocols will be used to determine whether a specific role, activity, or achievement can be included in the Higher Education Achievement Report.
When considering these protocols the following key points should be borne in mind:
- These protocols do not apply to activity that takes place with the credit-bearing curriculum. All credit-bearing activity will be recorded in the normal way through the academic transcript. The academic transcript will form part of the HEAR document but will also be a stand-alone document.
- These protocols will normally be applied to activity that takes place outside the academic school in which a student studies.
- These activities will be recorded in Campus Solutions.
- A committee will be established and will meet annually to monitor the activities included in the HEAR and approve new activities for inclusion according to the protocols, and will agree any changes to the protocols, the format of the HEAR or the core textual elements used for all students.
- For simplicity, in this document, the word 'activity' will be used for all activities, roles and achievements that might be included in this section of the HEAR.
Protocols for inclusion of non-credit bearing achievements
1. The activity supports wider University policy and strategy.
2. The activity is verifiable and is endorsed by the University.
3. The activity is University wide and the process for accessing the activity is clear and transparent.
4. The activity is not directly part of the academic credit-bearing curriculum.
5. The activity is not formal employment by the University or a third party.
6. We verify participation in the activity, but not performance or quality of engagement.
7. The activity is defined by regulation.
8. The activity supports a University process, and is normally determined by election or nomination
All activities must meet Protocols 1 to 5 and at least one of Protocols 6, 7 or 8.
In the context of Protocol 3, 'University wide' should be taken to mean that the activity is available in a range of disciplines, in all Faculties, but that does not necessarily mean that all students automatically have the opportunity to engage in this activity.
Protocol 6 may be revised at a future point should a 'smart' version of the HEAR be developed with the capacity to measure and record the quality of engagement with an activity. For some activities the committee may specify a threshold level of engagement in relation to Protocol 6. For example, it may be determined that for volunteering to be a verifiable and substantive activity, at least ten hours must have been completed.
Protocols 7 and 8 refer in the main to prizes and awards, and representation of students respectively.
Other criteria
An activity can only be included if it is undertaken and recorded in time for the last day for data entry to Campus Solutions before the graduation congregation.
Posts held after graduation cannot be included. For example, students undertaking a full- or part-time role as a UMSU sabbatical officer during their studies, or though a formal interruption of their studies, may have their activity recorded. Students undertaking such roles after the completion of their undergraduate programme of study will not have this activity recorded.
Activities that attract only nominal payment (student ambassadors, peer support coordinators etc) should not be excluded under Protocol 5. Activities that attract substantial reward (CEEBL student interns etc) should be excluded as this would be considered employment rather than volunteering in the University community.