SENATE

 

SEN11-M3

 

 

 

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Senate on Wednesday 9 March 2011.

 

 

 

 

Memis Acar

Jo Aldridge (ab)

David Allen (ab)

Simon Austin

Chris Backhouse

Alan Bairner (ab)

Morag Bell

Richard Bibb

Jon Binner

Daniel Harris

Jonathan Chambers (ab)

Jim Chandler

Mike Cropper

Sandra Dann (ab)

David Deacon (ab)

Jack Demaine (ab)

Phill Dickens (ab)

Rob Dover (ab)

John Downey

John Feather

 

Shirley Pearce

 

Neil Halliwell

Janet Harrison (ab)

Elaine Hobby

Tony Hodgson

Ruth Jenkins (ab)

Dulanjan Kaggodaarachchi (ab)

Terry Kavanagh

David Kerr

Ruth Kinna (ab)

Feo Kusmartsev

Angus Laing

Chris Linton (ab)

Julian Mackenzie (ab)

Graham Matthews

Marsha Meskimmon (ab)

Myra Nimmo

Rob Parkin (ab)

Ken Parsons

Iain Phillips

 

 

Jonathan Potter

Ian Reid

Helen Rendell

Stephen Rice

Chris Rielly

Carol Robinson

Adrian Spencer

Richard Stobart (ab)

Elizabeth Stokoe (ab)

Gerry Swallowe

Alice Swinscoe

Paul Thomas

Tony Thorpe (ab)

Yiannis Vardaxoglou

Ruth Vaughan

Andrew Watson

Alex Widdowson (ab)

Jonathan Wright

Huaizhong Zhao

 

 

In attendance: Chris Dunbobbin, Jo Emmett, Jennifer Nutkins, Will Spinks, Caroline Walker, Jon Walker (for item 11/28).

                                               

Apologies for absence were received from: Alan Bairner, Jonathon Chambers, Sandie Dann, Janet Harrison, Ruth Kinna, Chris Linton, Marsha Meskimmon, Rob Parkin, Richard Stobart, Tony Thorpe.

 

 

The Vice-Chancellor noted with regret that Will Spinks would be leaving the University at Easter to take up the post of Registrar and Secretary at the University of Manchester. Will had made a great success of the Chief Operating Officer role, and his departure would be a great loss. The University would move quickly to appoint a new COO, and in the interim, Caroline Walker had agreed to act as COO, and Paula Powditch as Director of Finance.

11/23   Minutes

 

Senate RESOLVED to confirm and sign the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 26 January 2011 (SEN11-M1).

 

11/24   Financial Context

 

24.1     Senate RECEIVED an update from the Director of Finance on the financial context for the HE sector.

 

A white paper setting out BIS’s overall plans for HE in more detail, which was due for publication in spring 2011, had not yet emerged. Uncertainty therefore remained in several areas including student number control; core and margin numbers of student places; off quota students; and contextual information use in applications.

 

At Loughborough, there had been consultation on tuition fees with staff and students, and detailed financial modelling work was ongoing. At this stage, there was most support for an undergraduate tuition fee of £9,000 for all programmes, but even in this scenario, it was unclear whether the University would be in a position to achieve a sustainable surplus in the longer term, without additional income or reductions in expenditure. Consideration was being given to the potential consequences of setting a high tuition fee, and in particular the benefits of higher fee income, set against the widening participation obligations that this would attract, and the possibility of further cuts to the teaching grant, should the average fee level in the sector rise above the level projected by the government.

 

Council would reach a final decision on proposed tuition fees for 2012-13 at its meeting on 1 April 2011, and the University would then be required to submit its Access Agreement to OFFA by 19 April 2011. OFFA was expected to indicate in July 2011whether the tuition fees proposed by institutions had been approved. (No institution would know for sure what tuition fee it would charge prior to this).

 

            The following points were noted in discussion:

 

(i)            The financial scenarios under consideration assumed a significant increase in spending on widening participation activities; a slight decline in student numbers (in accordance with existing planning); and static staff numbers.

(ii)           It was apparent that the government was keen to encourage private provision within the sector, and for institutions to explore the diversification of their income streams.

 

            SEN11-P19

24.2     Senate RECEIVED an update on planning for tuition fees, the University’s new Access Agreement, and related issues. In order to charge tuition fees of £6,000 or higher in 2012-13, the University was required to submit a new Access Agreement to OFFA by 19 April 2011. A core group of relevant staff, chaired by the PVC(T) had been established to work on the details of the Agreement, together with a wider consultative group. The Agreement would contain details of the University’s proposed tuition fee levels for 2012-13, its financial support package, and its outreach/fair access work. Final guidance on the format and requirements of the new Agreement had been circulated by OFFA on 7 March 2011, subsequent to the circulation of SEN11-P19. Further details regarding the sum of money to be allocated to each institution under the National Scholarship programme would not be made available until later in March 2011.

 

The following points were noted in discussion:

 

(i)            Guidance from OFFA appeared to suggest that there was scope for new spending on retention and employability initiatives to be set against the University’s spending commitments in its Access Agreement, particularly if it could be shown that these would benefit students from less advantaged backgrounds to access professional careers.

(ii)           The University was already engaged in a range of sport-related outreach initiatives, and was considering expanding its activities in this area.

(iii)          It was noted, in response to a suggestion that students from less advantaged backgrounds be assisted with programme-related costs (e.g. relating to field trips, or project materials), that consideration was being given to the income received by the University from such sources, and to whether in a higher fees environment, it would be appropriate for these costs to be met by the University.

(iv)         There was evidence from an analysis of the distribution of students from less advantaged backgrounds across the University to suggest that some of the University’s difficulties in reaching WP targets had been connected to the raising of entry requirements. It was noted in this context that foundation programmes could have an important role in allowing such students to reach an appropriate level of academic attainment. In addition, the expansion of targeted schools partnerships and the use of contextual data in admissions decisions were being explored.

(v)          Loughborough was at a disadvantage compared to some of its competitor institutions in the recruitment of students from less advantaged backgrounds because it was not located within a large city. It was noted, however, that part of what made the Loughborough Student Experience special was its emphasis on extra-curricular activities associated with living on or nearby campus. It would not therefore be an immediate priority to increase efforts to encourage potential students from nearby cities to study at Loughborough while commuting from home, but this strategy would be reviewed in light of future developments.

 

Members were invited to contact the Vice-Chancellor by email if they had any further thoughts relating to tuition fees and the Access Agreement.

 

11/25   Implementation of New Organisational Structure

 

            SEN11-P20

25.1     Senate NOTED key issues discussed by the Structure Implementation Project Management Board at its meetings on 24 January, and 7 and 28 February 2011.

 

25.2     Naming of Schools    

 

SEN11-P21

(i)            Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council proposals relating to the naming of schools and the continuation of departments, noting that the paper should have referred to the Department of Materials, rather than the Department of Materials Engineering.

 

                        SEN11-P22

(ii)           Senate RESOLVED to approve proposals from Advancement Committee relating to the naming of Academic Units.

 

SEN11-P23

25.3     Senate RESOLVED to approve changes to the composition of University Committees, with a view to their submission to Council on 1 April 2011. Two additional papers were tabled:

 

(i)            SEN11-P23AA

Senate RESOLVED to approve changes to the Terms of Reference and Composition of Research Performance Monitoring Committee, to ensure a broad contribution from all involved in the REF process, and to take account of the establishment of the Finance Committee, and the new University structure, noting that under point 3., the word “Departmental” should be replaced with the word “school” from 1 August 2011, and that the word “departments” should remain, as this related to departments in other universities.

 

(ii)           SEN11-P23AB

Senate RESOLVED to approve changes to the Terms of Reference of Research Committee, to include reference to the Research Schools and the Graduate School, and a stronger statement about the enhancement of the experience of research students.

 

The following additional points were noted:

 

(iii)          In relation to section 8 of SEN11-P23, it was proposed that the Director of DARO would be in attendance at meetings of a combined Honorary Degrees and Medal Committee, rather than a member, as stated.

(iv)         In relation to the proposed membership of Learning and Teaching Committee in Annex A to SEN11-P23, the student membership was yet to be determined, but there was no intention that it be reduced.

(v)          A document referring explicitly to actions/initiatives which had resulted in specific savings or efficiencies being made as a consequence of restructuring would be presented to the next meeting of Senate.

 

            SEN11-P24

25.4     Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council/approve amendments to University Ordinances and Regulations.

 

            SEN11-P25

25.5     Senate NOTED amendments to the job description for Associate Dean (Research). It was agreed that point 3. of the responsibilities external to the School should be amended to: “To ensure the school is adequately represented in the international and national academic and practitioner communities, with the object of promoting the School and enhancing its status and esteem.”

           

            SEN11-P26

25.6     Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council a procedure for the appointment of Deans of Schools.

 

11/26   Olympic Legacy

 

            SEN11-P27

            Senate RECEIVED an update on progress regarding a Higher Education Legacy on the Olympic Park, based on the University’s strategic agreement with the Olympic Park Legacy Company, and expressed its support for the project in principle.

 

It would be important that any activity on the Olympic Park complemented and enhanced that which already took place in Loughborough, but there were opportunities for this in a range of areas. It was noted that the project had already been beneficial in raising the profile of Loughborough in various parts of government at the highest level.

 

Thanks were offered to Professor Nimmo and all involved in the project to date.

 

11/27   Alumni Association Constitution

 

            SEN11-P28

Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council a revised constitution for the Alumni Association. Thanks were offered to Mark Sismey-Durrant for his work in ensuring the constitution was fit for purpose and reflected changes to University structures and alumni activity.

 

11/28   Ethical Policy Framework

 

            SEN11-P29

Senate NOTED that work was underway, led by Professor Steve Rothberg together with Jon Walker, on the development of an ethical policy framework, in the context of increasing demands to demonstrate ethical practice in areas such as research and advancement, and in general recognition of the need to ensure that consideration of ethical matters was embedded in the University’s decision-making processes. The developments would build on the University’s existing policies and procedures including the work of the Ethical Advisory Committee relating to research ethics, and the Gift Oversight Committee relating to donations.

It was anticipated that more detailed proposals would be submitted to Senate in July 2011.

 

11/29   Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)

 

SEN11-P30

            Senate RECEIVED a report from the PVC(R). The following points were highlighted:

 

(i)            Applications. The performance of the Engineering Faculty was particularly encouraging (at the half year stage it had achieved 57% of the previous year’s performance by value and 56% by volume). The figures for the Science Faculty were less strong, however, but this was being addressed, and it was noted that the transfer of Materials, Ergonomics and ESRI into other Faculties was a contributing factor. SSH Faculty had reached 40% by value and 44% by volume of its 2009-10 totals.

(ii)           New Grants and Contracts. The performance here, particularly in the Engineering Faculty, was very strong at the half year stage.

(iii)          The Research Schools had developed into a fundamental part of the University’s research activity and success, but would be kept under regular review in order to quickly identify underperformance, and/or areas where others should be created.

(iv)         Policy and Development Team. The introduction of electronic personal research plans had begun successfully, but more feedback on the process was being sought. The implementation of a new research publications management system had also begun, and was expected to be fully operational by October 2011. Preparations for the REF continued, and the importance of citation performance was emphasised.

(v)          The formal decision not to award a joint ESRC Doctoral Training Centre to Loughborough and Leicester Universities had been announced.

 

11/30   Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)

 

            SEN11-P31

Senate RECEIVED a report from the PVC(T) on Student Recruitment for 2011 Entry. UK/EU undergraduate applications had declined, following increases in each of the previous two years. There were, however, quite large variations between Schools. It was noted further that the most significant increases in applications across the sector had been in subject areas such as those allied to medicine and veterinary science, which Loughborough did not offer. International undergraduate applications were also behind the comparable position in 2010, but applications to taught postgraduate programmes remained buoyant.

 

11/31   Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise)

                                               

            SEN11-P32

            Senate NOTED a report.

 

11/32   Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor

 

            The Vice-Chancellor reported on the following matters:

 

(i)            Relationship with Loughborough College. FE colleges were facing similar financial pressures to those affecting the HE sector, and against this background, a Project Management Board had been established to consider how the University could work more closely with Loughborough College to maximise the benefits for both institutions, and in particular to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the Loughborough brand, especially in the sporting context. Any findings and/or recommendations from the PMB would be submitted to future Senate meetings.

(ii)           THE Best Student Experience League Table. Loughborough had been placed 1st in the THE Best Student Experience table for the fifth year in succession. This was a very important achievement, particularly in the post-Browne context, and thanks were offered to all staff.

(iii)          Teacher Education Unit. The University had received the highest possible grade from Ofsted in a recent inspection of its secondary ITT provision. This was the third consecutive time since 2005 that the Teacher Education Unit had been graded as ‘outstanding’ in the formal inspection process, and congratulations were offered to all involved.

(iv)         USS Pension Scheme. Following the closure of the consultation on the proposed reform of the USS pension scheme in December 2010, the USS Board of Trustees had met at the end of January 2011, and had recommended a number of changes to the scheme. These recommendations were due to be considered at a meeting of the USS Joint Negotiating Committee on 9 March 2011.

 

11/33   Programme Proposals

 

            SEN11-P33

On the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee, on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee, Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council:

 

33.1     New programmes (with effect from October 2011 unless stated):

            MEng Design with Engineering Materials (October 2012)

            MSc Systems Engineering

MSc Healthcare Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity Management (SWSHA) (March 2011)

           

33.2     Award, title or major programme changes:

BSc Information Management & Business Studies/BSc Information Management & Computing/BSc Information Management & Web Development (October 2012)

MSc Healthcare Manual Handling Management (Delivery of Modules Off-Campus)

MComp Computer Science/Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence/Computer Science & E-Business to MSci Computer Science/Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence/Computer Science & E-Business (for all current students, already approved from Oct 2011 entry)

MSc Engineering Innovation & Management (title from Oct 2005 entry) to revert to previous title Construction Innovation & Management (from Oct 2010 entry)

BSc Retail Management to BSc Retailing, Marketing & Management (for current Part C, already approved from 2009 entry)

BSc Design with Engineering Materials to BEng Design with Engineering Materials (from Oct 2011 entry, current students also being consulted)

 

11/34   Reports from Committees

 

            Senate RECEIVED reports from the following Committees:

           

34.1     SEN11-P34     Arts Committee of 18 January 2011.

34.2     SEN11-P35     Costing and Pricing Committee of 13 January 2011.

34.3     SEN11-P36     Enterprise Board of 8 December 2010.

34.4     SEN11-P37     Health, Safety and Environmental Committee of 16 February 2011.

34.5     SEN11-P38     Learning and Teaching Committee of 17 February 2011.

34.6     SEN11-P39     Research Committee of 17 February 2011.

34.7     SEN11-P40     Student Discipline Committee of 8 February 2011.

           

11/35   Date of Next Meeting

 

            Friday 8 July 2011, 9.15am.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WAS PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY 6 JULY 2011).


Author – Chris Dunbobbin

Date – March 2011

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