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 meeting which had taken place earlier that morning. There has been much speculation and media coverage around the Prime Minister’s England lockdown exit plan, due to be announced later on Monday. Full clarity around the return of students to universities is not expected immediately, but we continue to work at pace planning for carefully phased waves of return for students and staff as soon as Government guidelines permit, underpinned by our COVID-secure campuses and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight saliva testing programme. It was clear that this would be a major item on next week’s Gold Command agenda. Silver Command is also preparing for other potential scenarios ahead for the rest of the calendar year.
- Last week the Government broadened the criteria of those vulnerable adults it advises to shield from COVID-19, and those who fall into that category are being contacted directly by the NHS. We are preparing a Managers’ Briefing Sheet to provide guidance to line managers.
- The latest student and staff COVID cases dashboard was reviewed, which includes those students who are currently still living at home. New case rates in the Southampton area continue to reduce and the incidence in our own community remains low.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode for the rest of the meeting:
- There was a wide-ranging discussion about the Government’s publication last week of a White Paper with new proposals around free speech and academic freedom in higher education. Key proposals include plans to legislate for a Free Speech and Academic Freedom Champion with a remit to champion free speech, investigate infringements of free speech in higher education and recommend redress; legislate to require the Office for Students to introduce a new registration condition on free speech and academic freedom; and strengthen the free speech duty under the Education Act 1986 to include a duty on universities to “actively promote” freedom of speech. Some aspects of the proposals are causing concern across the sector, and a belief that the paper fails to recognise the extent of the existing steps universities and students’ unions have taken to commit to free speech and academic freedom. We are confident that our own Code of Practice is rigorous, and will be reviewing it against these proposals ahead of a further UEB discussion.
- UEB discussed ongoing concerns around Phase 2 of extensions to Doctoral students that have been impacted by the pandemic, recognising that the University was matching policy and practice set by UKRI. The impact of COVID-19 on Doctoral student projects varies widely between disciplines, and there are areas where there is much more significant impact on the student experience and ability to progress project work, even with mitigation and redesign. UEB recognised that this needs attention and further discussions with the Doctoral College and the Silver Groups that oversee Doctoral student activity, and with SUSU.
- UEB also discussed how we can build on what we have learned about ways of working during the COVID pandemic, and from the verbatim comments made by staff in the pulse surveys at the end of last year. The last twelve months have accelerated the move towards more hybrid ways of working, on campus and at home, and we are now exploring the potential opportunities for staff, the University, and in support of our Sustainability Strategy, in moving towards different ways of working ahead, and what that will entail in terms of support. One size won’t fit all, different roles have different flexibilities: above all, any proposals need to be developed through co-creation, potentially piloted in some areas, and have fairness and equity at their core.
- Finally, UEB approved a proposed response to a consultation by the Office for Students on Monetary Penalties, and reviewed the University Risk Register.