Notes of Meeting
Athena Network Group
Date: Thursday 22nd October 2015
MOAC Meeting Room
Present: Claire Algar, Sandra Beaufoy (chair), Jo Collingwood, Richard Crossman, Ann
Dixon, Rachel Harrington, Serena Johal, Charlotte Moonan, Faizan Nazar, Juliet
Raynsford, Alison Rodger, Charoula Tzanakou
1.
Minutes from the meeting held on 22nd September 2015
Sandra Beaufoy reported that Jobs.ac.uk have advised the price for use of the Athena
logo on University adverts (up to 600 per year) is £3000 pa. Sandra had taken this to
the Athena Steering meeting last week for discussion.
The Athena Steering group recommended that rather than use the logos, that
departments advertise in the body of their advert or further particulars, that the
University is a Silver Institutional Athena award holder.
Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd September 2015 were approved.
2.
Athena Subscription
REPORTED: (Sandra Beaufoy)
The Vice Chancellor has written a letter to ECU committing the University to the new
principles of the Athena SWAN Charter, and has informed ECU of Warwick’s
intention to pay the subscription charges for 2016. The subscription charge has been
confirmed as £16,225 which is based on the HESA income.
3.
WISE / other initiatives
Departments will have received an email from C Algar regarding initiative campaign ‘WISE’. WISE advises and encourages girls between the age of 11 -14 years to
determine what A-Levels are required if they would like to study at University for a
career in Engineering/Sciences.
The WISE initiative might be useful for departments to use in relation to their
Outreach activities.
If departments have any other outreach initiatives that they would like to share with
the network, please let Sandra/Claire know.
4.
Purpose of the Athena Network Meetings (Alison Rodger)
A brief update was given on why the Athena network and Steering group was
started. Over the years the number of departments involved in Athena has
increased and due to the amalgamation of the Charter Marks this year, membership
now includes Non-STEM departments.
Members were asked if they still find the format of the network meetings valuable
and if so, what they would like included in future meetings: Members responded:
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To receive updates on ECU and what other departments are doing
Members stated it can feel isolated when working on departmental Athena
submissions and that by attending Network meetings, helps to keep motivation
and work on track.
Best practice can be discussed. Useful to have visiting speakers and information
gathering (data presentation)
Useful for Non-STEM departments to hear best practise
Sharing of outreach work initiatives
Claire Algar advised that the Athena web pages are being refreshed, and encouraged
departments to send any success stories that can be included in the update.
5.
Progress on Departmental Actions Plans
I.
Philosophy – Rachel Harrington
Philosophy has just started working on its Athena submission, which it is hoped to
submit in April 2016. An Equality and Welfare committee has been established and
the first meeting has been held.
Philosophy would like to have 2 members of staff trained as Dignity contacts, and will
contact C Algar for further information.
II.
Mathematics – Faizan Nazar
Faizan is a new PhD student who has an interest in Athena work and has already
approached the department about joining the Athena Network meetings and the
departmental meetings. Faizan confirmed that the Women in Maths Group recently
held an event for female researchers.
III.
Chemistry – Alison Rodger
Alison is currently undecided on whether to disband the current Welfare and
Communications committee to enable the Athena agenda to be included into all
other Committee meetings, so that Athena becomes embedded into everyday
business. This would ensure that there is input from a wider range of staff members
but concerns that there would be insufficient attention paid to the action plan with
no direct lead.
IV.
WMS – Sunita Palmer
Sunita explained that there had been a lot of changes in the department’s committee
structure. WMS now have a separate Self-Assessment team who meet on a monthly
basis and reports to the formal Welfare and Communications committee. WMS will
be applying for Silver renewal in April 2016 using the new paperwork.
V.
Statistics – Richard Crossman
Richard is a new member to the group, taking over from Larbi. Currently there is
little that he can report, but informed that Statistics were considering using the
services of Sean McWinnie, who is an external consultant, with a thorough
knowledge of Athena. Statistics will be applying for Silver in November 2016.
VI.
WMG – Serena Johal
WMG will be applying for a Silver award in November 2015, so are in the process of
writing their submission.
VII.
Engineering – Joanna Collingwood
Engineering will be applying for a Silver award in November 2015. They have
experienced some problems obtaining Student Data which has caused a delay in
writing their submission. Athena is now a standing item on all staff meetings
agendas.
5.
AOB
Sandy Sparks, from the Learning and Development Centre, wanted the following
sessions bought to the attention of members:
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The leadership in action course – 3 sessions scheduled for 16/23/30 November
2015.
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One day career development course – managing your academic/research career 11
November for women only. Mixed session planned for 24 January 2016.
ACTION: Claire to circulate a copy of LDC Newsletter
6.
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Do any departments provide an annual report on their Athena Action Plan progress?
This is a
good way to keep staff and students within the department
informed and updated on Athena work/progress.
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A publication was circulated recently showcasing the work female academics do in
another institution. Ann Dixon is keen for this initiative to be replicated here at
Warwick – Ann will discuss this further with Professor Pam Thomas (Chair of the
Athena Steering Group) and report back to the network.
Date of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 26th November 2015, 12:00 hrs, MOAC