Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
A number of issues were discussed at today’s UEB meeting:
– UEB discussed and approved a paper, due for consideration at the next University Council meeting, titled Access & Participation Plan (APP) 2020 data release. The paper presented the University’s performance against access, success and progression indicators using 2018/19 HESA data, published in May this year by the Office for Students. The data shows there has been promising progress in some areas, notably an increasingly ethnically diverse student body. Elsewhere, access, success and progression has remained stable with little statistical movement, either positively or negatively. However, a number of areas show signs of movement in a negative direction and will require significant attention to stabilise.
The University remains vigilant in its approach to access, success and progression for students from under-represented groups. A number of substantial measures have now been introduced to support increased access, and reduce gaps in success and progression, for students from under-represented groups. Forefront amongst these has been the creation of a new department, Widening Participation and Social Mobility (WPSM), which will co-ordinate and manage the University’s efforts to meet APP targets, and the establishment of the Widening Participation Sub Committee within our governance structures.
– Next, UEB discussed and endorsed a progress report on preparations for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, the largest and most comprehensive research assessment exercise in the world, which drives the allocation of over £2 billion annually of which our University receives £48 million. A successful REF outcome is important both financially and reputationally for the 6 or 7 years until the next exercise is completed. Originally scheduled for 27 November 2020, the submission date has been postponed until 31 March 2021 in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second wave of the pandemic may clearly result in a further pause to the exercise. The University’s response to the rescheduling has been to make some early adjustments to the University’s submission timetable to provide respite to colleagues adjusting to new ways of working, while maintaining the strong momentum we have developed so far. REF results will be announced in April 2022 with funding based on these results commencing in 2022/23 as originally planned.
– There was an update on a meeting held with the campus trades unions last week to discuss potential voluntary options to help reduce staff costs to mitigate an expected drop in income next year, if lower than expected student numbers are a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The context for this was set out in the Vice-Chancellor’s email to staff on 1 July. Further details are expected to be provided over the next two weeks, and we will continue to engage with the campus trades unions on this.
– UEB regretfully agreed to a proposal that Winter Graduations this year should be cancelled as a physical event, due to the social distancing constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic which we expect to be in place for a considerable period ahead, especially in respect of large gatherings in enclosed spaces. Some form of online celebration will be provided and graduating students will be offered the chance of an in-person on-campus celebration in the future, when conditions allow.
– There was agreement to a proposal that holiday entitlement be booked in hours rather than days. We currently have an inconsistent approach depending on whether an employee is full-time (booking holidays in days) or part-time (booking in hours), which also has implications for how bank holidays and closure days are accounted for. This proposal, to come into effect from the start of the next holiday year on 1 October 2020, will ensure all staff are treated consistently and equitably, using one methodology, and will also allow greater flexibility for some full-time staff to book a small number of hours off rather than a full day. We will ensure that bank holidays and closure days are pre-populated for full time staff at the start of each holiday year.
– In other matters – there was our regular review of the University’s Risk Register, an update on a Russell Group Board meeting last week, and a look at the UCEA members’ satisfaction survey for 2019/20.