I work at NTU as a Dyslexia Specialist where yes there is a university wide policy. However, it continues to be an extremely thorny issue for the students I work with as lecturers continue to have their 'own preferred way'.

Regards,
Sally Freeman
Dyslexia Specialist

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Colin Bryson
Sent: 25 October 2011 07:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: University-wide referencing systems

This issue brings out the different cultures in universities. At my former university where the power lay in the centre (which is good and bad) there was much stronger emphasis on aligning around one referencing system. Yes it was loosely called Harvard but we had a universal guide issued by the Library which was supplemented but not altered by schools. Ed might update us if this had changed.
However at my present it would be anathema to many academics to do anything but to follow their idiosyncrasy and so we get variation even within the same subject and at least 12 different approaches. There is no central direction at all. As in other aspects the system is supplier led (the staff choose) rather than demand led (what might less confusing and good for the students). Yes there can be virtues in students learning a variety of approaches but it is not good when students might be penalised 15% or more because a particular module leader had their own specific approach - and penalties are idiosyncratic too. This undermines student faith in the fairness of assessment and is a bit of nightmare for those studying multiple subjects...
Colin Bryson
Director of the Combined Honours Centre
Level G Daysh Building
Newcastle University

http://raise-network.ning.com/

0191 222 6389
________________________________________
From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of McMorrow, Martin [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 25 October 2011 04:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: University-wide referencing systems

I'd be interested to know if you do find any institutions which have introduced single referencing systems across the board. I suspect it would be quite rare, given the depth of attachment on the part of different colleges / faculties to specific referencing styles and the tendency to avoid interference in issues of disciplinary knowledge / conventions. It's not a battle that I'd choose to enter into.

Where I work - at Massey University in New Zealand - the College of Business has managed to adopt APA, despite the wide range of disciplines in the College. But other colleges / faculties don't have a general policy across their component schools and overall there is a similar range to that found at Leeds. There is not only variation regarding the standard style, but also variation in how strictly the standard is enforced. Psychology, for instance, is, I think, pretty high in the attachment scale - ie correct referencing / citation matters and it's APA or bust.

I think the main difficulty arises in 'elective' papers which students take outside their major - and with degree subjects that are inherently interdisciplinary. Ideally, there ought to be a bit of leeway - and I think that it often does happen (eg when a business student takes a history paper as an elective, I think, on the whole, they can get away with clunky old APA, rather than the elegant Oxford style favoured by the School of History).

So, I feel that there may be more traction to be gained in terms of implementation - ie transparency, tolerance, consistency (between lecturers / within a school / at a given level of study),

Martin McMorrow
ATLAANZ, New Zealand



-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dan Pullinger
Sent: Friday, 21 October 2011 10:59 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: University-wide referencing systems

*Apologies for cross posting*

Dear All,

My colleague Michelle Schneider and I are interested to hear of any examples of Higher Education institutions adopting a University-wide referencing system for their undergraduates and taught postgraduates.

At the University of Leeds, at least eight different referencing styles are used by different schools across the institution, with many more variants of these styles adopted by individual tutors. There is currently no central responsibility for providing consistent guidance and support for referencing; the level of supporting information provided to students and staff by individual departments varies considerably.

We are considering recommending that Leeds adopts a University-wide referencing system. We'd be grateful to receive any examples of institutions where a similar approach has been adopted, plus any information on the benefits and pitfalls that have subsequently been experienced.

If you're able to help, please email Michelle and myself directly: [log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask]

Many thanks,

Dan

Dan Pullinger
Faculty Team Librarian
(Science and Engineering)
Edward Boyle Library
University of Leeds
LS2 9JT

T (0113) 343 5574
F (0113) 343 5539
W http://library.leeds.ac.uk/people/pullinger-d.htm

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