Approved
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
SENATE
Wednesday 18 October 2006
(2.00 pm – 4.30pm)
MINUTES
(Unreserved)
Chair
Professor Sir Ivor Crewe, Vice Chancellor (MM. 233-265/06), Professor Massara
(MM.266-269/06)
Present
Ms Akinde, Mr Al-Aqel, Professor Atkinson, Dr Bartle, Ms Brahmbatt,
Professor Busfield, Dr Burnett, Mr Butler, Professor Cairns, Mrs Cassell,
Mrs Collett, Dr N Cox, Dr Dorussen, Professor Downton, Dr Geiger,
Professor Green, Professor Higgins, Dr Hughes, Professor Iversen,
Professor Jenkins, Dr Jones, Mr Joondan, Mr Mack, Dr Mackenzie,
Professor Massara, Professor Masterson, Ms McFaull, Dr McGenity, Mr Mijal,
Professor Muthoo, Mr Pearson, Professor Pretty, Professor Radford, Professor
Russo, Professor Sacks, Dr Salhi, Professor Sanders, Dr Schulze, Professor Schurer,
Mr Sessions, Dr Smith, Professor South, Dr Steel, Dr Stones, Professor Sunkin, Mr
Watt
Apologies
Professor Hopfl, Professor Muthoo, Dr Robinson, Professor Temple
By invitation
Mr Pigadas
Secretary
Senior Assistant Registrar
In attendance
Registrar and Secretary, Director of Finance, Director of Strategic Planning
WELCOME
Noted
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed new members to their first meeting of the
Senate.
233/06
STARRING OF AGENDA ITEMS
Noted
In accordance with Standing Orders, para 5, the following items were
starred for discussion:
Agenda item 2(b)
Agenda item 4
Agenda item 5
Agenda item 7(a)
Formal Business
Vice-Chancellor’s Statement
Strategic Plan
Governance of Academic
Standards at UCS
Academic Staffing Committee
Appointment of Next ViceChancellor
Agenda item 9(a)
Agenda item 12
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234/06
MINUTES
Approved
The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2006 subject to the following
amendment to M.179/06:
235/06
the deletion of the BA in History with Human Rights from the list of degree
schemes to be continued following the Human Rights Periodic Review.
BUSINESS TAKEN WITHOUT DISCUSSION
Approved
Without discussion, those items not already starred on the agenda.
236/06
FORMAL BUSINESS (S/06/47)
Noted
The recommendation relating to the appointment of the next Dean of the
Faculty of Science and Engineering was withdrawn because of a procedural
irregularity relating to the recommendation.
237/06
The following amendments and additions to Paper S/06/47 were noted:
238/06
-
Resolved
item 2: Dr Zaikin had been appointed to the Department of
Mathematical Sciences (with a research link to Biological Sciences)
item 3: Professor Tom Sorell (Department of Philosophy) had been
omitted from the list of resignations (with effect from tbc)
item 4: Mr B Bowring should read Professor Bowring; Professor
Brotherstone should read Professor Brotherston.
The following further amendments to the Guidelines for Dealing with
Harassment and Bullying (third paragraph under the heading Criminal
offences involving assault – Students) were approved (deleted wording
struck through, new wording underlined):
239/06
However, iIn exceptional circumstances the University may suspend a
student pending the outcome of such their investigations.
Items of Formal Business reported in Paper S/06/47, copy attached to the
file copy of the Minutes.
240/06
MATTERS ARISING
None
241/06
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S STATEMENT
Noted
The Vice-Chancellor’s statement to the Senate covering:
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Colchester Institute;
Research Park;
New Lecture Hall;
Admissions and student numbers;
Report on financial strategy;
The 2008 RAE;
Research income;
Institutional Audit and improving the student experience;
Regional expansion; and
Olympics, London 2012.
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242/06
A number of issues were discussed:
243/06
Tuition Fees and Admissions
There would be a national review of the new tuition fee arrangements for
home/EU students in 2008/09. The Vice-Chancellor had not formed a
personal view on whether the current tuition fee cap should be lifted, and
believed that the decision would be strongly influenced both by electoral
and party political competition and by the view taken by the ViceChancellors of larger and more influential institutions than Essex.
According to an analysis carried out by UCAS, the new tuition fees had
not affected the socio-economic mix of students entering the HE sector in
autumn 2006. The Vice-Chancellor believed that the impact of
introducing maintenance grants and bursaries on the recruitment of
students from non-traditional backgrounds would be positive in the long
term.
244/06
Financial Strategy
Concern was expressed about the financial impact of regional
developments on the University’s core activities. The difficulty of
balancing short and long term interests was acknowledged. The
University’s Southend campus (UoES) was still running at a deficit, but
this was also true of a number of departments in Colchester, which had
benefited from substantial investment in order to support growth and
development in the long term. The University’s strategy was to allow
cross-subsidies from departments in surplus to enable deficit departments
to return to financial stability within a clear strategic framework. UoES
was expected to break even within five years and substantial surpluses
were projected in future. Developments were planned in the provision of
Acting and Theatre courses at UoES; there was substantial demand for
these and they could not be accommodated at the Loughton campus.
245/06
East 15 Acting School
Concern was expressed about the lack of space and unsatisfactory library
facilities at the Loughton campus, in the context of planned expenditure
on new developments in Acting provision at Southend. The School’s
problems with space and access to library facilities were acknowledged.
The Librarian was actively addressing the latter, in consultation with
Epping Forest College and the local public library service. Problems
caused by the recent refusal of a planning application were being
addressed urgently, and the possible acquisition of land adjacent to the
campus was being pursued to enable further capital development. East 15
developments in Southend were being funded independently and would
have no impact on the resolution of issues affecting Loughton.
246/06
STRATEGIC PLAN (S/06/48)
Noted
The Strategic Plan had been approved by Council and would be submitted
to HEFCE in November 2006, subject to minor amendments proposed by
Council and Senate. A number of major changes had been incorporated
since Senate had received a draft in June 2006, in particular: a revised
mission statement, stronger emphasis on the student experience and
employability; details about recent and planned growth in provision in
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247/06
Southend and at partner colleges; and a more proactive approach to
international student recruitment.
The University’s continuing commitment to maintaining world class
research was emphasised by its headline position in the list of the
University’s strategic aims. However, the Strategic Plan covered the full
range of the University’s activities, since one of its major functions was to
inform a wide range of external audiences, including partner institutions
and various funding bodies.
248/06
The process of planning enabled the University to be systematic about
identifying its targets and measures for achieving them. Realistic targets
and milestones enabled the University to reflect on progress towards its
objectives, as well as to make informed adjustments to plans if
circumstances changed.
249/06
In discussion a number proposals to amend the text of the Strategic Plan
were agreed. The following issues were highlighted in particular:
250/06
(a)
(b)
(c)
the support of students representatives for the increased focus
on the student experience and, especially, the introduction of
an electronic Personal Development Planning facility;
the importance of increasing investment to enhance sports
facilities, including the provision of a swimming pool, which
would also benefit teaching and research activity;
the need to strengthen reference to fundraising as part of the
University’s aim to diversify income streams.
REVISION OF UNIVERSITY CHARTER AND STATUTES (S/06/49)
Noted
251/06
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
SUFFOLK
(a)
Governance of Academic Standards at UCS (paper S/06/50)
Noted
Resolved
The responsibility for academic standards at UCS rested with the
respective Senates at Essex and UEA. Academic policy was the
responsibility of an eleven member partnership board, which would be
chaired in turn by the Vice-Chancellors of Essex and UEA, and would
include three members from each of the universities.
252/06
There were no capital costs for Essex associated with the establishment of
UCS, although there were costs in terms of the staff time invested during
the period of development. Staff costs would be recouped from 2007/08,
when validation fee income would start to flow.
253/06
The potential for UCS to compete with Essex (and UEA) for students was
acknowledged. However, a joint planning group, including Essex
representatives from the planning, marketing and recruitment areas would
be involved in managing this issue. All UCS programmes would be
subject to approval by the Joint Academic Committee, which would
provide a formal mechanism for ensuring that the UCS curriculum was
complementary to that of the validating universities.
254/06
that the arrangements for governance of academic standards at University
Campus Suffolk be approved as set out in Paper S/06/50.
255/06
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(b)
Validation Handbook for UCS (paper S/06/51)
Resolved
that the Validation Handbook for University Campus Suffolk be approved
as set out in Paper S/06/51.
256/06
ASSESSMENT OF PART-YEAR STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS (S/06/52)
Noted
Resolved
The International Strategy Committee was undertaking a strategic review of
the University’s study abroad provision, in light of the decline in numbers
in recent years. The review would consider the issue of assessment for
study abroad and exchange students. However, there was an interim
requirement to formalise the assessment arrangements for part-year study
abroad and exchange students who would not be present on campus during
the main summer examination period.
257/06
It was proposed that the policy already approved (SMM.165-166/06) in
relation to resit examination arrangements under the revised Rules of
Assessment to come into effect in 2007/08 should also be adopted for the
assessment of part-year study abroad and exchange students. The basic
assumption was that an unseen examination would be set for these students;
however, alternative assessment arrangements could be approved by the
Faculty Dean, as long as they were of equivalent rigour.
258/06
that assessment arrangements consistent with those agreed for resits under
the Rules of Assessment to be introduced in 2007/08 be put in place for all
part-year study abroad and exchange students from 2006/07 onwards.
259/06
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Academic Staffing Committee (S/06/53)
(a)
Amendment to Ordinance 11
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:
that Ordinance 11 (The Academic Staff) be amended as set out in Appendix
A to the report of Academic Staffing Committee (3.10.06) for
implementation in the 2006/07 Annual Review.
(b)
260/06
Annual Review Procedure and Criteria
Noted
Resolved
The proposed amendments to the Annual Review Procedure and Criteria
were intended to reflect the specific issues concerning permanency and
promotion of staff whose profile included substantial professional activity,
such as staff working in health-related areas.
261/06
A Working Party to consider Academic Career Paths had been established
by the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Group, on the recommendation of
Academic Staffing Committee and Professorships Committee, to consider
the University’s academic staffing strategy in light of its changing profile
and changes to the Research Assessment Exercise.
262/06
that the Annual Review Procedures and Criteria be amended as set out in
Appendix B to the report of Academic Staffing Committee (3.10.06).
263/06
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APPROVAL OF STUDENT WELFARE POLICY
Drug and Alcohol Policy (S/06/54)
Resolved
that the revised Alcohol and Drugs Policy for Students be approved as set
out in Paper S/06/54.
264/06
APPROVAL OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES CODE OF PRACTICE
RAE 2008: Equal Opportunities Code of Practice (S/06/55)
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:
that the RAE 2008 Equal Opportunities Code of Practice be approved as set
out in Paper S/06/55.
265/06
APPOINTMENT OF NEXT VICE CHANCELLOR (S/06/56)
Noted
There was no prescribed process for consulting the Senate about its
representation on the Joint Committee to select a new Vice-Chancellor.
Lengthy consultation would be impossible given the need for speed and
agility in decision-making. In the past Senate representatives had typically
included all the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, but there was general agreement that
the Senators on the Joint Committee should be more representative.
266/06
Resolved
that the five Senate members of the Joint Committee to select the next Vice- 267/06
Chancellor be as follows:
Dr Leon Burnett
Professor Joan Busfield
Professor Gill Green
Professor Rob Massara
Professor Jules Pretty.
Noted
The Senate Agenda Group had requested the opportunity for general
discussion at Senate about the desirable profile of the next Vice-Chancellor.
The following characteristics and issues were identified as important:
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credibility with the academic community
good financial stewardship
approachability
forward-looking
ability to take decisions in the face of external pressures
ability to balance effectively various aspects of the University’s
mission.
Members also believed that the next Vice-Chancellor should value the
following:
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268/06
the breadth of the University’s current academic profile
the University’s profile as a federal institution for the region
the provision of a high quality student experience.
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269/06
Joanne Tallentire
Senior Assistant Registrar
21 November 2006
7