MINUTE of the SCHOOL MANAGEMENT GROUP
held in Room 407, 1 University Gardens on 4th November 2015
PRESENT:
Lynn Abrams, Pauline McLachlan, Ann Gow, Catherine Steel, Steve Marritt
Fiona Macpherson Nyree Finlay, Peter Jackson, Jenny Hutcheson, Karin Bowie
APOLOGIES:
Jeremy Huggett, Thomas Clancy, Phil O’Brien
Table of Contents
Minute of the meeting held 21 October 2015 ............................................................................................. 1
Matters Arising.………………………………………………………………………………….………...1
Head of School Update .............................................................................................................................. 1
School Strategy …………………………………………………………….………………….…………..2
REF Submission Strategy……………………………………………………………………………….…3
Process Improvement……………………………………………………………………………………...3
Head of Subject Update ............................................................................................................................. 3
Head of School Administration Update ..................................................................................................... 3
School Committees .................................................................................................................................... 3
Any Other Business ................................................................................................................................... 3
Action:
1.
Minute of the meeting held 21 October 2015
The minute was still at draft and LA would review and amend as necessary, following which
they would be circulated to all School colleagues.
2.
Matters arising
2.1 Disability officer – LA had an extremely helpful meeting with Catherine Emmott. LA would
move forward and produce a role descriptor, liaising with those who had expressed an interest.
2.2 Impact Officers – HoSubs were asked to inform PMcL of their Subject role holders.
LA
HoSubs
2.3 PGT Strategy – The next School Management Group meeting on 18 November would be
mainly assigned to the topic of PGT Strategy. AG reported that Adele Redhead would attend for
HATII. SM would circulate some data in advance.
2.4 Visiting Students examinations – KB tabled a document detailing the number of students in
Humanities and had expressed the School’s concerns to Dr Don Spaeth as Dean of Learning &
Teaching. The issue specifically affects Critical Studies and Humanities. DS had advised that
we inform Registry of the number of exams involved, and ascertain any administrative barriers.
CS suggested that Semester 1 Honours courses could be offered as coursework only, therefore
omitting exams; NF suggested that a class test be offered under exam conditions. KB would
discuss further with colleagues in Critical Studies with a view to how to proceed.
3.
PMcL
SM
KB
Head of School Update
3.1 P&DR Moderation – LA reported that Grade 9 and 10 moderation panels had been held and
LA would contact any Grade 9 colleague where an assessment outcome had been changed,
providing feedback.
3.2 Investment Plans – Budget Setting 2016-17 – LA had requested an update from each HoSub
on investment and strategic priorities. LA suggested we discuss all proposals and then prioritise
proposals/cases responding to the Head of College. It was agreed to proceed on that basis.
3.2.1 Archaeology – NF reported that the proposal for a joint post with the Hunterian is moving
forward with a business case being developed and the College of Arts had expressed support. NF
tabled document detailing Archaeology’s strategic priorities, including staffing concerns and
their impact, for example, two retirements. NF provided the background to the Hunterian Roman
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LA
Archaeology post, which would sit within Archaeology. A business case would go forward to
November CMG. Other issues in the paper included: the need for an Archaeological Scientist, as
recommended in the REF Review; retirements and the impact on Celtic and Viking Archaeology,
REF and a study leave strategy.
3.2.2 Philosophy – FMacp reported that the Philosophy REF review had recommended
investment in Philosophy and requested: two junior replacement posts following Prof Alan
Weir’s retirement; a replacement for Martin Smith (temporary replacement is in progress) and
investments in two posts: Centre for Study of Perceptual Experience and Chair in Moral
Philosophy. FMacp expressed concern regarding budgetary cycles, timings and process e.g.
overlap of appointments and being ‘nimble’ to quickly make temporary appointments.
3.3 Classics – CS reported that the Classics REF Review would not be held until w/b 9th
November. Two areas of investment were identified: History of Technology, which links with
Ian Ruffell’s Leverhulme project,Readership) and Political Communication (Lectureship).
Other areas identified were Ancient War Studies and Urbanism in Antiquity, which are both
linked to recent income generation in Classics.
3.4 History – LA reported that P’OB could not attend as he was currently in China, but had
provided a briefing document. PJ thought that all three proposals were very convincing,
particular Medical Humanities which links to Tony Pollard and Sarah Cockram’s work. The
History REF Review would not be held until April /May 2016. LA would liaise with PO’B to
strengthen the cases and consider further in relation to strategy and the REF review.
LA
Scottish History – LA reported that an offer had been made following the Celtic History
Lectureship interviews.
3.5 Celtic & Gaelic – The Celtic & Gaelic REF review would be held in Spring 2016. There had
been recent investment with the Celtic History lectureship. Possible areas for investment wold
be Names Studies, following Simon Taylor’s retirement and Gaelic: the immersion year would
require investment and teaching support.
LA would produce a document detailing the priorities for Subjects and the School and submit to
the Head of College. LA would circulate to HoSubs for review prior to submission.
4.
LA
School Strategy
LA, CS and PJ had produced a draft School strategy. LA urged colleagues to read, digest and
feed any comments back, e.g. comments to be removed, headlines issues or commitments to be
included.
4.1 Research Mentoring – It was suggested that the School commit to ensure that all Researchers
have a mentor, extending to all staff. PMcL would be keen for an MPA mentoring scheme to be
introduced. PJ suggested that mentors could assist with career cycles, provide guidance on grant
capture and what a mentee should be doing at certain stages of their career, helped by the
development of for example, five years plans. It was agreed to pilot this on an opt-in basis. PJ
agreed to discuss further at the School Research Committee meeting on 4 th November and return
to at the next meeting.
PJ
4.2 Research Strategy Officer – It was agreed to include in the priority listing for investment, the
need for a Research Strategy Officer, possibly as a buy-out for a current academic. Separately, a
grant writer would also be extremely useful. PJ would discuss further at School Research
Committee on 4th November.
PJ
4.3 Teaching – KB agreed to review the ‘Excellence in Teaching’ section, further suggestions
included regular curriculum reviews and organising workshops. Reference to the School ‘adding
value’ should be included.
KB
4.4 School Administration – JH to consider possible investment following a review of current
JH
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provision.
4.5 Technical/Systems support - AG suggested that technical/systems development support is
considered and developed at College level. AG will write a brief and forward to LA to support
discussion with College.
5.
REF Submission Strategy
LA had circulated a paper, discussed at CMG and upon which the Head of College, Roibeard O
‘Maolalaigh and Dean of Research, Karen Lury had requested feedback. PJ agreed to table at
School Research Committee on 4th November for discussion. PJ felt that only scenarios 1 and 3
were viable. CS suggested that Humanities return preference for the most inspirational scenario.
It was agreed that the next REF requirements, which are currently unknown, would greatly affect
this.
6.
AG
PJ
Process Improvement
Standing agenda item – no update at present.
7.
Head of Subject Update
No issues to discuss or report.
8.
Head of School Administration Update
8.1 TSSA – Leigh-Ann Dragsnes commenced on 8th November and introductory meeting were
being arranged with HoSubs and Subject Convenors.
8.2 Agility Working Group – JH reported that she would be part of this group, with membership
to be reviewed in January 2016.
8.3 Financial Support- - JH reported that Hugh Woods would be assisting with developing
School financial administration, monitoring and reporting.
9.
School Committees
9.1 Graduate Studies and Learning & Teaching
SM and KB reported on recent and forthcoming Graduate Studies and L&T activity:
 PGT Process Improvement / Exam Boards – A meeting between SM, TSSA and
Administrators was to be arranged. SM would discuss in more detail at the next ScMG
meeting.
SM
Forthcoming Graduate Studies and L&T issues include the introduction of GTA Training at
School level and the Course Approval Process.
9.3 Research Committee
PJ reported briefly on recent and forthcoming Research activity:
 Incentivisation – PJ queried whether temporary PDRAs should be eligible to apply to
the School Incentivisation funds. CS suggested we exercise control and consider on the
benefit of the proposal, rather than the employment status of the applicant. LA
suggested prioritising applications. Some RAs may have access to projects funds,
which could support activity. PJ would set priorities based on research contribution to
Subject environments and REF. PJ further sought clarification regarding University
Teachers regarding research activity support and would discuss with AG, who had
recently been involved on a working party reviewing UTs.
10.
Any Other Business
No further issues to discuss or report.
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PJ
PJ/AG