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Academic Quality and Partnerships

Portfolio Approval Sub-Committee - Information and Template Paperwork

Portfolio Approval Sub-Committee

The authority to approve new courses and pathways, to withdraw or suspend courses or pathways, or to change the title of an award, resides with the University’s Portfolio Approval Sub-Committee (PASC).

PASC meets once a month, with papers usually due to be submitted to the PASC Secretary at least 7 working days prior to the Committee meeting. For full details of when PASC is meeting in AY2024-25, please consult the University's Committee Timetable. Further information regarding the processes and the relevant paperwork for each type of proposal are included in the below sections.

Before submitting your proposal to PASC, please consult the Committee's Schedule of Business, which details which proposals will be considered during each meeting of PASC:

For any questions, please contact the PASC Secretary, Amanda Bolt, on a.m.bolt@sussex.ac.uk

New Course Approval

The New Course Approval process a two-stage process that ensures that a proposal is a strategic fit for the University and for the Faculty, whilst affirming that the proposal will provide value for money to both students and to the University, that it is of the appropriate academic quality, and that it complies with University policy.

Please note that BSMS proposals follow a different process. Please consult the PAC Secretary for guidance. 

New Pathway and Major/Minor Proposals

Proposals for new Pathways and new Major/Minor courses should be completed, approved via Faculty Education Committee, and forwarded to the Secretary of PASC for consideration and approval by the Committee. The Portfolio Approval Sub-Committee has authority to approve new pathways and new Major/Minor degrees arising from the combination of 90-credit pathways with single honours courses. 

The form to be used for a new Major/Minor entry route requests details of the course which will form the major element, the pathway that will form the minor element, together with a rationale for why a specified entry title can be justified for the proposed combination. If the 90-credit pathway is being proposed at the same time as the major/minor degree, a copy of the pathway proposal should be appended to the Major/Minor pro forma.

Proposal forms are listed below:

Course or Pathway Title Changes

Proposals seeking to change the title of a course or pathway should be submitted to the Secretary of PASC on the below form. Schools are required to specify proposed timescales for course title changes and should note that changes are unlikely to be approved for implementation in the middle of a recruitment cycle, where there would be a disruptive impact on existing applicants. Schools should contact the Admissions Office to discuss the likely operational impact of any proposed title change. 

Course or Pathway Withdrawals or Suspensions

A request to withdraw a course or pathway should, in the first instance, be made to the first possible meeting of FEC. Schools may consult the Admissions Office to discuss the likely impact of any proposal to withdraw or suspend a course.

Once approval from FEC has been received, the School should submit the proposal form to PASC. PASC will determine whether the withdrawal is in the University’s interests. It is important that Schools appreciate that withdrawal of an undergraduate course in the middle of an applications cycle is not permissible. Therefore, Schools should propose withdrawals for the first appropriate year unaffected by the current applications cycle.

Proposals for withdrawal or suspension should be submitted to the Secretary of PASC on the below forms:

 

Change of Mode of Study

A request to make a change to the mode of study of a course should, in the first instance, be made to the first possible meeting of FEC. Schools may consult the Admissions Office to discuss the likely impact of any additions or changes to full and part-time modes.

Once approval from FEC has been received, the School should submit the proposal form to PASC. PASC will determine whether the change is in the University’s interests. It is important that Schools appreciate that changes to undergraduate course in the middle of an applications cycle is not permissible. Therefore, Schools should propose changes for the first appropriate year unaffected by the current applications cycle.

Proposals for changes to modes of study should be submitted to the Secretary of PASC on the below form: