Prizes Committee

P03-M2

Minutes of the 61^st meeting of the Prizes Committee held on Wednesday 12 November 2003

Present: M D Morley (Chair), Professor A C Pugh, A D Bailey, Dr S Rothberg,
Dr K Gregory, A D Bailey, R Myers, J Scott

Apologies: Dr J E Bullard, Dr J Demaine,

In attendance: T.Wolff

03/12 Apologies

Apologies were received from Dr J E Bullard and Dr J Demaine

03/13 Membership and Terms of Reference of the Committee

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The Committee noted the membership and terms of reference of the Committee for the 2003/2004 session. The Chair welcomed new members to the Committee.

03/14 Minutes

The Minutes of the sixtieth meeting of the Committee held on 04 February 2003
(P03-M1) were confirmed.

03/15 Matters Arising from the Minutes

.1 Senate and Council Action

It was noted that Senate and Council had APPROVED:

i) the establishment of the following prizes:

· Loughborough University Development Trust Prize (Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies)

· Loughborough University Development Trust Prize (School of Sport and Exercise Science)

· Richard Hancock Prizes

ii) amendments to the following prizes:

· Adam Smith Prize

· Kodak prize

· Glaxco-Wellcome prize

iii) discontinuation of the following prize:

· The Siemens prize

iv) Appointment of an assessor for the Ede and Ravenscroft and John Guest Phillips Travelling Scholarship

.2 Chair's Action

The Committee ratified the action of the Chair in recommending the establishment of the following prizes to Senate, and noted subsequent APPROVAL by both Senate and Council:

· Art Mbnaefo Prize

· AstraZenca Prize

· Dresdner Kleinworth Wasserstein Prize

· GlaxoSmithKline Prize

· Institute of Biology, Human Biology Student Award

· Lilly Prize

· Loughborough University Development Trust Prize (Department of Physics)

· School Merit Prizes (Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering)

The Committee ratified the action of the Chair in recommending amendments to the following prizes to Senate, and noted subsequent APPROVAL by both Senate and Council:

· CIMA Prize

· Montrose Prize

· Faber Maunsell Building Services Engineering Prize

· Carlton Television Award (re-named from the Central Television Award

.3 Faculty Board Action

It was noted that the Science Faculty Board had APPROVED: the appointment of an assessor for the Sir Robert Martin Faculty (Science) Prize

.4 Establishment of Travel Prizes

It was noted that the Secretary is continuing to work with the Development Office in order to seek sources of external funding for Travel Prizes.

It was noted that the Secretary had contacted Heads of Departments asking for advice on companies that the Committee should, or should not, seek funding for Travel Prizes from. Unfortunately no suggestions were provided. The Committee AGREED that the Secretary should contact Heads of Departments again, requesting suggestions for the funding of Travel prizes, and clarifying that the new Travel Prizes would be for Undergraduate students only.

.5 Community Prizes

It was noted that Operations Sub-Committee considered a request to fund a Community Prize however the request was unsuccessful. The Committee AGREED that this could still be an important source of funding, the Chair would therefore submit a further request to Operations Sub-Committee.

It was noted that the Secretary has held discussions with the External Relations Office, concerning the funding of community prizes from local companies, but that no funding had been found. The Secretary would continue to work with the External Relations Office.

It was noted that the Secretary has held discussions with Student Accommodation Services (SAS), concerning the possibility of seeking funding for a community prize from University accredited landlords. Despite the suggestions being welcomed, so far no further action has being taken by Student Accommodation Services. The Secretary would hold further discussions with SAS.

It was noted that discussions with the Student Union concerning the possibility of funding a community prize are continuing.

During discussions the Committee AGREED that a large number of small community prizes would be appropriate. It was also suggested that contacts be made with the following organisations in order to raise funds for a Community prize:

· Community Action ( it was noted that Community Action participate in the nomination of students for the T S Shipman Prize)

· Charnwood Borough Council, who could be asked to match current/potential University funding for community prizes.

ACTION – Secretary/Chair

03/16 Establishment of New Prizes

03/16.1 Department of Civil and Building Engineering

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At the request of Department of Civil and Building Engineering, the Committee considered the establishment of the following prizes:

i) Finning (UK) 1^st Prize to the equivalent value of £1000 in travel, accommodation and site visit to Caterpillar in Malaga Spain, to be awarded to the top second year student in module CVB032 Plant & Equipment, BSc Civil and Building Engineering. This is not a cash prize

ii) Finning (UK) ^2nd Prize to the equivalent value of £1000 in travel, accommodation and site visit to Caterpillar in Malaga Spain, to be awarded to the 2^nd best second year student in module CVB032 Plant & Equipment, BSc Civil and Building Engineering. This is not a cash prize.

iii) Finning (UK) ^3rd Prize to the equivalent value of £1000 in travel, accommodation and site visit to Caterpillar in Malaga Spain, to be awarded to the 3^rd best second year student in module CVB032 Plant & Equipment, BSc Civil and Building Engineering. This is not a cash prize

iv) Commercial Management & Quantity Surveying Consortium Prizes to the value of £50, each, to be awarded to the first, second and final year student on the BSc Commercial & Quantity Surveying Consortium Prize with the best overall performance in their appropriate year.

It was AGREED to recommend the establishment of the above prizes to Senate, subject to a change in the criteria and title of the Finning Prizes.

(Secretary’s note: The Department of Civil and Building Engineering AGREED to rename the Finning (UK) 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Prizes to the Fining (UK) Prizes and to change the criteria from “top/2^nd best /3^rd best second year student” to the “top 3 second year student with the 3 highest respective overall academic performances”.)

03/16.2 Department of Mathematical Sciences

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At the request of the Department of Mathematical Sciences the Committee considered the establishment of the following prizes:

i) Second Year Prize to the value of £50 to be awarded to the part B undergraduate student with the best academic performance in any part B undergraduate programme within the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

ii) Final Year Prize to the value of £100 to be awarded to the final year student with the best academic performance in the final year of any undergraduate programme within the Department of Mathematical Sciences

It was AGREED to recommend the establishment of the above prizes to Senate.

03/17 Amendments to Existing Prizes

03/17.1 School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering

At the request of the School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, the Committee considered a change in value from £75 to £150, and a change in year of award from second year to final year, to the Ford Motor Company Prize and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate.

03/17.2 Department of Civil and Building Engineering

At the request of the Department of Civil and Building Engineering the Committee considered a change in title from Institute of Logistics Prize to the Chartered Institute of Transport EM Section Prize and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate. (Secretary’s note: It was clarified that “EM” refers to “East Midlands”)

03/17.3 Department of Chemistry

At the request of the Department of Chemistry, the Committee considered a change in value from £100 to £150 to the Royal Society of Chemistry Prize and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate.

03/17.4 Department of Chemical Engineering

At the request of the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Committee considered a change in the award of the Jack Harris Prize from a copy of Coulson and Richard’s ‘Chemical Engineering: Chemical Design’ to the award of a £50 book token and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate.

03/17.5 Institute of Polymer Technology and Materials Engineering

At the request of School of Sport and Exercise Science the Committee considered a change a change in name from Institute of Materials Prize to IOM³ Prize and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate.

03/17.6 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

At the request of School of Sport and Exercise Sciences the Committee considered a change in criteria and programme to the GlaxoSmithKline Prize, from “the student with the best combined mark for the Sports Nutrition module and research dissertation on the MSc Exercise Physiology programme” to “the best student on the MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition programme”. and AGREED to make a recommendation to Senate SUBJECT to the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences clarifying the meaning of “best” in the criteria for the above prize (Secretary’s note: The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences have not clarified the criteria, therefore they will be required to resubmit the request with the appropriate criteria provided). ACTION Secretary

18 Nominations of Prize Assessors

The Committee considered nominations of assessors for the following prizes for 2003/2004:

a. Loughborough College of Education Commemorative Awards
It was AGREED that the Secretary would approach the Head of the Department of English and request suggestions for an individual to fill the vacancy for an assessor from the Department of English to serve for 3 years until 31 July 2006.

b. Sir Robert Martin Prize University
It was AGREED that the Secretary would approach Ian Ashcroft to fill the vacancy for an assessor from the Faculty of Engineering to serve for 3 years until 31 July 2006.

c. T S Shipman Prize
It was AGREED to recommend to Senate that Revd Donald MacGregor be appointed as an assessor for the T S Shipman for 2 years until 31 July 2005.

03/19 Loughborough University Development Trust (LUDT) Prize

The Committee considered the action to be taken in regards to the departments, listed below, who had not awarded their respective LUDT Prizes:

· Department of Human Sciences: Finalist Prize of £100

· Department of Information Science: 2^nd year Prize of £75

· Department of Design & Technology: 1^st year Prize pf £50 and 2^nd year Prize of £75

· School of Sport and Exercise Science: 1^st year Prize pf £50 and 2^nd year Prize of £75

After some discussion it was AGREED that departments not awarding their respective LUDT prizes should be carefully monitored.

The Committee also suggested that the money not awarded be used to fund a Community prize. The Secretary would discuss this suggestion with the Development Trust.

03/20 Payment of Prize Money

The Committee considered the current system used to award students with their prizes and received a statement from the Finance Office. After discussion it was AGREED that the current BACS system was appropriate, however the Committee was of the opinion that as prize winners should be presented with a Certificate. The Committee AGREED that all prize recipients should be awarded with a Certificate. ACTION Secretary

03/21 TS Shipman Prize

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The Committee received a report from the Assessors for the TS Shipman Prize and considered recommendations to encourage more nominations for this prize.

Following discussion it was AGREED that Community Action, Loughborough Students Union, be asked to provide the Committee with a lists of students who have volunteered, and for the Committee to use this list as a means of encouraging the nomination of appropriate students for the TS Shipman Prize. The Secretary would also ensure that Loughborough College are aware of the prize and are fully involved in the nomination process. The Committee also suggested that the following organisations be involved in the T S Shipman nomination process:

· The Chaplaincy

· Local Schools

· Local Charities

· RAG

03/22 Ede and Ravenscroft Prize and John Guest Philips Memorial Travelling Scholarship

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The Committee received a report from the Assessors of the Ede and Ravenscroft and John Guest Philips Memorial Travelling Scholarship and considered recommendations to ensure a simpler selection procedure for the John Guest Philips Memorial Travelling Scholarship as well as recommendations which would assist departments submitting supporting references.

Following discussions the Committee AGREED not to implement the recommendation that departments rank applications nor to implement the recommendation restricting the number of applications the department can support to two. The Committee came to this decision as it was felt that that the selection of appropriate applications should not be the responsibility of departments and that the assessor panel be the only body that assess applications.

The Assessors had also recommended that applicants be provided with a standard reference form which departments would complete. The assessor panel would therefore receive the same information for each applicant, ensuring a fairer selection process. (this form would also be used for applications for the Ede and Ravenscroft prize). It was AGREED that the standard reference form be implemented, subject to the following amendments:

a) Students applying for the Ede and Ravenscroft Prize and the John Guest Phillips Memorial Travelling Scholarship be required to submit a Departmental Reference as opposed to a reference from their Personal Tutor and Head of Department

b) Students should be required to complete the first section of the reference form prior to forwarding the form on to their respective department

c) The section referring to Academic Results (contained in the Ede & Ravenscroft reference form) to be removed and students to be required to submit their transcript with their application.

d) A section titled ‘How would the proposed project benefit the student’ to be added to the John Guest Phillips Memorial Travelling Scholarship reference form.

The committee AGREED with the recommendation that the criteria of the John Guest Philips Memorial Travelling Scholarship be altered in order to make the aim of the prize more explicit, as this would ensure that appropriate applications are submitted. ACTION Secretary

03/23 Sir Robert Martin University Prize

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The Committee received a report from the Assessors for the Sir Robert Martin University Prize. The Assessors recommended the implementation of a standard nomination form which would ensure nominations contain the same relevant information, thereby assisting assessors in selecting an appropriate winner. It was AGREED that the standard nomination form be implemented.

It was also AGREED that a University prize rewarding the outstanding achievement of a postgraduate taught student be established. The Chair/Secretary would investigate means of funding such a prize.

03/24 Update on Prizes from Endowment Funds

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The Committee received and noted a report on action taken by departments to bring the value of prizes in line with annual earnings of endowment funds.

03/25 Discontinuation of Prizes

The Committee noted that the Brush Electrical Machines Ltd Prize is no longer awarded by the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

03/26 Reports from Assessor Panels

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The Committee received and approved reports from the following assessor panels:

1 Sir Robert Martin Faculty Prizes

2 Loughborough College of Education Commemorative Awards

3 Lilian Elizabeth Bowmaker Bursary

4 Ursula Lockley Travel Bursary

03/27 Award of Prizes 2002/2003

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The Committee noted the award of prizes on the recommendation of various assessors.

03/28 Reports from Prize Winners 2002/2003

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The Committee received and noted reports from prize winners for 2002/03.

03/29 Any Other Business

03/29.1 Establishment of Prizes – Institute of Polymer Technology and Materials Engineering

At the request of the Institute of Polymer Technology and Materials Engineering the Committee considered the establishment of the IPTME Discretionary prize and AGREED to recommend the prize to Senate.

03/29.2 Establishment of Prizes – School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

At the request of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the Committee considered the establishment of the following prizes:

i) Colin Hardy Prize

ii) G V Sibley Memorial Prize

iii) Head of School’s Prize

The Committee AGREED that as there was insufficient information provided on the criteria for the prizes and the awards they could not recommend the establishment of the above prizes to Senate. The Committee requested the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences to resubmit their request with the appropriate information provided. ACTION Secretary.

03/30 Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 3 February 2004, AM