11 November 2004
Board ofScrutiny
Noon, Thursday 11 November 2004
New SCR,
Present: Stephen Cowley,Margaret Glendenning, Nicholas Holmes, John Little, TimothyMilner, David Phillipson, Nick Pyper,Jennifer Rigby, John Spencer (Chairman), Helen Thompson (Secretary)
In attendance: Tessa Payne
1.Apologies
Saskia Murk-Jansen
2.Minutesof previous meeting
These were agreed.
3.Mattersarising
SC advised the meeting that he had update the Board emaillists.
JS advised the meeting that he was in contact with Susan Bowringabout the wording of the notice in the Reporter regarding the vacancy on theBoard of Scrutiny.
4.Reporton visit to Director of Personnel
The Board discussed the document circulated by HT, whichsummarised the meeting with Peter Deer and Margaret Bird.Those who had attended the meeting felt thatit had not been entirely satisfactory.Of particular concern was the apparent lack of understanding withinPersonnel of the internal workings of the HERA/Project Scholar model, and thelack of statistical analysis undertaken in preparation of the ConsultativeReport.Other issues include how HERAwill be implemented within the University, and how the grading of academicroles is to be undertaken, particularly those on the same ‘level’ who have differinglevels of responsibility.
It was agreed that these concerns would be included in thereport on HERA from the Board, due to be submitted on 12 November.
5.Boardresponse to HERA
The Board considered the draft report circulated by SC, andconfirmed the particular areas of concern to be addressed by the Board’sresponse.It was agreed that the Boardwould submit their response to HERA using the following procedure:
JS to produce an outline introductionfor comment.Comments to be returned and incorporatedby 4pm.
SC and NH to refine SC’s report,to include the issues raised at the meeting, and tocirculate first thing on 12 November for comment.
JS to expand outline introduction, based on the documentfrom SC/NH, and comments received.
Final draft to be circulated forcomment, and submitted by close of business on 12 November.
6.Updateon arrangements for meeting with the Board of Graduate Studies
It was agreed that this matter would be taken up followingthe submission of the response to the consultative report on HERA.
It was noted that two working parties on InternationalAcademic relationships and International Student Recruitment had beenformed.It was agreed that TP wouldcirculate the relevant documents to members of the Board.
7.Arrangementsfor Lent Term meetings
The Board noted that JS would be unable to Chair meetings ofthe Board on Thursdays during Lent Term, due to priorcommitments.
It was agreed that during Lent term meetings would be heldfortnightly on Tuesdays, commencing on 25th January, fortnightly, inorder to avoid scheduled Discussions.
It was also agreed to provisionally schedule an additionalmeeting for Friday 14 January 2005.Thiswould enable the Board to discuss the Annual Report of the Council and theGeneral Board Financial Statements, should the Discussion on these documents bescheduled for 17 January.
8.Datesof next meeting
Thursday 25 November at noon in the NewSCR at Selwyn.
9.Anyother business
It was noted that expected changes to the way HEFCE fundsgraduate students could result in further problems with any proposedimplementation of the RAM.