MINUTE of the SCHOOL MANAGEMENT GROUP
held in Room 302, 3 University Gardens on 1st May 2013
PRESENT:
Roibeard O Maolalaigh (Chair), Adam Rieger, Sheila Kidd, Jeremy Huggett, Catriona MacDonald,
Stuart Airlie, Ian Ruffell, Thomas Clancy, Michael Murray, Lynn Abrams
APOLOGIES:
Ann Gow,
ATTENDING:
Professor David Gainster, Director of the Hunterian Art Gallery & Museum, Pauline McLachlan
Table of Contents
Kelvin Hall development ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Minutes of the meeting held 17th April 2013 ................................................................................................................. 1
Matters Arising .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
Head of School Update .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Admin/Finance Update .................................................................................................................................................. 2
School Committees ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
AOB
..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Action:
1.
Kelvin Hall development
Professor David Gaimster attended to discuss possible future curriculum developments with
the Kelvin Hall following the relocation of the Hunterian Museum to the Kelvin Hall site.
The proposal includes plans to develop collection and teaching spaces. It also includes a
proposal for the creation of a Collection Studies Centre to be used as a resource centre for
teaching and research. This is a joint proposal in partnership with Glasgow Life, Glasgow
City Council and the National Library of Scotland. The plan includes a proposal to develop
a Royal Highland Fusilier Museum and to bring together different historical collections, e.g.
Glasgow at War and Glasgow history. Archaeology, design and banking & finance would
also be included. DG reported that over 400,000 items would be coming together. DG is
developing conversations regarding opportunities with colleagues across the University,
both in terms of existing relationships and curriculum developments. DG sought
suggestions on how Humanities could feed into this academic case. ROM had asked ScMG
in advance of the meeting to consider suggestions and discuss further with colleagues. LA
suggested a possible Public Humanities MLitt and that all History PGT courses, and
possibly UG courses, could benefit. MM reported that at least 25 current Humanities PGT
options relate to museums, artefacts, etc. SA would welcome the level of enhancement this
could bring to Humanities courses. DG suggested that archives may also move to the
Kelvin Hall site, but Hunterian special collections will remain in GUL. It is anticipated that
a 200 seat conference suite would be included with seminar and break-out rooms and also a
suite of teaching labs (dirty, conservation and benched. There would be potential for student
involvement in placements for preparation work prior to the move. JWH suggested that the
Gregory Building move to the Arts Building proposed for the Western Infirmary site would
tie into this.
ROM asked for comments to be returned to him for collating and forwarding to DG by 3rd
May 2013.
3.
Minutes of the meeting held 17th April 2013
The minutes were approved subject to typographical corrections. PMcL will circulate to all
School colleagues.
Matters Arising
4.
3.1 ECR/Functional Convenors – ROM had responded to Gillian Shaw.
3.2 PDR – Review period for 2012-13 opens on 1st May and guidelines would be pulished
soon on the HR website.. The Russell Group benchmark criteria had been updated.
3.3 HoS/RI re: HoSA – ROM had responded to David Newall.
3.4 Chancellor’s Fund – at least one of the four bids from Humanities will be funded
(Forsyth & O Maolalaigh).
3.5 TSSA – Dr Kenneth Hutton will commence on 13th May 2013.
Head of School Update
2.
All / ROM
PMcL
5.
4.1 Celtic & Gaelic Lecturer – Dr Sìm Innes from Harvard University had been appointed.
4.2 Staff Survey – University Communications Officer, Phil Taylor, had been appointed. A
draft internal communications strategy document was tabled and responses should be
returned to ROM by 8th May. ROM to respond to College Secretary by 10th May.
4.3 Complaints Procedure – ROM reported on a presentation by Professor Briggs that new
complaints procedure would have to be put in place before the beginning of next session.
This is increasingly driven by ombudsman and will be a condition of future SFC funding.
4.5 RUK recruitment – ROM reported that recruitment figures looked as if they would
increase to 230/240.
4.6 Dean of Graduate Studies – ROM reported that Dr Barbara Burns had been appointed to
the role.
4.6 Futurlearn– GU had confirmed participation and Frank Coton is seeking participants for
two trial courses. CMacD reported that she will meet FC regarding possible Scottish
Studies developments.
4.7 E-Learning – A draft policy had been circulated at CMG. SA had reviewed at L&T
Committee. Concern was expressed at the level of IT support required, whether there would
be rooms available with appropriate facilities and the assumption that all students have
access to Smartphones, broadband and laptops.
4.8 GTA Recruitment Proposal - A policy is expected on GTA recruitment. The proposal
had been returned to Heads of Schools for further consideration.
4.9 Research Leave - Deadlines for 2014-15 had been circulated and placed on the CoA
website. ROM had contacted CoA regarding HR issues relating to leave and awaited a
response.
4.10 Principal’s Budget Meeting – To be held in May with School budget meetings in June
2013.
4.11 HATII – The subject is currently undertaking an internal strategic review. A meeting
regarding teaching programmes and strategic developments is being held today. ROM
thanked JWH for facilitating this.
4.12 School Meeting – ROM asked if colleagues were content to maintain the forum rather
than meeting/reporting format. It was agreed to retain the forum format. Suggested items
for discussion included: Staff Survey; Discipline +; ‘Breaking down the Walls’ PG Festival;
Post-REF developments and opportunities and PDR.
4.12 Discipline + - IR suggested that this be discussed under the post-REF discussion at the
School meeting. TC queries how Centres could contribute to this. ROM suggested using a
% of research overheads and/or consumables to create incentivisation for cross-subject UG
and PG course development and other interdisciplinary activities and sought feedback. This
led to a discussion on a proposal for a Humanities Level 3 course: Approaches to the
Humanities, which had been put forward by Adele Redhead in HATII. The proposal had
been discussed at School L&T Committee. The proposal contains a placement element,
which it was thought may suit some subjects better than others. AR suggested that
Philosophy students may struggle with this part of the course. IR suggested that the course
title could better reflect the course content. It would be a 30 credit course, but issues
regarding progression into Honours would have to be fully explored. Concerns were
expressed about the course being 30 credits and of the generic nature of the course. It would
require additional teaching commitment from C&G as Level 3 Gaelic would need to be
retained.
ROM welcomed the proposal, but would like to see further course specifics and L&T
methods.
SA, Adele Redhead, Chris Lindsay, Alice Jenkins and Linda Knox will meet to discuss
further prior to BoS on 15th May 2013. SA will take forward Humanities feedback and
concerns.
Admin/Finance Update
5.1 CMIS project – MM reported David Newall had announced a system lock-down from
5pm today to resolve some of the issues. Local space bookings deadline had been extended.
Humanities had met the deadline with 80% of lectures scheduled; the remaining 20% are
mainly PGT and local rooms.
5.2 EvaSys Pilot –MM reported that the University is piloting EvaSys, an internet based
survey management system, in the Business School and MVLS. Feedback is awaited from
the admin teams.
5.3 Tier 4 procedures – A new summer procedure had been announced. Leave of 15+ days
All / ROM
SA
6.
must be approved by the School and supervisors have to complete a form.
5.4 Business Case – MM is developing a business case for support for School SharePoint
development.
School Committees
6.1 Graduate Studies
CMacD reported on recent Graduate Studies business:





PTES – A meeting had been held with Barry Mccluckie attending. Each subject
area agreed to develop an action plan prior to the next Graduate Studies meeting.
CMacD would follow up the careers and employability aspects with Ann Duff.
Ranking Meeting – There were 3 successful candidates for College Scholarships.
PG Festival – The organisers had been invited to attend the School meeting on 8 th
May 2013.
Higher Degrees BoS – A meeting will be held w/c 13th May: however, CMacD is
unable to attend.
Graduate Studies – A possible collaboration between Philosophy and the
University of Edinburgh will be discussed at the meeting.
CMacD
6.2 Research
TC reported on recent Research activity.

Research Committee – The minutes of the meeting held 15th April were tabled for
information.
 A REF timeline from CoA was tabled (to be circulated to those who had already
left the meeting).
 Impact / Environment Statements – TC reported that these are to be submitted to
CoA by 10th May. IR had circulated Classics statements for information. TC will
liaise with CoA regarding the deadline.
 REF data – The financial data had been issued. MM is reviewing at a School level.
HoSubs will send information to MM for sense-checking. TC reported that a
breakdown of the financial data is required to indentify funders to feed into
Environment statement and he will follow this up with Ashley Theunissen. PGR
graduate figures are awaited.
6.3 Learning and Teaching
SA reported on recent L&T activity.

7.
CW/CR - Advice had been circulated on the application of CW/CR by Linda Knox
in additional to Arts information.
Level 3 – discussed under item 4.
NSS – Survey now closed.


AOB
7.1 Action Points – reported and agreed.
PMcL
TC