Student Diversity Working Group

SDWG05 – M1

Minutes of the meeting of the Working Group held on 14 December 2005

Members: Professor Morag Bell (Chair), Mrs Parin Hirji , Professor Terry Kavanagh, Mrs Wendy Llewellyn, Lesley Mansell, Dr Jennifer Nutkins, Dr Andy Wilson,

In attendance: Ms Danielle Cracknell

Apologies: Mr James Kirby

05/01 Establishment of the Group

(a) Proposal for a Student Diversity Working Group

SDWG05-P1 proposing the establishment of the Group was noted. This paper had been approved at the November meetings of Learning and Teaching Committee and Student Services Committee.

(b) SDWG05-P2, a rationale for addressing diversity matters pertaining to students, was presented to the group. It was reported that the issues contained in this paper were becoming more significant at a national level and student diversity was now near the top of the agendas of the Higher Education Academy and the Equality Challenge Unit. Work was also in train with the Leadership Foundation. While groups of people around the sector were looking at this issue the question of how it could be addressed was still unresolved. It was agreed that the Working Group should be kept up to date with activities at a national level.

05/02 Terms of Reference of the Group and Discussion

It was agreed that the Terms of Reference for the group should build upon Phase 1 detailed in SDWG05-P1. It was suggested that there were two distinct aspects to actions on student diversity the first being the essential, the second being the desirable. It was agreed that the Terms of Reference needed to be compiled outside of the meeting and then circulated to the group. It was agreed that the Terms of Reference would be drafted by Jennifer Nutkins and Danielle Cracknell and then forwarded to the Chair for initial consideration. These would then be circulated to the group for formal approval.

A wide ranging discussion took place on the group’s objectives and how they should be addressed, including the following:

ACTION: JCN +DCC

(a) Extract from National Student Survey 2005(SDWG05-P4, tabled).

(i) The National Student Survey included the statement ‘overall, I am satisfied with the quality of my course’ (Question 22). The results did not show a significant variation in satisfaction levels across the ethnic categories White, Black, Asian and Other, or across the domiciles UK, EU excl UK and Other.

(ii) However, while the overall figures indicated that the full range of undergraduate finalists at Loughborough had a positive experience, it was acknowledged that it was important to consider the individual experience too. It was agreed that the qualitative comments collected from the survey should be analysed for any comments that might indicate that a student had felt discriminated against in anyway. Marie Kennedy was to be asked to analyse the comments.

ACTION: MK

(b) Summary of Current Projects/Activities

(i) The group decided that a concise report was needed to capture the actions the University was already taking to promote diversity or to understand better the issues which it needed to address. This activity would also assist with the Impact Assessment Exercise. Areas identified where work was already taking place included Professional Development projects, the DART project and seminars held as part of Black History month.

(ii) The paper on the University’s current activities would be produced by Jennifer Nutkins and Danielle Cracknell. An e mail was to be sent to all members of the group inviting them to feed in information on what occurs to promote diversity. Anyone else who might have something to contribute would also be contacted. This would involve communication with the other Deans, the AD(T)’s and the AD(R)’s.

ACTION: JCN + DCC

(c ) Research and Policy Development

(i) The group identified areas where there was potential for work to be carried out. The Race Equality policy available on the web needed to be updated and made more student orientated. It was agreed that there was a need to engage with the students over this issue. This could be through anecdotal evidence from those who had contact with them such as Admissions Tutors, PGT Programme Directors, the International Office and International Advisors but also through direct contact with the students. Focus groups or questionnaires were suggested but it was agreed that any work that took place would need to be approached in a proper and sensitive manner, possibly following the advice of staff in the Department of Social Sciences, and should build on existing knowledge within the University.

(ii) The post graduate research community was identified as one of the most diverse in the University and there were a relatively high number of problems in relation to this group. It was felt that there was a need for a better understanding of this community and the soon to be launched Graduate School might be helpful in this regard. A study had been completed on issues affecting mature undergraduate students by the Academic Registry and had proven to be a valuable piece of work. It was agreed to circulate a brief report from the study to members of the Group.

ACTION: JCN

(d) Involvement and Membership of the Group

(i) It was agreed that as part of the process a dialogue was needed with the Students’ Union. While the Union had a tendency to be focused upon traditional student activities it was very receptive to suggestions about how to support a more diverse student body. It was suggested that two or three members from the Union should be invited to join the working group, including someone who could represent more diverse groups, possibly from the International Students’ Association.

(ii) One purpose of the group was to co-ordinate existing activities and structures in relation to student diversity for staff and students to ensure maximum effectiveness. It was felt that the membership of the Group already covered key stakeholders although the new Director of the Graduate School could be invited to join the group once he/she had been appointed. Representatives from the Students’ Union would also be invited to join the Group.

05/03 Guidance on our Student-Related Duties Under Diversity Legislation and Regulations.

SDWF05-P3 summarised the legislative and regulatory instruments that applied to students in the area of diversity and identified the major duties that arose from them. It was agreed that as part of the paper summarising the actions the University took to promote diversity each of these duties should be considered and the paper would then form a basis for setting priorities.

05/04 Date of next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting should be arranged for mid to late February.