SENATE
SEN01-M3
Minutes of the 342nd (Ordinary) Meeting of Senate held on Wednesday 27 June 2001.
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Professor D J Wallace |
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Dr M Acar (ab) |
Mr P G Lewis (ab) |
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By Invitation: |
Dr R H Hooper (for Minute 01/50) |
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In attendance: |
Dr J E M Elliott |
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Apologies for absence were received from: Professor Arnold, Dr Acar, Dr Bouazza-Marouf, Dr Bullard, Professor Cox, Professor Jones, Mr Lewis, Dr Mustoe
01/38 Business of the Agenda
Items 16, 20, 23 and 24 had been unstarred.
01/39 Minutes
SEN01-M1
It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the 340th Meeting held on 7 March 2001.
01/40 Matters Arising from the Minutes
.1 Minute 01/3.3: Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
It was noted that arrangements had been made for the Queen's Anniversary Prize medals to be displayed in the Pilkington Library.
.2 Minute 01/6.2: Senate 'Academic Vision' Day: 22 November 2000
It was noted that proposals on the invigilation of examinations were included as agenda item 15.3.
.3 Minute 01/7.6: Service Teaching
It was noted that Operations Sub-Committee had agreed that Chemical Engineering be permitted to assume responsibility for the teaching of mathematics to its students from September 2001, but that for 2001/02 the resources associated with mathematics teaching to Chemical Engineering students be split 60:40 to Mathematical Sciences and Chemical Engineering respectively. Curriculum Sub-Committee had approved the relevant new Chemical Engineering modules. In response to a query, Senate was informed that the possibility of establishing a Mathematics Centre for Engineering or cross-Faculty was still under consideration.
01/41 Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
SEN01-P34
The Vice-Chancellor reported on:-
(i) Newspaper League Tables (included in SEN01-P34)
(ii) UCEA/HE Unions Pay and New Industrial Relations Machinery (included in SEN01-P34). All Unions had now confirmed their support for the settlement.
(iii) The submission of the University's Human Resources Strategy to HEFCE in May. Significant investment would be required in support services, particularly personnel. It was AGREED to circulate the Human Resources Strategy to Senate members.
ACTION: Secretary
(iv) The budget recommendation to Council by Resources and Planning Committee which included a surplus of £2.1M.
(v) His encouragement for briefer minutes of University Committees, which should focus on outcomes and highlight actions. This would now apply to Senate minutes. Members supported the move towards brevity, but requested that dissent, substantive points not contained in papers and decisions should be recorded. It was AGREED that the Vice-Chancellor confirm with the Chair of Council his support that Council receive briefer reports from Senate.
ACTION: Vice-Chancellor
(vi) The remarkable achievements of Loughborough Students during the year, spanning the visual arts to sport.
01/42 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)
SEN00-P35
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching) reported on:-
(i) Undergraduate and Postgraduate Applications (included in SEN01-P35). A shortfall in home undergraduate recruitment was predicted spread across Departments and Faculties. Some Departments might be invited to recruit beyond their quota. An extended period of concessions was anticipated when a satisfactory balance between quality of intake and widening participation would need to be achieved. A strategy document for HEFCE on Widening Participation was under development. A proportion of the hardship funds would be allocated as bursaries for the financially disadvantaged during the admissions process.
(ii) HEFCE support for two Graduate Apprenticeship schemes for intended launch in 2002.
(iii) The award of an Institute of Learning and Teaching National Teaching Fellowship Award, worth £50K, to Mick Wallis in English and Drama. Senate extended its congratulations to Mr Wallis.
(iv) The concerns of Learning and Teaching Committee arising from Programme Reviews as included in the following Learning and Teaching Committee Minute:-
'Attention was drawn to some of the issues of general concern that had arisen in the review process and were highlighted in the AD(T)s’ reports, including the poor state of some pool rooms, shortage of space and timetabling difficulties. These were long standing problems and the Committee voiced its frustration at the continual failure of the University to make sufficient resources available to address such matters. It was felt that support for the learning and teaching function had been eroded one year after another through the budgetary review process. It was also felt that staff generally were not informed of the way in which decisions were reached through this process and did not appreciate how the support services budgets were set or priorities decided. The Committee considered it had little opportunity to influence resource decisions. The PVC(T) was invited to raise these concerns in his next report to Senate.'
Senate was informed that there would now be additional HEFCE funding available for disability/teaching room improvements. It was AGREED that the Director of AVS inform Departments of pool room upgradings undertaken, and follow up with Estates Services the need for consultation with relevant departments as appropriate when pool rooms were allocated.
ACTION: Director AVS
It was AGREED that Council be apprised of the resources issues raised by Learning and Teaching Committee and the Learning and Teaching Committee Minute above be forwarded with Senate's minute to Council.
ACTION: Secretary
01/43 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
SEN01-P36
.1 The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) reported on the following matters included in SEN01-P36:-
(i) Research Grants and Contracts: on target to exceed last year's total.
(ii) RAE 2001: the need for a policy for RAE 2006 as soon as possible was acknowledged.
ACTION: PVC(R) elect
(iii) Science Research Investment Fund
(iv) Gatsby Innovation Fellowships
.2 On behalf of Senate the Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Dawkins for his work and achievements during his period as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).
SEN01-P37
.1 Further to Minute 01/7 of Senate's 340th meeting on 7 March 2001, Senate considered revised draft principles and procedures on Service Teaching. It was RESOLVED to approve these subject to the following amendment to Procedure 8 to ensure consideration of the planning needs of the service teaching department:-
'Termination . . . given. In lieu of notice Operations Sub-Committee may allow a host department to assume the teaching at the start of the following year ……'
ACTION: PVC(T)
.2 It was AGREED that the resource issues identified be forwarded to the Resource Allocation Group for consideration.
ACTION: PVC(T)
SEN01-P38
.1 Senate considered proposals from the Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Director of Registry Services to amend Ordinance XV and repeal Ordinance XXVIII. The Director of Registry Services consulted Senate on additional wording to Ordinance XV para 2(d) to clarify the cycle of study leave entitlement. Senate was assured that the proposed clause allowed for flexibility when study leave needed to be deferred.
.2 It was RESOLVED to recommend to Council the proposals to amend Ordinance XV and repeal Ordinance XXVIII, subject to the following in regard to Ordinance XV:-
(i) Reference to calendar years should be changed to the appropriate number of months.
(ii) Revision of para 1 to exclude study leave taken from the qualifying period for study leave.
(iii) Inclusion of the additional sentence in para 3 proposed by Ordinances and Regulations Committee.
(iv) Revision of the last sentence of para 8 to read '…. the meeting of the shortfall shall be determined by the Dean in consultation with the Head of the applicant's Department and Operations Sub-Committee.'
(v) Circulation of Ordinance XV revised in accordance with .1 and .2 above to Senate members for approval.
ACTION: DORS
SEN01-P39
Senate RESOLVED to approve proposals from Research Committee to amend Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research in relation to research student administration and monitoring. From 1 August 2001 Heads of Departments would be required to implement the new procedures. The PVC(R) would report to Senate on implementation during the next academic session.
ACTION: HODs, PVC(R) elect
SEN01-P40
Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council a proposal from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching) to establish Loughborough University at Peterborough as a quasi-Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the earliest possible date.
SEN01-P41
.1 It was RESOLVED to ratify the action of the Vice-Chancellor in nominating members to Validation Panels on behalf of Senate.
.2 Senate considered recommendations from Learning and Teaching Committee on the following:-
(i) New College Nottingham: Foundation Degree (FdA) in Events and Facilities Management.
(ii) Loughborough College: Foundation Degree (FdSc) in PE and Sports Science.
(iii) Peterborough Regional College: Cert HE/DipHE in Performing Arts.
The PVC(T) informed Senate that Loughborough College had made good progress in revising the first year of its programme and invited Senate to approve validation from September 2001 for 2001/02 in the first instance. It was RESOLVED to approve validation of the three programmes subject to the conditions presented in the papers.
.3 It was RESOLVED to approve a recommendation from Learning and Teaching Committee that the academic oversight of the validated DipHE programme in Business Information Technology at Stamford College be transferred from the Faculty of Science to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
01/49 Dates of Semesters
SEN01-P42
Senate considered a report from Learning and Teaching Committee on possible amendments to the pattern of semesters and was informed that consultation with students had shown no clear preference for the proposals or the status quo, though the possible difficulty in completing work within the proposed reduced Christmas vacation had been raised. Senate was reminded that support services used vacation time to work on student facilities and the resource implications of the semester changes in this regard had not been assessed.
It was RESOLVED to approve the amendments to the pattern of semesters, noting the potential disadvantages that would need to be overcome.
01/50 Ethical Advisory Committee
SEN01-P43
.1 Dr Hooper, Chair of the Ethical Advisory Committee, presented Senate with the Annual Report of the Committee and recommendations on the role of the Committee.
It was AGREED that a review of the Policy and Code of Practice concerning the handling of ethical issues be initiated and suggested that:-
(i) An appropriate lay member of Council be sought to advise.
(ii) The external perspective and examples of good practice be sought from other institutions.
(iii) Careful consideration be given to the suggestion that the University should have an accurate record of all research in its name. This would be a fearsome task likely to lead to a level of bureaucracy that the Committee was trying to avoid.
Dr Hooper was thanked for his work as Chair of the Ethical Advisory Committee.
ACTION: Chair and Secretary of EAC
01/51 Programme Proposals
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend to Council as appropriate:
(i) New programmes for introduction in the 2001/2002 session:
MEng (DIS) Renewable Energy Systems Engineering
BSc/MComp Computer Science and E-Business
BSc Process Technology and Management
MSc Analytical and Pharmaceutical Science
MSc/LPD/LPC Materials for Industry
LPD Back Care Management
Professional Certificate in Management (Thomas Cook)
(ii) New Programme Titles in 2001/2002:
MSc International Finance and Economics, to replace MSc International Economics and FinanceMSc Mechatronics, to replace MSc Mechatronics and Optical Engineering and MSc Design of Mechatronic Product
(iii) Strategic programme changes for 2002/03:
MSc Global Transformations
(iv) Discontinuation of the following programmes (last intake shown in brackets):
BA Library and Information Management (October 2000)
MA Theatre and Representation of Gender (No recruitment in recent years)
BSc/MChem Chemistry with Information Studies (October 2000)
BSc/MChem Chemistry with a European Language (October 2000)
MSc Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation (October 2000)
MSc Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Metabolism (October 2000)
MSc Analytical Science, Multi-University Modular Programme (October 2000)
BSc Computing with a Modern Language (October 1998)
MA Women's Studies (October 1996)
MA Policy, Organisation and Change in Professional Care (October 2000)
BEng/MEng Building Services Engineering (October 1999)
MEng Civil and Building Engineering (October 1997)
MSc Electrical Power Generation (October 2001)
MSc Materials Evaluation (October 2000)
01/52 Learning and Teaching Committee
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee it was RESOLVED:-
.1 General Regulations for Undergraduate Awards (2000 edition), Appendix 3
To approve amendments to GRUA (2000) Appendix 3.
.2 Academic Misconduct: ARUA and ARMPA
To approve amendments to the regulations for handling allegations of academic misconduct.
.3 Invigilation: Regulation VII
To approve amendments to the regulations for the appointment of invigilators.
.4 Undergraduate Certificates and Diplomas
To approve a policy statement on the award of Undergraduate Certificates and Diplomas and the discontinuation of the award of the Undergraduate Certificate of Loughborough University and the Undergraduate Diploma of Loughborough University in favour of the CertHE and DipHE.
.5 Non-attendance at Timetabled Sessions and the Reduction of Module Marks
To approve a policy statement on students' non-attendance at timetabled sessions and the reduction of module marks.
01/53 Research Committee
On the recommendation of Research Committee it was RESOLVED:-
.1 To approve amendments to Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research in regard to:-
PhD Submissions by Publications
Academic Misconduct
Research Student Re-registration
In regard to the amendments concerning PhD Submissions by Publications, the proposed requirement of the Head of Department's agreement for registration under this route, not hitherto required for academic staff, was challenged. Senate was informed that the requirement had arisen to cover the financial considerations in relation to registrations by contract research staff.
.2 To approve Guidelines for PhD Submissions by Practice - Staff Candidates.
.3 To recommend to Council the establishment of the New Route PhD.
(The curriculum elements of the proposal had been approved by Curriculum Sub-Committee and Learning and Teaching Committee)
01/54 Ordinances and Regulations Committee
On the recommendation of Ordinances and Regulations Committee:
.1 Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001, were included as agenda items 9 and 16.1.
.2 Regulations for the New Route PhD
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001,were included as agenda item 16.3.
.3 GRUA (2000): Appendix 3
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001, were included as agenda item 15.1.
.4 Academic Misconduct: ARUA and ARMPA
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001, were included as agenda item 15.2.
.5 Invigilation: Regulation VII
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001, were included as agenda item 15.3.
.6 Study Leave/Leave of Absence: Ordinances XV and XXVIII
The Committee's recommendations, with effect from 1 August 2001 or at the earliest date thereafter, were included as agenda item 8.
.7 Undergraduate Certificates and Diplomas: Amendments to Ordinance XXXIII, GRUA (1999 & 2000) and ARUA (1999 & 2000)
SEN01-P53
It was RESOLVED to recommend amendments to Council, with effect from 1 August 2001 or at the earliest date thereafter.
.8 Foundation Degrees: Ordinance IV
It was RESOLVED to recommend to Council amendments with effect from 1 August 2001 or at the earliest date thereafter to incorporate Foundation Degrees as awards of the University.
It was RESOLVED to ratify the action of the Chair, on the recommendation of the Prizes Committee, in recommending to Council the establishment of new prizes.
It was RESOLVED, on the recommendation of the Faculty of Engineering, to recommend to Council the establishment of an International Centre for Advanced Systems Engineering, with effect from 1 August 2001.
SEN01-P57
Senate APPROVED a proposal from the Registrar for the establishment of a working group to review the University's disciplinary procedures and APPROVED the Senate membership on the working group, noting that the additional member would be Professor R Goodall. It was requested and AGREED that the membership of the working group include student representation and that any implications of the review for staff be submitted to the Academic and Related Staff Negotiating Sub-Committee.
ACTION: LSU President, DORS
It was RESOLVED to ratify the Consortium Agreement involving Loughborough University, Peterborough Regional College and Stamford College.
01/59 Careers Service Advisory Board Annual Report
The publication of the Careers Service Advisory Board Annual Report for 1999/2000 was NOTED. (The report had been circulated to Heads of Departments and further copies were available for consultation in the Careers Service).
01/60 Reports from Committees
Senate received reports from the following Committees:
*.1
SEN01-P59 Research Committee of 24 May and 15 June 2001*.2
SEN01-P60 Ordinances and Regulations Committee of 1 June 2001*.3
SEN01-P61 Learning and Teaching Committee of 7 June 2001*.4 SEN01-P62 Resources and Planning Committee of 4 May and 8 June 2001
*.5
SEN01-P63 Student Services Committee of 7 March 2001A member drew attention to the report of Resources and Planning Committee on 8 June 2001 on Budget Strategy for 2001/02 and questioned whether Senate was content that academic appointments be phased whilst the capital programme continued and whether savings should also be sought from the capital programme. Senate was advised that salaries and cost of capital represented roughly 60% and 3% respectively of expenditure; significant short-term savings were therefore not possible from phasing of capital spend. With the development of a good income generation model the burden from capital developments should be no greater than at present.
01/61 Any Other Business
.1 Clarification was requested on information that the PE Centre might in future be unavailable for examinations and degree ceremonies. Senate was informed that the PE Centre was being made available to the English Institute of Sport and alternative venues were being sought for these events. The degree ceremony in December 2001 would take place in the new Sports Hall.
SEN01-P63(a) (tabled)
.2 A proposal to establish a Centre for Child and Family Research at the earliest possible date was tabled. It was noted that the proposal had the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Directorate and had been submitted in January. It was RESOLVED to recommend the proposals to Council.
.3 The Vice-Chancellor thanked the retiring student members for their service to Senate.
01/62 Dates of Meetings in 2001/2002
Wednesday 24 October 2001 am (if necessary)
Thursday 29 November 2001 am
Wednesday 30 January 2002 am (if necessary)
Wednesday 6 March 2002 am
Wednesday 26 June 2002 am
Author - Jennie Elliott
Date - June 2001
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