The University has been allocated an additional £961,461 of capital funding for learning and teaching. The University is required to match this amount with £106,749. The funding is for the period to March 2008.
Operations Sub-committee requested Morag Bell, Anne Mumford and Roy Hill to make proposals on how this money should be spent.
Proposals were sought from Heads of Department and DISS Directors to create a network of learning spaces across campus which would: encourage interaction between students; facilitate group working; foster a sense of belonging both to the institution and to their departments; and which would have the potential to improve the appearance of our buildings.
HODs/DISS were asked to suggest locations within pool space or within departments. It was emphasised that areas should be easily accessible to students.
Eleven proposals were considered, most of which could be addressed either completely or in part through the funding.
Operations Sub-committee is asked to agree that the following projects should form the basis of a submission to HEFCE (required in the next two weeks) and that further work should be undertaken to implement the work with larger projects coming through the capital process as required. It is likely that there will be two proposals coming through this process (Wolfson Building Foyer outside T003 and S Building Foyer). Improvements to Martin Hall would be combined with plans by Imago, which have recently been considered at stage A of the capital procedures.
The projects proposed are:
· S Building: to enclose the space under the entrance and create an accessible, extended light attractive foyer with areas for students to sit and work.
· Wolfson: to extend the foyer area under the current canopy cover and refurbish to create a more attractive area for students to sit.
· Design and Technology: to create group study areas within the department on the first floor “flightdeck” area.
· SSES: to create a study area for PG(T) and PG(R) students.
· Library: to create more student groupwork areas on levels 1 and 2.
· James France Exhibition area: to replace existing carpet and create some group study spaces.
· Pool rooms located in LUSAD: to improve these including removal of asbestos and make them more self service by enhancing facilities.
· Create some seating areas in a number of buildings where space is available to facilitate student engagement (e.g. Sir David Davis and Manzoni buildings).
A proposal to improve toilets was considered and agreed to be important but not for funding through this source.
A proposal to improve teaching space used by English and
Drama was not prioritised as the space at the back of the Cope Auditorium is
unsuitable (and possibly unsafe). It is proposed that a more wide-ranging
review of teaching space and performance/arts space in the
Finally a general input on the need to improve IT facilities, access and support in teaching rooms was received and considered to be important. This will be taken forward under separate funding.
Morag Bell
Anne Mumford
Roy Hill