Faculty of Science

Faculty Board


SCI10-M2

                                                                                                                                                                

 

Minutes of the Meeting of the Faculty Board held on 11 November 2010

Members: Professor Chris Linton (Chair), Professor Paul Chung, Dr Louise Cooke, Dr Sandie Dann (ab), Professor Ray Dawson, Dr Eran Edirisnghe (ab), Professor Barbara Jaworski (ab), Dr Karima Khusnutdinova (ab), Professor Feo Kusmartsev, Peter Lund (ab), Professor Graham Matthews, Dr Sally Maynard, Dr Ian Murray (ab), Professor Shirley Pearce (ab), Dr Iain Phillips,    Dr Daniel Reidenbach, Dr Carol Robinson, Dr John Samson, Dr Sergey Savel’ev (ab), Dr Martin Smith, Dr Alexander Strohmaier, Professor Paul Thomas (ab),  Dr George Weaver, Professor Huaizhong Zhao.

Observers: Jo Corlett, Shirley Horner, Professor Rachel Thomson (ab).

Apologies for Absence: Dr Sandie Dann. Professor Barbara Jaworski, Dr Karima Khusnutdinova, Peter Lund, Dr Sergey Savel’ev, Professor Rachel Thomson.

In attendance: Martine Ashby (Secretary), Martin Hamilton and Dr Phil Richards (for 10/23).

                                                                                                                                                                

 

10/20   Welcome

Members were welcomed to the meeting.

 

10/21   Minutes

The minutes of the Science Faculty Board (SCI10: M1) held on 20 May 2010 were confirmed.

 

10/22   Matters arising from the Minutes

10/6(d) Associate Dean (Research) Report: EPSRC Demand Management: It was noted that EPSRC had been using Turnitin software for a number of years to identify resubmitted applications. In future EPSRC intended to automatically reject resubmissions unless made in response to a specific invitation to resubmit.

 

10/23 IT Services Consultation

SCI10-P9

Dr Phil Richards, Director of IT Services, and Martin Hamilton, Head of Internet Services attended for this item.

The Director of IT Services presented the IT Services consultation on strategic priorities for the 2011/12 academic year. He explained the importance to members of the IT infrastructure and the need for it to support a growing number of services within the University. A new project, ‘i2012 IT Infrastructure’, had recently been approved by Operations Committee. Stage one of the project would involve feasibility work for the three areas of ‘data centre’, ‘network’ and ‘voice’. The University was being asked to approve a consolidated five-year programme of work, rather than piecemeal upgrades. Dr Richards explained the different benefits which could be gained given three levels of spending, particularly if the same approach to spending was agreed for all three areas. A project management board had been set up to consider the options and would include representation from each faculty. Three members of the Faculty, Shirley Horner,           Dr Steven Kenny and Dr Iain Phillips, had been invited to serve on the board.

In response to members’ questions, Dr Richards explained that if no changes were made, the existing system would become increasingly slow and less reliable. The potential benefits and disadvantages of cloud computing were being weighed up carefully and IT Services would not pursue further use unless it was seen to be both secure and cost effective.

The Head of Internet Services gave a demonstration of the new Student Portal, which was being piloted in the Library that term. It was anticipated that the portal would incorporate email and calendar feeds from Google, module information from the student information system, library loan information and information from the cashless card system plus targeted alerts and notifications. Discreet advertisements may also be included on it. However, a decision had yet to be reached as to whether or not this was an appropriate use for the portal.

Eventually IT Services intended to provide students with the same level of access to the portal via their mobile phones as would be obtainable via a desktop setting to give them access to timely information wherever they went. Members were encouraged to forward any feedback on the portal to Martin Hamilton.                                             ACTION: All

10/24   Constitution and Terms of Reference of the Faculty Board

SCI10-P10, SCI10-P11

The Board received the constitution and powers of the Faculty Board and a briefing note for new members and agreed that they remained fit for purpose.

 

10/25   Dean’s Report

i     Strategic Issues: It was noted that the Browne Report on Higher Education Funding and Student Finance and the Government’s recent comprehensive spending review heralded significant change for the Sector. Further details would be released in coming months after legislation proposing changes to the student finance system had been approved by Parliament. It was not yet clear how the University would respond to the changes.

ii   University Restructuring: Proposals for the new structure of the University had been approved by Senate and would come into effect in August 2011. Deans for the new schools would be appointed in December 2010 and Associate Deans would be appointed in the New Year. The support function of the new schools would be overseen by school managers who would also be recruited in the New Year. When in post, the school managers would be charged with devising the administrative structure for their schools. It was the intention that administrative staff within academic departments would become members of the administrative team within their new school, rather than being associated with individual departments. This would allow schools greater flexibility in covering administrative responsibilities.

The new Science School was to consist of six units, the five existing academic departments and the MEC. It had yet to be given a name. Members were invited to make the Dean aware of their preferences for a name for the School.                                                                                                                           ACTION: All

A steering group had been formed to oversee changes within the new School. The group, which would consist of the Dean, Associate Deans, heads of departments and the Faculty Administrative Liaison Officer, would meet on a monthly basis. The Faculty Administrative Liaison Officer had been asked to carry out a review of current administrative processes to inform the School’s new senior management team when it came into being.

iii   Citations: It was noted that the University had been ranked in 354th place in the Times Higher Education’s list of the world’s top universities for 2010-11. Using a number of different metrics the University had achieved a score of six, which was significantly lower than some of its main competitors. This suggested that its research may not be being cited as much as that of other comparable universities. Therefore, academic departments were encouraged to ensure that their publications were made as visible as possible.                         ACTION: All

It was noted that the University was investigating more effective ways of collecting citation information. The Department of Information Science employed a number of experts in the field of research evaluation who would be able to advise on suitable methods.

 

10/26   Associate Dean’s (Research) Report

i    Research Excellence Framework (REF)

     TABLED PAPER

Members noted the timetable for the REF. They noted in particular that subject areas would need to prepare one impact case description for every ten staff returned. In anticipation of this, HODs had been asked to consider, in coming months, which research areas they wished to include in their impact case studies.

The University had recently purchased a publications management system and software to analyse and provide citation information for staff publications. The new publications management system would be integrated with the University’s publications database so that publication information did not have to be re-entered.

The Research Office had developed an online PRP system to simplify the PRP process. The system would be rolled out to academic departments through the current academic year to fit in with their PRP cycle.

ii   Research Studentships: In 2009/10, the Faculty had been successful in the Development Fund Studentships Competition, with all departments in the Faculty receiving some except the Department of Physics. In the current academic year the University would make 50 to 60 Development Fund studentships available. All academic departments and research schools would be allocated one studentship each, subject to their candidates meeting the threshold requirements. The remaining studentships would be allocated via a similar competitive process to last year. They would be advertised in THE and via jobs.ac.uk with applications being sought by the end of February. Departments would be informed of the outcome of the process at the end of March.

It was noted that many finalists would not receive their semester one results until the end of February. Therefore, members considered that the proposed deadline for applications was too early and believed it should be moved to a later date. The AD(R) would make the Research Team aware of their views.                                                                                                              ACTION: AD(R) 

10/27   Associate Dean’s (Teaching) Report                         

i    Recruitment 2010

SCI10-P12, SCI10-P13

Members received an overview of undergraduate and postgraduate taught recruitment and intake figures for 2010/11.

In 2010 the Faculty had exceeded its overall undergraduate home/EU target. However, as the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities had not met its target, the University as a whole had not gone over target.

The Faculty’s undergraduate international recruitment had largely been to target with the exception of recruitment in the Department of Computer Science which had been slightly lower than anticipated.

The Science and Engineering Foundation Programme had recruited well over target with departments in the Faculty of Science recruiting relatively large numbers of students. Postgraduate taught recruitment had been broadly to target. Chemistry had recruited well above its home target and Information Science had recruited over twice the number of international students that it had aimed to recruit.

The Department of Computer Science believed that its PGT recruitment had been affected by delays in the processing of applications which had been caused by the loss of three members of staff in the PGT Admissions Office. The AD(T) would seek an update on PGT admissions in the current academic year for Directorate.                                                                        ACTION: AD(T) 

ii   Recruitment 2011: All departments in the Faculty had raised their grades for 2011 entry for undergraduates with the exception of the School of Mathematics which was to raise its grades for 2012 entry. Consideration may be given in 2011/12 to specifying an A* grade at A level for some subjects offered by the Faculty. 

2011/12 would be the last academic year before tuition fees were increased in response to changes to government funding mechanisms. Therefore, there would be pressure on school pupils currently sitting A levels to gain a place at University in 2011. As a result it was anticipated that demand on Clearing would be significant that year.

It was noted that in 2011 departmental targets would still be in place. However, when A results were published in August, the new University structure would have been introduced. Therefore, if departments exceeded their targets, other departments within their School may need to compensate by recruiting fewer students.

The AD(T) intended to ensure that in 2011 the Science and Engineering Foundation programme recruited only students from the groups which the programme was originally set up to cater for, eg students who had taken non-science A levels who wished to do a science programme, and those targeted through widening participation activities.

In the 2010/11 round of APRs the AD(T) would focus in particular on postgraduate taught programmes that were recruiting small numbers of students. All departments would need to review their postgraduate taught provision and pay particular attention to programmes which were regularly recruiting less than ten students to ensure that they were teaching efficiently.


iii   National Student Survey

SCI10-P14

Members received a summary of the University’s NSS results with specific reference to departments in the Faculty. All departments in the Faculty had received very favourable results, with the Department of Chemistry achieving top scores in most categories. The AD(T) was to seek feedback from HODs on the action which they intended to take in response to the Survey’s findings.

iv  Other Learning & Teaching Issues: The AD(T) noted that proposals for module and programme changes would be needed much earlier in 2011 because of changes to the timetabling process. Departments had been informed of the change and of key dates in the approval cycle.

 

10/28   Periodic Programme Reviews

SCI10-P15

The Board received the report from the Periodic Programme Review for the Department of Information Science and the Department’s response to the report.

Members noted that the review had highlighted the need for staff/student committees to have an audit trail for agreed actions. The AD(T) would be focussing upon this aspect of staff/student committee business in the next round of APRs.

 

10/29   Advancement and Fundraising

SCI10-P16, TABLED PAPER

Members received a paper from the Development and Alumni Office (DARO) detailing ways in which academic departments were working with DARO to develop their advancement and fundraising activities and noting other initiatives which they could engage in to improve their range of activities further. Members were encouraged to note activities being undertaken in other departments and, in particular, to note the establishment of the Loughborough Sciences Fund.                                      ACTION: All

 

10/30   Award of Research Degrees

SCI10-P17

The Board APPROVED the award Higher Degrees to named candidates whose examinations had been conducted since the June meeting of Senate

 

10/31   Membership 2009/10

SCI10-P18

NOTED

10/32    Programme Proposals: The Board NOTED that Curriculum Sub-Committee had recommended to Learning and Teaching Committee approval of the following:

New Awards

MSci Computing and Management

MSci IT Management for Business

MSci Computer Science and Mathematics (from 2010 entry)

 

Changes to Programme Titles/Awards

From:  MComp Computer Science / Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence

To:        MSci Computer Science / Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence (Oct 2011 entry)

 

From:  BSc Web Development and Design

To:       Information Management and Web Development (2012 entry)

Discontinuation of Programmes

MSc Analytical Chemistry and IT (last intake Oct 2010)

10/33   Associate Dean (Teaching): Actions between meetings

It was NOTED that the Associate Dean (Teaching) had taken action between meetings as detailed in the agenda.

10/34   Staff-Student Committees

It was NOTED that reports of Staff-Student Committee meetings had been deposited with the Secretary as follows:

Chemistry

Computer Science

Mathematical Sciences

 

12 May 2010

28 April 2010

2 March 2010 & 20 May 2010

 

10/35   Mathematics Education Centre Report

SCI10-P19  (Available at http://mec.lboro.ac.uk/documents/8th_mec_annual_report.pdf)

NOTED.

10/36   SEFS Report

SCI10-P20

NOTED.

10/37   Faculty E-Learning Officer Report

SCI10-P21

NOTED.

10/38   Faculty Representatives on University Committees

It was NOTED that the following would serve as Faculty representatives on University committees during 2010/11:

Dr Derek Stephens                 Learning and Teaching Committee

Professor Paul Thomas          University Health, Safety and Environment Committee

10/39   Prizes

SCI10-P22

Members NOTED University prizes awarded to students within the Faculty in 2009/10.

 

10/40   Date of Next Meeting

2.15pm on Thursday 19 May 2011

                                                                                                                                                                

M Ashby

January 2011
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