Minute
School Management Group Meeting
January 27, 2016
Present: Lynn Abrams, (LA), Jenny Hutcheson (JH), Phil O’Brien (POB), Fiona
Macpherson (FMacp), Peter Jackson (PJ), Michael Given (MG), Thomas Clancy
(TC), Ann Gow (AG), Pauline McLachlan (PMcL)
Apologies: Stephen Marritt (SM), Catherine Steel (CS), Karin Bowie (KB)
1. Minute of the meeting held 13 January 2016
Correction regarding attendance (MG not NF); otherwise approved. PMcL to
circulate to all colleagues.
2. Matters arising
2.1 Incentivisation
HoSubs had responded to JH as requested. TC and AG to put into writing
following discussions with JH. JH would report on activities at the next ScMG
meeting. FMacp queried regarding Martin Smith’s Incentivisation allocation.
JH will respond. *JH*
2.2 Promotion / Reward and Recognition – LA reported that Dr Costas
Panayotakis (Classics) had been awarded a Chair. Congratulations were
offered. Seven academic promotion applications had been submitted,
from across the grades, to HR.
2.3 School Strategy - LA had met individually with the School Convenors to
discuss action planning. KB and SM are producing L&T and Graduate
Studies action plans. LA and PJ would discuss research further. The
School Strategy document has been circulated to all colleagues. LA will
schedule monthly, individual Head of Subject meetings this semester.
*PMcL*
2.4 Arts co-location - LA had fed back to College on School inter/intra and
collaborative activities.
CoA are compiling a business case for
consideration.
2.5 University Teacher appointments - CS would contact UTs, both temporary
and permanent in the School, particularly regarding access to research
support. PJ suggested that clarity was required regarding research
support on a strategic basis, including eligibility to apply for School,
College and University funding and funding council eligibility. The College
Research Committee will be held on 28 January and PJ will raise there for
further discussion. AG reported that Moira Fishbacher-Smith was working
on new UT guidance. *PJ*
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AG reported that funding councils were concerned with the permanency of a
role, rather than the UT focus. TC reported that UT’s are not eligible for REF
submission and as Teaching-only. CS would report further at next meeting.
*CS*
2.6 WLM - Don Spaeth and Helen MacPherson will attend ScMG on 10
February 2016. Training sessions are arranged for early February.
3. Head of School update:3.1 CMG update – A CMG meeting was held on 20 January 2016 where
Humanities had the Classics Science and Technology LKAS Fellowship
post approved. RSIO would co-ordinate a GU level advertisement. The
Philosophy LKAS post was being revised following review by College and
would be resubmitted for a future round.
Archaeology/Hunterian business case – received support and was currently
being updated following a meeting with David Gaimster. It will be resubmitted
to College for February CMG..
Philosophy business cases – These will be submitted for the February CMG
meeting. CoA would like to receive cases two weeks before the CMG
meeting date. JH and FMacp would meet to update this week. *JH/FMacp*
3.2 Classics REF review – A review report had been issued, which contained
very positive content and contributed to the business case. An action plan
is awaited.
History/Celtic & Gaelic/HATII REF Reviews – LA would contact Kerry Revel,
RSIO for dates for History and Celtic & Gaelic REF reviews. LA advised that
the review form will change, and information on outputs would be required. It
is anticipated that they would be held in spring 2016.
3.3 Impact - Fraser Rowan is co-ordinating College of Arts Impact Activities. A
list of Research Convenors/UOA Champions had been circulated, which
requires updating for Humanities. *PMcL/LA*
3.4 College KE Fund Awards – The College had been awarded £36k for 2016.
LA encouraged colleagues to apply.
3.5 Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA) – Colleagues were asked to consider
nominations, including group nominations, to go forward.
4. Head of Subject update:4.1 Philosophy
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PSR - FMacp reported on the final part of the process. Information on
assessment methods, GTA budget and SSR’s had been submitted with their
response, but FMacp was disappointed with the College response. LA as HoSc
had also responded.
GTA budget – FMacp discussed overspending and suggested that the GTA
allocation should be put on a sustainable footing with the School investigating the
possibility of increased GTA budget allocations from College. JH would liaise
with Liz Broe (LB), Acting College Secretary regarding School GTA spend in
relation to budget planning and projections. *JH*
GTA Paternity leave - FMacp raised a query regarding paid paternity leave
support for a GTA in Philosophy. PMcL reported that the matter had been
reviewed by Richard Claughton, Deputy Director of HR, College HR and School
Operations and there was no entitlement based on service. It was suggested
that leave be accommodated within the Subject area.
5. Head of School Administration update
5.1 Budgets – JH had amended following discussion at the last ScMG meeting
and submitted the projected FTEs to College. JH reported that the School
was to inform College by 31 January of any anticipated, high value
consumable amounts. Heads of Subjects were asked to consider and
feedback to JH. FMacp queried whether consumables budgets can be
used to fund unsuccessful MW bids. JH would discuss with LB. *JH*
5.2 MW bids – JH reported that decisions were expected soon, with work on
successful bids due to commence over the Easter vacation. FMacp
suggested that the process was not at all agile, with lengthy delays in the
process and knock-on impact on incoming staff. JH would raise with LB
the need for a tighter timeline.
5.3 Shared teaching – JH sought feedback on areas of shared teaching across
the School, examples reported included: C & G with Comparative
Literature,
Scottish Culture with Scottish Literature, History PGT with Social Sciences.
JH would circulate Heads of Subjects for fuller responses. *JH*
5.4 Planning Dashboard Clinic – LA, JH and PMcL would attend a training
clinic on 9 February 2016 and would feedback following the session. *JH*
5.5 Archaeology PSR – To be held on 25 February 2016. The timetable is
being finalised. JH and MG to confirm administrative support required on
the day of the review. *JH/MG*
5.6 Lone Study Policy (LSP) – TC raised concern about the LSP and its
implications. LA advised that all colleagues should be aware of the policy.
It had been circulated to Subject PG convenors. Clarity regarding whether
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PG’s had received it would be sought. AG suggested a checklist, e.g.
guidance on telephone access, what to do and who to contact out-ofhours, with notices posted in PG rooms in each building. *JH/CLeR*
6. School Committees:6.1 Research Committee
6.1.1 Research career trajectory and cycles - PJ had circulated a document
for discussion at the School Research Committee next week and would
bring to the next ScMG meeting. It would further be discussed at
College Research Committee. Part of its purpose was to:
- Help gather intelligence on activities
- Gather information on applications being submitted
- Clarify responsibilities for School Research Convenors, Subject
Research Convenors and Research Champions
- Support research applications
It is hoped it would give a clearer process and overview of School activities. PJ
reported that Humanities had experienced a severe decline in applications and
awards in recent years. This proposal would also allow the planning of an
individual’s research trajectory, and when/at what stage they should apply and
for what.
FMacp agreed that it was useful to collect this information for REF planning, but
may result in duplication of effort with other areas. It was suggested that
impact/environment information could be included and collected during the PDR
Cycle.
PJ hoped that it would encourage colleagues to reflect on their career
development and future research plans. PJ suggested employing someone as a
horizon scanner, matching Humanities colleagues to funding calls. LA reported
that this would require a new post or for a current member of staff to undertake
this. TC suggested that CRO could perhaps undertake elements of this activity.
PJ would also circulate information from Research Professional to colleagues.
*PJ*
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