SENATE
SEN11-M5
Minutes of the Ordinary
Meeting of Senate on Friday 8 July 2011.
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In attendance: Chris Dunbobbin, Fidelma
Hannah (for items 11/49 and 11/50) Jennifer Nutkins, Paula Powditch, Caroline
Wade, Caroline Walker.
Apologies
for absence were received from: Dave Allen (for leaving early), Richard Bibb, Jonathon Chambers, Sandie Dann, John Feather, Dan
Harris, Angus Laing, Marsha Meskimmon, Myra Nimmo, Jonathan Potter, Andrew Watson.
11/48 Minutes
Senate RESOLVED to confirm and sign the Minutes of the
Ordinary meeting held on 9 March 2011 (SEN11-M3).
11/49 Financial Context
Senate
RECEIVED an update from the Acting Director of Finance and the Director of
Planning on the financial context for the HE sector.
The
Government had published its long-awaited Higher Education White Paper, which set out its
plans to use student choice to drive competition within the sector. The White Paper
confirmed that the direct teaching grant from HEFCE would substantially
decline, but that limited funding for medicine, science and engineering might continue.
Tuition fees would be capped at £9,000 and institutions would be required to
spend a proportion of additional fee income on widening access and outreach.
Loans, to be repaid at 9% of earnings above £21,000, would be available to
full- and part-time students, and early repayment would be possible.
The White Paper was intended to create
different markets within the sector: 20,000 student places would be redistributed
from institutions with average fees, including waivers, above £7,500 to
institutions with average fees below this level; there would be no controls on
the recruitment of students with A level grades of AAB or higher; and sponsorship
by employers and charities would be outside of student number controls. To
allow for this flexibility all universities would have their student numbers
reduced and would compete to get them back.
In order to facilitate greater student
choice, HEIs would be required to provide standard information about programmes
including contact hours, assessment methods and employment data. The extension
of the NSS to PGT programmes would also be considered. There would be an
emphasis on engagement and partnership with students, and Student Charters
would be encouraged and could become mandatory. A risk-based quality regime was
envisaged, with objective criteria determining the frequency of reviews. In
order to promote social mobility, OFFA would be strengthened; there would be
grants for low income students; and a post-qualification application system would
be considered. A single, transparent regulatory framework was proposed, with a
regulatory role for HEFCE, and a reduced burden of data collection.
In terms of the impact on Loughborough, it
was anticipated that there would be some volatility in funding for several
years, and that the new tuition fee income would not reach a steady state until
2015/16. The admissions process for 2012/13 was likely to be complex, with two
targets, for above and below AAB level. The University was expected to lose around
8% of its 2012/13 student number allocation to institutions with average fees
below £7,500, and would be required to compete for AAB students (representing around
45% of undergraduate intake). Loughborough’s current planning was based
on maintaining student populations and intakes at existing levels. The
University’s aim, therefore, would be to recruit more AAB students in
order to compensate for the 8% reallocation of student numbers to institutions
with average fees below £7,500. However, the impact of higher tuition fees on
student demand in general was still unknown.
It was noted in discussion that the
requirement to compete for AAB students represented an opportunity (i.e. to
recruit more of the most able students), as well as a threat, and that the
University would need to consider carefully how it positioned itself as an
attractive destination for AAB students. Equal focus would need to be brought
to bear on the recruitment of non-AAB students, because if the University
failed to meet its non-AAB student number allocation, Access Agreement targets
might be missed, given the close correlation between socio-economic background
and A level entry grades. Work would need to be undertaken on how AAB and non-AAB
student targets would be allocated across Schools and Departments.
The
Vice-Chancellor emphasised that although the White Paper gave rise to
challenges, Loughborough, with its leading student experience, was already at
the forefront in many of the areas the government had prioritised, and was
well-placed to prosper in an increasingly competitive HE market.
11/50 University
Strategy/Planning
SEN11-P50
Senate RECEIVED a
report on progress against Implementation Plans in 2010/11, and NOTED initial
priorities for 2011/12; arrangements for the joint Council/Senate meeting on 21
October 2011; and the draft Financial Strategy and Implementation Plan which
would be considered by Council on 14 July 2011. The importance of maintaining
the external profile of academic disciplines under the new structure was noted.
11/51 Implementation of New Organisational
Structure
SEN11-P51
51.1 Senate NOTED key issues discussed by the
Structure Implementation Project Management Board at its meetings on 4 April, 9
May, and 20 June 2011. The Vice-Chancellor thanked all involved in work
relating to the establishment of the new organisational structure, across the
institution.
SEN11-P52
51.2 Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council
amendments to procedures for Reward Review, Promotions to Senior Lecturer, and
Academic Probation Monitoring. The following points were noted in discussion:
i)
The ASPMGs, and Reward Review and
Promotion Committees referred to in the paper had been proposed solely to allow
these processes to be managed efficiently; and were not intended to be formal discipline-related
groupings applicable in other contexts.
ii)
It was anticipated that all lump sum,
team, additional increment and contribution pay awards would be considered by
the relevant SMTs.
iii)
It was intended that promotions to
Senior Lecturer would continue to be considered on a biannual basis.
iv)
A check would be undertaken to ensure
that any required amendments to procedures for promotion to Personal Chair had
been dealt with.
SEN11-P53
51.3 Senate RESOLVED to approve changes to the
composition of University Committees, with a view to their submission to
Council on 14 July 2011. It was noted
that where the constitution of a committee called for 3 Deans of Schools, it
was implicit that appointments would be made with the intention of ensuring
that a broad range of views and subject expertise were represented.
SEN11-P54
51.4 Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council
amendments to the University’s Charter and Statutes to ensure alignment
with the new University structure and compliance with current legislation, and
to refer explicitly to the granting of academic awards in conjunction with
other institutions. The following points were noted in discussion:
i)
Paragraph 22 of the Charter was outdated and out of step with existing Reward Review and
related processes.
ii)
It was anticipated that Schools would
develop their own solutions to ensuring that functions presently performed by
Faculty Boards were dealt with at School level. All references to Faculty
Boards in Ordinances and Regulations had been amended and the changes were set
out in SEN11-P55.
SEN11-P55
51.5 Senate RESOLVED to recommend to
Council/approve amendments to University Ordinances and Regulations.
SEN11-P56
51.6 Senate NOTED amendments to the job
description and person specification for Head of Department.
SEN11-P57
51.7 Senate RECEIVED a summary of specific benefits
and savings or efficiencies made as a consequence of restructuring.
11/52 Olympic Park Legacy Company
SEN11-P58
Senate NOTED
progress on the current status of the three projects currently under
development with relevance to the “Olympic Legacy”, and the
arrangements made for their oversight by a single PMB. The following points
were noted in discussion:
i)
The Deans
had been asked to highlight the opportunities for their respective Schools presented
by a possible Loughborough presence on the Olympic Park.
ii)
The PMB
would give very careful consideration to the challenges associated with the delivery
of programmes away from Loughborough, and a detailed market research project
was being undertaken, the outcome of which would be closely evaluated before
any decision on Loughborough’s participation was reached. It was
emphasised that the University would not be investing any resources other than
those arising from the project itself.
11/53 Ethical Policy Framework
SEN11-P59
Senate RESOLVED to approve/recommend to
Council proposals for an Ethical Policy Framework, and the establishment of an Ethics
Committee, to be a joint committee of Senate and Council. The Framework built
on the University’s existing ethical policies and procedures; was closely
connected to the University Strategy and Implementation Plans; and had been
produced after a wide-ranging consultation. It was noted in discussion that
consideration would be given to:
i)
Amending the wording of the second
bullet point under section 2 of the Framework (Loughborough University Ethical
Principles), to make explicit that this referred to the seven Nolan principles
of public life.
ii)
Whether any further guidance could be
issued to academic staff, alerting them to ethical issues which were of
particular importance to their work.
The
Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Rothberg for his work in producing the
Framework.
11/54 Copyright Policy
SEN11-P60
Senate RESOLVED to
recommend to Council a general
copyright policy for Loughborough University. The policy provided a high-level
framework for the enhancement of the University’s management of copyright
and related IPR issues, and had been developed in consultation with key
stakeholders in IT Services, Learning and Teaching areas, and the Research
Office. It was agreed that an issue raised by the PVC(E),
about the naming of the policy in the context of the extent to which it covered
all activities within the University involving copyright, would be discussed outwith the meeting and any minor adjustments made prior to
the policy being considered by Council. ACTION: Secretary
11/55 Loughborough Students’ Union
Constitution
SEN11-P61
Senate RESOLVED to recommend to Council
revisions to the Loughborough Students’ Union constitution.
11/56 Student Charter
SEN11-P62
Senate RESOLVED to
approve the Student Charter with a view to implementation in 2011/12, and
annual review with oversight from Learning and Teaching Committee. The Charter
would form the introduction to a range of public information (Key Information
Sets) that HEIs would be required to provide about their undergraduate
programmes.
It would be
important for the University to work in partnership with LSU to promote the
Charter, and bring it to life in the minds of students and staff. It was
suggested in this context that different parts of the Charter could be
publicised separately using different methods/media, and that each School might
seek to promote the Charter in relation to its own specific context.
Deans were asked to
consider, with their SMTs, how the Charter could be publicised most effectively
within their School.
11/57 Establishment of an Advanced Manufacturing
Research School
SEN11-P63
This item was withdrawn.
11/58 British University in Egypt
SEN11-P64
Senate RECEIVED a report on the Annual
Institutional Level Review and, in light of recent events in the region, RESOLVED
to delegate authority to the Vice-Chancellor to reach a decision on whether to
lift the suspensions of the validation of the Petroleum Engineering and Gas
Technology and Economics programmes. The following points were noted in
discussion:
i)
Notwithstanding
the January revolution, and the subsequent disruption to normal life in Egypt,
progress in relation to the BUE Projects had been good. The key task for BUE
over the next six months was to provide evidence of successful implementation.
ii)
Since the
last report to Senate in November 2010, Loughborough had agreed to support
BUE’s applications to the relevant UK bodies, for accreditation of the
validated programmes in Mechanical, and Civil and Building Engineering.
iii)
Significant
progress had been made in relation to the Economics programme, such that it was
likely that the BUE Validation Sub-Committee would recommend that the suspension
of validation be lifted. Current final year students would therefore be
eligible to receive a Loughborough award (subject to the approval of the
External Examiner).
iv)
Progress had
also been made in relation to the Petroleum Engineering and Gas Technology programme,
but many of the major issues identified by Loughborough had only recently begun
to be addressed, and some problems remained. It was unlikely, therefore, that
the BUE Validation Sub-Committee would recommend that the suspension of
validation be lifted. Current final year students were currently being
considered for Loughborough awards but based on the information available to
date a positive outcome did not appear likely.
v)
The titles of
the suspended programmes had been stated incorrectly on the agenda.
11/59 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Research)
SEN11-P65
Senate
RECEIVED a report, and noted the following points:
i)
New Research
Grants and Contracts. The figures at the three quarter year stage were very
good, and further significant awards were expected in the final quarter which
would take the total value of new grants and contracts to a record high.
Congratulations were offered to all involved.
ii)
University
Publications and Other Outputs. It had been
agreed at a recent LUPIN Project Board Meeting that a new Institutional
Repository Policy should be established within the next few months, with the
aim of maximising the number of Loughborough University papers available online
in good time for the REF. More information, guidance, and training would follow
in due course.
iii)
REF 2014. The PVC(R) thanked all who had submitted “impact” case
studies, and noted that feedback had been given on each of these. Members were
asked to disseminate the message that in order to perform at the highest level
in the REF, Loughborough needed to ensure that by the end of 2011, all eligible
staff had four quality outputs, and that 70-100 high quality “impact”
cases studies had been identified. Loughborough’s submission could then
be fine-tuned over the following 18 months.
iv)
It was
agreed that a query regarding an apparent inaccuracy in the data contained in
the report would be investigated by the PVC(R) outwith
the meeting.
11/60 Matters for Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Teaching)
SEN11-P66
60.1 Student
Recruitment, 2011 Entry. Senate RECEIVED a report, and noted the following:
i)
The
University expected to meet its agreed intake targets for UK/EU undergraduates
and all postgraduates, and to be very close to, if not meet, its target for
international undergraduates.
ii)
Information
and guidance on admissions processes during August 2011 would be circulated to
Deans of School on 11 July 2011.
iii)
The
University would be introducing postgraduate taught application fees in some
areas in 2011-12.
SEN11-P67
60.2 Student
Placements. Senate RECEIVED a paper on the delivery and management of
student placements, and AGREED to support a proposed feasibility study to
assess the resources that would be required to extend placement opportunities
with the objective of ensuring that from the undergraduate intake of 2012-13,
all students across all programmes had the opportunity to undertake a placement
(broadly defined) during their studies. The following points were noted in
discussion:
i)
The proposal provided the opportunity
for Loughborough to reinforce a very distinctive element to its offer in the
context of the new HE marketplace. However, a decision would need to be reached
relatively quickly, so that details could be included in publicity materials
for 2012/13 entry. It would be important to ensure that prospective
student’s understood that a range of activities were covered by the term
‘placement’ and that it did not refer solely to 45 week work
placements leading to a DIS or DPS.
ii)
The feasibility study would need to
carefully consider the staff resource required to support students on
placement. It was suggested in this context that that the study could provide a
timely opportunity to consider the most efficient approaches in this area, and
to allow best practice across Schools to be shared.
iii)
There were potential visa-related
complications in extending the proposal to international students.
iv)
Employment-based placements were not
always attractive to students interested in further study but exchanges at international
universities might represent an appealing developmental option for this group.
11/61 Matters for
Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise)
SEN11-P68
Senate
RECEIVED a report. The following points were highlighted:
i)
Strategic Partnerships
management processes. A Partnership Framework had been
developed to manage the relationship between the University and external
organisations, and would be considered by ALT shortly.
ii)
Enterprise
Office. The HEIF budget for Loughborough for the next
four years had been announced, and a strategy for this would be submitted to
HEFCE by 29 July 2011. The AD(E)s were involved in
this process.
iii)
Consultancy.
It had been anticipated that cuts in government funding would result in reduced
income from consultancy (given that a significant proportion of consultancy
work was for governmental bodies). However, income was slightly above that at
the equivalent stage in the previous two years.
iv)
Knowledge
Transfer Partnerships. Future funding for KTPs had been
reduced following the government’s spending review, and the Technology
Strategy Board (TSB) would therefore be significantly reducing the number of
new KTP projects.
v)
Technology
and Innovation Centres (TICs). The Technology Strategy Board was establishing
a network of TICs. The first, for High Value Manufacturing had been announced
in March 2011, and Loughborough was involved in this through the Manufacturing
Technology Centre at Anstey. The second TIC would be for Cell Therapies, and
Loughborough would play a leading role in the bid for this. The third Centre
would be for Offshore Renewable Energy, and details of further TICs were
awaited.
11/62 Matters for Report by the Vice-Chancellor
The
Vice-Chancellor reported on the following matters:
i)
The
University had been involved in discussions with OFFA regarding the proportion
of new tuition fee income from 2012-13 that it would be required to spend on access-related
activities. OFFA would inform the University of its decision
on 12 July 2011.
ii)
The
Vice-Chancellor thanked Lord Glendonbrook (formerly Sir Michael
Bishop) for his donation of £1million to Loughborough University. The gift
would allow the University to establish the Glendonbrook
Centre for Enterprise Education within the School of Business and Economics, and
to set up a number of doctoral fellowships.
iii)
The Project
Management Board established to consider how the University could work more
closely with Loughborough College, to maximise the benefits for both institutions,
had been considering the integration of sporting activities at Loughborough,
and the possibility of sharing employer links in engineering education.
iv)
In the
latest national newspaper league table, The Times Good University Guide,
Loughborough had dropped four places to 20th. However, in the individual
subject tables, 60% of Loughborough’s subject areas were ranked in the
top ten, with three subjects – Building, Librarianship and Information
Management, and Sport Science – topping their league. Meanwhile, in the
Times Higher Education magazine’s ‘table of tables,’ which
combined the results from The Times, The Guardian and the Complete University
Guide, Loughborough was ranked 15th.
v)
In June, SportPark had been officially opened by Lord Coe and Tom
Daley.
11/63 Finance Committee
SEN11-P69
Senate RECEIVED reports of the meetings held on 8 March, 1 April and 23
June 2011 and:
SEN11-P70
63.1 RESOLVED
to note the Terms of Reference, Constitution and Membership
of Finance Committee for 2010-11.
11/64 Learning and Teaching Committee
SEN11-P71
Senate RECEIVED a report of the meeting held
on 9 June 2011, and on the recommendation of Learning and Teaching Committee
RESOLVED to approve:
SEN11-P72
64.1 A
Policy for Admitting Students under the Age of 18.
11/65 Research Committee
SEN11-P73
Senate RECEIVED reports of the
meetings held on 19 May and 10 June 2011, and on the recommendation of Research
Committee, RESOLVED to:
SEN11-P74
65.1 Approve a revised scheme
for Postgraduate Research Degree Programme Reviews.
SEN11-P75
65.2 Approve the introduction of
an EngD programme in Manufacturing Engineering, to
commence in October 2011.
11/66 Student Discipline Committee
SEN11-P76
Senate RECEIVED a report of the
meeting held on 14 June 2011, and on the recommendation of Student Discipline
Committee, RESOLVED to:
SEN11-P77
66.1 Recommend to Council amendments to
Ordinance XVII (Discipline of Students) to empower Hall Wardens to consider Minor Offence charges against all
students in relation to breaches of Regulation XIX governing Hall Committees.
11/67 Student Experience Committee
SEN11-P78
Senate RECEIVED
reports of the meetings held on 23 February and 7 June 2011, and on the
recommendation of Student Experience Committee, RESOLVED to:
SEN11-P79
67.1 Approve amendments to Regulation XIX (Hall
Committees) (minute 11/21.1 of SEN11-P78 refers).
11/68 Programme Proposals
SEN11-P80
On the recommendation of Learning and
Teaching Committee, on the advice of Curriculum Sub-Committee, Senate RESOLVED to
recommend to Council as appropriate:
68.1 New programmes:
BSc Business Studies with Banking
and Finance (Singapore) (from August 2011)
MA Digital Media and Society (from
October 2012)
MSc Manufacturing Engineering
(Curriculum-based component of the EngD) (Oct 2011
entry)
68.2 Award, title or major programme changes (with effect from October 2011 unless stated):
MSc Advanced Engineering
MSc Advanced Manufacturing
Engineering and Management
MSc/PG Dip/PGCert Analytical and Pharmaceutical Science
MSc/PG Dip/PGCert Analytical Chemistry
MSc/PG Dip/PGCert
Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science
BSc Design Ergonomics
(Addition of award of DIntS from 2011/12 session)
BSc Design with Engineering Materials to BEng Design with Engineering
Materials
(for
all existing students; already applied to 2011 entry onwards)
MSc
Engineering Design
BA English with a Minor
in American Literature and Film to BA English and American Studies (from
October 2012 – title change and major changes)
BSc
Ergonomics (Human Factors Design) (Addition of award of DIntS
from 2010/11 session)
MSc Global
Transformations to MSc
Globalization and Society
MSc Globalization, Space
and Sport to MSc Globalization
and Sport
BA
Industrial Design and Technology (Addition of the award of DIntS
from 2010/11 session)
MSc Mechanical
Engineering
MSc/PG Dip/PGCert Pharmaceutical Science and Medicinal Chemistry,
MSc Physical Activity and
Health to MSc Physical Activity
and Public Health (title change and major changes)
BSc Product Design and Technology (Addition of
the award of DIntS from 2010/11 session)
BA, DPS Publishing with
English to BA, DPS Publishing
and English (from October 2012 – title change and major changes)
MSc Sports Science to MSc Sport and Exercise Science
(title change and major changes)
MSc Sustainable Engineering
68.3 Suspension of programmes
MSc/PGDip/PGCert Management and Leadership (Assoc
for Consultancy and Engineering) (No Intakes to date, next intake Oct 2012)
MSc/PGDip/PGCert Medical Management
(Last intake Oct 2009, next intake Oct 2012)
MSc
Packaging Technology (MST) (full-time programme only)
(Last intake Oct 2010, next intake Oct 2012)
MSc
Research Methods (European and International Studies) (Last intake Oct 2010, next intake Oct 2012)
68.4 Discontinuation of programmes (last
intake shown in brackets):
BEng Chemical Engineering with Environmental
Protection (Oct 2011)
MSc
Construction Project Management (Work Based Distance Learning) (Jan 2011)
BSc
Economics with Social Policy (Sept
2011)
BSc
Economics with Sociology (Sept 2011)
PG Cert
Management and Leadership (Federation of Sports and Play Associations)
(No intakes in last five years)
MSc Research in Analytical Chemistry (Oct
2010)
MSc
Strategic Automotive Dealership Management (Malaysia) (No intakes)
MRes
Sustainability in the Built Environment (Oct
2010)
MSc Sustainable Infrastructure Services Management (Oct 2010)
11/69 Membership of Senate 2011-12
SEN11-P81
Senate NOTED the membership of
Senate for 2011-12, so far determined.
11/70 Annual Report on Student Complaints 2009-10
SEN11-P82
Senate RECEIVED a report on student
complaints in 2009-10.
11/70 Student
Appeals against Programme Board or Review Board Decisions: Report for 2010
SEN11-P83
Senate RECEIVED a report on the
operation of the Regulation XIV appeals procedure in 2010.
11/71 Ethical Advisory Committee
SEN11-P84
Senate RECEIVED the annual report of
the Ethical Advisory Committee.
11/72 Careers Centre Advisory Board Annual Report
Senate NOTED the publication of the Careers
Centre Advisory Board Annual Report for 2009-10 (available on the web at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/careers/section/reports/pdf/CSABreport10.pdf).
11/73 Graduation Ceremonies 2011
Senate NOTED the dates of Graduation
Ceremonies in 2011:
Summer: Thursday 21 July 2011 (am and pm)
Friday 22
July 2011 (am and pm)
Monday 25
July 2011 (am and pm)
Tuesday 26
July 2011 (am and pm)
Winter: Monday 19 December 2011 (three ceremonies)
11/74 Reports from
Committees
Senate RECEIVED reports from the
following Committees:
74.1 SEN11-P85 Advancement
Committee of 9 February and 15 June 2011.
74.2 SEN11-P86 Arts
Committee of 5 April 2011.
74.3 SEN11-P87 Costing
and Pricing Committee of 14 April 2011.
74.4 SEN11-P88 Enterprise
Board of 6 April and 14 June 2011.
74.5 SEN11-P89 Estates
Management Committee of 24 February, 14 April, 23 May and 9 June 2011.
74.6 SEN11-P90 Health,
Safety and Environmental Committee of 25 May 2011.
74.7 SEN11-P91 Prizes
Committee of 4 November 2010 and 25 January 2011
74.8 SEN11-P92 Research
Performance Monitoring Committee of 25 January, 30 March, 10 May and 14 June
2011.
11/75 Dates of
Meetings in 2011-12
Wednesday
16 November 2011
Wednesday 25 January 2012 (if
necessary)
Friday 9 March
2012
Wednesday 4 July 2012
11/76 Valedictory
The Vice-Chancellor
thanked retiring members. Special thanks were given to the following:
i)
Alice
Swinscoe and the other student representatives. It was noted that the LSU
Executive for 2010-11 had been exceptional.
ii)
Professor
Phill Dickens, who was retiring as PVC(E) in September
2011. The Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Dickens for his work in relation to
the University’s enterprise related activities.
iii)
Professor
Neil Halliwell, who was retiring as Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the
end of July 2011. The Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Halliwell for his work
for the University over many years as Head of Department of the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
Dean of Engineering, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), and Provost and Deputy
Vice-Chancellor.
11/77 Any Other Business
SEN11-P104
Senate RESOLVED to
approve the establishment of a Research Centre in Control Engineering.
Author – Chris
Dunbobbin
Date – July 2011
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