Teesside University
TU 14.11.14 Item 4.1.1
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
A meeting of the Board of Governors was held on 17 October 2014.
Present: Dr J Atkinson Mr R Bloom
Mr R Cuffe Mr D Eagle Ms A Clark-Jenkins Mr C Fleetwood Professor G Henderson Mr J Hogg
Mr J G Irwin Ms S Khan
Mr A MacColl (Chair) Ms L Percy
Mr W Ridley Ms A Skelton
Mr S Tonks Mr D Winter
Apologies: Mr P Booth Mr D Heaton
Ms S Kiddle Mr E Kunonga
Dr M Simpson Mr A Waite
Officers: Professor C Hardcastle Professor E Holey (Clerk to the Board)
Dr A Mackenzie Professor E Martin
Mr M Page Mr M White (Secretary to the Board)
The Chair welcomed Mr D Winter to his first meeting of the Board.
UT 2921 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST/CONFLICTS OF LOYALTY
It was NOTED:
1. That no member had declared a conflict of interest or loyalty in matters on the agenda.
UT 2922 CHAIR’S INTRODUCTION
It was NOTED:
1. That Odgers Berndston have been appointed to assist the Board’s Appointments Panel in the recruitment process of a Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, following the announcement, by Professor Henderson, of his retirement from 31 August 2015.
2. That members have been provided with a draft job advertisement, person specification and job description on which comments are invited.
3. That it is anticipated that interviews and presentations by short- listed candidates will take place in late February/early March.
UT 2923 REPORT OF NOMINATION COMMITTEE
It was NOTED:
1. That, at its meeting held on 8 October 2014, the Nomination Committee had made a number of recommendations regarding Membership of the Board.
It was AGREED:
2. To re-appoint Mr Bloom and Mr Fleetwood as members of the Board for a period of three years, with effect from the first meeting of the Board to be held in 2015.
3. To re-appoint Mr Cuffe, Professor Hart, and Mrs Skelton as members of the Board for a period of one year, with effect from the first meeting of the Board to be held in 2015.
4. To note the retirement from the Board of Ms Clark-Jenkins at the conclusion of her current term of office. The Chair thanked
Ms Clark-Jenkins for her contribution to the Board.
UT 2924 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
It was NOTED:
1. That the Vice-Chancellor has provided members with a detailed report on:
1.1 HE Funding/the national market for HE/the local and global focus of the University.
1.2 The University winning ‘University of the Year for Student Retention’ (members congratulating Professor Martin and her team).
1.3 The new University mobile “app”.
1.4 High profile research outputs.
1.5 Philanthropic support.
1.6 Events held at mima.
1.7 The Department of External Relations winning the ‘Marketing Department of the Year’ award from the Higher Education Information Services Trust.
UT 2925 MINUTES
It was AGREED:
To approve, as an accurate record:
1. The minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2014.
UT 2926 MIDDLESBROUGH INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART (mima)
Arising from Minute UT 2910, it was NOTED:
1. That mima is now formally part of the University.
2. That the new Director of mima, Mr Alistair Hudson, is to take up his post from 20 October 2014.
3. That Mr Hudson will make a presentation to the Board in due course.
UT 2927 SUPPORTING GRADUATES INTO EMPLOYMENT
Arising from Minute UT 2911, it was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with a report on the Destination of Leavers in Higher Education Survey, and will, at a future meeting, be provided with an overview of initiatives supporting students into employment.
UT 2928 STUDENT RECRUITMENT – ANALYSIS OF RECRUITMENT OUT-TURN AND ASSOCIATED ACTION PLAN
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with a detailed analysis of the likely student recruitment out-turn in respect of Home and EU students.
2. That, at the time of preparing the analysis, a shortfall against a target of 331 was identified.
3. That, at the time of the meeting, the shortfall is 293 against target.
4. That (UT 2902 also refers), the shortfall can be accommodated within the current budget-setting arrangements, dependent on efficiency targets being met but a similar outcome in 2015 will be significantly more problematic.
5. That a particular focus is being placed on enhanced student recruitment activity in respect of the School of Social Sciences, Business and Law.
6. That a significant number of new curriculum developments will be in place for early 2015 entry.
7. That members have been provided with examples of a number of enhanced and new student recruitment activities.
8. That subject areas within schools have been charged with developing their own action plans aimed at enhancing student recruitment.
9. That the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive will present members with a short, highly-focussed action plan on student recruitment at the next meeting, which reflects in a precise and quantifiable way the estimated impact of the actions on student targets and numbers.
10. That the Department of External Relations acts on an internal ‘client’ basis to support activity commissioned in respect of Home, EU, and International recruitment through, inter alia, marketing materials and activities..
UT 2929 NEW BUSINESS BRAND
It was NOTED:
1. That a comprehensive programme of review, consultation, market research, and creative development has been undertaken to establish a new brand that will market and raise the profile of the University’s breadth of business engagement and business- facing activities.
2. That members have been presented with a new brand name, recommended by consultants, and supported by a group of members who have been consulted as part of the review of the University’s mission.
It was AGREED:
3. To endorse the proposed brand and to note that the Department of External Relations and the Department of Academic Enterprise will complete further development and roll-out to market.
UT 2930 MISSION AND VISION
It was NOTED:
1. That a group of members have met with a consultant in a facilitated discussion of the review of the Mission and Vision.
2. That the Vice-Chancellor has presented members with a summary of the outcomes of the discussion.
3. That the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive will bring a draft Mission and Vision to the Board in January 2015, and a draft outline Institutional Plan in March 2015.
4. That, as part of the process of further developing the Mission and Vision, the Vice-Chancellor will meet with officers of the Students’ Union.
UT 2931 ESTATES PROGRAMME
It was NOTED:
1. That the Resources Committee has considered detailed business cases in respect of the following major capital projects:
1.1 Orion Building extension – refurbishment and equipping.
2.2 Olympia Building – new sports and exercise facility.
2.3 Clarendon Building and Student Centre – fascia.
2. That the Resources Committee has confirmed that the three projects are consistent with the Estates Strategy and is recommending approval of the projects.
It was AGREED:
3. To authorise expenditure as follows:
3.1 Orion Building - £5,934,000
3.2 Olympia Building - £2,500,000
3.3 Clarendon Building and Student Centre - £1,787,000
4. To authorise the Chair to appoint contractors for all three projects, following conclusion of procurement processes.
UT 2932 CAPITAL AND ESTATES PROGRAMME MONITORING
1. That members have been provided with a Capital and Estates Programme Monitoring Report for 2015, derived from the Capital Budget 2014-2015, and the Estates Programme 2014-2017, approved at the meeting of the Board held on 4 July 2014
(UT 2905 refers).
2. That the report has been considered in detail by the Resources Committee.
UT 2933 FINANCIAL FORECASTS 2014-2017 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
It was NOTED:
1. That, as requested at the meeting of the Board in July 2014
(UT 2904 refers), the Resources Committee has considered the sensitivity analysis of the 2014-2017 financial forecasts.
2. That the analysis includes a number of different scenarios in terms of student recruitment and associated income.
3. That the sensitivity analysis has been considered in detail by the Resources Committee.
4. That later versions of the sensitivity analysis could also incorporate part-time and international recruitment.
5. That it is not considered likely that any post-General Election scenario will not include the necessity to continue to reduce the cost base of the University.
6. That members recognise that future scenarios will include even greater competitive pressures.
7. That the next opportunity to formally review the three year forecasts will be on their annual submission to HEFCE in the
Summer of 2015.
8. That additional developments arising from the growth strategy approved by the Board in November 2013 are currently being assembled.
9. That an important feature of the future of the University will be enhanced working between schools.
10. That members found the sensitivity analysis particularly helpful.
UT 2934 APPOINTMENT OF CHANCELLOR
It was NOTED:
1. That the Special Committee to recommend the appointment of Chancellor of the University, in succession to Lord Sawyer of Darlington, is recommending the appointment of
Mr Doug Richard.
It was AGREED:
2. To appoint Mr Doug Richard as Chancellor of the University for a five-year period, commencing from an installation ceremony to be held in early 2015.
UT 2935 HEFCE ASSURANCE REVIEW – FINAL REPORT
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with the final report of the HEFCE Assurance Review.
UT 2936 REVIEW OF BOARD EFFECTIVENESS
It was NOTED:
1. That the periodic review of board effectiveness is available to members on request.
2. That the review will be repeated later in the current academic year.
UT 2937 PRESIDENT’S ITEMS
It was NOTED:
1. That the refurbished Students’ Union is proving popular with members of the Students’ Union.
2. That Freshers Week events have been well attended.
3. That the Students’ Union continues to work closely with the University to maximise student responses to the National Student Survey.
4. That the Students’ Union has identified a number of campaigning priorities for the new academic year.
UT 2938 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. That members have been provided with revised institutional key performance indicators established by the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive.
UT 2939 RISK REGISTER 2014/2015
It was NOTED:
1. That the Risk Management Committee has reviewed the Risk Register for 2014/2015, and submitted proposals to the Audit Committee.
2. That a new risk: “Significant loss of business resulting form change in Health Education England commissioning policy” had been added to the Risk Register.
3. That, in responses to discussion at the July 2014 meeting of the Board (UT 2906 refers), a risk: “Failure to complete all major infrastructure projects on time and within budget” has been added.
It was AGREED:
4. To establish the Risk Register 2014-2015 as recommended by the Audit Committee.
UT 2940 HONORARY GRADUATES
It was NOTED:
1. That the Academic Board has offered honorary degrees as follows:
Sandy Anderson OBE DL FREng FIChemE
- Honorary Doctor of Laws
Richard Barker
- Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
Professor James Caldwell DSc
- Honorary Doctor in Professional Achievement
Her Honour Judge Gillian Matthews QC
- Honorary Doctor of Laws
Bob Mortimer
- Honorary Doctor in Professional Achievement
David Muckle
- Honorary Doctor in Professional Achievement
Alan Ransome OBE
- Honorary Doctor in Professional Achievement
Alison Thain OBE
- Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
William Tillyer
- Honorary Doctor of Art
UT 2941 ACADEMIC BOARD – 9th July 2014
It was NOTED:
1. That members have been provided with reports of the annual general meeting and the ordinary meeting of the Academic Board held on 9 July 2014.
UT 2942 TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY TRUSTS FOR ACADEMIES (TUTA)
It was NOTED:
1. That the annual general meeting of the TUTA has received reports from the Principal, Chair of Governors and the Finance Director of each academy.
UT 2943 EMPLOYMENT POLICY COMMITTEE – 17th October 2014
It was NOTED:
1. That the Committed has considered:
1.1 Updates on the Redeployment and Pay Protection Policy, and University-wide changes.
1.2 Investors in People re-assessment.
1.3 Reports on equality and diversity, staff development and Human Resources policy development.
UT 2944 RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 24th September 2014
It was NOTED:
1. That the Committee has considered:
1.1 Financial Forecasts sensitivity analysis.
(UT 2933 above refers).
1.2 Treasury Management Policy
1.3 Capital and Estates Monitoring 2014-2015.
(UT 2932 above refers).
1.4 HEFCE’s annual accounts direction for financial statements.
UT 2946 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS
It was NOTED:
1. That the following dates and times have been scheduled for meetings of the Board.
14 November 2014 - 1.30pm
16 January 2015 - 1.30pm
20 March 2015 - 1.30pm
15 May 2015 - 1.30pm
2. That the Academic Awards Ceremonies will be held from
24 November 2014, to 2 December 2014.
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S: Governors: Item 4.1.1 - 17 October 2014