Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Operating in Gold Command mode, UEB considered a number of issues relating to the COVID pandemic and its implications for the operation of the University:
- UEB were updated on discussions at the Silver Command meetings which are currently taking place twice-weekly. It is widely anticipated that on Monday 22 February the Government will be providing an update and road map for the gradual lifting of the current lockdown restrictions, with an immediate focus on re-opening schools. It is not yet clear what clarity will be given on Monday about the timing of universities opening further – we will obviously provide an update to students and staff once we have considered any new guidelines. Meanwhile, we continue to prepare at pace for an expected phased return of students in the Spring, adhering to Government advice about physical distancing and underpinned by our testing programme, and building on all the work carried out last summer to make our campuses COVID-secure. Silver Command is also preparing for other potential scenarios ahead for the rest of the calendar year.
- The latest student and staff COVID cases dashboard was reviewed, which includes those students who are currently still living at home. New case rates remain very low.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode for the rest of the meeting:
- There was a further discussion about the staff and student Pulse Surveys carried out at the end of last year, to support our measurement of progress against our Bridging Strategy. UEB approved a draft initial action plan for consideration by our governing Council. A significant proportion of the actions that have been developed relate to how we communicate with and support our students and staff, building on the largely positive views of our pandemic communications evidenced in the surveys. The results of the surveys will be fully communicated at the start of March.
- UEB noted a paper on Postgraduate Fee Banding, proposing that the University moves to a smaller number of price points, which will be considered by Finance Committee in June, where tuition fees for 2022/23 will be coming for approval.
- Finally, there was a review of progress on a number of KPMG Internal Audits, a review of the recently revised University Risk Register, and a reminder of the various events taking place during LGBT+ History Month, including the Annual Southampton Stonewall Lecture, taking place at 18:00 on Thursday.