|
SENATE |
|
SEN03-M5
Minutes of the
360th (Ordinary) Meeting of Senate held on Wednesday 25 June 2003.
|
|
Professor D J Wallace |
|
||||
|
|
Dr
M Acar Ms
Y Alexander Professor
C J Anumba (ab) Dr
J V Beaverstock (ab) Professor
W R Bowman Professor
I C Davidson Professor
J B Griffiths (ab) Dr
D Kerr |
Mr
W P Maunder Professor
T C Mills Professor
I Reid Dr
P Render Dr
S J Rothberg |
|
|||
|
|
By
Invitation: In
attendance: |
Dr
R A Haslam Dr
C M Linton Professor
P Warwick Dr J E M Elliott Dr
J C Nutkins Mr
J M Town |
|
|||
Apologies for Absence were received from Professor Alty, Professor Anumba, Dr Beaverstock, Professor Golding, Professor Griffiths, Miss Jackson, Professor Kavanagh, Dr Kinna,
Mr Lewis, Professor Smith, Professor Wakeman, Dr Wilcox, Professor Wood and
Professor Woodward.
03/65 Business of the Agenda
Items 9(ii), 10(iii), 11(i), 24.3 and 25 on the agenda had been unstarred.
03/66 Minutes
It was RESOLVED to confirm the Minutes of the 358th Meeting held on 5 March 2003 (SEN03-M3).
03/67 Matters Arising from the Minutes
.1 Minute
03/31.1 – Holywell Park
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor reported that the move of SEIC, parts of Engineering and the Research School of Informatics into Holywell Park was happening to plan, though in the latter two cases there were costings to be determined and finances to be secured. A marketing timetable had been determined to minimise the loss of rent should any of the above plans fall. The Space Management Group was looking at the space vacated on the main campus by the moves and opportunities to allocate accommodation to a number of departments, especially for postgraduate students.
.2 Minute
03/31.2 - Loughborough University at Peterborough
SEN03-P34
A paper updating Senate on the withdrawal from the Peterborough Higher Education Project was received. The Director of Registry Services reported that the lease on the new LU@P premises had been signed and transfer to those premises was occurring that day.
.3 Minute
03/35 – White Paper on the Future of Higher Education
SEN03-P35
Senate noted the University’s
response. The Vice-Chancellor reported that the Secretary of State for
Education and Skills would be visiting the University on 2 July 2003. [Secretary’s note: the visit was cancelled by DfES on 26 June.]
.4 Minute
03/36.2 – Validation Policy and Procedures
The PVC(R) reported that proposals concerning a policy in relation to research degree programmes and research collaborations would come forward from Research Committee in the Autumn.
.5 Minute
03/37 – Admissions Policy
The PVC(R) reported that there had been no consensus in the Faculties’ responses to the proposal that research students could be registered on the 1st of each month. The status quo would therefore remain but each case would be handled on its own merits.
03/68 Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor reported on:
(i) The Senate/Council dinner on 15 July which members were urged to attend, with guests.
(ii) HEFCE
Recurrent Grant for 2003/04
An email analysis of the settlement had previously been sent to Senate members. There was a 5% increase for the University in cash terms which included moderation funding of £960K for 2003/04 only, effectively a safety net. This had resulted from research funding increasing by only 3.4% due to more selective funding, and a 4% cut in teaching funding as resources were diverted to Widening Participation. To accommodate the cut, the University needed to make corresponding savings or generate additional income by 2004/05.
(iii) Moderation
Working Party
03/69 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)
The PVC(R) reported on:
(i) New Research Grants and Contracts
SEN03-P39
The total for the year up to 31 May was £20.2M. The estimated total for the year was £25-26M, which was comparable to recent years.
(ii) Research Grants and Contracts applications
(iii) RAE 2007: The Roberts’ Review
Public Funding for research was under intense scrutiny with three consultations out for response by September 2003:
(a) HEFCE consultation on improving postgraduate research programmes
(b) A DTI/OST review of the dual support system
(c) The Roberts’ Review of the RAE
Senate’s views on the latter were welcome in addition to those fed in through AD(R)s. Concerns included: Whether to enter subjects in the Research Capability or Research Quality routes; failure in RQA would result in zero funding; and game-playing across the sector appeared likely.
The proposals required RQA panels to have a consistent ratio of work within each quality star rating. Whilst the intention behind this of reducing grade inflation was laudable, it would generate other inconsistencies and required discrimination by panels which would be difficult to achieve. The new star gradings applied to numbers of FTE staff whose work met the required standards and could not therefore be directly compared with the current RAE grades which applied to whole submissions.
The institutional level review of research competencies two years before the main assessment was unnecessary since it was anticipated that all institutions would prove satisfactory .
Members commented on the proposed abolition of four outputs submitted per staff member and the potential for encouragement of publication by volume rather than quality. The University’s response would stress that the criteria for each subject area should be set to allow submitted output to be assessed in detail and that sub-panels should include adequate representation to ensure the necessary time and expertise to do this. The need for staff to publish in the highest quality outlets was emphasised.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed his reservations about the likely administrative burden of the proposed exercise and of the DTI/OST proposals for the funding source for all costs of individual research projects to be identified before grant applications were submitted.
03/70 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)
The PVC(T) reported on:
(i) Student
Recruitment
SEN03-P42
Applications data had been presented to Senate though it was recognised that acceptance information would be more useful at this stage and this would be provided to Departments. UK/EU undergraduate applications were down but acceptances up overall by 2%. It was expected that about 70% of the target would be achieved automatically and the remaining 30% by concessions. International undergraduate and the UK/EU postgraduate taught targets should be met. International applications for postgraduate taught programmes had almost doubled and the target was likely to be exceeded, possibly to a significant degree. It was hoped that next year’s applications would include a broader range of countries. PGCE recruitment was holding up well.
In response to questions Senate, was informed that the outcome of the HEIST survey of year 12 students was expected in the Autumn. It was important that this was reviewed and constructively used to make an impact on next year’s recruitment activity. English Language testing had re-started in China and the impact of SARS on recruitment was no longer the concern that it had been. Senate was alerted to the significant impact on Support Services of rapidly increasing international student numbers.
(ii) QAA
Developmental Engagements and Institutional Audit
Recent QAA Developmental Engagements in Chemistry and Computer Science had resulted in an expression of confidence in the academic standards and quality of learning opportunities to students. The Institutional Audit would take place in March 2004 and a preliminary meeting with QAA was planned for July. The Audit would focus on central procedures but would involve Discipline Audit Trails and Thematic Enquiries. Departments to be involved in the former were not likely to be known until November. Possible thematic enquiries were collaborative provision, assessment and PGR provision. It was suggested that attention should be paid to the University’s approach to plagiarism, which some members felt was not sufficiently stringent. Departments willing to be put forward for a Discipline Audit Trail were requested to contact the PVC(T).
ACTION: HoDs
(iii) Committee
to Review the Structure of the Academic Year
The Committee had been established and had met twice. Consultation with Departments could be expected after a third meeting in July. It was clear that departments were not yet making full use of the flexibility permitted within the current regulations. The Committee’s aim was to find a structure which would facilitate quality teaching whilst also freeing staff for research. The Committee would be reviewing the requirements for credit accumulation within GRUA.
(iv) Departmental Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies
It had been agreed that a temporary halt be called to the development of Departmental Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies in view of concerns about other documentation requirements placed on departments and the overlap with Departmental Development Plans. Senate was supportive of this approach.
(v) Increasing Discretion for Undergraduate Programme Boards
No consensus had been achieved on proposals which had been open for consultation. The QAA expectation was that assessment should demonstrate that Intended Learning Outcomes had been met and whilst this expectation had to be met at some level, it might be that the University’s approach was too complex at present. The Director of Registry Services encouraged Departments to consider liberalising their own Programme Regulations to allow more discretion. A member suggested that assessment should be programme rather than module focussed, and that passing should be de-coupled from professional accreditation. A review of the role of Programme Boards in view of their limited power might also be desirable.
(vi) Project
Capital Fund Round 3
The University had been allocated £5.3M for teaching-related infrastructure. Bids from Departments and Support Services would be requested shortly.
03/71 Research School of Informatics
SEN03-P43
Senate considered the establishment of the Research School of
Informatics from 1 August 2003. A member expressed the concern of some
researchers in Information Science whose work was not of an informatics nature
that their work might be lesser valued if not within the Research School. The
member was advised that such concern should be unnecessary since the research
of the designated Head of Department also fell into this category. It was
RESOLVED to recommend the proposals to Council in principle, subject to advice
being taken from the PVC(R) to ensure research groupings of sufficient size to
compete at international level.
03/72 Validation
(i) Loughborough College: BSc Honours programme in Applied Sports Science (one-year ‘top-up’ for Foundation Degree students)
SEN03-P44
Senate considered recommendations from Learning and Teaching Committee. The PVC(T) informed Senate that the conditions of approval set by the Validation Panel and Learning and Teaching Committee had almost been met and work was continuing to ensure that full compliance was achieved shortly. The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the ADT of SSH and Mr Bowyer were thanked for their efforts in this regard. A member expressed concern that a rival degree was effectively being established at Loughborough College, which externally would be viewed as if it were the University’s own degree. The Head of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences informed Senate that the School had felt some concern about the arrangement, but that it included a bridging element and was distinctive in content from the School’s own programmes. The Vice-Chancellor reminded Senate that the principle was to widen access.
It was RESOLVED to approve the proposals subject to:
· the requirements of the Validation Panel and Learning and Teaching Committee being met
· a review of the arrangements after one year of operation
· an assurance of the adequacy of learning resources at Loughborough College
ACTION: PVC(T), ADT (SSH)
(ii) Peterborough Regional College: Foundation Degree (FdA) in Learning Support, Part B
SEN03-P45
Senate considered recommendations from Learning and Teaching Committee. It was noted that the requirements of the Validation Panel had now been met. Senate RESOLVED to approve the proposals with effect from September 2003, for the student cohort which entered Part A of the programme in 2002 only. Senate noted that validation of the programme would thence be transferred to Anglia Polytechnic University.
03/73 Programme Proposals
SEN03-P46
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 2002/03 session:
MSc Water and Waste Engineering – Distance Learning version
MSc Water and Environmental Management – Distance Learning version
(ii) New Programmes for introduction in the 2003/04 session:
|
MA Art and Design (Studio Practice) |
|
MSc Mathematical Processes in Finance* |
|
MSc Mathematical Processes in Biology* |
|
MSc Mathematical Processes in the Environment* |
|
MSc Back Care Management |
|
MSc Human Geography Research |
|
MSc Urban Environmental Engineering |
|
MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition |
|
MSc Research Studies (in Physics) |
(iii) New Programmes for introduction in the 2004/05 session:
|
MSc Environmental Dynamics: Monitoring, Evaluation and Management |
(iv) Major programme changes from the 2003/04 session:
|
MMath Mathematics |
|
MSc Industrial Mathematical Modelling |
(v) Title Change from 2003/04 entry:
|
BSc Sociology with a Minor Subject to BSc Sociology |
(vi) Discontinuation of the following programme (last intake shown in brackets):
|
MBA Business Administration (Peterborough version) (September 2002) |
(*Revised
titles approved by Senate at the meeting)
03/74 Learning and Teaching Committee
(i) Markfield
Institute of Higher Education: New Programme Proposals for Validation
SEN03-P47
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve new programme proposals for validation.
(ii) External
Examining: Code of Practice
SEN03-P48
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve a revised University Code of Practice on External Examining.
(iii) Invigilation
SEN03-P49
On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, Senate had been asked to approve proposals for a central pool of paid invigilators. A member commented that the proposal was a good one and should be adopted University-wide thereby saving both time and money. It was acknowledged, however, that it would be easier for a Faculty in budget surplus to make a commitment to become involved at this stage. It was RESOLVED to approve the proposals, noting that the Science Directorate was yet to reach a final decision and would do so at its impending meeting.
03/75 Ordinances and Regulations Committee
(i) Ordinance XVII: Conduct and Discipline of Students
SEN03-P50
On the recommendation of Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend amendments to Council with effect from 1 August 2003, to incorporate a further amendment to Ordinance XVII to include a new para 3(ii)(g) as follows:
“Whilst every reasonable effort will be made to convene hearings at a time suitable for the student, the Panel reserves the right to proceed in the absence of the student if it feels it appropriate so to do”.
(ii) Ordinance
XXV: Title of Emeritus Professor
SEN03-P51
On the recommendation of Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend amendments to Council with immediate effect.
(iii) Ordinance XXXIII: Diplomas and
Certificates/General Regulations for the Professional Certificate and
Professional Diploma in Management
SEN03-P52
On the recommendation of Ordinances and Regulations Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve amendments to the General Regulations and recommend to Council amendments to the Ordinance, with effect from 1 August 2003.
03/76 Research Committee
SEN03-P53
On the recommendation of the Chair of Research Committee it was RESOLVED: -
Notes for the Guidance of Research Students, Directors of Research, Supervisors and Examiners
To approve
amendments in regard to:
(i) Termination of Studies
(ii) First-Year Report from Part-Time
Research Students
03/77 Prizes Committee
SEN03-P54
On the recommendation of the Chair of Prizes Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend to Council the establishment of and amendments to prizes.
03/78 Ethical Advisory Committee
SEN03-P55
On the recommendation of Ethical Advisory Committee, it was RESOLVED to recommend to Council a revised Code of Practice on Investigations involving Human Participants.
03/79 MSc Risk and Reliability Methods: Transfer to Department of Systems Engineering
On the recommendation of Operations Sub-Committee, it was RESOLVED to approve the transfer of responsibility for the MSc in Risk and Reliability Methods from the Department of Mathematical Sciences to the Department of Systems Engineering, with effect from 1 August 2003.
03/80 English Language Qualifications
SEN03-P56
It was RESOLVED to approve proposals on English Language Entry Requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Team.
03/81 Membership of Senate 2003-04
SEN03-P57
The membership of Senate for 2003-04 so far determined was noted.
03/82 Ethical Advisory Committee
SEN03-P58
Senate received the Annual Report of the Committee.
03/83 Careers Service Advisory Board Annual Report
Senate noted the publication of the Careers Service Advisory Board Annual Report for 2001/02. (The report had been circulated to Heads of Departments and further copies were available for consultation in the Careers Service).
03/84 Repeal of Ordinance XXVIII – Special Leave and Leave of Absence
Senate noted that Council had repealed Ordinance XXVIII. The role of the Ordinance had been subsumed within relevant Conditions of Service.
03/85 Data Protection Policy
Senate noted that the University’s Data Protection Policy, approved by Council on 4 April 2003, was available on the web at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/dpact/ludpp.htm.
03/86 Validation Activities
SEN03-P59
Senate received an update on validated programmes.
03/87 Degree Congregations and Celebrations – 2003
Senate noted the dates of degree congregations and celebrations in 2003:
Summer - Thursday 10 July 2003 (am, includes installation of new Chancellor, & pm)
Friday 11 July (am & pm)
Monday 14 July (am & pm)
Tuesday 15 July (am only)
Winter - Monday 15 December 2003 (am & pm)
Overseas Degree Celebration, Malaysia – 24 August 2003
Overseas Degree Celebration, Singapore – 31 August 2003
03/88 Reports from Committees
Senate received reports from the following committees:
.1 SEN03-P60 Ordinances and Regulations Committee of 6 June 2003
.2 SEN03-P61 Learning and Teaching Committee of 5 June 2003
.3 SEN03-P62 Resources and Planning Committee of 14 March and 6 June 2003
.4 SEN03-P63 Student Services Committee of 5 March and 4 June 2003
In regard to the item on the Budget Strategy for 2003/04 in the report from the meeting of Resources and Planning Committee on 6 June 2003, a member queried whether Research Grant and Contract Income, which was in effect earmarked funding, could be excluded from future calculations of the required 3% surplus on turnover. Senate was informed that over the last few years Council had been willing to relax the requirement for a 3% surplus and that Treasurer’s Committee would be reviewing the issue of a target surplus. It was queried whether account was taken in staff costs of vacancies. Senate was informed that some account was taken of vacancies University-wide and at department level. It was confirmed that the expected loss of £800K in the first year of operation of Holywell Park would be below the line.
03/89 BSc Sport and Exercise Science (Intercalated)
SEN03-P63(a) (tabled)
It was RESOLVED to approve in principle the introduction of a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science (Intercalated) from 2003/04 for one-year students from Medical Schools, subject to the approval of Programme Regulations by the Chairs of the relevant Committees.
03/90 Dates of Meetings in 2003/04
Wednesday 22 October 2003 (if necessary)
Wednesday 26 November 2003
Wednesday 28 January 2004 (if necessary)
Wednesday 3 March 2004
Wednesday 23 June 2004
Author – Jennie Elliott
Date – June 2003
Copyright © Loughborough
University. All rights reserved.