[Minutes]
Minutes of the 320th (Ordinary) Meeting of Senate held on Wednesday
24 June 1998
Professor D J Wallace
Dr M Acar Dr M P McIver
Professor J L Alty (ab) Dr C McKnight (ab)
Dr C Backhouse Professor I C Morison
Dr V J Black Mrs M D Morley
Dr P L Byrne Dr A Morris (ab)
Mr J S Chadwick (ab) Dr P N Murgatroyd
Mr C J Chamberlain (ab) Mr A Newton (ab)
Professor S Cox Professor K C Parsons
Dr R K Dart Dr A D Price (ab)
Professor J V Dawkins Dr A C Pugh
Mr A Dumbuya (ab) Professor I Reid
Dr D W Edwards Professor P H Roberts
Professor J P Feather Mr J F Rowland
Dr M Gilbert Professor M Shaw (ab)
Professor P Golding (ab) Mr I K Smout
Professor N A Halliwell Professor M Streat (ab)
Professor V I Hanby Dr G M Swallowe
Professor A G Hargreaves Professor R J Wakeman (ab)
Professor D J Hourston Mr D R F Walker
Mr T P Jones Professor T G Weyman-Jones
Professor M J Kearney (ab) Dr P Wild
Mr P G Lewis (ab) Professor F Wilkinson (ab)
Mrs W Llewellyn Professor C Williams (ab)
Dr G Mason Ms J Wilmott (ab)
Professor R McCaffer Dr I Wright (ab)
Professor J J McGuirk Professor K R A Ziebeck (ab)
In attendance: Mr R A Bowyer
Dr D E Fletcher
Dr B P Vale
Ms E A Howarth
By Invitation Professor J V Dawkins
Professor M Evans
Apologies
for absence were received from: Professor Alty, Professor Kearney, Dr
McKnight, Dr Morris, Dr Price, Professor Shaw, Professor Streat,
Professor Wakeman, Professor Wilkinson, Professor Williams and Dr
Wright.
Items 7 iv), 9.2 and 11.5 were unstarred.
The Minutes of the 318th Meeting held on 4 March 1998 (SEN98-M1) were confirmed
and signed.
There were no matters arising.
- .1
- The Vice-Chancellor was delighted to report two recent honours in the
Birthday Honours List. Dr M O W Richardson had received an MBE for
humanitarian aid to Tibet and China and Dr J Ollerhead (a former member of
staff) had received an OBE for his work in Noise Abatement. Senate offered its
warmest congratulations to them both.
- .2
- The pay settlement had been agreed at a total increase of 3.8% in two
stages: 2.0% from April 1998 and a further 1.8% from October 1998.
-
- The University had received an increase of 2.7% in funding which was
broadly in line with the sector average. The University was, however,
budgeting for a loss of £0.5M in income from overseas student tuition
fees.
-
- It was noted that there might be some flexibility in the Government's move
to resource based accounting in relation to student loans, but the implications
for the University were unclear at this stage.
- .3
- There was good progress with the Support Services Review which was focusing
on a team based approach to support the Pro-Vice-Chancellors' responsibilities
for key academic processes. At the same time the Deans were also moving
towards a team approach to support the Faculties. External assistance would be
sought for development of quality improvement methods. The Vice-Chancellor
regarded the structural and organisational changes as positive and beneficial
for the University.
- .4
- Substantial progress had been made towards raising external monies towards
funding the new Engineering building. £0.5M had been raised from the Garfield
Weston Foundation, and the efforts of Mr J Walker, External Relations
Office in this regard were warmly congratulated. £800K had been awarded by
HEFCE for refurbishment costs. The outcome of a bid to the Wolfson Foundation
was awaited.
- .1
- A number of grants had been obtained under the Teaching and Learning
Technology programme to support teaching and learning projects. This reflected
well on the outcome of the recent TQAs.
- .2
- The situation on student recruitment was very positive and the University
targets were within reach. It was intended to establish a more managed
recruitment process which would ensure the selection and retention of good
quality candidates.
- .3
- Thanks were due to everyone involved in the University Open Day and
particularly Mrs W Clarke who had organised the event so well. There
had been a great deal of publicity in the local media. It was intended that
this should become a regular event in the future.
- .4
- The value of new research grants and contracts had already exceeded last
year's total. It was important that all departments contributed to this new
growth.
- .5
- The next Research Assessment Exercise would take place in 2001 and a
preliminary timetable was already available. By the Spring of 1999 information
should be available on the Units of Assessment, the Panels and the data
required. Final information would be available by the end of 1999. The census
date for research active staff would be 31 March 2001 and the deadline for the
return 30 April 2001.
(SEN98-P22)
- .1
- It was RESOLVED on the recommendation of the Teaching and Learning
Committee and on the advice of the Curriculum Sub-Committee to recommend to
Council as appropriate the following:
- i)
- New programmes for introduction in the 1998/9 session:
-
- BSc in Business Studies (Peterborough)
MEng in Electronic and Computer
Systems Engineering
LPC in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Project
Management
MSc in Manufacturing Management
- ii)
- New programmes for introduction in the 1999/2000 session:
-
- BSc in Geography and Recreation Management, subject to approval by
Operations Sub-Committee
MSc in Exercise Physiology
- iii)
- The incorporation of existing validated programmes at Loughborough College
of Art & Design into the University's portfolio, on the merger of LCAD and
the University, and revised versions of these programmes for new entrants in
the 1998/99 sessions.
-
- BA in Printing
BA in Sculpture
BA in Multi-media Textiles
BA in
Printed Textiles
BA in Woven Textiles
BA in Ceramics
BA in
Furniture
BA in Silversmithing and Jewellery
BA in Graphic
Communication
BA in Illustration
BA in History of Art and Design with
Studio Practice
- iv)
- The conversion of the following programme from full-time to part-time with
immediate effect:
-
- BSc in Retail Automotive Management (Ford)
- v)
- The discontinuation of the following programmes with no further student
intake:
-
- MSc in Research for Health Care Professionals
MSc in Human Factors in
Information Technology Systems
- .2
- It was RESOLVED to ratify the action of the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of
Senate in approving with immediate effect a change in the degree awarded in the
undergraduate programmes in Materials Engineering and Materials with Business
Studies from BSc to BEng.
It was RESOLVED on the recommendation of the Teaching and Learning
Committee:
- i)
- Coursework Code of Practice
(SEN98-P23)
-
- To approve a revised coursework Code of Practice.
- ii)
- Postgraduate Programmes 1998/99 - Transitional Arrangements
(SEN98-P24)
-
- To approve transitional arrangements for postgraduate students who are
registered on programmes now under the 120 credit tariff and expect to graduate
later under the 180 credit tariff.
- iii)
- Postgraduate Programmes: Return to Percentages
(SEN98-P25)
-
- To note proposals for the adoption of a scheme for determining distinction
at postgraduate level based on percentages instead of grades and the
discontinuation of the use of grades in the context of assessment for
postgraduate awards generally; and to refer the proposals to Faculty Boards for
comment.
- iv)
- Bought-in Teaching
(SEN98-P26)
-
- It was reported that the procedures introduced last year regarding bought
in teaching represented an increased workload for departments. The possibility
of excluding students acting as demonstrators in departments from these
arrangements was raised. While there was sympathy with this request it was
clear that, in accordance with current employment law, any student employed
within departments must be issued with a contract. The paperwork required had
been simplified. The concern over this matter was noted and it was agreed that
if problems continued to be experienced it should be raised again.
-
- It was RESOLVED to approve revised procedures with respect to bought-in
teaching.
- v)
- Computer Aided Assessment
(SEN98-P27)
-
- To approve a proposed Code of Practice for the use of the Optical Mark
Reader (OMR) in relation to undergraduate and postgraduate examinations,
together with a Service Level Statement for the use of OMR for CAA.
- vi)
- Code of Practice for Departmental Staff/Student Liaison
Committees
(SEN98-P28)
-
- To approve revisions to the Code of Practice.
- vii)
- Additional Programme Costs
(SEN98-P29)
-
- To approve procedures for notifying students of additional personal
expenditure they are liable to incur in undertaking specific programmes or
modules.
- viii)
- Arrangements for LCAD
-
- To approve that as a transitional arrangement, in the case of students
currently registered on LCAD degree programmes who will continue under LU
regulations from the beginning of 1998/99, the degree classification be based
entirely on their final year module assessments; and that, for the same
students, Part B modules be formally accepted as being at degree level for the
purpose of meeting the minimum progression/award requirements stipulated in
GRUA.
- ix)
- East Anglian Ministerial Training Course: Validation of MA Programme
in Contextual Theology
(SEN98-P30)
-
- To approve the validation of the MA programme in Contextual Theology
delivered at the East Anglian Ministerial Training Course.
- i)
- Institute of Youth Sport
(SEN98-P31)
-
- It was RESOLVED on the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Social
Sciences and Humanities to ratify the action of the Vice-Chancellor on behalf
of Senate in recommending to Council the establishment of the Institute of
Youth Sport.
- ii)
- Disbanding of the International Electronics Reliability
Institute
-
- It was RESOLVED on the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Engineering
to recommend to Council the disbanding of the International Electronics
Reliability Institute. The recommendation reflected current staff interests
and recent staff changes.
- iii)
- Institute of Sports Planning and Recreation
Management
(SEN98-P32)
-
- It was RESOLVED to approve the retitling of the Institute of Sports
Planning and Recreation Management as the Institute of Sport and Leisure
Policy.
- It was RESOLVED to approve on the recommendation of Ordinances and
Regulations Committee
- .1
- Regulations for Higher Degrees by
Research
(SEN98-P33)
-
- an amendment to the Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research to give
effect to Senate's decision that Supervisors of research students should no
longer be able to act as internal examiners but be permitted to attend the viva
voce examination as Observers unless the student concerned objects.
-
- The recommendation concerning amendments to the Regulation for Higher
Degrees by Research had prompted a member of Senate to raise a number of
related questions. In particular it was felt, that clarification should be
obtained as to who might attend a research degree oral examination; who could
act as an Observer; who could object to the presence of the Observer; what the
role of the Observer was and who kept a record of who was present at the oral
examination? The Vice-Chancellor reported that only a student's supervisor
could attend an oral examination as Observer and only a student had the right
to object to their presence. It was agreed to ask Research Committee to
clarify the procedural arrangements.
- .2
- Library Regulations
(SEN98-P34)
-
- an amendment to the Library Regulations.
On the recommendation of Information Services Committee
- .1
- Computing Services
-
- The annual report from the Director of Computing Services for 1996/97 was
received.
- .2
- Information Policy
(SEN98-P35)
-
- It was RESOLVED to recommend to Council an Information Policy for the
University.
Reports from the following Committees were received:
- 1.
- (SEN98-P36) Information Services Committee of 27 February 1998
- 2.
- (SEN98-P37) Research Committee of 27 March and 21 May 1998
- 3.
- (SEN98-P38) Information Services Committee of 29 May 1998
- 4.
- (SEN98-P39) Student Services Committee of 3 June 1998
- 5.
- (SEN98-P40) Teaching and Learning Committee of 4 June 1998
- .1
- Senate was reminded that a request had previously been made for data on the
award of the number of first and 2:1 degrees to be made available. Recent
league tables on entry standards and results showed Loughborough and the
University of Dundee as diverging from the norm on the relationship between the
two. The high number of good degrees awarded in the Department of Electronic
and Electrical Engineering had been identified in the recent TQA and the
Teaching and Learning Committee had asked the Department to account for this.
It was widely agreed that such data was not readily available and would be very
useful to departments.
- .2
- The PVC(T) reported that TLC Steering Group had deferred consideration of
the data in question pending the availability of this year's examination
results. An analysis would be conducted for next session. The high proportion
of good degrees was not a matter of concern. It partly reflected the "value
added" by the University as well as special features such as the sandwich year
and the recruitment of particular cohorts of students. The data published in
the national press, although allegedly derived from HESA, was several years old
and the University had had no opportunity to comment on the accuracy prior to
publication.
- 6.
- (SEN98-P41) Resources and Planning Committee of 5 June 1998
The publication of the Careers Service Advisory Board Annual Report for 1996/97
was noted.
(SEN98-P42)
The annual report of the Ethical Advisory Committee was noted.
A schedule of meetings was noted for next session as follows:
Wednesday 21 October 1998 (if required)
Wednesday 25 November
1998
Wednesday 27 January 1999 (if required)
Wednesday 3 March
1999
Wednesday 23 June 1999.
Dr B Negus was co-opted to membership of Senate until 31 July 2000.
Wednesday 21 October 1998 (if required)
Wednesday 25 November
1998.
Dr D E Fletcher
June 1998
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