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Executive Committee

Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 22 January 2009

1. Professional Service Reports
   
   

   LTEO
   
   The Director of Learning and Teaching Enhancement presented highlights of activities undertaken in her unit during 2007/08 (the second full academic year of operation of LTEO), together with plans for 2008/09 and beyond.

   a) Satisfaction scores in the 2007 National Student Surveys had improved substantially, and again in 2008, leading to an improved overall league table position for the University. 
   
   b) The GTA working party had established a five-year plan for refurbishment of stock, supported by HEFCE capital funding of £606K. It was projected that half of the stock would be modernised within three years.
   
   c) A number of projects supported by the Teaching Development Fund had produced positive results and were being considered for scaling-up across the University.
   
   d) Appointment of Royal Literary Society coach for the Faculties of Engineering and Design and Science had prompted discussion in departments about improving the standard of academic writing. Funding for the coach had been secured for a second year.
   
   e) Considerable staff time and effort had been invested in co-ordinating preparations for Institutional Audit. This was rewarded with a positive result.
   
   f) A new Head of e-Learning with a national reputation had been appointed, and Moodle software and hardware upgraded.
   
   g) A new Postgraduate Certificate in Academic and Professional Practice had been devised and launched following consultations with HoDs. This covered the full range of academic roles and responsibilities. Early feedback from participants was positive. The focus would be on those staff required to complete part of the PGCAPP as a minimum requirement. Elements could be offered to research staff, and it was possible that the programme could be adapted to meet the needs of PGRs, resources permitting.
   
   Student Services
   
   The Head of Student Services reported that 2007/08 had been a period of significant change for the broad range of services under his control. A restructuring programme had been agreed in order to provide students and academic departments with a more integrated and proactive service. This would involve changes to the duties and responsibilities of managers, to the functions of their teams, and to the names of some of the service units. Student Counselling would become Student Health and Wellbeing, Learning Support would be Disability Advisory Service, and Student Money would be Student Information and Funding. Around 50 percent of the total expenditure was accounted for by external income, derived mainly from various disability funding streams and the Bath Assessment Centre.

2. Capital projects quarterly update
   

   The Director of Estates highlighted a number of current and completed projects, and those at design stage. 
   
   a) 4W: Cowlin had made an excellent start on the replacement building, and a good working relationship had been established. Completion was due by February 2010.
   
   b) Careers and Security Offices: Both had now been relocated and the CCTV Room was now to be moved to L1 of WH.
   
   c) 4W Café: Tenders for fitting out were expected back later in the month, with completion scheduled for August 2009.
   
   d) East Building: Design work was at an advanced stage, and a planning application would be submitted within a few weeks.
   
   e) 5W Lecture Theatres: This project for refurbishment of three lecture theatres had been brought forward for completion in summer 2009. Contingency plans would be put in place should works not be completed in time for the new academic year.
   
   f) 5W Second Machine Room: This also had been scheduled for summer 2009. Although not so sensitive to the start of the new academic year, the most disruptive works would still be frontloaded.
   
   g) Woodland Court: Although handed over late, with further works required to remedy defects and snags, HBG were now expected to leave the site within the next few weeks.
   
   h) STV:  Agreement had been reached with Bovis Lend Lease to determine what repairs were necessary for the sprint track, and they had been asked to repair the roof.

3. Report to Council on risk management: January 2009
   
   

   The Committee received a report on actions taken to address the following risks:

   RE3 (Underperformance in recruitment of PGR students): comparative performance could be expected to improve following the award of two EPSRC Doctoral Training Centres in which the University would be the lead partner, and by participation in another Doctoral Training Centre led by Bristol. 

   E15 (Disaster resulting in loss of business continuity):  Significant progress had been made in developing business continuity plans at institutional and departmental levels. These included putting in place reciprocal arrangements to cover the loss of key facilities within particular departments.
   
   
4. E-government Awards
   
   

   The University entry, Bath, Drains and Web 2.0, was runner-up in the award category of excellence in innovation at a local level, and one of only two universities to be shortlisted from 588 nominations. A press release would be issued.