--
the
ACADEMIC COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE SIXTH MEETING of 2002 OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL, held on Wednesday 20 November 2002 in Room 63, Queen Anne Court, Maritime Greenwich Campus at 2.15 pm
Present: / Rick Trainor (Chair) / Christine Rose (Secretary)David Isaac
Inderdeep Kang
Neil Keating
Tony Mann
Liz Meerabeau
Margaret Noble
Chantel Phippen
Mary Stiasny
Mike Thomas
Richard Tilley
Dominic Tulett
Jodie Wetherall
Denis Heathcote
Rob Allen
Lucy Avens
Liz Bacon
Liz Briggs
Wendy Cealey Harrison
Tony Clayton
Linda Cording
Francis Duke
Martin Everett
Gavin Farmer
Richard Hayward
John Humphreys
In attendance: / Maureen Branch-Davis
Christine Couper / Gay Humphrys
Tex Dunstan / Jill Jameson
APOLOGIES
02.6.1 David Chambers Mike McGibbon Mark Cross John Orchard
Peter Dalton Sarah Palmer
Jan Druker Alan Reed Ndy Ekere Seljko Sevic
Dai Hall Mike Sharp
Les Johnson Janet Thatcher
Jane Longmore David Wills
Ken Marsh
ITEMS FROM THE CHAIR
02.6.2 The Chair noted that this was the last meeting for Tony Clayton who had been a member of COUNCIL for a considerable time and offered him best wishes on behalf of COUNCIL in his retirement. It was also the last meeting for Martin Everett, who had been an active contributor to COUNCIL over an extensive period. The Chair, on behalf of COUNCIL, wished him every success in his new post as Provost at the University of Westminster. The Chair welcomed Jan Druker as a new Member of COUNCIL.
ACADEMIC COMMENDATION
02.6.3 The Chair announced that the University of Greenwich was in receipt of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for a second time. It was awarded to Ed Galea’s team from the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences for their Exodus Fire Safety Software. Greenwich was the only post 92 university amongst this year’s twenty winners. The same team were also successful last year in winning a British Computing Society Award for Academic Achievement. The Chair, on behalf of COUNCIL, offered congratulations on these academic distinctions.
FINANCES
02.6.4 Last year’s surplus of £3m plus was bigger than anticipated, mainly accounted for by the sale of the Dartford site. A deficit is predicted for this year. It is vital to the University that a surplus is posted for 2003/04. The bond guarantors require that deficits are not posted in consecutive years.
02.6.5 The White Paper on Higher Education Strategy expected in January will detail new arrangements for student financial support and increased tuition fees. It is likely that new developments will be disadvantageous to Greenwich. In particular comments may be made on the differentiation of university missions and the possibility of removing research degree awarding powers from some universities.
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS
02.6.6 The University is involved in a number of collaborative arrangements with other universities both in Kent and South London. However, there is no intention at present of entering into discussions about mergers. Partnership work is crucial in fulfilling the national agenda on widening participation.
NEW MINUTES SECRETARY
02.6.7 The Chair welcomed Maureen Branch-Davis to her first meeting of COUNCIL. Paul Whitehorn, who has been the minutes secretary for several years, is on sick leave. The Chair sends best wishes on behalf of COUNCIL and thanked him for his work
MINUTES
02.6.8 Minute 02.5.17 to be amended to include an additional sentence:
“Council further endorsed the regulation that a candidate shall be deemed to have passed a course if he/she obtains a minimum of 40% of the total marks available for the course provided that no individual element falls below 35% which is compliant with the requirements of the Law Society and Bar Council”. External Examiners will be informed.
The Summary Minutes of ACADEMIC COUNCIL held on Wednesday, 9 October 2002 were then agreed as accurate and approved by COUNCIL.
`
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
02.6.9 Memorandum of Understanding on the Responsibility of the Primary Administering University for Joint Programmes of Study: COUNCIL noted that in the case of the M.Pharm the Primary Administering University should be the employer of the Head of the School. It had been agreed between the two universities that this would be the University of Greenwich.
02.6.10 COUNCIL noted that the names of two students awarded PhDs (from the Schools of Computing and Mathematical Sciences and Chemical and Life Sciences) were missing from the listing and should be included in the minute listing for the next meeting of COUNCIL.
MEMBERSHIP
02.6.11 It was noted that Mary Stiasny has been elected by ACADEMIC COUNCIL to serve on COURT for the period 2002-2004.
02.6.12 It was noted that Jan Druker has been elected to serve on COUNCIL in the Professorial category for the period 2002-2004.
ORGANISATIONAL RESTRUCTURING
02.6.13 Both the academic and administrative restructuring are taking place in the context of the need for cost cutting. On the administrative side the Registry is in the middle of a restructuring exercise. On the academic side re-engineering is taking place with a focus on the way Programmes are managed and the structure of the academic year. These are short to medium term responses; more immediate measures will also be necessary. There is a clear recognition by Senior Managers that these re-engineering and restructuring processes should be completed as soon as possible.
REGISTRATION STATISTICS: A COMPARISON WITH LAST YEAR
02.6.14 COUNCIL noted that the target for HEFCE contract numbers for home and EU students had been achieved earlier this year than in previous years. However, a greater number of students have been recruited from Price Bands C and D to make up for under-recruitment of home full time students in Price Band B. Both TTA and Health contracts are secure. Overseas student numbers are very buoyant. The Academic Planning Sub-Committee will be examining the curriculum, estates and other implications of achieving a secure contract and financial position by compensating high band students with low band and international students.
02.6.15 It was further noted that there had been several one off issues this year – for example, the move of the School of Chemical and Life Sciences to Medway. On the other hand, the huge expansion in part-time numbers in the Department of Post- Compulsory Education is likely to be temporary. There has also been a trend in home numbers falling away for Masters Degrees in the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Opportunities for building the curriculum, particularly at Medway, are being considered. The Chair offered thanks to all those staff involved with the recruitment, admissions and registration tasks.
ACADEMIC FRAMEWORK
02.6.16 Session and Semester Dates: 2003-2004
It was reported that these dates should be confirmed a year in advance. The model is the same that is operating this year. Should COUNCIL agree to future proposals for desemesterising then forward planning of at least one year is necessary. COUNCIL approved the session and semester dates.
02.6.17 Terms of Reference of Committees: Research Committee/Research Degrees Committee:
With the disbanding of the Research and Graduate School Board COUNCIL noted that there would now be two committees, the Research Committee (dealing with staff research) and the Research Degrees Committee (dealing with research students). The terms of reference and membership for these committees were endorsed and the implications for the enlarged terms of reference, eg. to deal with taught postgraduate students for School Boards were noted. The Director of Student Affairs agreed to bring the full terms of reference of the School Boards to the next meeting. In particular, it would be important to be both vigilant and creative about the PostGraduate Taught Portfolio exploring collaborations with other universities and other sources of untapped potential.
02.6.18 The Graduate School: In the light of the new academic infrastructure in Schools COUNCIL endorsed the proposal that the Graduate School Model is formally discontinued. COUNCIL noted that the policy as set down in the 1998 paper ‘Research, Advanced Practice and Advanced Consultancy Expertise within Teaching Teams’ still applies. It is important, also to consider the research student experience. Providing a meeting place for Research Students at Avery Hill would considerably enhance their experience.
02.6.19 Diversity and Equal Opportunities Proposal: The University Secretary reported that the working group structure attached to the committee was not focused on outcomes and working groups tended to react to events. In place of this structure would be ‘task and finish’ groups set up for a specific purpose within a given timeframe. The work of this committee had also been hampered by the lack of appointment of an Equal Opportunities Officer. This situation has been rectified to some extent since the new Projects Officer within Personnel has taken on some of the remit.
02.6.20 It was further reported that there had been some controversy about race relations on the Maritime Greenwich Campus, including the involvement of the Greenwich Race Relations Council. A major priority for the committee is to produce an action plan arising from the Race Relations Policy. The University’s aim is to do more than satisfy legal requirements in this area. It should be fostered as an area of excellence. COUNCIL endorsed the terms of reference and membership and commended the change in name of the committee.
PROFESSORS AND READERS APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE: PROPOSED NEW PROCEDURES
2.6.21 COUNCIL noted the proposed revisions to procedures and that external members of the Committee were being consulted, as was the Court’s Staffing and General Committee. The membership of the new committee would include the Vice Chancellor and three Pro Vice Chancellors (ex officio), four nominations from the VC, approved by ACADEMIC COUNCIL, two external nominations by the Chair at Vice Chancellor level or equivalent , a professorial secretary, the Director of Personnel or nominee and the secretariat. The revision includes a clear distinction between the research expectations of readers and professors, and criteria for emeritus professors, visiting professors and visiting fellows.
02.6.22 COUNCIL confirmed that it was helpful to applicants to have greater clarity about criteria but that waiting for two years to make a re-application seemed rather a long time in the case of applicants who had narrowly missed meeting the criteria. It was suggested that some applicants may need advice on how to present their case. COUNCIL considered the distinction in demands between Science and Technology and Arts and Humanities, and asked for further refinement of the criteria. A statement should be made about other modes of creative output. Some modifications would be made to the procedures and COUNCIL members were asked to send any further comments to the Chair as soon as possible. COUNCIL welcomed the revisions on the assumption that revisions would be made as requested.
SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT REVIEWS
02.6.23 COUNCIL noted that the proposals had already been approved by the Learning and Quality Committee and discussed by the Vice Chancellor’s Group. The proposal to introduce reviews at School level was made in the Vice Chancellor’s restructuring paper of 2001. On average two Schools per year would undertake a review with the production of a self-evaluation document as a starting point and external representation on the review panel. These would also be occasional. Departmental reviews which would be important for the QAA Discipline Audit Trails used by a School. COUNCIL recommended that there should be student involvement with the review process. COUNCIL approved the School and Departmental review arrangements.
02.6.24 Regulations on Discounting: direct entry and APL: COUNCIL noted that the
formulation presented was not in line with the current position of seeking to be fair to students. In particular for HND students moving to Level 3 the position of not applying discounting for direct entry would be disadvantageous. COUNCIL was of the view that discounting for direct entry should apply. In relation to APL, it was noted that Level 2 only counted for 25% of the overall grading, and that, again, advantage should be with the student. COUNCIL requested the Director of Student Affairs to circulate a formulation for direct entry and APL applying discounting. Exemptions in order to meet professional body requirements could be made to COUNCIL.
02.6.25 Undergraduate Regulations: Aggregation and Weighting: Courses
Constituting a ‘Compulsory Dissertation’. COUNCIL noted the listing. It was noted that the listing for the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and Law was incomplete.
02.6.26 Incorporation of a Distinction Classification for the Awards of MEng Mechanical Engineering and BEng Automotive Engineering with Management: COUNCIL agreed the proposal requested by the School.
COUNCIL referred the matter of principle to the Learning and Quality Committee. Although a distinction classification for these Programmes is in line with the National Qualifications Framework COUNCIL should note that Regulations for the MEng and MPharm are not currently consistent.
02.6.27 Institutional Strategy for Learning and Teaching: The University Director of Learning and Quality reported that the document had already been submitted to HEFCE and when approved the funding would be released in order to implement the strategy. Several new features are highlighted – the Student Experience Initiative, eLearning and its relationship to more traditional activities through ‘blended learning’. The measurement of the impact of the strategy is outlined together with an Action Plan 2002/3 – 2004/5. Further reporting will take place through the Learning and Quality Committee.
REVIEWING AND MONITORING
02.6.28 Annual Report: Student Satisfaction Survey: COUNCIL noted the data from the survey (Avery Hill, Dartford and Medway) included the Executive Summary, 2002, the Responses to the 2001 survey at Maritime Greenwich and Woolwich and selected tables for Schools. The full report is available on the Web, including subject level information. There are a significant number of commendations with high levels of satisfaction for teaching and administrative staff. The Learning and Quality Committee has asked Schools to incorporate an explicit action plan in relation to scores of C – E within their Schools in their ARPDs. Priority areas for action include aspects of services and facilities in refectories and accommodation and institutional managers would respond to these.. It was confirmed that the Director of Student Affairs would work with the Student Union regarding a joint monitoring of complaints handling. COUNCIL endorsed the recommendation that the Vice Chancellor should write to Schools and Offices congratulating them on their achievement. COUNCIL noted the need for action implementation and the recommendation that the Learning and Quality Committee would report back to COUNCIL on the actions identified and the extent to which they have been implemented.