Council

Subject: Report of the 371^st (Special) Senate meeting on 26 November 2004

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes

1. Matters Arising from the Minutes

Minute 04/86 - Structural Deficits

In regard to the Department of Chemistry, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor reported that discussions with the University of Leicester were ongoing and the financial position of the department at Leicester was even more serious than that at Loughborough. A meeting of the two departments before Christmas was intended to consider the extent of possible collaboration in teaching and research and identify the staff required for this. Better alignment of procedures and required savings would then be explored.

In regard to Physics, there had been good progress and its position as a Structural Deficit department was to be reviewed. Discussions had been held with the University of Leicester and there was potential for joint teaching and sharing of modules. Both Chemistry and Physics had recruited well in 2004 and teaching initiatives with the Open University were also being pursued by both departments.

Good progress was being made by Chemical Engineering and its international student recruitment had increased. PIRES had undergone effective but challenging restructuring and had succeeded in turning round its position. At the next formal review the Department could expect to be removed from the Structural Deficit process.

2. Award of Higher Degrees

It was RESOLVED to award Higher Degrees to candidates whose examinations had been conducted since the last meetings of Faculty Boards.

3. Award of University Prizes

It was RESOLVED to approve the award of prizes, on the recommendation of the Assessors.

4. Student Discipline Committee

It was RESOLVED to appoint the following to the Student Discipline Committee for 2004/2005 in accordance with Ordinance XVII paragraph 1(v):

Academic/related staff: Dr J E Davies, R M King, R H Mayo, Dr H Drake, S A Mason

Lay members of Court: Professor J Thomas, J Mutton, J B C Blood, M Shuker, D Green

University members of LSU Executive: J Roberts, J Scott, G Chivers

5. Academic Appeal Committee

Further to Minute 04/97 of Senate’s 369^th (Special) meeting on 23 June 2004, it was noted that the Vice-Chancellor had nominated the following to a pool of eight members of academic staff eligible to serve on the Academic Appeal Committee in accordance with Regulation XIV, for the academic year 2004/05:

Dr P L Byrne

Dr M C Harrison

6. Human Resources Committee

Senate noted other matters dealt with by the Human Resources Committee at its meeting on
11 November 2004:

(i) Academic and Related Staff Probation

(ii) Reward Review

7. Appointment Committees

It was noted that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor had approved Appointment Committees for appointments made under Ordinance VI. Further details are available from Personnel Services.

8. Appointments to the Academic Staff

Senate noted appointments to the Academic Staff.

9. Study Leave/Leave to Accept an Externally-Funded Award

It was noted that the relevant Dean had granted Study Leave pursuant Ordinance XV to:

Dr E D Brown, Geography 7 February 2005 to 17 June 2005

Dr L Cohen, Business School 7 February 2005 to 3 February 2006

Dr M H A Dar, Economics 1 February 2005 to 30 August 2005

Professor P Golding, Social Sciences 1 February 2005 to 31 July 2005

Dr R Harrison, August 2004 to August 2005
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Professor J Huntley, 26 March 2005 to 25 June 2005
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Professor V McKee, Chemistry 1 March 2005 to 30 April 2005

Ms S Middleton, 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005
Centre for Research in Social Policy

Professor T C Mills, Economics 1 February 2005 to 31 August 2005

Professor C Oppenheim, Information Science 1 August 2005 to 31 January 2006

Dr M J Pickering, Social Sciences 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006

Dr M R Stephens, Social Sciences 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006

Professor P Sturges, Information Science 1 February 2005 to 31 July 2005

10. Any Other Business: Appointment of Deputy Vice-Chancellor

The Registrar reported that he had circulated members with the suggestion that the Arrangements Committee appointed by Council to oversee the appointment process for a new Vice-Chancellor and to make recommendations concerning Senior Management arrangements during the transition period should form the Appointments Committee for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, with the addition of the Vice-Chancellor as a member. Comments had been received from members about further augmentation of the Appointments Committee for this purpose, and members considered whether Senate should elect an additional member. It was RESOLVED that the Arrangements Committee as originally appointed should form the Appointment Committee for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and that that Committee should make its own decision on any augmentation.

11. Appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor

(The Vice-Chancellor left the meeting)

The Registrar informed Senate that the advertisement for the next Vice-Chancellor had now appeared and a search process was taking place. A long list would be constructed just before Christmas from which the Arrangements Committee would construct a short list. The Arrangements Committee would require augmenting in order to be constituted as an Appointment Committee for the post of Vice-Chancellor. Members were encouraged to forward names of suitable candidates for the Vice-Chancellor’s post to the Arrangements Committee or to invite them to submit an application.

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – December 2004