MINUTE of the SCHOOL MANAGEMENT GROUP
held in Room 302, 3 University Gardens on 20th February 2013
PRESENT:
Roibeard O Maolalaigh (Chair), Adam Rieger, Sheila Kidd, Ann Gow, Jeremy Huggett, Lynn
Abrams, Michael Murray, Catriona MacDonald, Stuart Airlie,
APOLOGIES:
Ian Ruffell, Thomas Clancy
ATTENDING:
Pauline McLachlan
Table of Contents
Minutes of the meeting held 6th February 2013.............................................................................................................. 1
Matters Arising .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Head of School Update .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Admin/Finance Update .................................................................................................................................................. 1
School Committees ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
AOB
..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Action:
2.
Minutes of the meeting held 6th February 2013
The minutes were approved subject to a correction under item 5.1. PMcL to correct and
circulate to all School colleagues.
Matters Arising
3.
3.1 Head of College to ScMG
Arrangements are being made for a meeting. The HoC cannot attend on the remaining
ScMG dates for 2013; therefore alternative dates had been circulated.
Head of School Update
4.
3.1 College Management Group
JWH will attend for ROM on 20th February 2013.
3.2 HoSub working group
ROM reported that Andrea Nolan is convening a working party to review the role of Heads
of Subject. ROM will participate and requested that HoSubs inform him of any issues,
points of concern or requests for clarity to feed into his report to AN. It was agreed to
circulate the Guidance to Restructuring document. The meeting will be held on 19th March.
HoSubs are welcome to discuss with subject colleagues and return (via PMcL) feedback to
ROM by 1st March 2013.
3.3 Staff Survey
ROM suggested that at the ScMG meeting on 1st May 2013 we formulate a plan setting out
how to deal with the issues raised in the survey for wider discussion at the school meeting
on 8th May 2013 and queried how best to arrange the focus groups. SA suggested that
groups should not be subject specific and should perhaps concentrate on peer/management
support. AG suggested reviewing decisions where there had been a lack of consultation or a
request for input into the decision-making process. JWH suggested that we contact all
School colleagues for suggestions on where they see the problems or for particular issues to
review. It was agreed to circulate an email; gather feedback and review the suggestions
received at the next ScMG.
3.4 Discipline+
ROM requested that colleagues reflect on the document tabled at the School meeting and
take back to subject areas for review and discussion. It was agreed to circulate both
documents tabled at the School meeting to all school colleagues.
Admin/Finance Update
1.
4.1 Finance Update
MM reported that no student FTE detail had been included in the latest financial pack
received. MM will summarise when he returns from leave w/b 11 th March 2013.
PMcL
PMcL
ROM/PMcL
PMcL
MM
5.
4.2 Humanities 2014/Creative Scotland
MM reported that a bid had been submitted to the College Secretary for £344k to support
Humanities 2014 activities.
A meeting was held to discuss the potential Creative Scotland bid: ideas had been collated
and will be circulated. The bid so far totals £200k. The proposal connects academia with
the Commonwealth Games activity in 2014, for example, the history of sport. If successful
it would employ a postdoc for 15 months and could possibly lead to a AHRC application.
ROM offered thanks to Ann Gow and Michael Murray for taking this forward.
4.3 TSSA
MM reported that the post is now advertised with a closing date of 8th March and an
interview date is being arranged.
4.4 L&T Process Mapping
The review of L&T processes is almost complete. MM will take forward with HoSubs and
Convenors w/b 18th March 2013 prior to the ScMG meeting on 17 th April to review.
School Committees
MM
5.1 Graduate Studies
CMacD reported on recent Graduate Studies business:
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A telephone campaign is being developed to aid conversion rates. A conversion
workshop had also been held which was found to be helpful; three colleagues from
Humanities had attended.
Staff Student Committee – dates had been confirmed for the next meetings.
Higher Degrees Committee – CMacD reported on discussions held at the recent
meeting. There were two programme suspensions from Humanities. Concern had
been expressed at the method of assessment for presentation contributions and the
course had been returned to Celtic & Gaelic for review. CMacD voiced her
concern at such action at the meeting and Celtic & Gaelic are formulating a
response. SA suggested that, as other subjects within Humanities also utilise this
method of assessment, we consult to find out how each subject manages it.
Communication – CMacD confirmed that she will cascade information to Subject
L&T Convenors and they should then distribute to Programme Convenors within
subjects and collate responses before returning.
GTA Working Group – Lisa Hau had been involved, but was now on maternity
leave. A replacement member is being sought.
PGT Suspensions – Two courses in Humanities: Mediterranean Archaeology and
Scottish & Celtic Studies had been suspended and new, replacement courses are
being considered.
5.2 Research
TC was not in attendance.
LA sought a School input into impact and REF statements. LA suggested that HoSubs get
together to discuss this further. The deadline for the first draft is 31 st March 2013. It was
suggested that the templates are circulated and PMcL will contact HoSubs to arrange a date.
CMacD
PMcL
5.3 Learning and Teaching
SA reported on recent L&T activity.
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SA offered congratulations to Celtic & Gaelic for a very successful periodic subject
review which was held on 15th February 2013. SK offered thanks to ROM, SA and MM
for their input. The Philosophy PSR will be held in 2014. SA suggested that the C&G
PSR SER be used as a template.
Applicants Day will be held on 26th May 2013. Subject L&T Convenors are involved in
arrangements and emails will be issued to applicants.
A series of Careers workshops are being developed by Ann Duff and Jane Neil had
been assisting with arrangements.
Concerns had been raised regarding delays in course convenors being notified about
disabled students. SA suggested a School Disability Officer. SA and MM will discuss
this proposal further.
Level 3 – SA reported that Level 3 had been discussed at the recent L&T meeting and a
further meeting will be held to discuss this specifically. Subject L&T Convenors will
be involved. SA queried whether HoSubs would also like to participate. It was agreed
that HoSubs would liaise with their L&T Convenor.
SA/MM
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6.
Quality Assurance – SA had discussed with Chris Lindsay following Senate announcing
that the deadline for the submission of AMRs would be shortened, which may result in
external examiner input being omitted. SA suggested that the comments made by
externals at Subject exam boards, and included in the minute, be forwarded to CL. SA
further suggested that HoSubs discuss with Honours and pre-Honours Convenors.
 Exam Boards – SA reported that the Acting Chief Adviser, Linda Knox, had instructed
that if PIP documentation details that attendance at a course is compulsory, Subjects
must enforce this for consistency. SA is awaiting further guidance from Linda Knox
and anticipates that these issues will be discussed at College L&T Committee in a few
weeks time.
 GTA Practice – A proposal had been received from the School of Critical Studies
regarding GTA practices. SA had circulated to HoSubs and MM for review and
comment, and will amend in light of feedback received. CMacD suggested that SA
contact Elaine Wilson for information gathered previously from PG Convenors.
 NSS – SA had emailed Honours Convenors to take this forward and completion rates to
date had been circulated.
AOB
6.1 Action Points – reported and agreed.
6.2 Snell Scholarship – ROM offered congratulations to Marina Moskowitz on her
successful Snell award.
6.3 ISB – MM and SA cannot attend. SA will contact Alice Jenkins for any details relevant
to Humanities in anticipation of the figures being released.
Congratulations were offered to Michael Murray on his forthcoming marriage on March 2 nd
2013.
SA
PMcL