Web Copy. University of Glasgow. Court - Wednesday 12 November Court Minute. Dugald Mackie November 2003

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1 Web Copy University of Glasgow Court - Wednesday 12 November 2003 Court Minute Dugald Mackie November 2003 Minute of the meeting held in the Senate Room on Wednesday 12 November 2003 PRESENT: Mr Greg Hemphill (Rector) Mrs Joy Travers (Chancellor s Assessor) Sir Muir Russell (Principal) Mr Henry Adams Dr Jacqueline Atkinson Professor David Bennett Mr Norman Berry Mr J Scott Cairns Professor Andrew Christie Dr Jocelyn Dow Mr Ronald G Graham Dr Alastair Hunter Dr Geoffrey Moores Dr Keith Nimmo Mrs Margaret RH Paxton Mr Craig Reedie Ms Ali Ritchie (President, Students Representative Council) Mr Ian Russell Professor John Sewell Judy Wilkinson Mr Ben Zielinski (Assessor, Student s Representative Council) ATTENDING: file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (1 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

2 Mr Dugald M Mackie (Secretary of Court) Professor Peter H Holmes (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Mr Ian Hawkins (Administrative Officer) Miss Jan Hulme (Academic Secretary) Professor Robin Leake (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Mr Ray Lewis (Director of Human Resources) Professor Malcolm D McLeod (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Professor Chris Morris (Vice-Principal - by invitation) Professor Andrew Nash (Vice-Principal and Clerk of Senate by invitation) Mr Robert Wilson (Director of Estates and Buildings) Mr Michael Yuille (Director of Finance) APOLOGIES: Members of Court Professor Chris A Corrin Bailie Margaret McCafferty (Assessor Glasgow City Council) Ms Kate Phillips Mr Michael Sandford Attendees Annie Vaz (Acting Director of Publicity Services) 10. FUTURE STRATEGY FOR LINKS BETWEEN GLASGOW UNIVERSITY, STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY, EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES. Court received a presentation from the Vice-Principal, Research and Enterprise, Professor Peter Holmes on the current links with other Institutions in Scotland and the strategy for developing those links. On behalf of Court the Rector thanked the Vice-Principal for an informative and illuminating presentation. Although under Synergy the University of Strathclyde was seen as Glasgow s preferred partner in collaborative ventures this was not exclusively the case. Collaborations occurred with other Institutions and indeed it was common for more than two Institutions to be involved in one venture. In the main the University s collaborations were with the Universities of Strathclyde, Edinburgh and Dundee but not exclusively so. For example Glasgow Caledonian University was a partner in the proposed Joint School of Nursing and the GOALS project 11. MINUTE OF LAST MEETING Court approved the minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2003 subject to the correction of the file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (2 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

3 spelling of Dr Alastair Hunter s name in minute 8.2 and the correct identification of Mr Ian Russell s department as the Department of Mechanical Engineering, also in Minute MATTERS ARISING 12.1 Information Policy and Strategy Committee (Minute 5.5) Court noted that the Secretary of Court acting under delegated authority and on behalf of Court had appointed Mr Ronald Graham as the Lay Member of Court on the Information Policy and Strategy Committee Review of Research and Enterprise (Minute 5.6) Court noted that the informal presentation on the response to the review of Research and Enterprise had been received positively by Members of Court. It was agreed that the Implementation Plan and the response from Research and Enterprise attached to the principal copy of this minute be endorsed in full. Court also agreed that the activities of Research and Enterprise form the basis of regular reports to Court through the Research Strategy and Planning Committee which should have its remit widened to include commercialisation issues and become a Joint Committee of Court and Senate Financial Position of the Faculty of Medicine (Minute 6.1.1) Court noted the demonstration by University staff and the flyers handed to Members of Court on their way into the meeting regarding the proposed establishment of a Redundancy Committee to look at matters in the Medical Faculty; in particular the perceived need to reduce the number of Technicians in the Faculty in line with the recommendation of the Faculty s Technician Review Group. Court also noted the receipt of a table paper submitted by the Secretary of Court which set out the University s response to an enquiry from the Press regarding the Medical Faculty Deficit. The Secretary of Court drew members attention to an inconsistency arising from the fourth paragraph of the paper. The paper stated that the assertion made by the Joint Campus Trades Unions,...that the deficit stood at 3.2M,.. had no basis in fact. Although this statement was accurate in itself (the deficit was not 3.2M), the Secretary of Court reported that the source of the figure was an earlier letter from the Department of Human Resources to AMICUS-MSF. He apologised for this earlier inaccuracy. The Director of Human Resources informed Court that the Technician Review Board had considered, in conjunction with the relevant Trades Union AMICUS-MSF, the question of the optimal complement of technicians within the Faculty of Medicine. He stated that it was the posts that were considered to be redundant; not the individuals who currently filled those posts. He reminded members that the University was committed to a policy of avoiding compulsory redundancies of staff wherever possible. He pointed out that were Court to agree to the establishment of a Redundancy Committee, were that Committee to conclude the posts should be deleted and Court to accept that recommendation, the intention would be that the individuals filling those posts would be lost through natural wastage, accept early retirement or voluntary severance or be redeployed before the option of compulsory redundancy was considered. He emphasised that these alternatives to compulsory redundancy would be pursued in consultation with the relevant Trades Union(s). Mr Ian Russell read out a statement on behalf of AMICUS-MSF seeking a deferral of the consideration of establishing a Redundancy Committee with regard to the proposed redundancies amongst the Technicians until after a full review had been undertaken in the Faculty of Medicine. file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (3 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

4 Court agreed the recommendation of the Secretary of Court that the position of the Technicians be investigated further before any decision was made to establish a Redundancy Committee regarding those posts and that the matter be reconsidered at the December meeting of Court. For the avoidance of doubt it was noted that this deferral did not apply to the Technician post attached to the Department of Orthopaedics which was recommended for closure. (Also see Minute 17.8). Court also agreed that full consultation be entered into with relevant Trades Union with regard to any future Faculty Review Boards Head of the School of Modern Languages (Minute 8.6.1) The Secretary of Court reported that a member of staff had expressed concern about the process and outcome of the appointment of a Head and Deputy Head of the School of Modern Languages. He stated that the establishment of the School had proved to be a difficult process with no consensus being achieved on who should be the Head of School but the establishment of a School was seen by the Faculty as the best way forward. Court noted that the process concerned had been undertaken to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Court and that he would be writing to the member of staff accordingly Independent Review of Student Complaints (Minute 8.11) In response to questions the Secretary of Court confirmed that the University was part of the UK wide scheme to be overseen by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator of Student Complaints. Court noted that an Adjudicator had been appointed and that the office was due to open in January 2004 with the expectation that the first complaints would be referred to it in March. 13 MINUTES AND REPORTS OF COURT COMMITTEES 13.1 Finance Committee GU Heritage (Minute F.18) Court noted that the Finance Committee was of the view that the financial performance of the retail outlets could be improved and that their existence was important for the University s profile and reputation. Court also noted that the University s officers had been authorised to move ahead with all speed to enhance the services offered at the outlets Restructuring Task Group Report (Minute F.19) Court noted that the final costs for the Voluntary Severance and Early Retirement Scheme were 3.8M not savings as indicated in the Minute. Savings in the current year were in excess of 3M. The Secretary of Court undertook to provide the President of the SRC with information regarding the impact that the VSER scheme would have on staff to student ratios in the relevant departments Universitas 21 Global (Minute F.20) Court agreed that a more cautious view should be taken on the University s investment in Universitas 21 Global. While the company was now in business offering on line MBA programmes for the Asian market and had attracted c100 registrations since its launch in late July, earlier business plans file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (4 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

5 seemed rather optimistic in relation to growth in income. For that reason Court agreed with the recommendation that provision would be made in the University s Accounts for the investment for the year ending 31 July 2003 Court agreed that it receive a report on U21 Global and U21 in general at its December meeting. The Secretary of Court undertook to inform members of the current level of investment in U21 Global and the level of any further instalments that would be required. Court noted that the final Accounts from U21 Global would be available in January 2004 following the end of its financial year in December Court was informed that U21 was registered for tax purposes in the Channel Islands and noted one Member s concern that this could be construed as tax avoidance. The Minute of the Finance Committee was otherwise noted Estates Planning and Strategy Committee Cancer Research Facility - Beatson Laboratories Further to discussions at earlier Court meetings the Principal reported that talks were now being held with interested parties on a 15M new build project at Garscube and that talks had also begun on how the project would be financed. In response to questions he confirmed that a recent article in the Herald newspaper, was somewhat premature in relation to funding and that there were a number of discussions and negotiations to be undertaken before the project would reach that stage. The Secretary of Court confirmed that there had been a number of material changes in the proposals associated with the project since Court had last considered the matter and Court noted that a full briefing on the proposed costs and the progress in discussions would be made to its next meeting. The Director of Finance confirmed that no University resources had been committed to the project other than those previously approved by Court. [Note from the Secretary of Court - at its meeting on 16 October 2002 Court agreed the recommendation of the Finance Committee to support moves to seek external funds to meet the expected shortfall (of 1.043M) in the project costs for the refurbishment and redevelopment works at the Beatson Institute on the Garscube Estate but that such support should not include underwriting the shortfall either in whole or in part.(minute refers). The total costs at that time were estimated as m] Legal Obligations in Managing Asbestos Court noted Members concern that funding should be made available for the proper implementation of the Asbestos Management Plan referred to in the report Sale of the St Andrews Site In response to questions the Secretary of Court reported that the site had been sold in principle to a firm of housebuilders but that this was contingent upon the receipt of planning permission for a mixed development on the site to include provision for some housing. This in turn was contingent upon the outcome of the process for the amendment of the East Dunbartonshire Local Plan. The final report on the outcome of the Local Plan Inquiry was understood to be imminent. Court otherwise noted the report of the Estates Planning and Strategy Committee. file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (5 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

6 13.3 Human Resources Committee In response to questions the Vice-Principal, Staffing reported on the details of the outcome of the Work Positive survey carried out in the Faculties of Law and Financial Studies and IBLS. Court otherwise noted the report of the Human Resources Committee held on 22 October Health Safety and Environment Committee In response to questions the Secretary of Court undertook to liaise with the University s Biological Safety Advisor with a view to establishing a policy regarding the security of pathogens and toxins that might be subject to terrorist abuse. Court noted the current remit of the Committee and the Secretary of Court confirmed that Court reviewed the remits of its Committees on a three yearly cycle. Court otherwise noted the report of the Health Safety and Environment Committee held on 29 October Joint Committee of Court and GAUT Court noted the report of the Joint Committee of Court and GAUT held on 29 October MINUTES AND REPORTS OF JOINT/COURT SENATE COMMITTEES 14.1 Education Committee Remit of Education Committee Court noted and approved the revised remit of the Education Committee as set out in the Appendix to the report Enhancement Led Institutional Review The Vice-Principal, Learning and Teaching introduced this item and emphasised that the ELIR was regarded as an exciting opportunity as well as being of great importance to the University bearing in mind the potential impact upon the level of teaching grant received from SHEFC. He reported that the five person Review Team to visit the University were drawn from the Universities of Hull, Durham, St Andrews, Aberdeen and from the Royal Veterinary College. Co-incidentally all five members of the Review Team were male about which Court expressed some concern. The Vice-Principal undertook to discuss this concern with the QAA. More generally Court noted that the SRC Assessor on Court was one of the two student representatives from Glasgow who had been added to the pool of Quality Assurance Agency reviewers from which the Review Teams would be drawn. The SRC had put forward two male and two female representatives to join the pool. Court Otherwise noted report of the Education Committee held on 7 October Resource Strategy Committee With regard to the Widening Participation Strategy Court noted that the University s soon to be appointed Transport Co-ordinator would be involved in promulgating the role of public transport in facilitating access to the University from areas not normally associated with the University. file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (6 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

7 Court also noted that there would be a presentation to the next meeting of Court on the University s Strategic Plan. Court otherwise noted the report of the Resource Strategy Committee held on 8 October COMMUNICATIONS FROM SENATE Court approved the Memorandum of Agreement (Accreditation of Glasgow School of Art by the University of Glasgow) attached to the report subject to the inclusion of a reference to student discipline similar to that for appeals i.e. that the discipline of students will be undertaken in accordance with the Code of Discipline as set out in the relevant sections of the University Calendar. Court agreed that Wednesday 10 March 2004 be fixed as the date for the election of a Rector. The Communications from Senate were otherwise noted. 16 REPORT FROM THE MANAGEMENT GROUP Court noted the list of strategic issues set out in the report for discussion at forthcoming meetings of the University Management Group and that the timetable for the medium to longer term items such as Research Issues was a matter of weeks. Court approved the establishment of the Donald Dewar Visiting Professorship for Social Justice as set out in the Appendix to the report. Court otherwise noted the report of the University Management Group. 17 REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF COURT 17.1 University Nursery Court noted that, following a tendering exercise, Kidcare Ltd, a professional childcare organisation, had been re-engaged to run the University Nursery at 28 Hillhead Street. The new agreement would run for five years from 1 November Appointments Deanship of the Faculty of Information and Mathematical Sciences Court agreed that Professor David Fearn, of the Department of Mathematics, be appointed as the next Dean of the Faculty of Information and Mathematical Sciences to replace Professor Ian Ford whose term of office was due to expire on 31 July Court noted that the process to appoint a deputy to serve with Professor Fearn will be initiated forthwith Head of the IBLS Graduate School Court ratified the re-appointment of Dr David Miller for a further one year period as the Head of the IBLS Graduate School with effect from 1 August 2003 until 31 July Visiting Professorships file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (7 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

8 Court noted the following appointments made by the Secretary of Court acting under delegated authority and on behalf of Court Professor Alex Longhurst (re-appointment) in the School of Modern Languages with effect from 1 October 2003 for a further period of three years. Professor Larry Schaaf in the Faculty of Arts for the period 1 September 2003 to 30 September Deputy Deanship of the Faculty of Education Court agreed the recommendation of its Committee of Recommendation that Professor Eric Wilkinson be appointed as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education until such time as the current Dean demits office Headship and Deputy Headship of the Joint School of Social Work Court agreed the recommendation of the sub-group of the Merger Group to appoint Professor Joan Orme of the University of Glasgow as the Head of the newly established Joint School of Social Work and Mr Neil Ballantyne of the University of Strathclyde as the Deputy Head of the Joint School, both for a period of four years from 1 August NASPs Trustee Court agreed that the Principal be appointed as a Trustee of the University s Non-Academic Staff Pension Scheme Review of Display Screen Equipment Court noted that the Secretary of Court, acting under delegated authority and on behalf of Court had approved an update to the Display Screen Equipment Policy and that a copy of the Policy was available to Members of Court on request from the Court Office Representative of Court Court noted that the Secretary of Court, acting under delegated authority and on behalf of Court had approved the appointment of Professor Michele Burman of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences as the University s representative on the Board of Directors of the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre. Professor Burman replaced Professor John Eldridge who had stepped down from the post Draft Resolutions of Court Draft Resolution 503 New Degrees and Amendments of an existing Degree Court noted that the Secretary of Court, acting under delegated authority and on behalf of Court had approved a Draft Resolution regarding the following degrees for introduction in the session New Degrees MSc Management (Applied Management Theory) MSc International Banking and Finance file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (8 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

9 Master s Degree in Design Practice (Textiles and Fashion) Degree Amendments MA (Social Sciences) Court noted that details of the proposals were available from the Court Office Calendar of Actions Court noted the report Report of the Grievance Committee Court noted the outcome of the grievance Redundancy Committee Court agreed to the establishment of a Redundancy Committee, for the following two proposals as set out in the report: Closure of the Department of Orthopaedics British Heart Foundation Clinical Senior Lecturer Cardiac Surgery The membership of the Redundancy Committee was agreed as follows: Professor Chris Morris - VP Staffing (Convener) Mr Ronald Graham - Lay Member of Court Mr Michael Sandford - Lay Member of Court Mrs Christine Lowther- Academic Related Staff Dr Jocelyn Dow - Senate Assessor Mr Robert Campbell - Support Staff Mr Andy Sibbald - Support Staff Mr Ray Lewis - Director of Human Resources To assist the Redundancy Committee in the process, Court also agreed to the establishment of a Structural Change Committee for each of the above areas to act on its behalf locally at a faculty, department, section or budget centre level as appropriate and Court confirmed the following memberships: 1.Closure of the Department of Orthopaedics Professor Ian Greer (Acting Dean Of Medicine) Professor John Reid Mrs Fiona McLachlan 2. British Heart Foundation Clinical Senior Lecturer - Cardiac Surgery Professor Jim McKillop (Associate Dean Medical Education) file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (9 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

10 Professor John Reid Mrs Fiona McLachlan Court also agreed that the position of the remaining technician posts subject to recommendations by the Technicians Review Board be investigated further before any decision was made to establish a Redundancy Committee and that the matter be reconsidered at the December meeting of Court. For the avoidance of doubt it was noted that this deferral did not apply to the Technician post attached to the Department of Orthopaedics which was recommended for closure. (Also see Minute 12.3) Conditions of Grant Court noted that the strategies the University had devised to address the Scottish Executive s priorities for the following areas were consistent with the Strategic Plan and were available from the Court Office on request or at Equality of opportunity and widening participation Continuous improvement of learning and teaching Research and knowledge transfer Human resources policy and management 18 REPORT FROM THE CHANCELLOR S ASSESSOR Subject to any additional comments Members might wish to pass to the Chancellor s Assessor or the Court Office, Court agreed the following proposals, some of which were recognised as being of greater import than others, in order to improve the information given to Members on the issues of the day and to involve them to a greater degree in the decision making process: Presentations should continue to be the first item of business at meetings of Court to afford Members the opportunity to have an informed discussion of the issues at hand. A one page report of performance indicators should be submitted to Court and to the major Committees where appropriate to include the numbers of staff and of students, key cash flow information and reference to key actions taken in support of the strategic objectives set out in the Strategic Plan. A compendium or a business digest of news and events relevant to the University that had taken place in the last month be submitted to Court. The information to include: a) The amount of activity recorded by R&E that goes out to the Faculties b) The total of grants awarded in the year to date c) New grants awarded since last month d) Staff numbers e) Student numbers f) News items and consultations responded to the Deans to be asked to provide a couple of lines about what has happened to/in their Faculties since the last meeting of Court; Large, non-contentious items (such as Resolutions regarding the establishment of file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (10 of 11)09/10/ :39:52

11 Degrees) be delegated to the Secretary of Court. Reports of Committees - Committees to be asked to establish a programme or list of matters to be considered throughout the forthcoming year and that this form part of the regular report to Court. Court Members could add to this list throughout the year as they thought necessary. Reports to Court to be divided into sections such as: g) Matters remitted from Court ie those matters on the Committee s programme which had been considered at that meeting; h) Other Business i) Future Business ie those matters on the programme not yet considered. Information about how the University was preparing for forthcoming legislation to be gleaned from the UMG and passed onto Court on a regular basis. Lay Members Advisory Committee no decision was made on the future of this forum. R&E to report directly to Court on a six monthly basis and that this requirement be widened to include regular reports from other areas such as the Development and Alumni Office. Court noted the standing invitation from the Principal and the Secretary of Court that they were available to see Members of Court on an informal basis on any topics of concern. 19 PROFESSOR RICK TRAINOR The Chancellor s Assessor led Court in congratulating the Professor Rick Trainor, former Vice- Principal, Staffing on his recent appointment as Principal of King's College London. 20. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting of Court would be held on Wednesday 17 December 2003 at 2:00pm. file:///j /Communal/web/newcourtweb/courtminutes/12nov2003.htm (11 of 11)09/10/ :39:52