Origin
The Widening Participation Subcommittee reports to the Education & Student Experience Committee and, on its behalf, strategically oversees access, success and progression activity (collectively known as widening participation). The Widening Participation Subcommittee is informed by the Widening Participation Operations Group and two student advisory boards.
Purpose
- To oversee the development, implementation and review of the University’s Widening Participation Strategic Plan.
- The Chair is responsible for ensuring that any equality impacts against each project/policy/process/procedure have been considered as part of the decision-making process.
Responsibilities and activity
- To receive evaluative reports on the University’s access, success and progression activities outlined in the Access and Participation Plan, and progress against associated targets.
- To confirm that effective progress is being made by the University in delivering the objectives contained within its Widening Participation.
- Strategic Plan and the Access and Participation Plan for the Office for Students.
- To receive recommendations based on management information data reports, and evaluation reports, pertaining to target groups and activities.
- To receive assurance that expenditure of activities outlined in the Access and Participation Plan is meeting expectations set by the Office for Students and are having a positive impact on student outcomes.
- To communicate the outputs and outcomes from the Access and Participation Plan to the University community and, as appropriate, more widely.
- To receive monitoring returns for Access Agreements/Access and Participation Plan. To commission Widening Participation Operations Group and other appropriate staff to author a new Access and Participation Plan. To receive such Access and Participation Plan. Approval of any new Access and Participation Plan will be sought through the Education & Student Experience Committee.
- To make recommendations, as appropriate, pertaining to widening participation to the Education & Student Experience Committee.
- To receive and endorse policies related to widening participation, and to recommend such policies to relevant committees.
- To receive regular evaluation and review of the activity within the Access and Participation Plan to ensure activities are impactful and enhance student success and progression.
- To report to Academic Quality & Standards Subcommittee any matters relating to widening participation that may be of interest to the group.
Reporting arrangements
The Widening Participation Subcommittee reports to the Education & Student Experience Committee.
Constitution
Chair: Senior Executive Director, Students & Infrastructure
Executive Director (Student Life)
Director of Widening Participation and Social Mobility
Director of Global Recruitment and Admissions
Data Analytics and Insight representative
Director of Careers, Employability & Student Enterprise
Associate Director, Policy & Insight
Associate Director Admissions & VISAS
Students’ Union President
Deputy Chief Executive, Southampton University Students’ Union
Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Academic representative from each Faculty
Director of the Doctoral College
Widening Participation Manager
Head of Student Success
Head of Student Lifecycle
Head of Enhancement
Finance representative
Secretary
Quorum and frequency
Quorum
The Widening Participation Subcommittee will be quorate with one third of the membership plus one in attendance.
Frequency of meetings
The Widening Participation Subcommittee will meet at least three times per year.
Resources
Secretariat support is provided.
Terms of Reference review
Date of last review:....... June 2023
Date of next review:...... September 2024
Governance reporting line
The Widening Participation Subcommittee reports to the Education and Student Experience Subcommittee.
Document owner
Education and Student Experience Subcommittee.