Approved
Chair
Present
Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor
Dr Bailey, Mr Bannerman, Dr Barnard, Dr Boehm, Mr Butler, Professor Carrabine, Dr
Cornford, Dr Cox, Dr Fasli, Professor Gilbert, Professor Henson, Dr Hulme, Mr
Ignatius, Professor Jackson, Dr Krikler, Mr Luther, Dr Mackenzie, Dr Marrani,
Professor Main, Professor Martin, Mr Murphy, Dr Nocker, Dr Penman, Dr Pevalin,
Professor Pretty, Professor Raines, Dr Rowlands, Professor Rubin, Professor Russo,
Dr Salhi, Professor Sanders, Dr Sepulveda, Professor Sherer, Dr Smith, Professor
South, Professor Stones, Miss Thoresen, Professor Tsang, Dr Wade, Professor
Whiteley, Dr Wood, Dr Woollard, Professor Wright
Apologies Dr Arnold, Mr Cornes, Professor Laurie, Professor Lucas, Dr Sangwine
Secretary Dr Campbell, Acting Registrar and Secretary
In attendance Ms Casey, Mrs Endean, Miss Griffin, Ms Potter, Ms Seabrook, Mr Stock, Dr Virdee
Noted The Vice-Chancellor made the following announcements:
There were two points for clarification in the papers to Senate:
 Items 6 and 7 on the agenda should be marked ‘for discussion and approval’ rather than ‘for information and discussion’;
 Item 4(b), paper S/11/60 (page 7): The appointment of the Assistant
Proctor should be for the period 1/8/11 to 31/7/13 rather than 1/8/11 to
31/7/14.
Item 6 regarding the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor would cover the process for making the appointment. Senate members were invited to attend an informal meeting immediately after the main Senate meeting, to be chaired by
Professor David Sanders, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), in order to express their views regarding the preferred personal qualities and attributes of the new Vice-Chancellor.
Dee Evans had resigned as a member of Council and would be replaced in due course. A replacement had been identified to replace Mrs Evans as a member of the Joint Committee of Senate and Council to appoint the new Vice-
Chancellor.
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Dr Aulay Mackenzie would be leaving his post as Dean of Academic
Partnerships during the Autumn term so was attending his last Senate meeting.
Senate members joined the Vice-Chancellor in thanking Dr Mackenzie for his service to the University and his contribution to the work of Senate.
Following the recent death of an undergraduate student from the Department of
Mathematical Sciences, the Vice-Chancellor reported that he had written to the student’s family on behalf of everyone at the University to express condolences.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed new staff and student members to the first
Senate meeting of the academic year.
Noted In accordance with Standing Orders, para 5, no items were starred for discussion.
Noted
Noted The Vice-Chancellor reported that, following his meeting with Dr Lisa Wade,
Chair of the Senate Agenda Group, the main topics for discussion at the Senate meetings during 2011-12 would be knowledge exchange, research impact and employability.
Approved The minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2011.
None
Approved Without discussion, those items not already starred on the agenda or indicated in advance of the meeting in accordance with Standing Orders, para 5.
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Recommended to Council that Professor Nigel South be re-appointed as Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Law and Management) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Partnerships) for the period 1/8/12 to 31/7/13.
Recommended to Council that Professor Rainer Schulze be appointed as Director of the Human Rights centre for the period 1/9/11 to 31/7/12.
Recommended to Council that the Department of Biological Sciences changes its name to the School of
Biological Sciences with effect from 1 August 2011 and that Ordinance 25 be amended accordingly.
Received The ViceChancellor’s written statement to Senate.
Noted The Vice-Chancellor reported verbally on the following issues:
 Student recruitment remained very positive with good overseas recruitment despite the stricter immigration requirements. There was no significant risk of over-recruitment on the Home and EU undergraduate side;
 UCU action short of a strike had started on 10 October. The situation was being monitored but there had been no significant impact to date;
 Following the announcement of the departure of the Director of Finance and in light of a number of recent and impending departures within the senior management team, the Vice-Chancellor reassured Senate members that the departures were a sign of the University’s growing success and reputation in the higher education sector.
The following issues were raised during subsequent discussion:
 It was noted that the undershooting of the Home and EU admissions target in the Faculty of Law and Management was not as a result of errors on the part of the Faculty or of the Schools within it but related to the overall student numbers position;
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 Plans for establishing a central London campus were at an early stage with the location yet to be determined. It was envisaged that the academic offering initially would include pathway provision from the
International Academy and Continuing Professional Development programmes to complement the offering at Colchester and elsewhere, with longer term plans for some undergraduate and postgraduate provision;
 Following the ViceChancellor’s reassurances regarding staff departures, some Senate members reported the concern among academic and non-academic staff alike. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the University’s current overall strength and pointed to its diversity of income, which would act as a buffer against the changing external environment and would protect its strong financial position;
 Concern was expressed by some Senate members about the ongoing pensions dispute.
Received
Noted
Resolved
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A paper from the Acting Registrar and Secretary setting out the process for appointing the new Vice-Chancellor and seeking approval for the Senate members to serve on the Joint Committee of Senate and Council to oversee the appointment.
It was noted that Professor David Sanders had consulted Senate members during the summer regarding Senate membership of the Joint Committee.
Professor Sanders stated that he had proceeded on the basis that those appointed should be made up of a Dean, a Head of Department or School and a representative of the campus trade unions. It was proposed that the following three Senate members be appointed to the Joint Committee:

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Dr Pamela Cox
Professor Geoffrey Gilbert
Dr Stephen Sangwine
Senate members expressed unanimous support for the proposed Senate membership of the Joint Committee, although there was some concern about the selection process. It was acknowledged that it was important to move quickly to ensure the new Vice-Chancellor appointment could be made in a timely manner.
The Director of Human Resources confirmed that, following a full tender process, an external company to undertake the executive search had been appointed and would be consulting across the University to seek views on the new appointment. It was reiterated that the company would be facilitating the process and would not be part of the decision-making.
That the above members of Senate be appointed to serve on the Joint
Committee of Senate and Council to appoint the new Vice-Chancellor.
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Received
Noted
Resolved
A paper prepared by the Vice-Chancellor setting out the background to the proposed review of the effectiveness of Senate planned for 2011-12 and to request Senate approval for the membership and terms of reference of the
Working Party.
As part of the standard quinquennial review arrangements for the Council and
Senate, Council had undertaken a review of its effectiveness in 2010-11 so a review of the effectiveness of Senate was now required, noting that the academic-decision making structures and Senate Sub-Committees had been subject to review since the last Senate effectiveness review in 2005-06.
In discussion, Senate members agreed that the terms of reference should include consideration of the Senate sub-committees.
That a Working Party be established to undertake a review of Senate effectiveness;
That the membership and terms of reference of the Working Party be approved as described in paper S/11/63, noting that Senate sub-committees should be included within the terms of reference; and
That the Working Party report to Senate no later than the last Senate meeting of the 2011-12 academic year.
Received The latest version of the University’s revised draft Vision Statement, which was currently being reviewed and would be subject to consultation across the
University.
Senate members were invited to comment on the draft Vision following consideration by Council members at its recent away day. It was noted that the
Vision would be on the agenda at the forthcoming Senior Staff Conference, particularly to enable the Faculties to consider and update the sections on intellectual direction.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the key strategic drivers set out in the draft
Vision. He stated that retaining the University’s position as a top ten UK institution for research quality remained a top priority and acknowledged the need to expand the amount and range of research undertaken. He also emphasised the need to focus on the international agenda and pointed to the removal of references to the region, to be replaced by references to the locality.
The importance of University league tables was noted and the extent to which
Essex should set a target to be in The Times top 25. Current scores on entry tariff, good degrees awards and graduate employment undermined the
Unive rsity’s position in league tables, which had a direct impact on its overall world ranking position. Senate members agreed that it may not be possible to reach the top 25, although it was suggested that top 30 or not outside the top
40 could be an appropriate target.
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During the general discussion, the following main points were noted:
 The balance between size and quality would affect the University’s future direction. It was acknowledged that the revised Vision did not focus on student number growth but on the quality and breadth of the academic offering;
 The figures relating to the University’s financial position were indicative of the University’s general direction of travel and would be honed as part of the work to finalise the Vision. The financial strategy would be to protect against unexpected external developments and to invest in the student experience and academic offering;
 The locality or region was an important part of the University’s undergraduate recruitment base and was not in conflict with the international agenda, the two did and should complement each other;
 It was noted that while staff-student ratios did not impact directly on league table positioning, they could affect the University’s financial position if not balanced correctly. It was acknowledged that the ratios also affected the overall student experience and had an impact on student performance and engagement, which were linked to league table positions;
 Senate members noted that the Rules of Assessment Review Group was planning to undertake a benchmarking exercise to compare Essex to other members of the 1994 Group. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Academic Standards) acknowledged the importance of the Rules of
Assessment in determining student achievement but emphasised that a multi-pronged approach was being adopted, which included consideration of marking policy as well as focusing on the Rules of
Assessment;
 Senate members agreed that the Vision Statement could include both reference to the characteristics and attributes of Essex students and a commitment to the recruitment and retention of high quality staff;
 It was suggested that further consideration should be given to existing areas of academic strength that the University may wish to develop further as well as any new areas that could be invested in over the
2012-17 planning period.
i.
Resolved
 that the following courses be approved for a period of five years commencing
September 2011:
UCS Bury St Edmunds
BSc (Ord) Psychology and Sociology
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UCS Ipswich
 BSc (Ord) Criminology
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BSc (Ord) Criminology and Youth Studies
BSc (Ord) Psychology and Criminology
BSc (Ord) Psychology and Sociology
BSc (Ord) Psychology and Youth Studies
BA (Ord) Sociology and Youth Studies ii.
Resolved UCS Bury St Edmunds from : BA (Hons) Psychology and Sociology to : BSc (Hons) Psychology and Sociology
UCS Ipswich from: BSc (Hons) Oncology and Radiotherapy to: BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy and Oncology from: BA (Hons) Psychology and Criminology to: BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology iii.
Resolved that the following courses be discontinued with immediate effect:
UCS Great Yarmouth
 CertHE/FdA Event Management (Hospitality)


CertHE/FdA Event Management (Leisure)
CertHE/FdA Event Management (Tourism)
Noted
Noted
Resolved that the Centre for the Study of Integrity be established with immediate effect under the directorship of Professor Paul Whiteley.
Noted
Dr Wayne Campbell
Acting Registrar and Secretary
19 October 2011
7
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