Approved Minutes
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
28 NOVEMBER 2006
(2:00pm – 4:00pm)
MINUTES
Chair
Present
Apologies
Secretary
Mrs Stamp
Mr Capella, Mrs Collett, Miss Cox, Mrs Endean, Ms Gray, Ms Jones, Mr Kent, Dr Vickers
Ms Fletcher, Professor Masterson
Miss Romaine, Graduate Trainee
MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE (EADC/06/11)
Noted
Professor Masterson would be leaving the University at the end of the calendar
year. The replacement Dean on EADC would be nominated by the Vice
Chancellor’s Advisory Group (VAG) for approval by Senate. Consideration
should be given to strengthening the gender balance of EADC, if possible.
56/06
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23 MAY 2006
Approved
The minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2006 were approved.
57/06
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
(a) Disseminating Minutes and Reports to Partner Institutions (M.13/06)
Reported
The process of gathering contact details for partner institutions was in progress.
58/06
Noted
The routine procedure would be for EADC minutes to be sent to the named
contact at each partner institution, to be shared with the partner’s EO committee
as appropriate. In turn, the partners would be asked to send their committee’s
minutes to the Equality and Diversity Officer who would refer relevant items to
EADC. The Academic Registrar would formally propose the arrangements to
the head of each partner institution.
59/06
(b) Complaints from Disabled Students (M. 44/06)
Reported
The Academic Registrar explained that although a disproportionate number of
complaints had been made by students with disabilities, other than those detailed
at the previous meeting (EOSG/06/08), the remaining complaints had made no
reference to disability. It was difficult to know the reason why disabled students
were more likely to make complaints than non-disabled students, but it was
thought that perhaps it was due to disabled students being more aware of their
rights. Specific attention would be paid to those complaints in the future.
60/06
Resolved
that the reports to EADC on Student Complaint Statistics should include a
breakdown of all complaints made by disabled students, regardless of whether or
61/06
not they related to disability.
REPORT OF CHAIR’S ACTION
Reported
Following previous circulation to members of the Committee, the RAE 2008:
Equal Opportunities Code of Practice had been approved by the Chair on behalf
of EADC and recommended for approval to Senate and Council.
62/06
DISABILITY MATTERS
(a) Disability Equality Scheme (Final Draft) (EADC/06/12)
Reported
A draft of the Disability Equality Scheme had been circulated to members of
EADC, disabled groups and other staff and students. All resulting comments
had either been responded to or incorporated into the final draft of the Scheme.
63/06
Noted
Ms Jones was congratulated and thanked for her hard work on the Disability
Equality Duty. The wide consultation which had taken place with staff and
student groups was particularly appreciated.
64/06
Recommended
to Council
that the Disability Equality Scheme be approved.
65/06
(b) Update and Further Detail on the Implementation of the ‘Two Ticks’ Disability Symbol
(EADC/06/13)
Reported
Noted
A proposal for the University to apply for the ‘Two Ticks’ disability
accreditation had been forwarded to VAG. They had requested more
information, particularly in terms of Commitment 1: “To interview all disabled
applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them
on their abilities.” VAG had been concerned that, particularly for academic
posts, this obligation could have significant resource implications.
66/06
The Equality and Diversity Officer had received information from other
universities with the ‘Two Ticks’ accreditation which had indicated that it
resulted in the use of more specific minimum criteria, which kept shortlists to a
manageable size. However, it was recognised that this approach could lead to
inflexibility in drawing up a shortlist as some departments preferred to have
wider minimum criteria in order to allow applications from a range of potential
applicants.
67/06
EOSG expressed strong support for the implementation of the ‘Two Ticks’
scheme and it was felt that the symbol would help to generate positive publicity
for the University as a fair and diverse place to work or study.
68/06
The Director of Personnel Services and the Equality and Diversity Officer would
be submitting a revised case to VAG. They would consider reviewing a
selection of previous academic jobs to assess what impact the ‘Two Ticks’
commitment would have made on the number interviewed, to inform the case.
69/06
(c) Evaluation of Mental Health Provision (EADC/06/14)
Reported
The post of Senior Advisor (Mental Health) was now well-established and had
allowed for individual student support, an increase in mentoring support and the
raising of mental health awareness. In the future, Student Support aimed
70/06
particularly to expand the mentoring system and, building on the mental health
briefing they had delivered to staff in the Department of Law, to run more staff
development courses for other departments or sections. These aims were
positively received by EADC, and it was also suggested that Student Support
should consider an increased emphasis on transition training and in assisting
students to adjust to university life.
Noted
Ms Wilson, Senior Advisor (Mental Health), was thanked for her report.
71/06
STATISTICS
(a) Schedule and Report from Statistical Monitoring Group for Students and Staff
(EADC/06/15 and EADC/06/16)
Received
The papers set out proposals for improved monitoring of student and staff EO
statistical information.
72/06
Noted
The current system for monitoring student EO statistics required improvements,
for example, departments received equal opportunities data on their students, but
were not required to reflect on these statistics. Following the implementation of
the proposals set out in paper EADC/06/15, some departments might find it
onerous to analyse and interpret the data. It was suggested that a ‘traffic light’
system be devised to indicate what was statistically significant.
73/06
Resolved
that the Academic Registrar would implement the proposals:
74/06
a)
b)
c)
to scope a pilot exercise and identify at least one department which
would be willing to trial an in-depth analysis of student equal
opportunities data. A worked out proposal would be brought to the next
meeting of EADC for University-wide implementation;
to work with the Planning Office and relevant specialist staff to produce
statistics and accompanying analytical commentary suitable for
consideration at the next meeting of EADC;
to consult with each student-facing office, establishing what routine
monitoring they carry out and to agree the format for internal publication
of the data.
Noted
The suggestion to employ a student with statistical skills to assist in the
interpretation of the data. A summary of all routine monitoring arrangements
would be submitted for approval at the next meeting of EADC.
75/06
Reported
The Director of Personnel Services and the Equality and Diversity Officer
planned to expand the current system for collecting staff EO statistics, as set out
in paper EADC/06/16. It was noted that the implementation of Personnel’s erecruitment system and integrated HR system were both progressing slowly, but
when implemented, would improve the ability to gather and monitor staff
statistics.
76/06
Noted
Where responsibility for analysing staff statistics lay outside of Personnel, a
‘traffic light’ system would also be beneficial.
77/06
(b) Revised Equal Opportunities Monitoring Targets (EADC/06/17)
Reported
Out of the EO targets set in March 2003, the University had met two out of four.
This was felt to be a relatively positive outcome and indicated that the targets
78/06
were challenging.
A new staff survey was planned to gather data on the number of staff with a
disability. This survey would include an updated definition of disability, which
it was hoped would reveal a higher percentage of staff with a disability who
currently classified themselves as non-disabled.
Resolved
(a)
(b)
that the target ‘To increase the number of women appointed as Heads of
Department and Deans from 11% in 2006 to 20% by 2010’ be expanded
to include Pro Vice Chancellors;
that there should be an updated target to increase the number of female
lecturers from 41% in 2006 to 45% in 2010.
79/06
80/06
(c) Key Performance Indicators (EADC/06/18)
Received
The paper proposed a schedule of key performance indicators (KPIs) which
could form the basis of the monitoring in accordance with the Committee’s
terms of reference.
81/06
Noted
The KPIs formalised the work that EADC was already carrying out. They would
be organic and open for amendment if necessary. Some amendments were
discussed and agreed.
82/06
Resolved
that the schedule of KPIs be approved, as set out in Appendix A.
83/06
E-LEARNING PACKAGE
Reported
Mr Kent reported that the implementation of the equality and diversity elearning product had required considerable work, especially in terms of
reviewing the script, but that it was expected to be ready for a pilot programme
very soon. Staff across the University who had been consulted about the elearning package had responded very positively.
84/06
GENDER EQUALITY DUTY (EADC/06/19)
Reported
Work was underway in preparing for the Gender Equality Duty, which would
require a Gender Equality Scheme to be published by 30 April 2007.
85/06
Action
The Equality and Diversity Officer would co-ordinate a steering group to
oversee the drafting and implementation of the Gender Equality Scheme and
would provide an update on progress at the next meeting.
86/06
IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (EADC/06/20)
Reported
Membership of the Equality Impact Assessment Working Group (EIAWG) was
in the process of being finalised.
87/06
Noted
The EADC’s annual report to Council would include a brief summary of the
EIAWG report. The report would be starred for discussion at Council, enabling
the Chair of EADC to raise Council’s awareness of equality impact assessments,
since Council were ultimately responsible for ensuring that the University
complied with legislative requirements.
88/06
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Speak Out Event (EADC/06/21)
Received
The tabled paper gave details of feedback received from disabled students at the
recent Disability Speak Out Event on campus.
89/06
Noted
Some students had suggested the possibility of introducing an I.D. scheme to
identify those with special needs, such as a condition which merited being
allowed to go the front of a queue to avoid standing. The Committee felt that
such a scheme would be problematic, in terms of the possibility of misuse and
the difficulty of spreading awareness of the scheme throughout the University.
The Students Union could still set up an I.D. scheme within the Union buildings,
if they thought it desirable.
90/06
The Speak Out Event had also highlighted problems concerning staff and student
awareness of disabilities, especially hidden disabilities. Involvement of students
in staff development courses, along the same lines as the ‘Working with
International Students’ course, was felt to be very positive in promoting good
relations between staff and students.
91/06
Camilla Romaine
Graduate Trainee
January 2007
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