SENATE
SEN06-M9
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of
Senate on Wednesday 25 October 2006.
Shirley
Pearce
Memis Acar Gemma
Godfrey Mary
Morley
Jo Aldridge Peter
Golding (ab) Charles
Oppenheim
David Allen
(ab) Keith
Gregory Ken
Parsons
Chris
Backhouse (ab) Harriet
Gross Gareth
Pritchard
Anja
Baumhoff Neil
Halliwell Peter
Render
John
Beaverstock Roger
Haslam Steve
Rothberg
Morag Bell Elaine
Hobby Karen
Roxborough (ab)
David Berry Tony
Hodgson Dennis
Smith (ab)
Stuart
Biddle (ab) Sarah
Holloway (ab) Tony
Thorpe
Jon Binner
Paul Chung Terry
Kavanagh Yiannis
Vardaxoglou
Sandra Dann David Kerr Richard Wakeman (ab)
Ian
Davidson Feo Kusmartsev Peter Warwick
James Dearnley
(ab) Jeremy
Leaman David Whalley (ab)
Helen Drake Chris Linton (ab) Bryan Woodward
Clive
Edwards Julian Mackenzie Martha Wőrshing
Maurice
Fitzgerald Peter Maunder Dominic
Wring
In
attendance: Chris
Dunbobbin
Jennifer
Nutkins
John
Town
Apologies
for absence were received from: David Allen, Chris Backhouse, Stuart Biddle,
James Dearnley, Peter Golding, Sarah Holloway, Chris Linton, Dennis Smith.
06/105 Minutes
It was
resolved to confirm and sign the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 28
June 2006 (SEN06-M7).
06/106 Powers and Functions of Senate
SEN06-P73
The powers and functions of Senate,
as presented in paragraph 13 of the Charter, and section 6 of Statute XIV were
noted. Further work on reviewing the
effectiveness of Senate had been deferred until later in 2006-07, but
consideration would be given to updating the powers and functions as part of
that process.
06/107 Draft Corporate Strategy
SEN06-P74
The Vice-Chancellor introduced the draft Corporate Strategy
and sought comments from Senate members. The Strategy aimed to be aspirational
and to provide a guide for decision-making whilst being sufficiently flexible
to accommodate unforeseen opportunities. It was important that staff felt
ownership of the plan and that Senate members were comfortable with being both
custodians and deliverers of the objectives. The Strategy had been developed based
on the assumptions of building on existing strengths, striving for excellence
in everything the University chose to do and being recognised as a leading
international university. Careful thought was being given to mechanisms for
measuring and reporting progress to ensure alignment with the Strategy and
avoid duplication.
Senate welcomed the document and was fully in support of the
key themes. The following points made in the discussion were noted for
consideration in preparation of the next draft:
(a) It
was recognised that university league tables were based on sometimes dubious metrics
which could drive strategy in inappropriate directions and that international
tables were in the very early stages of development. Some measure of the
University’s international standing was required, however. It was agreed
that the University should aspire to be in the top 100 universities
internationally but to avoid reference to specific tables. A policy should be
developed for use of a phonetic spelling of the University’s name in
communications targeted at international audiences.
(b) Several
members commented on the relative emphasis placed on the themes within the
strategy; in particular, it was suggested that Loughborough’s strengths
in Engineering and the humanities should be highlighted more explicitly and
that the sporting dimension should be managed with care.
(c) The
educational purpose of the University should not be taken for granted. The importance
of developing students intellectually as critical thinkers and as responsible
citizens, in addition to preparing them for employment, should be stated
explicitly in the early parts of the document as well as in the learning and
teaching section.
(d) Explicit
reference to the development of the disciplinary breadth of the University should
be made; this presented important opportunities to enhance Loughborough’s
international and regional profile, intellectual life and sustainability.
Senate noted that work was in progress on this issue.
(e) Reference
should be made to the role of language learning in relation to internationalisation.
(f) There
was some discussion of the use of the word “health” in the
strategy, the expectations it raised externally and the degree to which it
accurately reflected the nature of activities at Loughborough. The
University’s role was different to that of institutions with medical
schools, and documentation needed to be clear about the sense in which the term
was used, but an alternative was not obvious. Market research on external
perceptions would be interesting.
(g) The
first bullet point in Section 4 Core Values and Operating Principles should be amended
to read: Value all our staff and students.
ACTION: SP/FMH
Further input from Senate members and other staff was
welcome. Thoughts on developing the University’s “brand” and
visibility in relation to environmental sustainability would be particularly
welcome. Senate thanked Fidelma Hannah for her continuing contribution to the
development and implementation of the strategy.
06/108 Membership of Senate – Proposed Amendment
to Statute XIV and Ordinance VII
SEN06-P75
Senate RESOLVED to recommend to
Council amendments to Statute XIV and Ordinance VII to remove the restriction
on the number of Pro-Vice-Chancellors who could be nominated as ex-officio
members of Senate. There was agreement with the principle that all of the
Pro-Vice-Chancellors should be ex-officio members of Senate, and it was decided
therefore that in order to maximise flexibility and remove the requirement for further
changes in the event of additional Pro-Vice-Chancellors being appointed,
paragraph 1(i)(c) of Statute XIV should be amended as follows:
1.(i)(c) Two of tThe
Pro-Vice-Chancellors, to be nominated by the Chairman of Senate.
06/109 Amendments
to Ordinance XXXVIII Student Complaints Procedures
SEN06-P76
Senate RESOLVED to recommend to
Council amendments to Ordinance XXXVIII Student Complaints Procedures, with
immediate effect.
It was noted that there had been
an increase in the number of student complaints in recent years, but it was
felt that this reflected a growing complaints culture in society as a whole,
and the larger financial investment in higher education being made by students
and their parents. Many complaints mixed academic and practical problems, and
the most complex cases often related to PhD supervision. It was important that
potential complaints were addressed as early as possible, and Heads of
Department were asked to alert their staff to this issue, and to note that
advice on emerging problems could be sought from Academic Registry.
ACTION: HoDs
06/110
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor reported
on the following activities:
(a) Loughborough University Enterprises Ltd
had agreed Heads of Agreement for the
(b) The University had submitted an
expression of interest to EMDA, seeking support towards the establishment of a
Sports Technology Research Institute at
(c) E.ON and the Royal Academy of Engineering
had agreed to support a Personal Research Chair for Professor Dennis Loveday
for a five year period. Professor Loveday would become the E.ON/Royal Academy
of Engineering Professor of Low Carbon Technology, and the Vice-Chancellor led
Senate in offering congratulations.
06/111 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching)
SEN06-P77
111.1 Student
Recruitment.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)
reported on a good all round recruitment performance; the Science Faculty had
performed particularly well. At
undergraduate level, international recruitment had been above target in all
three Faculties, and UK/EU intake had been ahead of the original target set
before the allocation of 135 ASNs. UK/EU postgraduate recruitment had fallen
below an ambitious target, and it was felt that the relative buoyancy of the
employment market and the growth in student debt continued to be deter UK/EU
first degree holders from continuing in full-time postgraduate education,
though part-time numbers were healthy. Despite a fall in applications, international
postgraduate recruitment had been on target, reflecting an improved visa
situation as compared to previous years, and the good practice employed across
all academic departments. The Vice-Chancellor thanked all of those involved in
the recruitment process across the institution for their efforts.
SEN06-P78
111.2 National
Student Survey.
The University’s performance
in the NSS 2006 had been very good overall, and thanks were given to all
involved, particularly LSU for its work in encouraging students to participate.
The NSS was being viewed as increasingly important by other universities (at
least in part because its results were included in newspaper league tables),
and it was likely that it would continue to be held on an annual basis. It was
noted that Loughborough had performed less well in the Assessment and Feedback
category in the 2006 survey. This would need to be addressed in the coming
academic year, and it would be important to ensure that best practice was
shared across the University.
111.3 HEFCE
Performance Indicators for Learning and Teaching.
Performance Indicators for the
2004-05 academic year had been received, and although the University had scored
well on student retention, it had fallen
below some of its benchmarks relating to the recruitment of students from
non-traditional backgrounds. Academic Registry had subsequently conducted a wide-ranging
analysis of Widening Participation activity, and there would be an improved
focus in this area under the new Corporate Strategy.
06/112 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Research)
SEN06-P79
112.1
New Research Grants and Contracts.
SEN06-P80
112.2
Research Grants and Contracts Applications.
SEN06-P81
112.3 RAE 2008.
Senate received a written report
from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research). The Deputy Vice-Chancellor noted that
Operations Sub-Committee had agreed a number of actions to assist in maximising
the number of staff with four excellent outputs employed on the census day for
the RAE 2008 (on 31 October 2007). These included facilitating the extension of
contracts for existing research fellows, and allowing resources to be released early
to allow overlap appointments where existing staff members were due to retire.
06/113 Matters for
Report by the Vice-Chancellor
SEN06-P82
113.1
The
Vice-Chancellor presented an update on the partnership with BUE. The validation
arrangements were progressing well, and dates in January and April 2007 had
been agreed for institutional and subject-related validation visits. There were
also early indications as to how the partnership could broaden out to present
additional opportunities, and in this context, the allocation of European
Commission Joint Science and Technology funding for projects involving
The
Academic Registrar noted, in response to a question on the number of female
students at BUE, that there was a reasonable balance in terms of gender mix,
and that BUE had recently been involved in hosting an event for disabled
students in the region. There were cultural differences between Loughborough
and
113.2 Other matters for report
Members
were asked to reflect on the beginning of the academic year, and to consider whether
there was any further scope to improve the already carefully planned
arrangements for the return of students to Loughborough. In this context, the
Vice-Chancellor reported a recent meeting with residents’ groups at which
a number of concerns in relation to student behaviour had been expressed, and
emphasised to all the importance of considering the University’s role in
developing its student members as responsible citizens, as well as in an
academic sense.
06/114 Code of Conduct
on Traffic and Parking
SEN06-P83
114.1 It was RESOLVED to approve revisions to the
Code of Conduct on Traffic and Parking, with immediate effect,
subject to approval by Resources and Planning Committee.
114.2 It was RESOLVED to approve a proposal that
Senate devolve final approval of amendments to the Code of Conduct on Traffic
and Parking to Estates Management Committee.
06/115 Regulations for
Higher Degrees by Research
SEN06-P84
Senate noted the action of the
Vice-Chancellor on behalf of Senate in approving an amendment to the
Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research.
06/116 Review of the
Effectiveness of Senate
Senate noted that in view of
pressures on Academic Registry time over the previous six months and ongoing
personnel changes, further work on reviewing the effectiveness of Senate would
be deferred until later in 2006-07.
06/117 Membership of Senate 2006-07
SEN06-P85
Senate noted the
membership of Senate for 2006-07.
06/118 Dates of Future
Meetings in 2006-07
Wednesday
22 November 2006 at 9.15am
Wednesday
31 January 2007 at 9.15am (if necessary)
Wednesday 7
March 2007 at 9.15am
Wednesday 4
July 2007 at 9.15am
Author: J C
Nutkins/C Dunbobbin
Date: 2 November
2006
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Loughborough University. All rights reserved.