University of Parma Teaching Regulation

Transcription

1 University of Parma Teaching Regulation ART. 1 - Definitions 1. For the purposes of the present Regulation: a) General Regulation on Autonomy shall mean the Regulation setting out norms concerning teaching autonomy of universities as per Italian ministerial decree (D.M.) no. 509 of 3 rd November 1999; b) Degree Courses shall mean Undergraduate Degree Courses, Post-graduate Degree Courses, Specialisation Courses, PhD Courses and Master Courses as defined in art. 2; c) Academic Degrees shall mean Undergraduate Degrees, Post-graduate Degrees, Specialisation Diplomas, Research Doctorates and Master Courses, as defined in art. 2; d) Ministerial Decree (DM) shall mean any one or more decrees issued pursuant to and in accordance with paragraph 95 of article 17 of Law no. 127 of 15 th May 1997, as amended, and the decrees which define Class of Degree Courses, qualifying educational goals, required educational activities to reach them, the amount of University Educational Credit and discipline area; a) Class of Degree Course shall mean the Degree Courses/programmes, irrespective of how they are called, pursuant to the same educational goals as defined by ministerial decrees; b) Degree Programme Regulations shall mean the Regulations referred to in paragraph 2 of art. 11 of Law no. 341 of 9 th November 1990, and in art. 12 of the General Regulation on Autonomy; c) Degree Course Programme shall mean the body of norms that regulate the curricula of the degree course; d) Discipline groups shall mean the groupings of disciplines set out in Ministerial Decree of 4 th October 2000, as amended; e) Discipline area shall mean a set of discipline groups that are culturally and professionally similar, defined by ministerial decrees; f) University educational credit shall mean the learning workload, including individual study, required of a student (with adequate initial preparation) to acquire the knowledge and abilities in the educational activities envisaged by the degree course; g) Educational goals mean the body of knowledge and abilities that characterise the cultural and professional profile that the degree course is aiming to provide, as defined by ministerial decrees; h) Educational activity means any activity organised or envisaged by the University for the purpose of ensuring the cultural and professional education of the students, including among other things courses taught, seminars, practical or laboratory practices, didactic activity in small student groups, tutorials, orientation, internships, projects, individual study and self-taught activities; i) Curriculum means all the university and extra-university educational activities specified in the Degree Course/Programme Regulations regarded as being necessary for the purposes of awarding the relative qualification. T I T L E I DEGREE COURSES/PROGRAMMES AND TEACHING STRUCTURES ART. 2 Qualifications and Degree Courses/Programmes 1. The University awards the following qualifications: Undergraduate Degree (Laurea), Post-graduate Degree (Laurea Magistrale), Specialisation Degree (Diploma di specializzazione), Research Doctorate (Dottorato di ricerca), Master.

2 2. In order to safeguard freedom of teaching, The University and its Faculties (annex A), organise, coordinate and set out the necessary activities to award the qualification (annex B) in accordance with the law and as defined by the present Regulation. 3. Undergraduate Degree, Post-graduate Degree, Specialisation Degree, Research Doctorate and Masters are awarded at the end of each degree course/programme. 4. Qualifications awarded by the University at the end of Degree Courses/Programmes belonging to the same Class of degree course have the same legal validity. They are named with the same Degree course/programme and with the number corresponding to the Class to which they belong. 5. The type, duration, amount of necessary credits and general criteria for the structural organisation of the various Degree courses/programmes are defined by the laws and ministerial decrees and in particular by the General Regulation on Autonomy, as amended, and are governed by the Teaching Regulations, autonomously approved by the University in accordance with the above-mentioned provisions. 6. Having consulted the University Evaluation Unit, on the basis of an internal evaluation and control system defined by the relevant Regulation, the University Senate revises the list of courses offered at least every three years and verifies the achievement of educational goals for qualification. It is the duty of the University Senate to set off the necessary initiatives to improve the variety of university courses in order to conform to the national and international development of scientific and technological knowledge, considering both social needs and professional qualification requirements. 7. In accordance with the relevant agreements, the University may also award the aforementioned qualifications together with other Italian or foreign Universities. In the application of agreements among Universities, Degree course/programme duration may differ from that stated in paragraph 5 above, in accordance with detailed provisions issued by the European Union. 8. In accordance with the law and with art. 10 of the Regulation herein, the University may provide preparatory or supplementary teaching services aimed at reaching the educational level/standard required by Degree courses/programmes. ART. 3 Teaching Regulations and Degree course programmes 1. The Teaching Regulation of each Degree course governs the related Degree course programme, in accordance with ministerial decrees and particular with art. 12 of the General Regulation on Autonomy, including types and compulsory priorities among courses taught, structural division of curricula and determination of the corresponding credits for each educational activity prescribed by them. The Regulation is proposed by the Boards of the different Degree courses, is deliberated by the Faculty Board in consultation with the University Senate and is issued by the Rector. 2. Each Degree course programme, drawn up in accordance with ministerial decrees, governs the following: a) naming of the Degree course, specification of educational goals and Faculty or Faculties it belongs/refers to; b) list of the institutional educational activities aimed at the acquisition of credits required for the Course, i.e. credits of the taught courses (with specification of the scientificdiscipline area to which they refer), divided for each year and details on compulsory priorities of taught courses and division into modules or teaching types; and other educational activities provided by ministerial decrees; c) methods for carrying out laboratory and practical activities and for traineeships that are required by the curricula; d) recognition of University educational credits of different educational activities divided by year;

3 e) division of curricula that can be obtained within the Degree course and the possibility to elaborate a study plan corresponding to one s own curriculum and the related methods for application; f) compulsory attendance and/or organisation of replacement activities for student-workers or disadvantaged students, possibly providing for supplementary educational distancelearning aids for non-attending or part-time students (in accordance with paragraph h of art. 11 of the General Regulation on Autonomy); g) regulation on the correspondence between University educational credits awarded by the Course and those acquirable from other national university institutions or other institutions within the European Union; h) admission requirements for the degree course and provisions on educational preparatory and supplementary activities instituted to assure satisfaction of the educational needs, in accordance with aforementioned art. 10; i) types and methods regulating final examinations for the awarding of qualifications. ART. 4 Teaching structures 1. The Teaching structures are: a) the Faculties; b) the Degree course programmes, divided into Undergraduate degree courses, Postgraduate degree courses, Specialisation courses, Research doctorates, Master courses. 2. Activities and composition of each teaching structure are regulated by provisions as follows. 3. In accordance with the law and on the basis of appropriate agreements, inter-university teaching structures can be established at each step of the educational path. Pertaining to this kind of teaching structures are degree courses shared with other Italian or foreign universities: inter-university degree course programmes, inter-university specialisation courses (SIS), shared research courses, shared master courses. ART. 5 - Faculties and Faculty Boards 1. From a teaching perspective, the Faculty is the main structure to which the academic staff belong. 2. The Faculty is ruled by a Faculty Board, constituted as defined by the Statute. 3. The Faculty Board, in the carrying out of all assignments which it is entitled to by the Statute, guarantees the coordination and concordance of educational goals among all teaching activities, tutorage and orientation promoted by the Faculty itself and by all operating teaching structures, with the methods provided by the organisational Regulations. In particular, the Faculty institutes, starts and disbands degree course programmes and their related Classes of degree course and approves Regulations on Degree courses, including Degree course programmes. ART. 6 Classes of degree course programme and Class Committees 1. Degree course programmes belonging to the same class may be coordinated by a Class Committee, which is defined by decision of the University Senate. It aims at the concordant organisation of teaching activities concerning the degree course programmes operating within it. 2. The Class Committee has preliminary, propositional and advisory responsibilities with particular reference to: a) institution of degree courses within the Class; b) coordination of curricula planned by its degree courses; c) proposal of experimental or innovative teaching methods;

4 d) proposal of orientation projects for University admission, to be set out in cooperation with Secondary Schools; e) activities as described in the following provisions. 3. Class Committees of Degree courses that belong to the same level and/or consequent levels can be coordinated by one Committee, following to a decision of the University Senate and on the basis of numerical and organisational evaluations. ART. 7 - Degree courses and Degree Course Boards 1. Degree courses that, having passed the final examination, award students with the qualifications defined in paragraph 2 of art. 2, grouped into Classes following the definitions of ministerial decrees, are named after particular denominations that indicate the specific scientific and professional competences, and after the numerical denomination of the Class they belong to. 2. Degree courses can also be started through agreements among several Universities. In this case, Teaching Regulations of Inter-university Degree courses define the appropriate organisational provisions governing their management, as far as teaching is concerned, by assigning, among others, usually to one Faculty or to one degree course among agreed Universities, competence for the enrolment of students and administrative responsibility of the Degree course. 3. Degree courses are governed by the Degree Course Board in the composition stated by the Statute. 4. Degree Course Boards: a) in consultation with the Class Committee, where established, prepare and submit to the Faculty Board they belong to the Degree course programme, including curricula and assignment of credits to each educational activity, in accordance with educational goals for qualification, as defined by the ministerial decree for that Class of Degree course; b) propose specific educational goals for the Degree Course; indicate the appropriate educational pathways to reach such goals and ensure the scientific and organisational consistency among the different curricula proposed by the degree course programme; c) having taken into consideration the relevant Class Committee, where established, define and submit admission requirements for degree courses to the relative Faculty, indicating the educational debit and possibly planning the institution by the Faculty of preliminary and supplementary teaching activities aimed at satisfying the debit; d) ensure the management of the teaching and tutorial activities defined by the degree course programme; e) coordinate teaching activities that are jointly carried out by several members of the academic staff; f) helped by Departments, prepare the students use of technical and scientific instruments that are essential to the carrying out of the educational activities defined by the degree course programme; g) study, in the appropriate forms, a balanced management of the available teaching, particularly by carefully regulating the times and fruition of the structures in order to avoid harmful overlapping of lectures and other educational activities; h) in consultation with Class Committees, where established: approve study plans proposed by students following provisions of the degree course programmes; accomplish all that is linked to mobility/exchange programmes for students and to the recognition of their qualifications, in accordance with articles 21 and 22 hereinafter; evaluate applications to academic years other than the first; assure the correspondence between the official and actual length of degree courses, also ensuring by means of tutorial activities a students outcome to teaching and verifying the

5 learning workload of students with respect to educational goals defined by the degree course programme; define verification methods for credits acquired by students in longer periods than those set out in the degree course programme and decide whether such credits are obsolescent as far as their cultural and professional content is concerned; define recognition methods for University educational credits for non-university educational activities. ART. 8 - Institution, starting and disbandment of teaching structures 1. The University starts or disbands degree courses by means of autonomous decisions following the procedures in accordance with the law in force. 2. The institution of a new Faculty is regulated by the law in force and is conditional to the creation of at least one degree course belonging to it. 3. It is the duty of the interested Faculty/Faculties Board to establish procedures to institute, start and disband degree courses. 4. Should any degree course be disbanded, the University ensures enrolled students the possibility to complete their courses and be awarded the relevant qualifications. Faculty Boards shall take any useful initiatives in order to ensure the mobility and recognition of credits acquired. ART. 9 University educational credits 1. The University educational credit is the unit that measures the workload required of each student in order to gain the knowledge and abilities subscribed by the degree course programmes in order to attain the chosen qualification. 2. The University educational credit, usually abbreviated to credit, in accordance with ministerial decrees, is composed of 25 hours of work per student, including lectures, practical activities, laboratory work, seminars and other educational activities envisaged by the degree course programmes. One credit also includes personal study and other individual educational activities carried out as preparation for exams or to prepare material for other areas of study (such as: thesis, projects, traineeships, language and computer knowledge, etc.), excluding strictly University activities. In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 5 of the General Regulation on Autonomy, the quoted number of hours for a single class may be increased or decreased within a 20% limit at the request of the Faculty and only by ministerial decree. 3. The average annual learning workload of a full-time student is normally set at 60 credits. 4. The credits corresponding to each educational activity are acquired when students pass their exams or any other forms of valid tests provided by the Degree course Regulation, maintaining that ordinary examination marks are shown as a fraction of 30, while final examinations are shown as a fraction of 110, with the possibility of a mention of distinction. 5. Degree course programmes may decide the minimum number of credits to be acquired by students within a certain period of time in order to avoid obsolescence of course work. Various other testing methods can be decided upon for both full-time and part-time students. 6. In accordance with the criteria fixed in cooperation with Class Committees, where established, the Degree Course Regulation may recognise credits and other professional competences and documented skills validly acquired during higher education activities organised in cooperation with the University. 7. In the case of a change or transfer or degree course, the Degree Course Board to which the student enrols is entitled to evaluate the effective achievement of educational goals following the general criteria defined by Class Committees, including those acquired in other disciplines and degree courses from other or overseas Universities.

6 ART. 10 Admission requirements to Degree courses, preparatory work and supplementary educational achievements 1. Recognised degree programme admission requirements and valid overseas qualifications are defined by the law and by ministerial decrees. 2. Degree course programme regulations require adequate initial preparation of each student and, if necessary, define admission tests. For degree courses, admission tests may take place after preliminary educational activities described in the following paragraph. The failure to meet these educational requirements may be defined as educational debit. 3. Degree Course Boards provide for preliminary educational activities within each degree course, to help students satisfy their educational debit. These preliminary educational activities, defined in accordance with general criteria approved by the relevant Class Committees, where established, may be carried out also in cooperation with secondary schools during periods that are favourable for the students. 4. If students fail to satisfy their educational debit, the relevant Board will define additional educational tasks that students have to satisfy within the first year. Additional educational tasks may also be applied to restricted-access course students who were admitted with a lower grade than required. 5. Teaching Regulations for post-graduate courses indicate which degree qualifications are needed in order to be admitted with full credits. Should any educational debits occur, students can satisfy them either by attending individual courses held within the University or by passing an examination, or following specific educational pathways to be successfully completed before testing for the new course programme. ART. 11 The Study Programme ( Manifesto degli Studi ) 1) Every year usually by 31st May, the University publishes its Study Programme for the following academic year including details about: a) Course programmes and the class they belong to; b) University calendar, pre-enrolment procedures, enrolment, registration, shifts and transfers, payment of University fees; no exception is allowed excluding serious reasons, which shall be evaluated and approved by the Rector; c) the number of students which can be admitted to each course, for restricted-access courses; d) dates for admission examinations; e) criteria and methods to assess the required preparation for students enrolling in undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses. 2. For the aforementioned purposes, following proposals from the relevant Degree course, the student educational pathway for the following year is defined annually by the Faculty Boards, normally by 30th April. The Boards also define the necessary elements to prepare the Study Programme and any useful information to help students choose their educational pathway. In particular, indications shall be given concerning: a) recommended study plan based on educational goals; b) compulsory priorities among taught courses; c) credits assigned to each educational activity; d) university calendar; e) dates of examinations or other testing; f) provisions on course attendance. ART. 12 Study plan

7 1. The relevant Boards, in accordance with degree course programmes, define the recommended study plan for each degree course. 2. Students may present their individual study plan, provided that it is consistent with the educational goals of the degree course. The individual study plan shall be approved by the relevant Degree Course Board and requires the adhesion of the student. Students can amend their study plans according to the procedures defined in the course regulation. ART. 13 Course Orientation and tutorage 1. Together with its teaching staff, the University organises course orientation and tutorage in order to support and advise students, to encourage responsible and mature approaches toward their educational choices and to prevent cessation of studies and delays in their educational pathway, and to promote an active participation of students in University life. The above-mentioned support is particularly needed in the three main steps of University life (Faculty choice, educational pathway from enrolment to graduation and access to the labour market). 2. A dedicated University Service, coordinated by the University Commission for Orientation and Tutorage, is responsible for: a) the organisation of study orientation activities for secondary school students, in cooperation with secondary schools; b) ensuring easily-accessible information, preparing guides and other publications concerning educational pathways and University courses together with administrative information regarding University career and useful information on the right to education; c) promoting any useful initiative to help graduate students enter the labour market; d) promoting international exchanges for students and academic staff; e) starting tutorage in order to support students during their educational pathway and in any other initiative, also in cooperation with students associations, which promotes participation in University life; f) assisting foreign students by providing access to Italian language courses; g) supporting students with disabilities. ART. 14 Joint Teaching Committee 1. As stated by the Statute, each Faculty has a Joint Teaching Committee, composed of students and members of the academic staff. The Committee acts as a permanent observatory on teaching activities. 2. Constitution of the Committee and its competences are defined by the Faculty Regulation on Organisation. T I T L E II TYPOLOGY AND REGULATIONS OF DEGREE COURSE PROGRAMMES AND OF TEACHING ACTIVITIES ART. 15 Undergraduate Degree Programmes 1. An undergraduate degree programme aims to provide students with appropriate knowledge of scientific methods and contents, and the acquisition of specialised professional skills. 2. In order to be admitted to an undergraduate degree programme, a secondary school qualification, or other academic qualification awarded abroad and recognised as being equivalent, is required in accordance with the law and by paragraph 4 of art. 22. The Degree Course Regulations may define other admission requirements in accordance with

8 art To obtain an undergraduate degree, students must acquire 180 credits. Official duration of the undergraduate degree programme is three years. ART. 16 Post-graduate Degree programmes 1. The post-graduate degree Programme aims at providing students with a specialised knowledge to perform highly qualified activities in specific sectors. 2. In order to be admitted to a post-graduate degree programme an undergraduate degree, or other qualification awarded abroad and recognised as being equivalent, is required in accordance with the law and with paragraph 4 of art. 22. The Degree Course Regulations may define other admission requirements, in accordance with paragraph 5 of article 10, indicating adequate personal preparation. 3. Exceptions to the above provision may apply only to degree programmes regulated by EU regulations, whose students may not have completed an undergraduate degree course, providing that adequate initial preparation as defined by article 10 of Degree programmes is verified. 4. Notwithstanding the exception outlined in paragraph 3 above, to obtain a Post-graduate degree, students shall acquire 300 credits, including those previously acquired during the undergraduate degree course and/or recognised as being valid in accordance with paragraph 5 of article 10. Official duration of a Post-graduate degree programme is two years after the undergraduate degree. 5. The University may set up Post-graduate degree courses provided that an undergraduate degree course is established where at least one study module assigns appropriate credits, which are recognised as valid, in accordance to the teaching Regulations of Post-graduate degree Programmes, excluding courses described in paragraph 3. ART. 17 Specialisation programmes 1. The Specialisation programme provides students with knowledge and skills for a specific profession and may be established only by specific provisions or directives issued by the European Union. 2. In order to be admitted to a post-graduate course students must hold at least an undergraduate degree or other qualification awarded abroad and recognised as being suitable, in accordance with the law and with paragraph 4 of art. 22. Other specific admission requirements or additional credits may be requested in addition to the qualification already attained. These are specified in paragraph 5 of article 10 of the Teaching Regulations. 3. To obtain a post-graduate degree, students shall acquire credits, including those previously recognised as valid for admission, unless otherwise stated in specific legislation or EU directives. 4. A dedicated Regulation issued by the University Senate governs the organisation and the teaching activities of specialisation programmes. 5. Regional inter-university specialisation courses (SIS) are governed by the relevant Regulations. ART. 18 Research doctorate programmes Research doctorate programmes provide post-graduates with training periods for highly specialised research at Universities as well as in the public and private sector. Research doctorate programmes are governed by the relevant Regulation issued by the University Senate. ART Master course programmes

9 1. Pursuant to paragraph 15 of article 1 of Law no. 4 of 14 th January 1999, the University may start Advanced Training Programmes and Professional or life-long training after the undergraduate degree or the post-graduate degree, by which students obtain a Master degree. 2. Master courses may be first- or second-level degrees. An undergraduate degree is required for admission to a first-level Masters (1 year), and a post-graduate degree for admission the second-level Master course (2 years). 3. To obtain a Masters degree, students have to acquire at least 60 credits, excluding those acquired to obtain the undergraduate or post-graduate degree. The duration of a Masters degree is a minimum of one year. 4. Master courses shall be specifically aimed at meeting an existing labour market requirement at national level. In order to do this, Master course programmes are inspired by flexibility and periodical revision depending on labour market conditions. 5. The University, within inter-university agreements also involving foreign universities, may institute Joint First-Second Masters courses. 6. Masters courses may also be set out in cooperation with public or private bodies. ART. 20 Other teaching activities 1. The University may also promote: a) Advanced Training Programmes; b) Preparatory courses for qualifying examinations or other public competitions; c) Refresher courses and professional training courses; d) Re-training programmes and cultural and educational activities both within the University and externally. ART. 21 Student mobility 1. Students may request a transfer to a different degree course programme established in the University of Parma or a transfer from or to a different University, provided that the required applications are forwarded within the terms defined by the Study Programme. Late applications may be approved by the Rector only if justified. 2. Transfer applications from other Universities or within the same University shall be approved by the relevant Degree Course Boards, that shall evaluate total or partial recognition of examinations and credits, on the basis of general criteria defined by the relevant Class Committee, where established. The Committee shall decide to which course year the student should enrol, and the educational debit, if any, to be satisfied. ART. 22 Recognition of courses attended abroad 1. In accordance with the law in force, the University participates in student exchange programmes agreed among EU Universities (Socrates-Erasmus programmes and other programmes that are the result of bilateral agreements), at any level of the Course programmes. 2. The University promotes student mobility, following the reciprocity principle, by providing host students with teaching resources and tutorial assistance, as defined by paragraph 1 of Programme Regulations, also providing students with organisational and logistic support. 3. Recognition of overseas courses, course attendance verification, examination passes and other testing and of the relative acquisition of credits is ruled by paragraph 1 of Programme Regulations and shall be approved by the relative Degree Course Board. 4. Recognition of qualifications awarded by foreign Universities which serve as admission requirements to degree programmes of the University, including Research doctorate

10 programmes, shall be approved by the University Senate, in consultation with the relative teaching staff. ART. 23 University calendar and lesson timetable 1. Lectures usually commence on 1 st October and conclude on 15 th June. 2. The University calendar is approved by each Faculty, after proposal of the relevant Degree course Board, in accordance with general parameters defined by the University Senate. 3. The calendar may provide for the division of the academic year into teaching terms (semesters, four-month periods) and for the non-overlapping of teaching terms with examination terms. 4. The Joint Teaching Committee, described in aforementioned article 14, is entitled to express opinions on the general teaching planning established annually by the Faculty. 5. The course timetable is issued by the Dean, after approval of the Faculty Board. ART. 24 Division and organisation of the teaching activity 1. Teaching activity shall mean lectures, practical activities, seminars and laboratory activities and any other on site practice. 2. Teaching activities are carried out in accordance with the regulations of each teaching units, following the principle of freedom of teaching, and with methods and conditions that promote the right to fruitful study. 3. Teaching activities and traineeships can be carried out also in agreed public and private organisations, after approval of the relevant Degree Course Boards. 4. Within the frame of European programmes for student exchange and inter-university cooperation or university-industry cooperation projects, the University promotes internships and periods of study. 5. Official courses can be mono-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary and can be divided into modules. These conclude with a single examination. Official courses can be shared between Faculties, on the basis of mutual agreements. 6. Excluding specific courses defined by each teaching regulation, the minimum duration of courses shall be: 60 hours for annual courses and 30 hours for six-month courses. Course division and duration are defined by the Faculty Board, after proposal of the relevant Degree Course Board, following the decisions taken about educational credits. 7. Every year, by 30 th April, the Faculty Boards inform the University Senate on course allocations and which courses will require supply teaching staff for the following year. 8. Course allocations and supply teaching will be remunerated in proportion to the quantity of teaching hours required, within the limits provided for by the current legislation concerning annual funding as decided by the University Senate. Remuneration for the above-mentioned courses is strictly conditional to exceeding the total hours contracted with teaching staff. It is however possible to take a non-paid teaching post independently of any fixed time limits. 9. Official or supplementary teaching posts can be assigned to experts and highly specialised professionals by contract, following the provisions defined by the dedicated Regulation. ART. 25 Testing and final examinations 1. It is the duty of the Faculty Board, following the proposal of the relevant Degree Course Board, to define credit-awarding examinations and final examination procedures. 2. Only enrolled students may be admitted to examinations. 3. Within each exam session, students can sit as many examinations as they are entitled to through course attendance, in line with degree course programme regulation.

11 4. By passing examinations or other testing, students acquire the established educational credits. 5. Committees for credit-awarding examinations are appointed by the Faculty Dean and chaired by the official professor in charge of the course or, if established, by the course coordinator. Members of academic staff belonging to a similar or the scientific field, or, when necessary, post-graduate students so appointed by the Faculty Board, following fixed criteria may qualify for membership of a Committee. Committees operate with a minimum of at least two members, one of them being the official professor of the course the Committee refers to. If necessary, more than one Committee can simultaneously be working on the same credit-awarding examination, each being chaired by a professor belonging to the same or similar discipline. The President of the Committee records examinations and their results. 6. Results of one examination are expressed as a fraction of 30. In order to pass an examination, a minimum of 18/30 is required. The Committee may unanimously decide for a mention of distinction (lode). 7. The Dean prepares a timetable for credit-awarding examination, in accordance with provisions of the Faculty Regulation on Organisation. 8. Each course provides students with at least six dates, distributed during the academic year, in which they can sit examinations. 9. Committees for the final examinations and their Presidents are appointed by the Rector, following proposal by the Faculty Dean. Committees are composed of 7-11 members with a majority of professors and researchers of the University. 10. Results of final examinations are expressed as a fraction of 110. In order to pass the final examination, a minimum of 66/110 is required. A mention of distinction (lode) can be awarded unanimously by the Committee. The Committee can also unanimously propose a mention of honour (menzione d onore) as well as the publication of the thesis. 11. Credit-awarding oral examinations and final examinations are public. 12. By initiative of the Faculty, which decides with a majority of 2/3 of those entitled to vote, the Rector may propose to the Ministry of University and Scientific Research (MURST) the awarding of a honoris causa degree to eminent personalities for scientific or professional merits in discipline areas of the Faculty. ART. 26 Institutional duties of the academic staff 1. In accordance with the law, Professors and Researchers carry out their teaching tasks through teaching activities to enable students to attain educational goals. 2. Within the annual planning the teaching structures divide teaching-educational activities, including tutorage, in order to ensure the full employment of academic staff and an equal distribution of teaching workload. 3. The academic staff perform their activities on three different days per week; teaching structures may organise various teaching staff, with good reason, according to teaching unit and other organisational requirements. 4. The Dean supervises all teaching activities. 5. Any discontinuance in the teaching activity shall be reported to the Dean, who may inform students appropriately. 6. Professors must guarantee an appropriate presence for tutorage and student assistance throughout the academic year, irrespectively of temporal planning of their courses. 7. Members of the academic staff must participate in the Faculty Boards and in any other body they are members of. 8. Each member of academic staff must record the daily content of lectures and exercises on Registers in electronic format, including activities performed by teaching staff other than the official professor. The Register shall also contain any other teaching, educational or

12 institutional activity. The Register may be inspected throughout the year by the Dean or by the Rector and shall be submitted to the Dean s offices at the end of the year. ART. 27 Testing of teaching activity 1. The Deans prepare an annual report on teaching activities and on the State of the Faculty. The report, approved by the Faculty Boards, is passed on by the Rector to the University Senate, to the Student Council and to the Evaluation Unit. 2. In consultation with the Evaluation Unit, the University Senate periodically defines quality control parameters to assess functionality and effectiveness of teaching. 3. Educational staff periodically gather data concerning the evaluation of teaching by means of questionnaires distributed to the students. ART. 28 Promotion and advertising of courses offered 1. Courses offered are made available to the public. The University periodically revises ways and means to promote and publicise courses offered, to make available information about organisational procedures and relevant decisions, timetables, examination dates and professors and researchers open forums. 2. Students are informed about the structures and the teaching staff in charge of each course. 3. Content and timetables, deadlines and other activities organised by the Faculty (such as forums, timetables of the courses, timetables of credit-awarding examinations and of other tests and timetables of final examinations and all related deadlines) are announced by the Deans by means of appropriate notice boards or other. 4. Publication of the Faculty Study Programme, within the fixed terms, is the responsibility of the appointed structures. 5. The Student Registry Office is responsible for the publication of a student s practical guide containing useful information on administrative enrolment and registration procedures to courses. 6. The University Service, defined by article 13 above, is responsible for the publication of a University Services Guide aimed at welcoming students in the University organisation. T I T L E III STUDENTS RIGHTS AND DUTIES ART. 29 Enrolment and attendance to degree course programmes 1. Enrolment and registration procedures are indicated, together with the necessary requirements, University fees and documents, in the Study Programme defined by article 11 above, and in other informative and promotional publications of the University. 2. It is forbidden for students to enrol simultaneously in more than one degree programme at a time. 3. It is possible to apply for temporary suspension of one s academic pathway during attendance of other courses in this or in another University. 4. The University, following the proposal of the Boards of the teaching structures, can permit enrolment of part-time students, defining the number of admissible students and any reductions in fees and contributions. 5. Students who enrol for the first time to a degree course year are called in corso (or in line with course timing). Fuori corso (or those who are behind in the course schedule) students shall mean students who attended all courses but did not pass all examinations, therefore did not acquire necessary educational credits. Students, who by the end of the academic year did not achieve attendance or did not pass compulsory examinations for

13 that year, enrol again to the same year as repeating students. The student can request enrolment as repeating student. 6. Students failing to sit any examination for eight years lose the right to have their studies recognised. Educational credits acquired during University are indicated in the termination declaration for future evaluation purposes. 7. Italian citizens, holding an undergraduate or post-graduate degree or not, and students of degree programmes in foreign Universities, can enrol into any courses at any level of a degree programme, providing they pay the fees defined by the relevant University Bodies. They may also be authorised by the Student Registry Office to take the necessary examinations, and obtain the relevant qualification which can be used for professional purposes or in public competitions where cultural and scientific or advanced training is required. ART. 30 Codes of Conduct 1. The University staff and students are encouraged to foster, by conduct, the correct performance of university activities and good community spirit. Disciplinary actions shall be taken for staff and students who behave in such a manner as to hinder normal University activity and will be subject to disciplinary procedures, as follows: a) reprimand; b) temporary suspension from one or more courses or credit-awarding examinations or final examinations; c) temporary suspension from University programmes. 2. The Faculty Board of the Faculty in which the student is enrolled, at the proposal of the relevant Degree Course Board, commences disciplinary proceedings by means of a written notification of the facts and recording the student s response. The Faculty Board proposes justified disciplinary action to the University Senate which takes a decision having taken into consideration the student s version of the facts. 3. The Rector executes disciplinary sanctions. T I T L E IV TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS ART. 31 Annexes and approval of the Degree Programme Regulation 1. The list of Educational Degree Programme Regulations in force within the University are attached to the University Teaching Regulation. 2. The present Regulation, including all attachments, is decided by the University Senate and approved by the Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research, having consulted the Consiglio Universitario Nazionale (or National Council of Universities) and having ascertained the consistency of Programme Regulations with the requisites described by Ministerial Decrees, within 180 days from its receipt. Should the Minister fail to pronounce his/her judgement within the given time, the Regulation is deemed to be approved. 3. Following the Minister s approval, the Regulation is issued by rectorial decree and comes into force, after amendments to the University Statute published in the Official Journal (Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana) no. 103 of 4 th May 2000, for the academic year All regulatory provisions in conflict with the Statute are annulled with immediate effect when the Statute comes into force. 5. All matters not covered by the present Regulation are governed by the relative legislative provisions.

14 ART. 32 Amendments to the Degree Programme Regulation 1. Amendments to the present Degree Programme Regulation are decided by the University Senate, at the proposal of the Faculty Boards or of other relevant bodies, and are issued by rectorial decree in accordance with the executive procedures provided by the law. 2. Amendments as above are valid starting from the year following their issue. ART. 33 Transitional provisions 1. The University guarantees completion of Degree courses (annex C) started in the academic year and will issue all qualifications, in accordance with degree programme regulations already in force, to enrolled students at the coming into force of the present degree programme regulation. 2. Faculty Boards guarantee and regulate procedures to transform existing degree programmes into credits, therefore giving students the opportunity to opt for enrolment to newly-established undergraduate or post-graduate degree courses regulated by provisions of the present Regulation and which are considered to directly substitute the pre-existing ones to which those students are enrolled. 3. The above-mentioned options concerning degree courses which are considered nondirectly substituting pre-existing ones are to be considered as transfer applications and shall be regulated by paragraph 2 of article Educational pathways taken to obtain University Diplomas, as defined by pre-existing degree programme Regulations, shall be quantified in credits and be recognised in order to obtain degrees defined by the present Regulation. The same provision applies to educational pathways taken to obtain Diplomas in Technical Undergraduate Schools (Scuole dirette a fini speciali) irrespectively of duration.