Summary notes of the Executive Committee held on 23 November 2005
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2 West drains
Progressive deterioration of the drains located beneath Choices kitchen had reached the point where essential repairs were required. These had been scheduled between 16 December and 5 February 2006. As closure of the Choices kitchen would be unavoidable, the Head of Accommodation and Catering Services would be making arrangements to ensure alternative catering provision at other venues. This would necessitate the removal of restrictions on use of all venues for the period in question, including the Claverton Rooms. Full details of the temporary arrangements would be relayed to staff and students, once finalised.
- Strategic Planning Group: Minute 3, 8 November 2005 - Technology Exploitation
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor reported there was growing interest among a number of venture capitalists in establishing long-term partnerships with selected HEIs. These partnerships offered seed corn funding for technology and IP exploitation, in return for providing the venture capitalists with a share in any resulting equity or licence income.
- Space Management Committee: Minute 169, 5 October 2005 - Amendment of Terms of Reference
Agreed: That, following the disestablishment of the Improvement Fund, responsibility for allocation of the Fund should be deleted from the terms of reference of the Space Management Committee.
- University Merit Scholarships Scheme
The (Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) said that although the University had put in place a very good bursary scheme to address the new variable tuition fee regime, the University still lacked an H/EU undergraduate scholarship scheme based on academic merit. In light of this, the MMMG had asked for proposals to be brought forward for a pilot, to allow evaluation of potential benefits over the longer term.
Agreed: That the pilot scheme could be approved.
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Scholarship provision for overseas and alumni students
The Senior Assistant Registrar (Recruitment and Admissions) introduced a package of new scholarship schemes. The purpose of these schemes was to protect and enhance the University's market share against increasing competition. It was proposed that the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Developments) would oversee the schemes, working to an annual cycle and reporting on a regular basis to the Committee. Responsibility for day-to-day management should rest with the International Office, supported as necessary by the Department of Marketing and Communications.
Agreed: That the package of new scholarship schemes could be approved, subject to review and evaluation. Details of the launch campaign, once finalized, would be reported to the Committee.
- Draft University response to DfES consultation: Improving the Higher Education admissions process
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) said that this draft was based on a collective response prepared by the 1994 Group (to which the University had already given its outline support), adjusted to reflect the particular circumstances of the University. The stance adopted was that many of the objectives outlined in the consultation document could be achieved by reform of the current system, rather than by wholesale change to a post-qualifications admissions system. Strong support was offered for the proposals that would enable applicants to apply at later stages in the application cycle if they have not received an offer, and for applicants whose results exceeded their expectations to seek places elsewhere.
Agreed: That the draft could be approved, to be submitted under a covering letter.
- Capital projects - Quarterly update November 2005
The Director of Estates reported on a number of capitals projects underway or completed. There had been a high level of activity over the last two years, and this was expected to continue. By summer 2007, work would be underway on the 4 West replacement building, the 4 South annexe, refurbishment of the University Hall, refurbishment of level 2 of the Library and Learning Centre, and the Eastwood R5 residential expansion. When taken together, these projects represented a further significant investment in the University's estate and infrastructure.
- Improving the space management of teaching and meeting rooms
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said a number of recurring problems regarding the availability of teaching and meeting rooms during vacations had prompted a wider review of the management of all such 'bookable' rooms. This had concluded that the separate control of different stocks of rooms by three distinct parts of the University, namely the Timetabling Office, the Sales and Events Office and academic and support departments, combined with increasing and competing demands on the use of space, had resulted in a confusion of management arrangements. There appeared to be no effective mechanism to allow comprehensive booking of rooms in a co-ordinated fashion that could reflect University priorities for accommodating internal and external users, according to criteria such as relevance to core business, customer preference, potential for income generation and availability of stock. Varying levels of room bookings also indicated that whilst use of some rooms was as high as could be reasonably expected, others were not utilized so efficiently, even after making allowances for more flexible, ad hoc use. Finally, the various internal and external charging regimes deployed throughout the University often lacked a consistent and transparent basis.
It was acknowledged that pressure on available space contributed to the problem. This, however, made it even more important to ensure efficient use of the University's estate. The growth of what were effectively parallel markets in bookable rooms would not help to achieve this aim.
The Committee was supportive of the proposals put forward to address this situation. Some reservations were expressed about the need to ensure that internal users charged a premium rate, such as summer schools, received a level of provision comparable to external users. The implications for AV provision of servicing a more dispersed network of rooms would also need to be considered.
Agreed: That central timetabling should be extended to include a wider range of rooms across the University, and that charging regimes should be rationalized.
- University Risk Register: Progress report on improvement actions - November 2005
Reports were received on improvement actions taken to mitigate the risks associated with: (a) Failure of the Research Strategy to focus activity; and (b) Failure to secure 'buy-in' from staff for strategic and financial plans.
- Data Protection Audit: Recommendations to the Executive Committee
The Committee considered a series of recommendations made by the University Legal Adviser as a result of an Internal Audit report on Data Protection.
The Librarian pointed out that guidelines on the disposal of confidential waste paper had been published on the website of Records Management Service (see: Records Management Service at the University of Bath ). The University Archivist was happy to received confidential paper waste and arrange for its disposal, so long as departments use the B&NES sacks.
Agreed: That the recommendations arising from the internal audit report could be approved. The University Legal Adviser would be asked to promulgate these policies, with the assistance of the Director of Marketing and Communications. The Committee believed that departmental administrators had a key role to play in this area, and therefore should be informed of the policies directly.
Part II
The following items were received without comment:
Notes of the Faculty of Science Executive: 6 September and 4 October 2005
Notes of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Heads of Department Committee: 3 October 2005
Notes of the Division for Lifelong Learning Executive: 20 September and 5 October 2005
Notes of the Oakfield Executive Group: 15 September and 8 November 2005
Notes of the Strategic Planning Group: 15 September, 11 October and 8 November 2005
Notes of the Research Committee: 27 September 2005
Notes of the Student Experience and Strategy Committee: 7 November 2005
Notes of the Space Management Committee: 5 October 2005
Notes of the 5Wl1 Management Committee: 25 October 2005
Date of next meeting: Wednesday, 19 December 2005
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