UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Equal Opportunities Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 19th May 2004
Present:
Professor R G Dyson (in the Chair), Mr D Beaton, Rev M
Bratton Dr H Dennis, Ms K Dodd, Ms G Frigerio, Dr K Flint, Dr
J Hutton, Dr P Lowe, Ms M Melville, Mr D Richards,
Apologies:
Dr J Burns, Dr P Byrd, Mr A Dolan ,Ms C Graham, Dr E Hines
Ms F Miles, Dr A Parker
In Attendance:
Ms L Aspinall, Ms J Coleman, Ms C Leaver, Ms H Newman,
Ms R Sainty
22/03-04
Membership
REPORTED:
That investigation was ongoing with the Students’ Union to identify a
nomination for a representative of international students to join the
Equal Opportunities Committee in attendance.
23/03-04
Minutes
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2004 be
approved.
24/03-04
Communication Strategy for Employees Without PC Access (Minute
18/03-04 (b) (i) refers)
CONSIDERED:
A paper produced by the Communications Office regarding the
communication strategy adopted for communicating and consulting
with employees without PC access (Paper EOC 11/03-04).
RESOLVED:
That the Committee supported the aim to broaden and diversify
communication to include those employees without PC access.
25/03-04
Review of Appraisal Process (Minute 18/03-04) (b) (iii) refers)
REPORTED:
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(a) That a review of the appraisal process for all categories of staff
would be incorporated into the University’s response to the
Framework Agreement.
(b) That a memo had been circulated to all Heads of Departments
highlighting the fact that all employees would have the opportunity
to have a developmental review in accordance with the
recommendation made in the Equal Opportunities policy.
RESOLVED:
That all employees be informed of their opportunity to have a
developmental review.
26/03-04
Harassment Guidelines (Minute 18/03-04 (f) refers)
REPORTED:
That the University was currently in the process of reviewing the
Harassment Guidelines for staff and producing a policy and guidance
notes on Harassment and bullying.
RESOLVED:
That the draft policy be considered by the Committee at its next
meeting.
27/ 03-04
Disability Policy-Staff
CONSIDERED:
A draft Disability Policy for University staff (Paper EOC 12/03-04).
RECOMMENDED (To the Senate and the Council):
That the draft Disability policy be approved subject to the following
additions:
(a) That a section on accountabilities and responsibilities be included
in the policy.
(b) That information be included in the policy for those developing a
disability during their career as well as information for new starters.
28/ 03-04
Merit Pay
CONSIDERED:
A paper outlining summary data of Merit Pay awards for academic and
related staff at the top of salary scales (2002/2003) (Paper EOC
13/03-04).
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RESOLVED:
That further consideration be given by the Director of Personnel to the
training requirements of managers who are required to assess
employee performance as part of the merit pay scheme.
29/ 03-04
Recruitment Monitoring Report (2002/2003)
CONSIDERED:
A paper reviewing recruitment statistics for 2002/2003 (Paper EOC
14/03-04).
RESOLVED:
(a) That comments on the revised Equal opportunities monitoring form
be provided to Ms H Newman (Information Manager, Personnel
Services).
(b) That information on the typical breakdown of the “Not Known”
category for ethnicity be provided.
(c) That it be noted that the EOC supported the need to track a
sample of posts throughout the recruitment process to identify
whether there are any areas which may be discriminatory to
certain applicants and that this be completed by September 2004.
30/ 03-04
Equal Opportunities Implementation update (2003/2004)
CONSIDERED:
A paper outlining the progress made with regards to implementing the
recommendations made in the Equal Opportunities Policy (Paper EOC
15/03-04).
RESOLVED:
(a) That the progress made on the current action plan be welcomed
and an item on the formulation of a new action plan be included on
the agenda for the next Equal Opportunities Committee meeting.
(b) That the demand for an increase in nursery places be raised at the
next Campus Life Committee meeting by the Acting Director of
Student and Ancillary Services.
(c) That consideration be given on how to communicate flexible
working options to employees.
31/ 03-04
Equality Challenge Unit/Commission for Racial Equality Project
RECEIVED:
An oral report from Miss L Aspinall (Personnel Adviser) detailing the
progress with the ECU/CRE Project noting:
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(a) That the University is focusing on three key areas; Impact
Assessment, Recruitment and Procurement.
(b) That the University is working with an external consultancy on the
implementation of Impact Assessment.
32/ 03-04
Job Evaluation
RECEIVED:
An oral report from the Director of Personnel Services on the progress
of the Job Evaluation project noting:
33/ 03-04
(a)
That the University has chosen the HAY job evaluation
scheme following a pilot project looking at the HAY and HERA
schemes;
(b)
That the expected implementation date would be the latter part
of 2005/06.
Careers Service
RECEIVED:
A paper outlining the Careers Service Draft Diversity Programme
(Paper EOC 16/03-04).
RESOLVED:
That the Committee welcome and support the Careers Service Draft
Diversity Programme.
34/ 03-04
Equal Opportunities Issues/Queries
CONSIDERED:
Issues raised by Professor A Mullender on the departmental
promotion process and the perceived lack of diversity on senior
appointment panels (Paper EOC 17/03-04)
REPORTED:
That the promotion guidelines were currently being reviewed and
would include a recommendation for Professors Responsible to form a
small group of senior staff to assist in the departmental promotions
process.
RESOLVED:
That the requirement to have diverse appointment panels will continue
to be reinforced through the recruitment and selection training and
extra vigilance will be made in monitoring membership of appointment
panels.
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35/ 03-04
“Diversity Champions”
RECEIVED:
A request from the Equal Opportunities Network that there be
consideration of the designation of a member of staff in each
department as “Equal Opportunities Representative”.
RESOLVED:
That the request be supported for volunteers and nominations for
people to act as “Diversity Champions” within all University
departments.
33/ 03-04
Equal Opportunities Network
REPORTED:
That the next meeting of the Equal Opportunities Network would be
held on Friday 21st May 2004 at 11am in the Council Chamber,
University House.
34/ 03-04
Date of Next Meeting
REPORTED:
That the date of the next meeting of the Equal Opportunities
Committee would be notified shortly.
LA/EOC 19/05/04
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