Degree Board

• Principal lecturer Lotta Saarikoski, chair
• Principal lecturer Ossi Koskinen, vice chair
• Lecturer Kerstin Siegfrids, member
• Principal lecturer Riku Niemistö, vice member
• Secretary Lena Svartsjö
• Presenter and drafts person Head of Student Services,  Juha Vierola (only meetings concerning appeals against student admission or termination of study right)
• Student Ilmari Ohristo, member (VAMOK)
• Student Ida Juolahti, vice member (VAMOK)

 

Regulations of the Degree Board

1 § Degree Board, its tasks and composition

The Universities of Applied Sciences Act (932/2014 § 19) stipulates that a university of applied sciences must have an Degree Board for handling requests for rectification concerning study achievements. The Degree Board of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences also processes appeals referred to in Section 57 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act.

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences has one Degree Board. The Degree Board consists of a chairperson, who must be a  Principal lecturer of the university of applied sciences, and two other members, one of whom is a teacher of the university of applied sciences and the other a student in degree-oriented education. The chairperson and members of the Degree Board, as well as their personal deputy members, are appointed by the board of the university of applied sciences.

The proposal for teacher representatives and their deputy representatives is made by the educational units. The proposal for the student representative and their deputy is made by the board of the Vaasa University of Applied Sciences Student Union.

2 § Processing of rectification requests and decision-making in matters concerning the assessment of study achievements

A student dissatisfied with the assessment of their study achievement or the recognition of studies completed elsewhere or demonstrated competencies may request rectification in writing from the teacher who conducted the assessment and from the person who made the decision on recognition of studies.

Progression of the matter before consideration by the degree board:

The student must submit a written request for rectification of the course grade to the teacher within 14 days from the date on which they had the opportunity to receive the results of the assessment and to become acquainted with the application of assessment criteria to their own case. The student must submit a written request for rectification of recognition of studies to the decision-maker within 14 days from the date of receipt of the decision. (Act 257/2015 § 57.)

The request for rectification must be responded to no later than 14 days from the receipt of the rectification request. The deadline does not expire during free periods. If an agreement is not reached or the student does not receive a response within the deadline to their rectification request, the student informs the Head of Degree Programme in writing.

The Head of Degree Programme acts as an intermediary in the matter and, if necessary, involves the supervisor of the teacher/maker of the recognition decision in the consideration of the matter. The Head of Degree Programme records the dates and contents related to the consideration of the rectification request. If the rectification request concerns the assessment made by the Head of Degree Programme or the recognition decision, the student deals with the supervisor of the Head of Degree Programme.

If the aforementioned process does not lead to a satisfactory outcome for the student, they may seek rectification from the university of applied sciences degree board within 14 days of receiving a written explanation. The rectification request must be submitted to the Student Affairs Office (studyoffice@vamk.fi)  addressed to the Degree Board. The Degree Board considers the matter within 30 days from the receipt of the rectification application, excluding free periods.

The Degree Board meeting notice must be sent at least five working days before the meeting. The chairperson of the Degree Board  convenes the meeting. The meeting is quorate when all three members of the Degree Board or the personal deputy members of the regular members are present.

During the meeting, the Degree Board considers the written rectification application submitted by the student and the written response of the person responsible for the assessment/recognition decision subject to the rectification application. Degree Board members have the right to review all documents under consideration by the Degree Board.

The Degree Board prepares its decision by obtaining opinions and clarifications. If the Degree Board is not unanimous in its decision, the decision is made by a majority vote. A record of the meeting is kept, which is electronically signed by the representatives present at the Degree Board meeting.

There is no appeal against the decision of the Degree Board in matters concerning the assessment of study achievements/recognition decision.

3 § Processing of rectification requests and decision-making in matters concerning student selection and loss of student status

An applicant for admission may demand rectification from the Degree Board regarding the decision on admission within 14 days of receiving notification.

A student may demand rectification from the Degree Board, in accordance with Section 32 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, regarding the decision on the loss of the right to study within 14 days of receiving the decision.

The Degree Board meeting notice must be sent at least five working days before the meeting. The chairperson of the Degree Board convenes the meeting. The meeting is quorate when all three members of the  Degree board or the personal deputy members of the regular members are present.

In matters concerning student selection and loss of the right to study, the Degree Board makes a decision based on the proposal of the Head of Student Services. In these meetings, the secretary of the Degree Board acts as the meeting secretary.

A student may appeal against the decision of the Degree Board concerning student selection or loss of the right to study, in accordance with Section 58 of the Universities of Applied Sciences Act.

4 § Communication, implementation, and archiving

In matters concerning the assessment of study achievements, the chairperson of the Degree board informs the student concerned and the teacher who conducted the assessment of the decision of the board. In addition, the decision is communicated to the supervisor of the relevant teacher for monitoring the implementation of the decision.

In matters concerning student selection and loss of the right to study, the meeting secretary sends the decision of the Degree Board to the appellant and other parties concerned for possible actions.

The Degree board secretary is responsible for the retention of documents during the rectification process. After the rectification process, the minutes are electronically signed. The Degree Board secretary archives the documents in accordance with the archiving instructions of VAMK.

5 § Meeting fees

Meeting fees for students follow the practices of the university of applied sciences.

6 § Entry into force

Changes to the Degree Board regulations are approved by the board of the university of applied sciences. This Degree Board regulations specify the provisions of the degree regulations regarding the operation of the Degree Board.

Degree Board regulations have been approved in PEDA-management board and confirmed by VAMK board of Directors meeting 3/2024.