Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director Engagement and Advancement
A variety of issues were discussed at today’s UEB meeting.
- As has been the case at every UEB meeting in recent weeks in the run up to the start of term, there was a detailed update from the Chief Operating Officer on our Active Campus plans for preparing the University for the return of students and staff to a COVID-secure campus environment. An immense amount of work continues, as the final practical measures are put in place and more of the campus starts to re-open. Last week also saw revised guidance to Universities from the Department for Education, and we have updated our own guidelines this week to reflect the new “Rule of Six” regulations concerning social gatherings.
- UEB heard that over the last week the University has been working particularly closely and constructively with civic, health and police authorities in Southampton and Winchester, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to welcoming students back safely and preparing for the months ahead. We have also been working in partnership with Solent and Winchester Universities to develop a community Code of Conduct that will be shared with all our students.
- A huge amount of regularly updated information and resources continues to be provided to staff and students and can be found here. Further information will be provided during the course of this week, included detailed guidance to teaching staff. It is hugely important that everyone ensures they stay familiar with the information, guidance and expectations. Guidance and regulations can change very rapidly, as we saw last week.
- There was also a regular update on the Government-funded Southampton Testing Programme, the second phase of which involves educational settings in Southampton, including our students and some staff. Students were contacted directly last week and strongly encouraged to participate, and staff will be contacted shortly so those with a campus presence and student or staff contact can also register for testing.
- There was then an update on our financial position and scenario planning. As the Vice-Chancellor said in his all-staff email last week, Confirmation and Clearing went well and we are optimistic that in respect of UK undergraduate recruitment we will have achieved a position much better than our COVID-19 planning scenario, which is encouraging. Obviously it is our recruitment of international students, particularly at PGT level, that has the most significant financial implications and we will need to remain cautious until we have greater clarity and certainty around those numbers. Significant savings are likely to be required in the current financial year, and we will need to continue with our policy of exceptional spend only, and very close monitoring of any staff recruitment.
- There was a wide-ranging discussion about wellbeing, prompted by colleagues from the Staff Wellbeing Working Group. This is an issue UEB takes very seriously, and an issue which has been thrown into sharp relief by the particular demands and challenges of the pandemic and our new ways of working. Drawing evidence from our community, and trying out new initiatives in individual areas, will help inform our future People Strategy in which wellbeing will be a critical element.
- There was an update on the new consultation of members on the USS pensions scheme 2020 valuation and technical provisions, which effectively set out the price of future benefits for the current scheme as employer and employee contributions. This is highly complex, and hugely important, and we will be providing further information to staff over the coming week to help inform everyone.
- Finally, there was an update on our institutional Athena SWAN submission; approval of recommendations governing Student Exchange parameters for 2020-21 semester two; a review of the draft Annual Assurance Statements for 2019-20, which provide assurance around our regulatory compliance and standards, and which will need formal approval by the Council Audit Committee in November; and the regular review of the University’s risk register.