SENATE
SEN10-M3
Minutes of the Ordinary
Meeting of Senate on
|
Jo Aldridge Simon Austin (ab) Chris Backhouse Alan Bairner Morag Bell David Berry (ab) Richard Bibb Jon Binner Ed Brown (ab) James Carroll (ab) Jim Chandler Mike Cropper Sandra Dann (ab) David Deacon Jack Demaine Phill Dickens Neil Dixon John Feather Neil Halliwell Daniel Harris |
Shirley Pearce Janet Harrison Roger Haslam Elaine Hobby Tony Hodgson Phil Hubbard Ruth Jenkins Terry Kavanagh Ruth Kinna (ab) Feo Kusmartsev Angus Laing Chris Linton Julian Mackenzie (ab) Graham Matthews (ab) Marsha Meskimmon Paul Palmer (ab) Rob Parkin Brian Parkinson Ken Parsons |
Chris Peel Eric Pentecost Iain Phillips Jonathan Potter Ian Reid Stephen Rice Chris Rielly Carol Robinson Richard Stobart Elizabeth Stokoe Gerry Swallowe Tony Thorpe David Twigg Yiannis Vardaxoglou Scott Vickers (ab) Peter Warwick Andrew Watson Mark Webber Huaizhong Zhao |
In attendance: Chris Dunbobbin, Jennifer
Nutkins, Will Spinks, Caroline Walker.
Apologies for absence were received from:
Simon Austin, Ed Brown, Paul Palmer.
The Vice-Chancellor
welcomed John Feather, Angus Laing and Jonathan Potter, who were attending
their first meeting of Senate in their respective new roles of Director of the
Graduate School, Dean of the Business School and Economics, and Head of the
Department of Social Sciences. Senate recorded its thanks to Ruth Lister and
John Whittaker for their contributions as Acting Head of the Department of
Social Sciences, and Acting Director of the
10/26 Minutes
Senate RESOLVED to confirm and sign the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting
held on
10/27 Matters Arising from the Minutes
27.1 Financial Situation
Update
(minute 10/4 refers).
Senate RECEIVED an update from the Director
of Finance on the Financial Outlook for the University.
A HEFCE circular, released on 1 February 2010, had indicated, amongst other
items, that HEFCE planned to use all discretionary funds available to it to minimise across-the-board reductions in the core teaching
grant in 2010-11. The likely impact was that Loughborough’s grant would be cut
by less than the 5% that had been assumed. However, the longer term situation
remained uncertain and it was anticipated that the University would need to
make annual savings of a minimum of 2-3% for at least three years, in line with
existing projections of a total saving of £14.7M by 2012-13. A clearer picture
of the position for 2010-11 would emerge after the full grant announcement on
The importance of the Value for Money (VFM)
agenda in reducing costs by making the best use of available resources, and
operating in the most efficient manner possible was underlined. A number of opportunities
for VFM papers had been identified so far by the Executive Leadership Team, and
the Services Working Together and Simplicity agendas were highlighted as
important elements in the drive to decrease costs. There were a range of
additional options for reducing expenditure including ‘salami
slice’ savings across all support services and departments,
reducing/delaying the capital programme, and addressing Human Resource issues.
Losing a section of activity would be a last resort. There were also options
for increasing income, for example from increased international student
recruitment, and commercial activities. It was noted, however, that while these
would have a role in resolving the financial gap, they would not provide a full
solution.
A number of other uncertainties remained, relating to factors such as tuition fees and associated bursaries, research funding, and pensions, and these had the potential to improve or worsen the University’s financial outlook. It was emphasised, however, that Loughborough had the chance to establish a project structure to allow it to meet the financial challenges that lay ahead, while still delivering on its vision and strategy ‘Towards 2016.’
The following points were noted in
discussion:
(i)
Although
Loughborough faced a challenging financial outlook, it was better placed than
many others in the sector, and had the opportunity to think strategically about
where savings could be made (rather than being forced into making immediate
cuts which would impact on the achievement of strategic objectives in the
longer term). It was noted in this context that:
(a)
The
University would do all that it could to avoid compulsory redundancies. The
introduction of an appropriately defined early-retirement/voluntary-redundancy
scheme was an option, but there were no plans for this at present.
(b)
The
suspension of performance-related pay awards was an option, and Remuneration Committee
would be considering the policy for the most senior staff. However, there was a
reluctance to take action that would undermine the University’s ability
to motivate and encourage excellent performance. Loughborough was committed to
being part of the national pay-negotiating framework, which restricted other
options for reducing pay costs.
(ii)
The
University was already involved in collaborative arrangements with regional
partners in a range of areas, and further collaboration was a potential means
of decreasing costs.
(iii)
A
working group, led by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching) was undertaking a
review of the distribution of vacations, and would consider, as part of its
work, whether any savings could be made in this area.
(iv)
If
differential savings targets were to be set for separate departments/sections,
then clear and objective criteria would need to be established.
SEN10-P18
27.2
‘Future
Shape and Structure of the University’ Update (minute 10/5 refers).
Senate RECEIVED an
update from the Provost on proposals for the future organisation of University
academic activity, and NOTED that comments made at the last meeting of Senate were
being taken into account. The proposals had subsequently been considered at a
HoDs/HoSS’s meeting, and it had been agreed that a Project Management
Board (PMB) should be established. Senate NOTED the membership and terms of
reference of the PMB, and that its first meeting was scheduled for later on 3
March 2010.
10/28
SEN10-P19
On the recommendation of Operations
Committee, Senate RESOLVED to approve the establishment of a
The following general points, related to the
naming of Schools, were noted:
(i)
Care
needed to be taken to ensure that the University’s varied use of the term
‘School’ (e.g. in relation to academic cost-centres, Research
Schools, and the Graduate School) did not become confusing to those external to
the University.
(ii)
In
future, it might be appropriate to explicitly reflect the interdisciplinary
nature of Research Schools in their naming.
10/29
SEN10-P20
Senate RECEIVED an update on discussions with the
The Director of Internationalisation noted
that BUE had ambitions to become a research-led institution in its own right,
and that Loughborough had much to gain from the partnership in addition to covering
the costs associated with validation of undergraduate programmes.
10/30 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Research)
SEN10-P21
Senate RECEIVED a report from the PVC(R). The
following points were noted in discussion:
(i)
The
total figure for grants and contracts awarded at 31 January 2010 was down on
the previous year, but did not include a number of significant new awards
received in February 2010.
(ii)
The
PVC(R) would very shortly be leading discussions with the AD(R)s regarding the allocation of Graduate School / Development
Trust Research Scholarships. It was noted in this context that Operations
Committee was always willing to consider applications for research
studentships, given that this was such an important area of investment for the
University.
(iii)
Members
expressed concern regarding the accuracy of the analysis of research applications
associated with Research Schools over the period 1 August 2009 to 31 January
2010, and it was agreed that the PVC(R) would circulate a note clarifying how
the figures had been prepared.
10/31 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching)
The PVC(T) reported on the
following matters:
SEN10-P22
31.1 Student Recruitment,
2010 Entry.
Senate RECEIVED a report on UG and PGT recruitment
for 2009 entry. The following issues were highlighted:
(i)
UK/EU applications for undergraduate programmes
were up by 7.5% on the previous year. This was a relatively small increase
compared to the sector as a whole (+23%). However, Loughborough had enjoyed an
increase of 19.3% in 2009; one of the largest in the sector. UK/EU and
International applications for taught postgraduate programmes were also up
significantly on the same stage in 2009.
(ii)
There had been a successful PG Open Day in February
2010, and initial evidence suggested that many attendees had been undergraduates
from other institutions in the region.
31.2 Other Matters for
Report.
In order to support the Loughborough
Students’ Union elections, and encourage student participation in the
democratic process, the University had agreed to add a banner hyperlink for the
LSU elections, alongside the NSS banner, at the top of the main student page on
the University’s web-site. LSU was also thanked once again for its
invaluable contribution to the University’s high NSS response rate.
10/32 Matters for
Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (
SEN10-P23
Senate
RECEIVED a report from the PVC(E). The following
points were highlighted:
(i)
Science and
(ii)
Successful Funding Applications
Three of the four
applications submitted by the University for Winter
2009 emda-funded ‘Innovation Fellowships’ had been successful.
(iii)
Consultancy.
The Consultancy team had invoiced in excess of £725K in the financial year to
date, a figure considerably higher than the equivalent totals in 2008-09 and
2007-08. Almost £500K had already been returned to academic departments so far
in 2009-10.
10/33 Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
The
Vice-Chancellor reported on the following matters:
(i)
It had been announced on 2 March 2010 that the AstraZeneca
site in Loughborough would close by the end of 2011. This was a very serious
economic blow for Loughborough and the East Midlands as a whole, as a large
number of jobs would be lost to the area, and Senate noted concern for all
residents and staff affected by this decision. Careful consideration would be
given to the implications for the University.
(ii)
The University had been approached in 2009 by the
Mayor of London’s Office regarding a proposal to establish a centre for
higher educational activity on the 2012 London Olympics site. The project had now
been handed from the Mayor’s Office to the Olympic Park Legacy Company,
and Loughborough had responded positively to an invitation to be involved in a
feasibility study. Senate would be consulted in detail if any firm proposals
emerged.
10/34 Programme Proposals
SEN10-P24
On the recommendation of Learning and
Teaching Committee, on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee, Senate RESOLVED
to recommend to Council as appropriate:
34.1 New programmes (with effect from October 2010 unless stated):
BA Drama with a Minor
in Business Studies (with effect from October 2011).
BA English with a
Minor in Business Studies (with effect from
October 2011).
MSc Construction
Business Management.
MRes Built Environment: Energy
Demand Studies.
PGDip/PGCert in
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Application (Taught element of the PhD) (with
effect from October 2009).
MSc Sustainable
Engineering.
MSc Internet
Computing and Networking.
34.2 Award, title or major programme changes (with effect from October 2010 unless stated):
MSc Construction
Management/ MSc Construction Project Management.
MSc Education with
QTS.
BSc Psychology.
BSc Social Psychology (with effect from 2010-11).
BSc Sociology (with effect from 2010-11).
MSc Materials for Industry to MSc Materials Science and Technology.
34.3 Discontinuation of programmes (last
intake shown in brackets):
BSc Economics with French/German/Spanish (Oct 2007).
10/35 Learning and Teaching Committee
On the recommendation of Learning
and Teaching Committee, Senate RESOLVED:
SEN10-P25
35.1 Condonement
To note a review
of the use of condonement for undergraduate students in session 2008-09.
SEN10-P26
35.2 Assessment flexibility policy for elite
athletes; Stretched degree policy for elite athletes
To approve
amendments to the above.
35.3 Regulation Changes
To approve amendments to the
following Regulations:
SEN10-P27
(i) Regulation XI – Diplomas
in Industrial Studies, Professional Studies, International Studies.
SEN10-P28
(ii) Regulation XXI –
Postgraduate Awards.
10/36 Reports from
Committees
Senate RECEIVED reports from the following
Committees:
36.1 SEN10-P29 Costing
and Pricing Committee of
36.2 SEN10-P30
36.3 SEN10-P31 Health,
Safety and Environmental Committee of
36.4 SEN10-P32 Learning
and Teaching Committee of
10/37 Date of Next Meeting
Author – Chris
Dunbobbin
Date – March
2010
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