Cross-Faculty Approval Panels (CFAPs) constitute stage three of the University’s new programme approvals process. They are an important step for assuring both the quality of Lancaster’s taught provision, and the alignment of programme designs to the principles of the Education Framework.
Over the coming months the University will be convening multiple CFAPs to enable the scrutiny of an entirely redesigned LU programme portfolio. As such, expressions of interest for panel Chairs, Members and Secretaries are now being sought to support this process.
CFAP membership will be of relevance to those with an interest in educational quality and enhancement, concern for the student experience, or who may be involved now or in the future in curriculum design and development.
Information about the roles of CFAP Chair, Member and Secretary can be found below. It is expected that colleagues will be able to broadly meet the role expectations for panel membership. Colleagues should also, ideally, be willing to participate in 3-4 panels across May – September 2025.
Training will be provided for Chairs and Secretaries, and briefing information for panel members.
Please register your interest by completing this short Online Form
Please note, any applications submitted after 25th April will not be considered at the next Institutional Approval Panel (IAP), however may be considered at a later IAP.
CFAP PANEL CHAIR
Role Descriptor for Panel Chair
- To chair Cross-Faculty Approval Panels (CFAPs) as requested by Academic Quality, Standards and Conduct (AQSC), including setting any necessary conditions, recommendations and commendations.
- To read and scrutinize programme and module submissions to the CFAP and Panel members’ comments on those documents.
- To handle all post-meeting actions, including:
- Approval of meeting record, including final wording of any conditions or recommendations set;
- Reviewing and signing off responses to any conditions or recommendations.
Person Specification for Panel Chair
- To be enthusiastic and informed about enhancement of teaching, learning and assessment at Lancaster University.
- To have experience developing and/or delivering modules and programmes at Lancaster University, ideally including quality assurance dimensions (e.g. Annual Programme Review).
- Ideally, to have experience reviewing course or module proposals via an approval or validation panel or through teaching committee scrutiny.
- To be familiar with the Curriculum Transformation Programme, its key principles and aims.
- To be familiar with all aspects of the Education Framework.
- To be familiar with key external quality assurance reference points (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, QAA subject benchmarks, OfS quality (“B”) conditions of registration).
- To be familiar with Lancaster University’s academic regulations.
CFAP PANEL MEMBER
Role Descriptor for Panel Member
- To participate in Cross-Faculty Approval Panels (CFAPs) as requested by AQSC
- To read and scrutinize programme and module submissions to the CFAP and Panel members’ comments on those documents.
- To participate as required in post-meeting actions:
- Where necessary, reviewing meeting record, including final wording of any conditions, recommendations or commendations set;
- Where necessary, reviewing responses to any conditions or recommendations.
Person Specification for Panel Member
- To be enthusiastic and informed about enhancement of teaching, learning and assessment at Lancaster University.
- If an academic, to have experience delivering modules and programmes at Lancaster University, and if not, to be familiar with module/programme delivery at Lancaster University.
- Ideally, to have experience reviewing course or module proposals via an approval or validation panel or through teaching committee scrutiny.
- To be familiar with the Curriculum Transformation Programme, its key principles and aims.
- To be familiar with all aspects of the Education Framework.
- To be familiar with key external quality assurance reference points (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, QAA subject benchmarks, OfS quality (“B”) conditions of registration).
- To be familiar with Lancaster University’s academic regulations as they pertain to teaching and learning.
CFAP PANEL SECRETARY
NB. the Secretary to the Panel is also a full member of the Panel.
Role Descriptor for Panel Secretary
- To participate in Cross-Faculty Approval Panels (CFAPs) as requested by AQSC
- To read and assess programme and module submissions to the CFAP and other Panel members’ comments on those documents.
- To support the Chair in creating an agenda for the CFAP, taking into account the questions panel members have submitted to the Chair in advance of the event.
- To keep an accurate summary record of the meeting. For the purposes of CTP this means employing the meeting record template provided to record attendance at the meeting, agreed outcomes of the meeting, including all commendations, conditions and recommendations set by the Panel and due dates for amendments, and recording the meeting via the transcript function in Teams.
- To support the Chair in resolving post-meeting actions, where necessary, reviewing and enabling the Chair to sign-off responses to any conditions or recommendations set by the Panel.
Person Specification for Panel Secretary
- To be enthusiastic and informed about teaching, learning and assessment at LU.
- To have experience organising meetings, minute-taking, record keeping and acting in a secretarial capacity for committees or groups.
- To be competent in the use of MS Teams other MS Office programmes and standard University digital processes and systems.
- To be familiar with the Curriculum Transformation Programme, its key principles and aims.
- To be familiar with the Education Framework.
- To be familiar with LU academic regulations.
