Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
A variety of issues were discussed at this week’s UEB meeting:
- As the countdown speeds up to the start of the new academic year, there was a detailed update from the Chief Operating Officer on the final stages of our Active Campus plans for preparing the University for the return of students and staff to a COVID-secure environment. Full information can be found here and continues to be regularly updated. In the last week we have also seen further updates to all our teaching staff , an update from the Chief Operating Officer, and a video update from the Vice-Chancellor.
- UEB heard we have also shared with our students a Code of Conduct that sets out the principles and daily actions which will help ensure we can create a healthy and safe environment for everyone, including our wider local community. We continue to liaise very closely with our local civic, health and police bodies.
- UEB met at the same time as the Government’s Chief Medical Adviser and Chief Scientific Officer were providing a sobering update on the status of the pandemic. By the time this blog is published it is likely we will also have heard from the Prime Minister about a range of further restrictions. It is clear that we face a potentially difficult and uncertain autumn and winter, which is why our planning has built into it the flexibility to allow for any short-notice changes that may be required for a period.
- There was also an update on our Southampton Testing Programme which forms an important part of our overall measures to protect our community. An increasing number of students have started to sign up for their testing, and staff will be written to later this week so we can identify those who will be eligible based on their campus presence and role.
- In other matters, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted our rise to joint 15th place in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 , the strongest rise in performance for those already in the Top 20, and leaping ahead of Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and York. The Vice-Chancellor said it was a very good outcome indeed and thanked and congratulated all those members of staff whose hard work had contributed to that success.
- There was an update on recent cyber-security attacks on other universities, and a reminder of the vigilance everyone needs to display to avoid vulnerability to sophisticated phishing attacks that can then lead to extensive disruption of institutional systems. Regular reminders are given to our staff about the need to be vigilant, and Multi-Factor Authorisation (MFA) is being rolled out further in the coming weeks. Complacency from anyone could be disastrous as we are, after all, only as strong as our weakest link.
- UEB formally noted the appraisal outcomes for Levels 4-6 staff in Faculties and Professional Services, and were pleased to hear that 92 per cent of appraisals have been completed despite the disruption of the COVID pandemic. UEB was also advised that 332 applications had been received for the Voluntary Severance scheme by the closing date for applications, and these will now be assessed as part of the formal review process within Faculties and Professional Services.
- In other matters: UEB discussed the initial declaration to G20 members of the International Universities Climate Alliance (of which we were a founding member), urging world leaders to use the post-COVID recovery to enact measures that counteract climate change; there was a further update on the current USS pension scheme; and there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.