Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Once again, today’s UEB was split between operational campus issues discussed with the meeting in Gold Command business continuity mode, with other agenda items considered under normal UEB status.
In Gold Command mode:
- UEB considered a weekend letter from the Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan MP setting out the Government’s emerging thinking around the testing of students at the end of term to allow for a COVID-safe return home for Christmas. Full guidance has still to be provided, but the Government is considering lateral flow testing devices to universities to help facilitate mass testing of students. These devices do not require laboratory testing, but would require any student testing positive to seek a further confirmatory test through NHS Test and Trace.
- UEB agreed, informed by discussion with our local public health bodies, that we will decline the offer of lateral flow devices as we are already part of the well-established and highly-respected Southampton COVID-19 Testing Programme, using a laboratory-based LAMP technique to test saliva samples, and which has played a major part in keeping our COVID cases to a comparatively low level. This test does not require additional an NHS test if the result is positive. Further discussions with Government and the sector about the detail of end of term arrangements are expected during the week.
- UEB reviewed a letter from the Office for Students setting out its expectations around communications to students in the context of the current lockdown in England – we are confident that we have met or will shortly meet in full all those expectations.
- UEB expressed its continuing gratitude to our students and staff for the exemplary way in which everyone has approached the communal challenge of working together to create a COVID-secure environment. Our continuing relatively stable rate of cases is proof of the responsible and respectful behaviour that has been so characteristic of the University this term.
- UEB then reviewed the latest number of confirmed active COVID cases amongst our students and staff, and considered the local context in which we are operating. As a result, UEB confirmed that the University will remain at Tier 1 in terms of the Department for Education response levels.
Reverting to normal UEB mode for the rest of the agenda:
- Following a recommendation by the University’s ED&I Committee, and informed by consultation with other colleagues, UEB agreed a proposal formally to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. It was agreed that in adopting the definition we would establish a Community Reference Group to underline the University’s commitment to operating in a transparent manner and demonstrate our commitment to actively seeking feedback on ED&I matters including antisemitism. This will also help us consider cases where our duty to uphold our commitment to ED&I issues is placed into potential conflict with our duties to ensure academic freedom and freedom of speech.
- UEB noted a number of papers which will be discussed by our governing Council at its meeting later this month. These included: a review of performance against the key performance indicators linked with our Bridging Strategy , which suggest there is no current need to consider any major alterations to our planned mitigations to the pandemic; a summary and analysis of the 2019/20 Financial Statements, which will be published in early December; and the final budget for 2020/21. Once this has been approved by Council at the end of this month its detail will be shared. UEB also noted the Annual Assurance Statements for the primary organisational units of the University, to be considered by Audit Committee later this week.
- Finally, UEB agreed a proposal to defer by 12 months our next submission for the Athena SWAN Charter award, given the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and discussed online options for Winter Graduations.