Author: Shaun Williams, Executive Director, Engagement and Advancement
Operating initially in Gold Command mode, UEB discussed several operational and campus issues:
- There was a detailed discussion of the publication of the Government’s new Living with COVID plan on Monday, along with more detailed guidance to the higher education sector issued by the Department for Education. This had been discussed early that morning by the Active Campus operational group. UEB heard the context of this new phase of the pandemic had also been discussed with our local public health board.
- UEB agreed that the University’s position should continue to be a sensible and gradual one, based on risk, dealing with the pandemic as one community and continuing to show respect and care for our fellow staff and students, particularly those who remain or feel vulnerable. UEB also agreed it is very important we acknowledge that, as in wider society, concerns and aspirations will vary within our community as we enter a phase of the pandemic which for some may feel more uncertain.
- As a result, we will continue for the time being to encourage the wearing of face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces, recognising that for many in our community it is both a measure of personal protection and, as importantly, a gesture of respect and care for others. Any remaining historical social distancing guidelines will be lifted.
- At the end of last week the Government stopped universities from distributing free lateral flow tests, and is no longer advising twice-weekly tests for staff and students. However, our own Hampshire and Isle of Wight saliva testing programme does currently still offer twice-weekly testing, which we continue to encourage.
- We will be updating our community over the coming days and are expecting further substantive guidance from Government as we approach Easter.
The meeting then reverted to normal UEB mode to discuss a number of other issues:
- UEB thanked all those who had been involved in preparing for and clearing up after Storm Eunice on Friday and Saturday. Fortunately, our campuses sustained minimal damage and we were able to proceed as planned with a very successful Visit Day on Saturday, attended by more than 800 offer-holders, despite some travel difficulties. UEB thanked all those who helped make it a great success.
- Somewhat appropriately given the focus on COVID and a storm, UEB discussed and approved a revised University Crisis Management Plan, our framework for how we handle major incidents which cannot simply be managed locally. These can cover a range of scenarios such as a global pandemic, extreme weather, fire, cyber-attacks, which would be dealt with by linked Gold (strategic), Silver (tactical) and Bronze (local operational) command and control structures. We’ve obviously been living through a two-year major incident, but we are regularly learning from incidents and refining our processes, and regularly rehearse potential scenarios – which often don’t remain just “potential”.
- There was a very engaging update on our Sustainability Education Programme, with a goal of ensuring sustainability is a part of every University programme by 2025. By the end of the 2021/22 academic year all University programmes will be mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and by the end of the same academic year training sessions on incorporating sustainability into the curriculum will be available for all Schools. By 2025, all education programmes will have integrated, subject relevant sustainability themes. Great potential here for volunteering initiatives.
- Once again, there was an update on fast-moving developments in respect of the USS pension scheme, which saw at the end of last week our response to the latest national UCU proposal approved by our Governing Council’s Pensions Committee, informed by discussions with our campus branch, and submitted to Universities UK.
- Finally, there was the regular review of the University Risk Register.