In March 2024, The Open University published the Conditions of Registration for Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) 2024/2025 for the first time. There were several significant changes from the previous version of this document (Conditions of Registration for Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) 2022/23 and 2023/24).
a) The “Alternative format of the Conditions of Registration for DHEP” section has been moved to the start of the document.
b) The “What these Conditions do not cover” section has been condensed.
c) The Open University’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion commitment statement and information about Safe Space Reporting has been added to Section C and to the end of this document.
d) The Student Charter Values paragraph has been revised for conciseness.
e) Throughout this document we have used the word DHEP to reference both the programme and the Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (V21) qualification.
f) The summary of the main terms of this contract section has been removed.
g) References to ‘Employer’ or ‘Police Force’ have been changed to ‘Employer Police Force’ for consistency.
h) Clarification that you are responsible for completing the Registration Agreement and your Employer Police Forces is responsible for returning the Registration Agreement to the Open University, in Clause A1.1.
i) Clarification that the Conditions take priority if an Open University employee or agent has said something inconsistent either in writing or verbally, in Clause A1.1c.
j) For clarity, Section A3 has been split into 3 subsections, covering Health and Safety, Safeguarding duty and Prevent duty.
k) Wording in Clause A3.1 “Health and Safety” has been amended without changing the message.
l) Clarification that relevant information, relating to Prevent, can be shared with external parties for example the Police and Channel in Clause A3.3.
m) Section A3 has incorporated information about Safeguarding Duty and Prevent Duty, previously located in Section G, for clarity and conciseness.
n) Addition of Clause A4.2 containing residency information as the “Residence Requirements” section has been removed.
o) Clarification in sections A5 “Personal information” and G2 “By email” that the Employer Police Force Provided Identities will be used as your primary contact details.
p) The Open University will keep records of your academic progress which has been reflected in Clause A5.1.
q) Clause A5.2 has been updated to include reference to The Open University’s Retention Policy.
r) The Open University use and process your personal information created as a result of your study, as detailed in Clause A5.2.
s) You must notify without delay of changes or errors to your contact details (Clause A5.3).
t) The Student Protection Plan has been referenced in section A6 “Our right to make changes”.
u) Additional information in Clauses A6.2 and A6.4 about how The Open University will communicate with you and support you if there is industrial action.
v) If you wish to defer your DHEP and associated modules, you will be asked to sign a deferral withdrawal form as noted in Clause A7.3.
w) Clause A8.2 has been updated to highlight that a Welsh language version of the Welsh Language Standards Complaints procedure is available.
x) If the Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (V21) qualification is withdrawn under circumstances in Clause A9.3, it may also impact your ability to continue in employment with your Employer Police Force.
y) Section C1 has been reordered into what The Open University agrees to and what you agree to, for clarity.
z) Section C1 “Registration and enrolment on a module” has incorporated information about Student Discipline, Academic Misconduct and Fitness to Study previously located in Section A, for clarity and conciseness.
aa) Addition of Clause C1.1f referencing the College of Policing Code of Ethics and the Fitness to Practice Procedure.
bb) Addition of information in Section C4 “Telling us about a disability”, about The Open University sharing disability information with your Employer Police Force.
cc) Revised wording in Section C4 “Telling us about a disability”.
dd) Section C6 “Students living in Wales” has been updated with a link to the Language Preferences form.
ee) Addition of Clause C7.4 which was previously in C2.
ff) References to the Code of Practice for Student Assessment have been removed. This document is being decommissioned from the Student Policy and Regulations website. The information will be incorporated into the Assessment Policies.
gg) Section D “Your Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (V21)” has been retitled and restructured without changing the message given.
hh) Clarification in Clause E1.3 that The Open University will withdraw you from the qualification and modules if you leave your employment by resigning.
ii) Clarification in Clause E2.1d that your employer may not wish to pay for a retake if you do not successfully complete your current modules, which may result in The Open University cancelling your registration.
jj) If you are expelled or suspended from The Open University under Clause E2.1f, it may also impact your ability to continue in employment with your Employer Police Force.
kk) Addition of Clause F2.3 detailing your responsibility in keeping your Open University account secure.
ll) Addition of section F4, detailing your obligation to comply with the Student Computing Policy and Social Media Policy.
mm) Revised title of section G5 “By phone”.
nn) Addition of Clause J3 in Section J “Affiliation with Third-Party Organisations”.
oo) A “Summary of significant changes since previous version” section and a ”Conditions of Registration superseded by this document” section has been added.
pp) Revised definition of “Case Conference Panel” in the Glossary.
qq) Addition of a “Feedback” section welcoming feedback about this document.
Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU.
