Message from Alison Price – Chair of the Working Group on Business Processes
Council and Senate approved a number of proposals for re-organisation in the summer. The implications of these proposals are currently being worked through.
Part of this process is a review of the current division of responsibilities being undertaken between central professional services, faculties and schools and departments.
The need for the administration to be re-organised into a faculty-focused model was discussed most recently at the Vice-Chancellor’s Retreat, which is attended by members of senior management, including Deans and Heads of Department.
The review is being conducted by the Working Group on Business Processes which consists of:
- Alison Price, Academic Registrar (Chair)
- Ian Cheetham, Director of Human Resources
- Diane Aderyn, Director of Finance
- The Working Group is supplemented by wider partnership working (for example, with the Deans and Faculty Executive Assistants) and is supported by Colette Milner, Head of Secretariat.
It has been agreed that the transfer to the faculty-focused model will be undertaken in three phases:
Phase One (development of mode)
Mapping of the fundamental processes that support the student lifecycles at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This is being developed to agree a standard model for those activities to be undertaken at departmental level and those that will be focussed at the faculty level. In addition, discussions will take place as to whether there should be any changes to the division of responsibilities between the faculty/school and central professional services departments.
The findings of Phase One will be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor’s Group on 14 December 2009.
Phase Two (faculty preparation)
The responsibility for taking forward the model will shift to the faculties/schools and will focus around the Directors of Administration* in consultation with the Dean and Heads of Department (although it will be expected that they will continue to work closely with central professional services). The Academic Registrar will continue to offer professional leadership during this and Phase 3 of the process.
The timescale for this phase is from 1 January to 31 March 2010.
Phase Three (faculty implementation)
Work on the implementation of the new model will commence in April 2010. This will be led by the Directors of Administration* in consultation with the Deans and Heads of Department. The implementation is planned for completion by 30 June 2010 to provide contingency for any implementation difficulties prior to the target date for final completion of 1 August 2010.
Any changes that might emerge will be subject to the normal consultation procedures. As the implementation proceeds, further updates on progress will be provided.
*The recruitment of a Director of Administration for each faculty has been approved by the Vice-Chancellor’s Group. The faculty posts will be advertised both internally and externally and shortlisted before Christmas. Interviews will be held in early January 2010. It is hoped that those appointed will be able to take up their new roles as soon as possible to lead Phases 2 and 3 within each faculty.