UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL 2009-2010
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EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE (EADC)
EADC has the following membership and terms of reference (approved by Council
on 22 February 2010):Membership
Ex-Officio Members
Vice-Chancellor: Professor Colin Riordan
Director of Human Resources: Mrs Sue Endean
Academic Registrar: Dr Wayne Campbell
Director of Student Support: Ms Rachel Fletcher
Assistant Director of Student Support (Disability): Ms Angela Jones
Equality and Diversity Officer: Mr Syd Kent
Equality and Diversity Officer, Students’ Union: Mr Nibras Hadi
Nominated/Representative/Elected Members
One representative from each of the three campus Trade Unions; Ms Natalie Gray,
Professor Peter Patrick, one vacancy
One student member elected by the Students’ Union Council: None
Appointed Members
One External Member of Council
Mrs Rosy Stamp (Chair)
One Dean
Dr Leon Burnett
One Head of Department
Professor Jane Wright
Terms of Reference
a) To agree policy in relation to equality and diversity issues, consulting
students, staff and external interest groups as appropriate, and to make
recommendations to Senate and to Council as appropriate;
b) to monitor key performance indicators in accordance with an agreed
schedule;
c) to monitor the implementation of requirements and recommendations that
arise from the introduction of new policies and procedures or the review of
existing policies and procedures;
d) to review existing policies, procedures and service provision in relation to
equality and diversity;
e) to receive and advise on action arising from external consultation exercises;
f) to decide on the programme of Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs), to
receive final EIA reports and monitor the implementation of any
recommendations arising from final EIA reports;
g) to submit an annual report to Council.
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APPROVAL OF POLICIES
During the course of the year Council approved the Disability Equality Scheme.
Council is now being asked to approve the following revised policies, both of which
were approved by the Equality and Diversity Committee on 13 May 2010.
Code of Practice on the Promotion or Race Equality
Under 18s and Vulnerable Adults policy, available from this link:http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/policies/u18andvadults_policy.shtm
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EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (EIAs)
An EIA looking at Student Discipline was completed in May 2010. Although EADC
will not receive the final report from the panel at its meeting in November 2010, it is
aware that no evidence of discrimination was found. An EIA looking at Student
Progress and Retention is also currently in progress. In order to more quickly identify
those policies for which a full EIA is necessary, at its meeting in May 2010 EADC
approved a ‘fast-track’ EIA template which will be rolled out to Departments and
Sections over the coming months.
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STUDENT EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STATISTICS
EADC received reports from Undergraduate and Postgraduate Admissions, the
Disciplinary and Membership Panel, Student Support, The Counselling Service, the
Careers Centre and the Academic Section (student complaints). One area of concern
was identified in relation to the report from the Disciplinary and Membership Panel;
namely that the proportion of black students seen by the Proctor and referred to the
Disciplinary Panel in 2008/2009 was significantly in excess of their representation in
the overall student population. The Committee asked for further investigation,
following which it was reassured that no discrimination had taken place.
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STAFF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STATISTICS
EADC received staff statistics, including Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), as at
31 March 2009 (at the November 2009 meeting) and 31 March 2010 (at the May
2010 meeting). Two areas of concern were identified; firstly (relating to the statistics
for 2009) that the percentage of ethnic minority applicants being interviewed was less
than the percentage of applicants, whereas for people who are white and British the
percentage being interviewed was greater than the percentage who applied. Secondly
(relating to the statistics for 2010), that no black applicants to General Support Staff
and Office Support Staff positions were appointed and only four applicants
interviewed. EADC asked for further investigations to be undertaken; these
investigations are ongoing.
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PROGRESS ON THE UNIVERSITY’S EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
TARGETS
Although it appears that all targets have been met, some cannot be measured properly
due to the reclassification of Teaching Fellows as Lecturers. Evidence from the
consultation exercise being undertaken as part of the production of a Single Equality
Scheme will be used to identify meaningful and relevant revised targets.
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EQUALITY ACT 2010
EADC approved the creation of a core Implementation Group to facilitate the
production of the University’s first Single Equality Scheme. The Scheme will
encompass the new equality legislation which comes into force in October 2010 (the
public sector duties follow in April 2010). The Group is chaired by Professor Jane
Wright, Head of the School of Law.
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OTHER BUSINESS
1. Two Ticks Disability Symbol – following submission of the first annual
report to Job Centre Plus in July 2009, approval was obtained to continue
using the symbol for a further year.
2. Access Forum – EADC received three reports from the Access Forum over
the course of the year. Major achievements include the production of a
Campus Access Map and an ‘accessible route-finder’ mobile phone app for
finding one’s way across campus via step-free and minimum-gradient routes,
progress towards producing an ‘interactive’ campus map and the installation
of a new drop level counter in the Information Centre.
3. International Staff Website – in November 2009 the University committed
to a three-year subscription to the website
http://www.internationalstaff.ac.uk/. The site contains advice and
information on how to make the smooth transition to living in the UK and
working in the UK Higher Education system. Certain areas of the site, such
contain Essex-specific information, other areas contain generic information.
4. Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ECDP) – In May 2010 the University
became affiliated with ECDP, an organisation run by and for disabled people
in Essex.
5. Work experience scheme for disabled people – in February 2010 USG
approved the introduction of a work experience scheme for disabled people
and staff in the Equality and Diversity Unit are working with local
organisations, such as ECDP and Tuck by Truck, to promote the scheme.
6. Review of Harassment Advisory Network – a review group, chaired by
Paul Gray, has been set up to look at the functioning of the Network and the
role of its advisors and to make recommendations for change as appropriate.
The group is due to report its finding to the November 2010 meeting of
EADC.
Karen Bush
Policy and Projects Officer, Human Resources
June 2010