DIPLOMA’S WITH DISTINCTION
Top students taking our Digital Media (Advanced), Animation (Advanced) or Digital Filmmaking (Advanced) diplomas are able to gain a diploma ‘with distinction’ if they achieve consistently high grades during their programme. But in the other diplomas, which don’t use grades, there has never been a way to recognise these students. Thankfully, that situation is about to change. The College National Management Board recently approved a proposal from the Curriculum Team to also have ‘distinction’ awards for diploma programmes that don’t award grades. This new system will be put in place for classes starting in 2012.
Tutors, in consultation with Heads of Department (HODs), will be able to nominate students for distinction awards if they meet the following criteria. Throughout their programme they must:
- Consistently present work of an exceptional standard.
- Maintain an excellent attendance record (any absences should be for legitimate reasons only).
- Consistently meet deadlines, and never submit incomplete work just to ensure a deadline is met.
- Consistently display a high level of professional behaviour. Evidence of this might include a strong and consistent work ethic, always showing a willingness to learn, contributing constructively to group activities, showing initiative and adaptability, always showing respect for others, and having an attitude that positively contributes to the class environment. The student would be someone the tutor would recommend to a prospective employer without any hesitation.
Nominations must be sent to the relevant National Course Manager (NCM) at least three weeks before the end of the course. The NCM will then arrange for HODs at the other campuses to review each nominated student’s work and decide if it is of a high enough quality to warrant a distinction award. If opinions differ the NCM will make the final decision.
Diplomas with Distinction are intended to be difficult to achieve. They are only likely to be awarded to perhaps one or two students in a class, if that. Some classes may not have any students worthy of the award. We expect this new system to provide an additional incentive for students and encourage them to put in the extra effort required to produce outstanding work, well beyond the minimum standards required for the diplomas.
Successful students will have their achievement recorded on their diploma certificate and also on their transcript.
