MINUTE of the SCHOOL MANAGEMENT GROUP held in Room 302, 3 University Gardens on 6 th February 2013
PRESENT: Roibeard O Maolalaigh (Chair), Adam Rieger, Sheila Kidd, Ann Gow, Jeremy Huggett, Lynn
Abrams, Michael Murray, Catriona MacDonald, Thomas Clancy, Stuart Airlie , Ian Ruffell
APOLOGIES: none received
ATTENDING: Gillian Shaw (College of Arts HR Manager), Selina Woolcott (Director of Health, Safety & Wellbeing),
Pauline McLachlan
Table of Contents
Staff Survey ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Minutes of the meeting held 24 th
January 2013 .............................................................................................................. 1
Matters Arising .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Head of School Update .................................................................................................................................................. 2
Admin/Finance Update .................................................................................................................................................. 2
School Committees ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
AOB ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Staff Survey
Action:
ROM welcomed GS and SW who were attending to present results from the GU Staff
Survey as they relate to Humanities. Health, Safety and Wellbeing information is managed by SW and all other data by Ian Black, Director of HR.
The response rate to the survey was 40% across the College of Arts (CoA), the highest in the
University. GU average was 37% with 24% technical; 19% operational; 11% clinical; 40%
R&T. There were more female than male respondents. There were 41 from a possible 130 respondents in Humanities, a response rate of 32%.
Generally Humanities are above the CoA averages, particularly MPA. ROM offered recognition to MM for this result and his management of the School administration team.
The Humanities data will be available next week and will be presented to the full School meeting on 13 th February 2013 by Ian Black.
SW discussed H&S aspects of the GU Staff Survey. It was suggested that the staff survey questions be reviewed and that the issue of whether the stress survey should be included, or should be a separate survey, also be considered. This was recognised by GS and SW.
A document detailing the stress factor results for GU, Arts and Humanities was tabled with
1 being most stressed and 5 least stressed. A breakdown further between R&T and MPA was not available. It was suggested that separate surveys for R&T and MPA be considered in the future. SW reported that the response rates for the 2009 and 2012 surveys were the same at 33%. SW would like to investigate the reasons for non-completion of the survey.
MM questioned why there was not a KPI directly related to personal development, given its importance
GS suggested we discuss further as a School how to tackle these issues and requested feedback on staff involvement and ideas and suggestions to implement a framework for support, for example, peer to peer support.
JWH suggested comparing the 2012 survey breakdown to the 2009 breakdown of results.
Thanks were offered to GS and SW for attending and for reporting on the results from the
GU Staff Survey.
It was agreed to discuss the Staff Survey at the School meeting on 13 th February 2013. It was also agreed to circulate the HSE survey questions and results.
It was suggested that colleagues from all levels form focus groups. These would be across
School rather than subject specific, to enable the sharing of best practice. Discussions could be held at subject level and fed back to the groups.
1. Minutes of the meeting held 24 th January 2013
The minutes were approved subject to a correction to follow from CMacD. PMcL to correct and circulate to all School colleagues.
ROM/PMcL
PMcL

2. Matters Arising
2.1 Ethics Officers
ROM reported that Ben Colburn, Michael Brady and Campbell Brown had agreed to act as
Ethics Officers.
2.2 Appeals Committee
ROM reported that Mike Rapport and Michael Brady had agreed to act on the College of
Arts Appeals Committee.
LA is pursuing with colleagues in History nominations for an Adviser of Studies.
2.3 College of Arts Move to Western Infirmary site
Thanks were offered to those that had returned comments to MM.
2.4 Head of College to ScMG
ROM reported that the Head of the College of Arts, Murray Pittock, was happy to attend a meeting and a date is to be arranged.
2.5 BGP 2 Proposals
Thanks were offered to TC and Michael Moss for their work on the proposals and for getting the proposals submitted.
2.6 REF data-sets
ROM had discussed the issuing of data-sets to School with the Head of School. He was directed to discuss further with Adrienne Scullion and would also clarify with Ashley
Theunissen. TC anticipates that the information will be issued in one tranche.
2.7 Chair of Modern History
ROM had asked Murray Pittock to seek a guarantee from the Principal that the post could be filled post-REF.
3. Head of School Update
3.1 SFC – ROM reported on the good result announced for Arts at Glasgow University in relation to the University’s application to the SFC for PGT funded places relating to economic growth priorities. He briefly summarised his email (1 February 2013) to members of SMG. Glasgow had bid for 470 places, and was awarded 122 from the 1000 total. Arts had been awarded 20 places, which was a very good result as other universities do not seem to have been awarded any places for Arts. The School of Humanities was awarded 4 places in Material Culture and Artefact Studies (Archaeology). Unfortunately, no awards were made for HATII PGT programmes.
3.2 UKBA – ROM reported that GU had retained its 100 points during a recent high level review, so a UKBA visit is not anticipated for the near future. ROM thanked all staff for efficiently implementing the School and University’s monitoring procedures. CMacD commented that the ISB results will be issued soon.
3.3 EDU Training – ROM reminded colleagues of the two training courses to be completed by the end of the month: Equality and Diversity Essentials for all staff and Managing
Diversity (for all line managers and PIs). The courses are to be completed via Moodle and take approximately 60 and 75 minutes respectively. ROM had requested a list of those colleagues that had completed the course. It was agreed to re-circulate the email.
3.4 Course Monitoring – ROM reported that he had discussed with SA the issue of disparity between AMRs and External Examiner reports. SA will discuss further with Chris Lindsay with a view to highlighting good practices.
4. Admin/Finance Update
4.1 Process Improvements – Academic Administration
MM reported that the admin team were currently on number 6 of 10 process reviews. MM had discussed with HoSubs. MM reported that there were differing practices across the
School, indeed often within a Subject area. On completion of the current mapping activity,
MM will then meet with HoSubs/Convenors to ensure that Subject area practice is captured accordingly.
4.2 Finance Update
MM confirmed that he would present a 6 month financial update at the March ScMG meeting.
4.3 Recruitment Update
MM reported on current enrolment figures (compared to this time last year):
PMcL
SA
MM

Undergraduate: home enrolments were up 1%; overseas applications up 68% and RUK had
45 applications.
Postgraduate Taught: home enrolments were up 1% and overseas applications were up 32%.
Postgraduate Research: home enrolments were up 9% and overseas application up 35%.
4.4 Commonwealth 2014 / Humanities 2014
A meeting to discuss a bid to Creative Scotland was arranged for 6 th February 2013. A further progress meeting is to be finalised for the Humanities 2014 Group.
4.5 School Administration
MM reported that Eileen Ritchie had been successfully recruited to the School
Administrator (Grade 5) post.
4.6 Marketing Strategy
Further to the last meeting, a marketing strategy is to be developed with Peter Aitchison
(Depute Director, Corporate Communications) and a web presence will shortly be considered.
5. School Committees
5.1 Graduate Studies
CMacD reported on recent Graduate Studies business:

CMacD offered thanks to those involved in arranging the PG Open Event to be held on 7 th February.

A conversion workshop has been organised.

CMacD had met with the Convenor of the Staff/Student Committee, David
Wheeler, to discuss PG activity.

A meeting to shortlist for Scholarships will be held on 22 nd March 2013.

Higher Degrees Committee will be held on 7 th February 2013.
5.2 Research
TC reported on recent research business:

The BGP2 proposals had been successfully submitted.

A meeting of UoA Champions had been held. Colleagues were urged to update
Enlighten and inform UoA Champions or Ashley Theunissen when this had been completed. A timeline had now been produced for producing environment and impact statements.

A College of Arts Research and Knowledge Transfer Comittee meeting will be held on 6 th February 2013. TC reported there were two particular issues of concern: (1) proposed changes to the research incentivisation process and (2) open access. AG suggested that CoA liaise with GUL (Susan Ashworth). TC will seek further clarification on both issues.
5.3 Learning and Teaching
SA reported on recent L&T activity, but would like to note that the School, particularly those involved in L&T, were still feeling the loss of Alison Peden.
 SA reported that an applicants’ visit day will be held on 26 th March 2013. The process would be slightly different with HoSubs being contacted by the L&T committee regarding the circulation of emails on their behalf to applicants. Heather
Calder is organising this activity with subject L&T convenors co-ordinating local activity.

The periodic subject review of Celtic & Gaelic will be held on 15 th February 2013.
Philosophy will be the next School subject to undergo a review.

SA reported that Archaeology, Classics and History had been successful in a bid to the LTDF. This would provide video cameras to be used in teaching, fieldtrips and excursions. It is hoped they can be used across the School. An announcement regarding the next round of LTDF had been circulated.
6. AOB
6.1 Action Points – reported and agreed. PMcL
TC