Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline (ABCD)
The purpose of the Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline (ABCD) is to give reassurance to the Senate that all students that are admitted to the College are admitted in accordance with the College’s Admissions Policy, and that all students who are awarded an RCA degree have met the required standards for such an award. ABCD is also responsible for the effective discharge of the College’s appeals and student misconduct policies.
Membership 2024/2025
Ex-Officio
- Dr Hala Mansour, Head of Doctoral Programmes
Co-opted
One Dean of Schools:
- Dr Adrian Lahoud, Dean of Architecture (until September 2025)
Heads of Programme/Senior Tutors:
- Dr Mark Campbell, Senior Tutor, Architecture (until January 2027)
- Gary Clough, Head of Programme, Graduate Diploma (until October 2026)
- Dr Chantal Faust, Interim Dean, School of Arts & Humanities (until September 2025)
- Professor Johnny Golding, Senior Research Tutor, School of Arts & Humanities (until May 2026)
- Anne Toomey, Head of Programme, Textiles (until June 2026)
In attendance
- Deputy Registrar (Information Systems)
- Representative of the Student Support Office
Secretary
- Maria Ohlson, Assistant Registrar (Assessments & Visa Compliance)
Terms of office
Representative members of academic staff will serve on the committee for a maximum of three years; their term of office can be extended by a maximum of three years with mutual consent.
Quorum
The quorum is four members, of which two should be academic members of staff.
Terms of reference
The Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline (ABCD) is responsible for:
- Considering proposals for the adoption of policies relating to the recruitment, admission, progression and examination of students, making recommendations to the Senate as appropriate;
- Receiving and considering reports from the Head of Students Admissions on the admission of students, acting on behalf of Senate where appropriate to approve decisions, reporting to Senate annually on the implementation of the College’s Admissions Policy, and considering requests to suspend the policy in exceptional circumstances;
- Receiving and considering reports from School Awarding Boards, approving progression decisions and awards on behalf of Senate, reporting to Senate annually on adherence to the College’s regulations for progression and award, and considering requests for concessions to these regulations in exceptional circumstances.
- Receiving reports from student appeal hearings, reporting to Senate annually on the implementation of the College’s Academic Appeals Policy.
- Receiving reports from student misconduct hearings, reporting to Senate annually on the implementation of the College’s misconduct policies.
- Undertaking such other functions as may be determined by the Senate.
Constitution
Ex-officio
- Academic Registrar
- Head of Doctoral Programmes
Representative
- 1 Dean of School, appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
- 1 Head of Programme/Senior Tutor from each School, other than the School for whom the Dean is the representative, appointed by the relevant Dean
- Other members may be co-opted at the discretion of the Chair.