SSH98-M5
Minutes
The Minutes of Ordinary Meetings of the Faculty Board are also available on the Information Gateway for three years after the relevant date.
Minutes of the Thirteenth (Ordinary) Meeting of the Faculty Board held on Tuesday, 27 October 1998.
Pro
fessor I C Morison|
Dr C Antaki (ab) |
Mr W P J Maunder |
|
In attendance |
Ms P J Rouse |
|
Apologies for absence |
Dr Beaverstock, Mr Bunker |
(SSH 98:M3)
The Minutes of the Eleventh (Ordinary) Meeting of the Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Board, held on 19 May 1998, were confirmed and signed.
(i) Welcome to New Members
A warm welcome was extended to all new members of the Board and, in particular, to members representing LUSAD for the first meeting since the School joined the Faculty.
(ii) Changes in the Administration
The Registrar, Dr D Fletcher, would be leaving the University to take up the post of Registrar and Secretary at the University of Sheffield, with effect from 1 January 1999. It was possible that this might lead to a review of the duties attached to the role and the responsibility for Information Services might be re-allocated to another senior appointment created for this purpose. Further re-organisation was also under consideration and it was thought that the Communications and Publicity and External Relations Offices might merge. Ms S Wheelans has been appointed to the post of Manager of Academic Registry Services. Changes in administrative arrangements arising from the recommendations of the Support Services Budgetary Review were still underway and Teams were being formed to support Research, Student Recruitment and Admissions and Programme Development and Quality.
(iii) Financial Position of the Faculty
It was expected that the Faculty would have approximately £150,000 available in 1998-99 to support strategic initiatives. All academic Departments within the Faculty, but one, were in credit at the start of the current academic year, before the 2.5% Faculty topslice was taken. Discussions were still underway regarding the possible allocation to the Faculty of £50,000 TTA funding which had been left with the University to maintain the infrastructure following under-recruitment. The Dean hoped that some flexibility in the use of brought forward balances would be permitted.
(SSH98-P40)
The Board received a report from the Associate Dean (Teaching) regarding periodic programme reviews, module specifications, the Quality Assurance Agency Audit and reading lists. He confirmed that although the final report of the Audit was still awaited, it would be made available for consideration in due course.
67.3 Report from the Associate Dean (Research)
(i) Research Office
The Associate Dean (Research) reported that a Research Office was to be formed to provide an appropriate level of research support and to reflect the position of research in the core business of the University. The shape of the Office remained under consideration and it was uncertain whether the Postgraduate Office would be part of this. It was expected that the Research Office would be formed without additional resources. As plans for the research Office developed, it would be possible to define relations between different elements of Faculties and the Office and to consider, for example, the allocation of Faculty Strategic funds to support a Faculty Research Liaison Officer post.
One member commented that more information on research expertise and research vacancies across the University would be helpful to assist the retention of good researchers when contracts expired. The Associate Dean (Research) agreed to take this suggestion forward.
ACTION: AD(R)
It was RESOLVED that any suggestions regarding possible functions for a Research Office should be sent to the Associate Dean (Research) by e-mail.
ACTION: BOARD MEMBERS, AD(R)
(ii) Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2001
A major review of RAE was to take place, however, this would take effect after the RAE 2001, which would be very similar to RAE 1996. For the last RAE there had been sixty-nine units of assessment, for 2001 there might be some minor divisions of these which could affect certain parts of the Faculty. Discussions regarding allocations to specific Units of Assessment would be taken in the next few months.
Universities such as Loughborough tended to have a mode RAE score of 4. It was uncertain whether new universities might adopt a more selective strategy to achieve more scores of 5 and of 0, in a bid to maximise research income in specific areas. This could render less selective strategies somewhat disadvantageous.
Currently Faculty research funding was mainly focused to meet departmental needs although a more strategic approach could be considered. The diversity of the academic disciplines within the Faculty made it more difficult, however, to adopt a Faculty wide research strategy. A good result in RAE 2001 remained essential for the Faculty and for the University as a whole.
(iii) Research Web Pages
The package of research documentation originally produced and circulated by Professor L Hantrais would now be installed on the Web at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/faculty/ssh/research/
Any comments on this should be addressed to the Associate Dean (Research)
ACTION: BOARD MEMBERS, AD(R)
A Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty protocol on the role of the Director of Research had been developed. This was to be used in conjunction with existing University regulations and guidance on the role. The late submission of theses was still a problem within the Faculty and the protocol emphasised the role of the Director of Research in ensuring that theses were submitted within three years, or a maximum of four years. The protocol also proposed an additional progress meeting between the Supervisor, Director of Research and the research student to ensure that an action plan was in place for submission within the required deadline.
It had been decided that there should be a change in the allocation of Faculty Research Funding to increase support for research studentships and decrease small research grants. This was intended to relieve a slight overspend on research studentships last year but also reflected a reduced need for pump priming funds following the establishment of the Humanities Research Board. An invitation to bid for Faculty Research Funds would be issued shortly.
ACTION: AD(R)
(SSH98-P41)
The Board considered the Faculty's SWOT analysis and contribution prepared for the University Council's strategic planning conference to take place on 30 to 31 October 1998. The Dean reported that all faculties had provided similar contributions. The conference would also include discussion on wider strategic issues, such as the University's external image, before it was determined how matters should be taken forward. A strategy document would need to be finalised for submission to the Higher Education Funding Council in July 1999. The Dean hoped that there would be further opportunities for Board members to make an input to this process. It was noted that further amendments regarding the Department of Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreation Management had been made since the production of the agenda paper.
The Dean noted the following matters which were raised in subsequent discussion on the strategy document:
With regard to the overall institutional strategy, one member highlighted a need to strengthen public relations and the marketing of the University in an increasingly competitive environment. Also a need was voiced for the facilitation of greater cross-departmental initiatives to maximise and capitalise on opportunities for curriculum development, the shared use of resources and so on.
(SSH98-P42)
A report from the Associate Dean (Teaching) on Faculty recruitment for 1998 was received. It was expected that the Faculty intake quota for 1999 would be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the Resources and Planning Committee and that this would be approximately 1122 as in the previous two years. Demand for programmes within the Faculty was generally good and higher than in the other two Faculties. The recruitment performance overall was quite satisfactory.
One of the Faculty's student representatives was reassured that programmes in the Faculty enjoyed high demand, but alerted members to problems of overcrowding in lecture theatres such that, on occasion, students might be unable to attend as the room was already full. Caution in recruitment was therefore requested. Members were reassured that space was carefully monitored and current space provision was quite adequate. Problems might arise, however, as rooms were booked before final group sizes were confirmed and there could be an uneven demand for space throughout the week leading to increased pressure on rooms of particular sizes at certain times.
(SSH98-P43)
At the request of Senate, the Board received proposals for the adoption of a scheme for determining distinction at postgraduate level based on percentages instead of grades and the discontinuation of the use of grades in the context of assessment for postgraduate awards generally. The Board welcomed these proposals.
(SSH98-P44)
At the request of Teaching and Learning Committee Steering Group, the Board considered the general principle of a Module Assessment Feedback form. It was noted that reports on several teaching quality audits by the Quality Assurance Agency, or its predecessor, had highlighted feedback to students as an area requiring attention. It was emphasised that the Module Assessment Feedback form provided as an example in the agenda paper was used in addition to written comments on student work. The form ensured that the assessment was available in a standard structured format which proved useful in appeals for instance. The Board generally supported the principle of a Module Assessment Feedback form, on the understanding that this was not intended to be used with rigid prescription but would allow departments to fit this approach in with their own existing practices.
(SSH98-P45)
The Board supported a proposal for a new variant of the Professional Diploma in Management.
(SSH98-P46)
At the request of the Teaching and Learning Committee, the Board received the Report and noted that the Committee was advised that the issue of assessment procedures, referred to in paragraph 39a, was already being addressed in the Department.
(SSH98-P47)
The Board NOTED its constitution and powers.
(SSH98-P48)
The Board NOTED its membership for the session 1998-99. It was reported that LUSAD representatives had now been elected and these included Ms J Prince, Ms J Tormey and Mr P Wheeler.
(SSH98-P49)
Representation of the Faculty on other bodies was NOTED.
The Board NOTED that this was available from Mr J Wilcox.
The Board NOTED that reports of Staff/Student Committee meetings had been deposited with the Secretary as follows:
|
Design and Technology |
8 May 1998 |
|
Drama |
5 May 1998 |
|
Education |
5 February 1998 |
|
English |
6 May 1998 |
|
PE, SS & RM |
6 May 1998 |
|
Primary PGCE |
10 December 1997 |
|
Professional Programmes in Management (1997 intake) |
21 September 1998 |
|
Social Sciences |
6 May 1998 |
The Board NOTED that the Minutes of the 320th (Ordinary) meeting of Senate held on 24 June 1998 are available on the Web.
The Board NOTED that a report of the following Committee is available on the Web.
The Board NOTED that degrees for programmes and research in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities will be awarded at the Congregation on the afternoon of Tuesday 15 December 1998.
(Closing date for receipt of Agenda items: Monday 18 January 1999)