ACADEMIC COUNCIL
Minutes of the third meeting of Academic Council in the 2012-2013 academic session, on
13 March at 2pm in Blake 028, Medway Campus.
Present:
David Maguire, Vice Chancellor
(Chair)
Alan Arokiam, ENG, Early Career
Academic
Tom Barnes, DVC (Research &
Enterprise
Linda Burke, Dean, HSC
Alex Coutroubis, ENG, Teaching
& Research
Samer El-Daher, SCI, Head of
Academic Dept.
Andrew Hall, PHA, Teaching &
Research
Cos Ierotheou, CMS, Teaching &
Research
Simon Jarvis, DVC, (Academic
Development)
Nevin Mehmet, HSC, Teaching &
Research
Austine Obiezewani, VP, SUUG
(Student Activities)
Lucie Pollard, SCI, Teaching &
Research
Martin Snowden, Dean, SCI
In
attendance: Paul Butler, ILS
Wendy Cealey Harrison, LQU
John Orchard, NRI
Apologies:
Linda Cording
Mary Martin
Ann Murphy
Neil Spiller
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Christopher Hallas, (Director of Student
Affairs (Secretary)
Stuart Ashenden, Acting Dean, ENG
Dean Brander, VP, SUUG (Education &
Welfare)
Sandra Clarke, HSS, Teaching &
Research
Iain Cumming, Dean, PHA
Sarah Greer, Acting Dean, HSS
Kazi Haque, President SUUG
David Isaac, ADC, Professoriate
Pam Maras, HSC, Head of Academic
Dept.
Suresh Reddy Mudireddy, VP, SUUG
(Campaigns & Representation)
Chris Philpott, Dean, EDU
Jon Sibson, Dean, BUS
Veronica Habgood, HSC
Lachlan MacKinnon, CMS
Norma Powell (note taker)
Debi Hayes
Wim Melis
Linda Nicolaides
AC/12.25
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 28 November 2012
The summary minutes of COUNCIL held on 28 November 2012 were
agreed as an accurate record.
AC/12.26
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
AC/12.13 – Academic Framework/Calendar
An update has been circulated and the item was discussed under item 6 of
the agenda.
AC/12.13 Review of Academic Council
The Director of Student Affairs reported that arrangements are being made
for the new committees to become operational as soon as possible. Dates
for 2 meetings of the Student Experience Committee have been set and a
meeting of the new University Research Ethics Committee is planned for the
summer.
AC/12.15 – Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy
A query was raised regarding the inability of staff to contact former students
with reference to, for example, learning opportunities. The query was
referred to the Office of Marketing and Communications. All initiatives should
be directed to the Head of Alumni and Development.
AC/12.17 – Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Analysis
2010/2011
Deans of Schools have supplied the names of senior members of their staff
who will be referenced in emails to students in respect of plans for the
2011/2012 DLHE survey.
AC/12.18 – Enhancing Employment Outcomes at the University of
Greenwich
Deans have all responded to the request to identify their employment
outcomes champions and plans for employment outcomes components.
AC/12.19 – National Student Survey (NSS) Results Report 2012
Deans have responded to the Vice Chancellor’s request regarding concerns
with NSS results in their areas and relevant action plans have been
prepared.
AC/12.20 – University Student Survey (USS) Results Report 2012
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Discussion regarding whether or not to continue with the USS will be
included as an agenda item for the Student Experience Committee.
AC/12.27
REPORT FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR AND STRATEGIC PLAN
UPDATE
The Vice Chancellor reported that the university had successfully met the
deadline for submission of HESA data.
The university’s performance on retention has considerably improved and
was the second highest since records had been kept, at 86.4% of first year
students continuing to the second year. This is an increase of 1.6%.
Projected outcomes had also improved to 72.3% - an increase of 4% but still
behind the HESA benchmark and the sector median.
The university is currently 20% of the way through the recruitment cycle and,
as of 11 March 2013 the number of unconfirmed and confirmed offers made
to applicants is up 20% on the previous year. The university continues to
work towards raising the entry tariff scores.
The appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer is in progress. The Vice
Chancellor explained that this is a critical appointment for the university.
The 2013/14 grant letter from HEFCE is due to be received on Monday 18
March.
The Vice Chancellor asked members to support the team working on
redesign of the university’s website if they were asked to provide information
or help. It was emphasised that the website needs to be fit for purpose in
order to present the university in the most effective way possible to potential
students.
A summary of the progress on the Strategic Plan KPIs had been circulated
with the agenda. 17 projects are underway in order to implement the
strategic plan, most of which affect more than one KPI. Good progress is
being made in connection with the majority of the KPIs, with the exception of
project 17 on Finance. However, the Vice Chancellor stated that this did not
mean the university was financially challenged.
There was some discussion regarding item 22 – Building functional
suitability. The Head of Information Systems agreed to take comments back
for discussion with classroom services.
The Vice Chancellor congratulated everyone involved on the progress
made.
AC/12.28
UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH IT STRATEGY:2012-2017
The Head of Information Systems presented a proposed IT Strategy to
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COUNCIL. He explained that the strategy had been devised cognisant of the
Strategic Plan and the ILS restructure and had already been discussed and
endorsed by the Vice Chancellor’s Group, at Executive and with the
Educational Development Unit. There are still some adjustments to be made
and the final strategy will be presented to the April meeting of Court.
COUNCIL discussed the strategy and the Head of Information Systems
agreed to investigate further the request from the School of Engineering that
there be devolved authority for staff to support/implement specific, locally
required software.
The Head of Information Systems informed COUNCIL that the strategy had
been devised with a flexible approach to research requirements and with
appropriate infrastructure. He explained that a projected reduction in the use
of hard texts had been recognised within the Strategy and that Stockwell
Street had been designed with the increased use of e-texts in mind.
All support within ILS has been reorganised and there will now be a single
first line of support with the aim of achieving an 80% resolution rate for first
time fixes in line with the KPI presented in the strategy.
It was noted that classroom support should cover teaching hours which are
currently 09.00 to 21.00. The Head of Information Systems agreed to
investigate this and report back.
COUNCIL noted and endorsed the report and recommended it for
consideration by the Court.
AC/12.29
QUALITY ASSURANCE AGENCY (QAA) INSTITUTIONAL PREPARATION
REVIEW GROUP: UPDATE
The Head of the Learning and Quality Unit updated COUNCIL on the
progress of the Institutional Preparation Review Group.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) reported that the
Institutional Review had been delayed by the QAA for one year but he
recommended that the university continue with the current time scale for
preparation in order to be well prepared for the review.
It is expected that the review will include a submission from the SUUG. The
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) indicated that this had not
been submitted recently, mainly due to the challenge in terms of the lack of
continuity due to frequent changes in sabbaticals. He said that guidance
would be provided to the SUUG in order to assist preparation of a report.
COUNCIL noted the update.
AC/12.30
ACADEMIC FRAMEWORK/CALENDAR IMPLEMENTATION
GROUP:UPDATE
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The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) reported on progress
of the Academic Framework/Calendar Implementation Group and provided
term dates for the 2014-2015 academic session which COUNCIL was asked
to approve.
The Implementation Group meets monthly and a series of open meetings
have taken place for both managers and all staff. He reported that, as a
result of feedback received the term ‘trimester’ has now been replaced with
‘term’. The term dates represent a block of 17 weeks of which 12 are
teaching weeks. Breaks such as Christmas and Easter are not indicated.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) and the Director of
Student Affairs will liaise with relevant parties to consider how best to
communicate the term dates to students and the expectation that students
should be in attendance on specific dates.
COUNCIL noted the report and approved the term dates for 2014-2015.
AC/12.31
SCHOOL MONITORING AND REVIEW DOCUMENTS (SMRDs) 20112012: SUMMARY OF PROCESS AND OUTCOMES
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) informed COUNCIL
that the SMRD process requires an annual review. This was carried out in
February by representatives from the Academic Collaboration Committee,
Learning and Quality Committee and the Research and Enterprise
Committee. This is an online process to review progress on
recommendations from the previous year, especially with regard to the
progress on the number of students who achieve either a 2:1 or first class
degree. Although there has been an increase of some 6% in numbers
gaining these degree classifications, the university still awards relatively
fewer 2:1 or first class degrees than do peer institutions.
COUNCIL noted the summary.
AC/12.32
PERSONAL TUTORING POLICY
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) presented the
Personal Tutoring Policy to COUNCIL for discussion. He said that personal
tutoring has a major impact on student success and, although the university
had a good history of personal tutor provision, there was some inconsistency
in provision across Schools and departments. The Policy has been
presented to the Learning and Quality Committee and acknowledges both
the importance of a personal tutoring system, the setting out of student
entitlement and the responsibilities of staff to arrange planned, consistent
sessions for all undergraduate students. COUNCIL agreed that the best way
to ensure confidential space for personal tutoring sessions to take place
would be to attach personal tutoring to courses. COUNCIL also recognised
that the Policy contained ‘stated goals’ which ‘staff should attempt to achieve
to the best of their ability’.
AC 12\M-3\March 2013
The Pro Vice Chancellors will be responsible for the promulgation and
implementation of the Policy. A report on progress will be provided in
January 2014 and will be integrated to the SMRD with an interim report after
one term which will be presented to the Student Experience Committee.
It was agreed that the version number, author and date should be included
in the policy document.
COUNCIL endorsed the Policy, with the provision that the Head of the
Educational Development Unit submit an updated version, amended in the
light of discussion to the Vice Chancellor, for approval via Chair’s action.
AC/12.33
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR TAUGHT AWARDS: PROPOSED
CHANGES
The Head of the Learning and Quality Unit reported that the proposed
changes to the Academic Regulations for Taught Awards represented a
‘tidying up’ and updating exercise in line with the QAA’s revised code for
collaborative provision.
COUNCIL endorsed the proposed changes with effect from September
2013 with the provision that the Head of the Learning and Quality Unit
submit a corrected version of the proposed changes to the Vice Chancellor.
AC/12.34
SUMMARY REPORTS TO COUNCIL
ACADEMIC COLLABORATION COMMITTEE
COUNCIL received a paper from the Academic Collaboration Committee
detailing the current status of the work of the Committee.
COUNCIL noted the report.
PARTNER SCRUTINY PANEL
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) presented COUNCIL
with two reports from the Partner Scrutiny Panel concerning the review of
existing partnerships, the reinstatement of partnerships and the
establishment of new partnerships.
COUNCIL was asked to ratify the continuation of Multimedia College,
Mbagathi, Kenya as a partner of the university.
COUNCIL was asked to ratify the approval of ESCEM, Poitiers, France;
Stichting Hogeschool, Utrecht; Genetic Computer School (GCS), Singapore;
Gia Dinh University of Technologies and Information Sciences (GDU),
Vietnam, the Institute of International Finance Education (IIFE), Hanoi,
Vietnam and Cihan University, Kurdistan as partners of the university.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) drew COUNCIL’s
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attention to the risk assessment which had been carried out with regard to
the proposed partnership with Cihan University, Kurdistan.
COUNCIL was asked to ratify the reinstatement of the City of London
College as an approved partner of the university.
COUNCIL considered the reports, and ratified the recommended
approvals.
AC/12.37
REVIEW PANEL: APPEAL AGAINST MPhil EXAMINATION DECISION;
APPEAL AGAINST PhD RE-EXAMINATION DECISION
COUNCIL received a request to endorse decisions made by the Review
Panel to uphold appeals against a PhD examination decision and a MPhil
decision.
COUNCIL ratified the decisions to uphold the appeals.
COUNCIL was also requested to support the recommendations of the
Review Panel with regard to the current examination process for research
degrees:
•
The RDA7 (Preliminary Report and Recommendation of an Examiner
on a Candidate for the Degree of MPhil, PhD or PhD by Published
Work) is re-designed; and
Examiners/Chairs of research degree examinations are provided with
training to ensure RDA7 and RDA8 (Recommendation of the
Examiners Following an Oral or Alternative Examination for the
Degree of PhD/PhD by Published Work) forms are completed
appropriately.
•
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) emphasised the
need for reports to be consistent.
COUNCIL endorsed the recommendations made by the review panel.
AC/12.36
CONFIRMATION OF RECOMMENDATION OF EXAMINERS: PhD AND
EdD
COUNCIL received a report from the Research Degrees committee
confirming the recommendations of examiners following the Research
Degrees Committee meeting on 17th January 2013.
COUNCIL ratified the awards recommended by the examiners.
AC/12.37
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:
FLOW OF MINUTES INTO ACADEMIC COUNCIL
a) CENTRAL COMMITTEES
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Academic Collaboration Committee – 25 October 2012
Academic Planning Committee – 31 October 2012, 12 December 2012, 10
January 2013
Learning and Quality – 5 December 2012, 9 January 2013, 13 February
2013
Partner Scrutiny Panel – 6 December 2012
Research Degrees Committee – 8 November 2012
Research & Enterprise Committee – 12 December 2012
Research Ethics Committee – 12 October 2012, 4 December 2012, 19
February 2013
COUNCIL noted the flow of minutes
b) SCHOOL BOARDS
Business – 12 September 2012
CMS – 30 November 2012
Health and Social Care – 21 November 2012
Humanities & social Science – 5 December 2012
Medway School of Pharmacy – 18 July 2012
Science – 21 November 2012
COUNCIL noted the flow of minutes

AC/12.38
DATE OF NEXT MEETING OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL:
WEDNESDAY 1st MAY 2013 – QUEEN ANNE 075, GREENWICH
CAMPUS
ANY OTHER BUSINESS (TO INCLUDE COMMENTS FROM CHAIRS ON
SIGNIFICANT ITEMS FROM BOARDS AND COMMITTEES)
There were no items of other business.
Signature………………………………………………………….Date……………………………
(Chair)
AC 12\M-3\March 2013