Since the closure of a programme is primarily a business decision, the authority to initiate the programme closure process lies with the appropriate Faculty Executive group, acting on the advice of the relevant academic Department/School and (if appropriate) with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group. In some cases (e.g. the closure of a partnership which involves more than one Faculty), a closure decision may originate from VCG, who will nominate a PVC/Dean to convene an exit group to take the closure process forward (see 5.3 below). The Recruitment and Admissions Group may also recommend that Faculty Executive Groups consider the future of programmes that have failed to meet targets over a period of time. See also the section on suspension of recruitment in 5.4 below.
However, the Academic Board has ultimate authority for making academic decisions about the University’s portfolio of programmes, and - via its sub-committees: primarily QLIC - it may bring concerns about academic standards or quality to the attention of the relevant Faculty Executive group or to VCG, and ask them to consider whether a programme should be closed. In order to conclude the closure process, the relevant Faculty AESC/QLIC (or, for cross-University provision, University QLIC) must approve the delivery and quality assurance arrangements to be put in place while existing students complete their programme of study.