JULY 2008 UPDATE ON EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES
Single Equality Scheme consultation
As noted in the previous update (May 2008), the University has been in the process of developing
a Single Equality Scheme (SES) for some time. The draft Scheme has now been circulated for
consultation. Both the Scheme and its associated draft Single Equality Action Plan are available
on the Equality and Diversity website
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/equalops/singleequalityscheme/
We should be grateful for any help in drawing this to the attention of as many staff and students as
possible.
In addition, we plan to hold focus groups to discuss the Scheme in September. Should anyone
wish to volunteer to be on one of the groups please let Lora Morris know.
Bearing in mind it is the summer it is likely that the current consultation period will extend into
September to allow more staff and students a chance to comment.
Training activities
Warwick HRI has recently held two half day sessions on understanding the assumptions we
naturally make as human beings, how we view “difference” and the impact it may have on
behaviour. These were very well received by staff and we have booked the company involved to
carry out two additional half days in the Autumn Term as “Windows on Warwick” sessions.
We have also booked a Disability Awareness session to be run on 28 July 2008 – targeted at
Equality and Diversity Representatives. The session is full, with a waiting list. If feedback is good,
we will examine whether we can book a further session for the Autumn Term.
Finally, the British Dyslexia Association will also be running a session for us in the Autumn Term.
Resources
We have bought three DVDs which we intend to use for further sessions to be offered over the
next academic year:
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Religion and Belief – respecting and accommodating faith and belief in the workplace
Sexual Orientation – respecting lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the workplace
and Disability Confident – working with disabled customer and colleagues
Please speak to Lora Morris or Leonie Aspinall if you are interested in viewing the DVDs and/or
hosting a session in your Department.
We have also purchased three Guides which will be available on our website shortly:
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A Guide to Indian Cultures
A Guide to Chinese Culture
A Guide to British Culture
PULSE: staff survey
The majority of Departments have now completed their local action plans and we will shortly be
asking for case studies of progress that may be published on the Pulse website. If you have any
feedback which could be used please let Lora Morris know.
The Central Pulse Action Team is finalising its central action plan for approval; this will also be
published on the Pulse website.
Marshalls E-learning modules
The University has been working with an external provider (Marshalls) in developing two e-learning
modules on recruitment and selection and equality and diversity. These were rolled out to staff in
May 2008 to staff involved in recruitment and selection and also for staff in “customer-facing” roles.
Both modules contain a wealth of reference material which can be accessed at any time.
So far, nearly 300 staff have completed the Equality and Diversity module and circa 125 have
completed the Recruitment and Selection module.
We originally had limited access to the Equality and Diversity module in terms of the numbers of
staff who we were allowed to give logon rights to. However, we have successfully negotiated
unlimited licenses which means that all staff may have access to both the Equality and Diversity
module and the Recruitment and Selection module if they wish.
Reminders will go out at the end of July to ask people who have not completed the modules to log
on and complete them. Our target date for the majority of staff to complete will be December 2008.