SENATE
SEN01-M7
Minutes of the 346th (Ordinary) Meeting of
Senate held on Thursday 29 November 2001
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Professor D J Wallace |
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Dr M Acar Ms Y
Alexander (ab) Dr P M Carrillo Mr P P Conway (ab) Professor
T J Gordon Professor
N A Halliwell Professor D Infield (ab) Ms H Jenkinson Professor R Kalawsky Professor T Kavanagh (ab) Professor M King Dr J Leaman (ab) Mr P G Lewis Dr C M
Linton Professor R McCaffer (ab) |
Professor
T Mills Dr P N
Murgatroyd Professor
A C Pugh Dr S J
Rothberg Professor
P R Smith Professor
R Summers (ab) Dr E Theodoraki (ab) Professor
R J Wakeman Dr G D Wilcox (ab) Professor J M Wilson (ab) |
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By invitation: In attendance: |
Mrs F M Hannah for minute 01/ 117 Professor H Thomason Dr J E M Elliott Dr J C Nutkins Mr J M Town |
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Apologies for absence were received from Dr. Bullard, Mr Conway, Professor Infield, Professor Kavanagh, Professor McCaffer, Dr Mustoe, Professor Smith, Professor Summers, Professor Wilson and Professor Woodward.
01/110 Business of the
Agenda
Item 20.1 was unstarred.
01/111 Minutes
It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the 342nd and 344th Meetings held on 27 June and 24 October 2001 respectively (SEN01-M3 and SEN01-M5), noting in Minute 01/95 (iii) of the 344th meeting that the Disabilities and Additional Needs Service provided a comprehensive service to students but was already under strain with the increase in student numbers.
01/112 Matters Arising from the Minutes
.1 Minute 01/41(v):
Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
It was noted that the Chair of
Council was supportive of the proposal that Council receive briefer reports
from Senate.
.2 Minute 01/61.1: Any Other Business
It was noted that the degree
ceremonies in December 2001 and July 2002 would now take place in the PE
Centre. The venue for December 2002
onwards was still under discussion.
01/113 Matters for Report by
the Vice-Chancellor
SEN01 - P84 (a)
.1 A letter sent to Heads of Departments on recent correspondence in the Daily Telegraph concerning student behaviour at the University was tabled. A statement of the Athletic Union Club's Initiation Policy, recently drafted and awaiting ratification by Union Council, was attached. The Vice-Chancellor was supportive of the policy but advised some changes in terminology, to refer to 'freshers' social events' rather than initiation ceremonies. Members identified excessive alcohol consumption as a primary cause of poor student behaviour which impacted on other students and the community, and as a potential danger to the students themselves. The problem needed to be addressed and the following was AGREED:
(a) The University needed to take a more proactive role in fostering responsible behaviour and use of alcohol, with the help and support of Loughborough Students' Union.
(b) External organisations, such as the Portland Trust, could be asked to advise on a confidential basis.
(c) The possibility of an alcohol-free Hall of Residence should be explored, initially by Student Services Committee.
Action: Registrar
.2 The Vice-Chancellor congratulated
Professor P Taylor and Professor M Smith on their recent election to membership
of the Academy for Learned Societies in the Social Sciences.
.3 The Vice-Chancellor informed Senate of the University's bid for the National Academy of Cricket, which was being viewed favourably by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
01/114 Matters
for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
.1 The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) reported that the RAE results would be announced on 12 December, embargoed until 14 December. He encouraged Heads of Departments to revisit their department's research strategy following the outcome.
.2 The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) reported that new research grants and contracts for the first annual quarter were 180% of those at the same time last year, though £5m of the £9m total was attributable to one project. The University had also been successful in being selected by EPSRC to host the UK's largest Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre, attracting funding of £14.4M over the next five years.
01/115 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)
SEN01-P85
.1 The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching) reported on student recruitment figures as at 12 November 2001, for which total numbers had changed little since Senate's last meeting. A working group was being established to explore the recruitment problems of UK/EU taught postgraduates. International student recruitment was buoyant, though the number of probable non-arrivals was concerning. The Vice-Chancellor suggested that the Hall target of 99% occupancy might need revisiting, as this currently worked against convincing clearing and potential international students to come to Loughborough. Preliminary discussions were underway with the Residential Organisation concerning Hall allocation for freshers next year. It was hoped that a good balance of students in Halls could be maintained. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching) would provide an update of the percentage of undergraduates accommodated in Hall, taking into account students out on placement and other factors.
Action: PVC(T)
.2 Discussions were underway concerning the possible move to three examinations per day, commencing in 2002/03. It would be guaranteed that no student would have three examinations on the same day. The need for Saturday examinations would remain and staff would be obliged to be contactable when this involved their examination papers. The Registrar reported the AUT's unhappiness with this requirement. A member commented that the current 'week 16' of semester 2 could be moved to semester 1 to allow week 15 to be used for examinations.
.3 Guidelines on charging students for handouts would be circulated shortly. There would also be guidelines concerning recent legislation in relation to disabled students and guidelines on Personal Tutoring would be reviewed and reinforced.
.4 To help address the shortage of suitably-sized lecture rooms, a substantial part of the second round HEFCE Project Capital funds for learning and teaching infrastructure would be allocated to pool room refurbishment and conversion of the Edward Herbert Building Sports Hall and Assembly Hall for teaching purposes. AVS would be taking responsibility for the allocation of pool rooms from the Academic Registry. Members commented that:
- the University should be looking to wireless networks for the future
- there were pedagogical problems with this approach and cost implications for students.
- it was already possible to use video conferencing facilities for 'overflow' lectures.
- the strategic planning exercise should cover programme delivery.
It was AGREED that an exploratory study of wireless networking be conducted by a group comprising the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (T) as chair, Professor P Smith, Dr A Mumford and a representative of Computing Sciences and LSU.
Action: PVC (T)
01/116 Starting Time of Lectures
SEN01-P86
Senate considered a recommendation from Learning and Teaching Committee on proposed changes in the starting times of lectures. It was commented that some students were strongly opposed to the proposed loss of the two twenty-minute breaks. The same concern had been expressed at the LSU Academic Affairs Committee, but a majority had welcomed the more transparent option of lectures commencing on the hour. The Vice-Chancellor commented that the improved spread of larger lecture rooms should improve the problem of cross-campus travel. It was RESOLVED to approve the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, with effect from semester two 2001/02. The change would be publicised by the Academic Registry, AVS and LSU.
Action: Director of Registry
Services , Director of AVS, LSU.
01/117 Strategic Planning
SEN01-P87
Senate considered a report from the Council Strategic Planning Conference on 30 October 2001. A review of Faculty and Support Service Strategies would be the exclusive business at Senate's 'if necessary' meeting on 30 January 2002. Members comments included:
- the tight schedule might allow only superficial discussion by departments of their strategies. There would, however, be the opportunity for wide consultation of the first draft of the Strategic Plan
- the Human Resources Strategy needed to be integrated into the Strategic Plan
- staff costs should be included within cost pressures
- central support for international student recruitment should be strengthened
- key objectives on relationships with the local community needed strengthening
01/118 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:
MSc in Management (Professional)
(MSc award extended to Professional Certificate
& Diploma in Management/ Management (Thomas Cook) /Management (FKI) and
Professional Diploma in Management (HEA)) (Spring 2002 entry)
MSc
Risk & Reliability Methods (Rolls-Royce) (October 2001 entry, approved by
Chair’s action)
(ii) New programmes for introduction in the
2002/2003 session:
BSc
(DPS) Geography & Management
BSc Business & Law
BA Business & Social Studies
BA Law & Social Studies
MSc Sports Biomechanics
MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
MSc Physical Activity & Health
MSc Policy-making in the European Union
MA Media & Cultural Analysis
MSc Information & Knowledge Management
(iii) New Programme Title in 2001/2002:
MSc
Construction Innovation and Management, to replace MSc Innovative Construction
(approved by Chair’s action)
(iv) New Programme Titles in 2002/2003:
BSc
Geography & Leisure Management, to replace BSc Geography & Recreation
Management
BSc Physics and Computing, to replace BSc Physics with Computing
(v) New Awards for 2001/2002:
Award
of DPS for BSc Geography/ Geography with Economics/ Geography & PE &
Sports Science/ Geography & Recreation Management (approved by Chair’s
action)
(vi) Discontinuation of the following
programmes (last intake shown in brackets):
BA
Spanish & French Studies (October 1999)
BA Spanish & German Studies (no recruitment)
BA Spanish & Politics (October 1999)
01/119 Learning and Teaching
Committee
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee:-
Validation:
Foundation Degree in Sports Science at Loughborough College
Further to Minute 01/48.2 of Senate’s 342nd
meeting on 27 June 2001, it was RESOLVED to approve validation for a five-year
term to the end of 2005/06, subject to a ‘mid-term’ review in 2003/04,
following the completion of the programme by the first cohort of students.
01/120 Ordinances and Regulations Committee
On the recommendation of Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED:
to repeal the Special General Regulation for the Degree of Bachelor and of Master of Engineering, Master of Mathematics, Master of Physics, Master of Chemistry and Master of Computer Science, which was now redundant.
01/121 Prizes Committee
It was RESOLVED to approve recommendations to Council, referred by Prizes Committee at its meeting on 26 November 2001, on the establishment of prizes, altered conditions to an existing prize and the discontinuation of prizes.
01/122 Credit Transfer Agreement
On the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Social Sciences and Humanities, it was RESOLVED to approve a proposal from the Business School to allow 75 credits to holders of the NEBOSH Diploma on admission to the postgraduate programme in Occupational Health and Safety Management.
01/123 UK/EU Undergraduate Intake Quotas 2002/2003
SEN01-P92
On the recommendation of Resources and Planning Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve UK/EU undergraduate intake quotas for 2002/2003.
01/124 LUSAD Further Education Academic Year
It was RESOLVED to approve the following dates for the 2002/2003 Academic Year for Further Education Programmes in LUSAD:-
Monday 2 September to Friday 13 December 2002
Monday 6 January to Friday 11 April 2003
Monday 28 April to Friday 30 May 2003.
01/125 Operational Plan
Senate noted the Operational Plan for 2001/2002.
01/126 Change of Title - QAU
Senate noted the change of name of the Quality Assessment Unit to the Quality Enhancement Unit, in recognition of a change of emphasis in its role.
01/127 QAA Audit of Overseas Collaborative Arrangement
Senate noted that QAA had given notice of its intention to include the Business School’s link with the PSB Institute of Productivity Training, Singapore, in the schedule of overseas audits for 2002.
01/128 ASN Bids
It was noted that a single bid had been submitted to HEFCE on the basis of expanding high quality learning and teaching in response to student demand, comprising the following ASNs:
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78 ASNs |
phased over 3 years |
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156 ASNs |
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60 ASNs |
01/129 Reports from Committees
Senate received reports from the following Committees:
.1 SEN01-P94 Research Committee of 1 November 2001
.2 SEN01-P95 Ordinances and Regulations Committee of 2 November 2001
.3 SEN01-P96 Learning and Teaching Committee of 8 November 2001
.4 SEN01-P97 Resources and Planning Committee of 5 October and 26 October 2001
.5 SEN01-P98 Student Services Committee of 13 June 2001.
In regard to the Minute 01/47 of the Research Committee meeting on 1 November 2001, it was RESOLVED to approve a change in constitution of that Committee, with effect from 18 December 2001, to include the Registrar.
01/130 Date of Future Meetings
Wednesday 30 January 2002 am
Wednesday 6 March 2002 am.
Author – Jennie
Elliott
December 2001
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All rights reserved.