Council and Senate meeting reports

21 December 2012

Updates from the Council meeting on 29 November 2012 and the Senate meeting on 5 December.

Update from Council – 29 November 2012

The following items were discussed at the recent meeting of Council:

  • University Accounts: Council approved the University Accounts for the year ended 31st July 2012.
  • Overview of Access Agreements/Widening Participation: Council received a presentation from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) and Head of Widening Participation.  This was in preparation for the meeting of members of Council with Sir Les Ebdon, Director of the Office for Fair Access, on 28th February 2013. 
  • Equality and Diversity: Council approved the Statement of Equality Objectives which set out the plan for equality and diversity across the University for the next three years. 
  • Health and Safety Management: Council approved revision of the University’s Health and Safety Policy.  The revision reinforces key health and safety responsibilities and reflects changes which have taken place both within the University, and more widely.
  • Role of Students’ Union Treasurer: Council approved disestablishment of the role of Students’ Union Senior Treasurer with effect from 1st December 2012.  The University of Bath Students’ Union annual accounts and budget will be presented to the University Finance Committee in November each year by the BUSU Treasurer.
  • Nominations Committee: Ms Anne Goodman was appointed to the membership of Council from 1st December 2012 to 31st July 2013.  Ms Goodman brings marketing and communications expertise to the Council.  She is currently Senior VP Sales Enablement for BBC Advertising.
  • Life Members of Court: Mr Howard Nicholson, Mrs Marian McNeir and Professor Richard Mawditt were elected as Life Members of Court.
  • 2011/12 Annual Assurance Return: Council approved the University’s Annual Assurance Return to HEFCE. 
  • Senior Academic Appointments: Professor David Bird was re-appointed as Dean of Science for three years from 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2016.  Professor Matthew Davidson was appointed as Head of the Department of Chemistry from 1st December 2012 to 31st July 2014.

Update from Senate – 5 December 2012

The following items were discussed at the recent meeting of Senate:

  • Equality and Diversity: Senate commented on the Statement of Equality Objectives which set out the plan for equality and diversity across the University for the next three years.
  • Fitness to Practise Policy: Senate added the PGCE to the list of programmes of study covered by the University’s Fitness to Practise Policy.
  • Effectiveness Review of Senate: Senate approved the arrangements for the next full effectiveness review of Senate.  This will be undertaken by Professor Chris Jennison (as a former member of Senate and former Dean of Science), Alison Price (as senior officer with responsibility for Senate) and Colette Milner (as Secretary to Senate).  The review will be conducted through a series of focus groups/one-to-one meetings and research to inform the preparation of the report for submission to Senate.
  • Review of Procedure for Appointment of Representatives of the University on outside bodies: Senate approved the three recommendations arising from the review which were:

- circulation of details of upcoming vacancies to relevant sections of the University to seek expressions of interest for consideration by the Vice-Chancellor;

- provision of a guidance note to appointed representatives on outside bodies to support them in their role;

- introduction of an annual reporting system for representatives on outside bodies from early 2013/14.

  • Academic Programmes Committee: The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Internationalisation) and the Director of Marketing and Communications were added to the membership of the Academic Programmes Committee.  The possibility of increasing academic membership of the Committee will be considered further and the outcome reported to a future meeting of Senate.
  • Self-Evaluation Document for Submission to Quality Assurance Agency for Institutional Review in 2013: Senate approved the current draft of the Self-Evaluation Document for submission to the Quality Assurance Agency for the Institutional Review in 2013.
  • Annual Report of the Research Postgraduate Ombudsman:  Senate noted the report of the Research Postgraduate Ombudsman for 2012/13, together with the actions agreed by the University Research Students Committee.

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