Minutes

Minutes of the Thirty-Second Meeting of the Faculty Board held on Tuesday 5 February 2002.

Professor P H Roberts (Chair), Dr K M Armour, Mr J Barker, Professor M Bell, Professor S J H Biddle, Mr A Bunkum (ab), Ms A Carter (ab), Mr J Costello, Mr D N Deacon, Dr H G Denton, Dr H P Drake, Professor P Golding (ab), Dr A Gould, Mr R Hamilton (ab), Professor C Hanson, Mr D R Johnson, Professor T Kavanagh, Dr R A Kay (ab), Professor M King (ab), Professor D Kirk (ab), Dr J Leaman (ab), Mr P G Lewis, Mr W P J Maunder, Professor T Mills, Dr J Mottram (ab), Mr G Murdock, Mr A Pittwood (ab) Mr K Pond (ab), Dr C D Rhodes, Dr S P Rice (ab), Mr J S Smith, Professor M H Smith (ab), Miss R Stubbings, Professor D J Wallace (ab), Professor T G Weyman-Jones

Mr A Bunkum, Professor P Golding, Professor M King, Professor D Kirk, Dr J Leaman, Dr J Mottram, Mr K Pond, Dr S P Rice, Professor M H Smith

By invitation: Ms J Sanders, Mr G Boocock

Present: Ms L M Dutton

In attendance: Ms S J McKinley

SSH01-M5

The Minutes of the Thirty-First Meeting of the Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Board, held on 31 October 2001, were CONFIRMED and signed by The Dean.

2. Dean's and Associate Dean's Reports

2.1 The Dean

1. Ms Justine Sanders was introduced to the Faculty as the new Widening Participation Officer. She would be raising the profile of the University to underrepresented student groups. Heads of Departments would be visited shortly to discuss how to target these groups.
2. Feedback on trials of the academic staff activity system in the Departments of Economics and Social Sciences had been received. The Departments were thanked for their thorough and hard work.
3. The Board CONSIDERED the first and second parts of a (previously circulated) three-part draft contribution towards the strategic planning exercise. These, together with the third part consisting of individual Departmental plans, would be submitted to the extra meeting of Senate on 13 February 2002.
   
   The Board NOTED the following, bearing in mind the over-riding concern as to whether the University should invest more in people or buildings, or in both.

• The need to review current practices with large teaching groups.
• With respect to central development funding, the Board felt that even if Departments were in receipt of development funding it was difficult to predict their likely improvement.
• Collaborative and validated provisions had not yet been mentioned.
• Small Departments warranted special consideration.
• It was suggested that reconfiguration of the Faculty might be considered at a later date.
• LUSAD were congratulated on their work in recruitment and quality. The Board was reminded that as Art and Design came from a different practice-based tradition this area would need time in which to develop an academic research culture.
• A (virtual) Faculty Graduate School was currently being formed which would develop cooperation across Departmental boundaries.

The Board RESOLVED that the issue of delivery, the possibility of central development funding and the growth in unrestricted markets, particularly in the international area, was a matter to be debated at Senate. Heads of Departments would inform the Dean of any further thoughts and developments before 13 February 2002. The Dean thanked everyone involved in the strategic plan for their hard work so far.

2.2 The Associate Dean (Research)

1. Faculty funded studentships were now being advertised nationwide. The deadline for receipt of applications would be 22 March 2002.
   
2. Congratulations were extended to the Department of Social Sciences for initiating the new MRes programmes.
   
3. The implementation of a Faculty Graduate School was progressing. Work was currently underway in producing a sound structure for publicity and marketing purposes.

2.3 The Associate Dean (Teaching)

1. The AD(T) reminded the Faculty to have the required paperwork ready with respect to programme reviews.
2. The Board NOTED that the coordination of the exam system for those with special needs was currently being reviewed.
3. The Faculty was reminded that every Department must be up to date with their programme specifications.
4. There had been a large growth in recruitment for 2001/2002. Psychology had been particularly popular. At postgraduate level there had been a huge increase in numbers of applications from China.
5. Mathematics performance in schools was a problem. Admission Tutors would meet on 22 February 2002 to discuss the possibility of a Mathematics Support Centre.
6. The Board NOTED that lectures would now be commencing on the hour finishing 50 minutes past the hour.

3. Loughborough Student Enterprise Forum

(SSH02-P1)

The Board RECEIVED a report from Mr Grahame Boocock on the Loughborough Student Enterprise Forum.

The Board NOTED that there had been an increase in student numbers on small business modules in the Business School. The Forum, which was launched in November, aimed to offer a range of activities for students who might be interested in setting up in business, by providing an opportunity to network and to exchange ideas. The Forum should appeal not only to Business School students but also to entrepreneurial engineering students and/or design and technology students. Postgraduates of any discipline would be welcome. Two events had already been well attended with Peter Sage, a local entrepreneur, giving a talk on 'Getting into Business' and Dick Saffell, Managing Director of Campbell Scientific, talking about 'Establishing a Subsidiary Company'. Further events were being planned for the coming Semester and would be advertised on the electronic Staff and Student Notice Boards.

4. Award of Degrees

(SSH02-P2)

The Board CONFIRMED the award of Research Degrees to candidates listed on the agenda paper.

5. Summer Congregations

(SSH02-P3)

The Board COMMENTED upon the award ceremonies that would take place between 11-16 July 2002 as listed on the agenda paper. The Board observed that, since 1977, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities has always been placed last on the list. The Board AGREED to request a change in Faculty order in award ceremonies commencing the next academic year.

6. Prizes Assessors

(SSH02-P4)

The Board NOTED the appointments to Prizes assessor panels until 31 July 2004.

7. Curriculum Sub-Committee

7.1 New Programme Proposals

The Board NOTED the Curriculum Sub-Committee would recommend the following new programme proposals to Learning and Teaching Committee, subject to certain requirements being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T), prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee on 14 February 2002.

7.2 Graduate Apprenticeships: UG and PG programme Proposals

The Board NOTED that Curriculum Sub-Committee would recommend the following proposals to introduce the Diploma in Professional Development (DPD) and Postgraduate Certificate (LPC) to Learning and Teaching Committee, subject to certain requirements being resolved to the satisfaction of the AD(T), prior to the meeting of Learning and Teaching Committee on 14 February 2002.

7.4 Changes of Programme Title

The Board NOTED that Curriculum Sub-Committee would recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee on 14 February 2002 the changes in title of the following programmes:

7.4 Discontinuation of Programmes

The Board NOTED that Curriculum Sub-Committee would recommend to Learning and Teaching Committee on 14 February 2002 that the programme BSc Retail Management (Automotive) (October 2001) be discontinued.

8. Associate Dean (Teaching) Action

The Board NOTED the action of the Associate Dean (Teaching) in approving the following:

• Waivers of Programme Regulations
• Appointment of Programme Boards
• Credit Transfers
• Appointment of Examiners of the University
• Appointment of External Examiners/External Programme Assessors

Further details of the actions are available from the Faculty Board Secretary upon request.

9. Staff/Student Committees

The Board NOTED that reports of Staff/Student Committee meetings had been deposited with the Faculty Board Secretary as follows:

10. Senate

The Board NOTED that the Minutes of the 344th and 346th Ordinary Meetings of Senate held on 24 October and 29 November 2001 respectively were available on the University Web pages.

11. Reports of Committees

The Board NOTED that the reports of the following Committees were available on the University Web pages:

• Learning and Teaching Committee of 8 November 2001
• Curriculum Sub-Committee of 17 January 2002

12. Date of Next Meeting

• Tuesday 21 May 2002