ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Minutes of the second meeting of Academic Council in the 2014-2015 academic session, held on 3 December at 3pm in room 210, Queen Anne, Greenwich

Campus.

Present: David Maguire, Vice Chancellor (Chair)

Christopher Hallas, Director of Student Affairs (Secretary)

Tom Barnes, DVC (Research & Enterprise)Noel-Ann Bradshaw, FACH, Teaching & ResearchAlex Brooks, President, SUUG Linda Burke, PVC, FEHJudith Burnett, PVC, FACHPaul Butler, Director, ILSWendy Cealey Harrison, Head of AQUSandra Clarke, FACH, Teaching & ResearchAlec Coutroubis, FES, Teaching & ResearchJo Cullinane, FBU, Director of Learning & TeachingBill Davies, FACH, Teaching & ResearchEd Galea, FACH, Professoriate Sarah Greer, DPVC, FACH

Peter Griffiths, FES, Head of Department Harry Hodges, SUUGCos Ierotheou, FACH, Teaching & ResearchSimon Jarvis, DVC, (Academic Development)Pam Maras, Chair of URECMary Clare Martin, FEH, Teaching & ResearchNevin Mehmet, FEH, Teaching & Research Wim Melis, FES, Early CareerLouise Nadal, University SecretaryEdward Oakes, SUUGMichael Okereke, FES, Early CareerChris Philpott, DPVC, FEHAnne Poulson, COOJon Sibson, PVC, FBUMartin Snowden, PVC, FESNeil Spiller, DPVC, FACHGregory Sporton, FACH, Head of DepartmentAndrew Westby, Director, NRI

Inattendance

Richard Morin, FOO, FACH Colin Raban, Interim DVC (Academic)Norma Powell (note taker)

Apologies:Liz Bacon, DPVC, FACHKaren Cleaver, FEH, Head of DepartmentIain Cumming, Head, MSoP

Steven Haines, FACH, ProfessoriateHenry Hill, Deputy Director, OSASimeon Keates, DPVC (FES)

The Vice Chancellor welcomed Professor Colin Raban to the meeting. Professor Raban will serve as interim Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) during the period

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up to and including the QAA HER and until a permanent Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) is appointed and takes up the role.

AC/14.16 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 8 OCTOBER 2014

The summary minutes of COUNCIL held on 8 October 2014 were agreed as an accurate record.

AC/14.17 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Minute AC/13.76 – Academic Council Committees – proposals to amend the Terms of Reference and Membership for the Student Experience Committee for 2014/15 operation: COUNCIL had endorsed the proposal to amend the membership of the SEC with the exception of the proposal to amend student representation. Following discussion it was agreed that the proposal would be re-presented for consideration by COUNCIL.

Action completed (main agenda item 4)

Minute AC/14.06 – Academic Quality – update on preparation for Higher Education Review (HER): The Head of the Academic Quality Unit agreed to produce and circulate a more detailed HER preparation timeline including details of the work of a group constituted to take an overview of the management of preparation for the HER.

An update is awaited from the Head of AQU

Minute AC/14.07 – Academic Regulations – Medway School of Pharmacy: A revised version of the regulations has been prepared and approved by the Chair, as agreed by Academic Council

Action completed.

A revised version of regulatory changes to other degrees in the School is in progress and will be finalised in time for submission to a future meeting of Academic Council.

Minute AC/14.08 – International Strategy – Academic aspects of the Strategy: The Pro Vice Chancellor (Engineering and Science) requested that comments or suggestions on the proposed strategy be sent to him within 2 weeks of the date of the meeting.

Action completed - A final version of the document was prepared and was presented at the Court Strategy Day on November 8, 2104.

The Pro Vice Chancellor (Engineering and Science) informed COUNCIL that a meeting of the Global Greenwich Group is set to take place in January 2015.

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AC/14.18 REPORT FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

The Vice Chancellor reported on items from the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn statement relevant to the university. There will be new, government backed funding available for postgraduate taught masters students from 2016 in the form of loans of up to £10,000. Home and EU students under 30 will be eligible to apply for the loans. During the interim period of 2015-2016, £50m will be made available to universities to provide bursaries for postgraduate students in these categories.

The counter terrorism/securities bill currently being introduced will impose on institutions a statutory duty to prevent students being drawn into terrorism and there will be strict guidelines on speakers invited to university events.

The results of the Research Excellence Framework are due to be published on 18 December and will be made available to the university from 16 December.

The Vice Chancellor congratulated the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) on winning a Times Higher award for its work in research entitled: Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA).

AC/14.19 ACADEMIC COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES

MEMBERSHIP OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL

The Director of Student Affairs advised COUNCIL that new role appointments made within the university have resulted in a need to make a minor amendment to the membership.

COUNCIL endorsed the proposed change to the membership, subject to minor correction, to be presented to the Court for approval.

STUDENT REPRESENTATION

The Director of Student Affairs informed COUNCIL that following discussions at the meeting on 8 October 2014, a proposal to bring consistency to the arrangements for the number of student representatives on Academic Council committees as part of an overall Student Representation Framework was made. Discussions have taken place and COUNCIL was asked to approve the proposals presented.

COUNCIL approved the proposals for student representation.

ACADEMIC QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE (AQSC)

The Director of Student Affairs informed COUNCIL that the AQSC has undertaken a review of its terms of reference and membership. The revised terms of reference and wider membership will strengthen the partnership focus of the committee. It has proposed that Faculty Directors of Learning and Teaching become ex-officio members of AQSC.

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COUNCIL approved the revised terms of reference and membership of AQSC, subject to minor adjustment.

APPROVAL AND REVIEW GROUP (ARG)

The ARG had been established on an interim basis as a sub-committee of the former Learning and Quality Committee, pending the outcome of the review of Academic Council committees and boards. The ARG continued to operate when the new COUNCIL structure became fully operational and reported to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee (AQSC). The AQSC approved the continuation of the ARG as a sub-committee with revised terms of reference and membership and COUNCIL is asked to endorse its proposals.

COUNCIL endorsed the continuation of the ARG with revised terms of reference and membership, as approved by AQSC on 22 October 2014.

AC/14.20 ACADEMIC QUALITY

UPDATE ON PREPARATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION REVIEW (HER)

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) and the Head of the Academic Quality Unit (AQU) gave a verbal update to COUNCIL on preparation for the HER. It was reported that the draft Self Evaluation Document (SED) had been circulated to staff both at the university and to the university partner colleges. Comments on the draft should be sent to HER@gre.ac.uk by the 12th December. A newsletter will be circulated shortly and the first formal meeting with members of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) will take place on the 18th December. On the 19th December, staff will meet with colleagues from Leeds Beckett university where a review has recently taken place. Presentation on the HER at all three campuses have been scheduled. In preparation for meetings with the QAA the emphasis after Christmas will be on preparing teams for the review and there will be a programme of activities and question and answer sessions. The final version of the SED will be submitted for approval by Academic Council at its meeting on 21 January 2015.

DRAFT SELF EVALUATION DOCUMENT (SED)

COUNCIL members were reminded that a review differs from an audit in that there is a greater element of risk to the institution. It is, therefore, important that the university sets its own agenda in order to convey the message that we are a confident and self-determining institution. COUNCIL discussed the draft and it was agreed that in re-drafting the document, particular attention should be paid to the following areas:

The document should be reduced in length A common thread should be ‘sharp’ references to the university’s Strategic

Plan and the current journey towards the realisation of the plan A thematic index could be included Illustrative stories about university achievements could be added

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A timeline for the large number of initiatives undertaken by the university should be provided

Evaluation of the outcomes of university procedures and demonstrate learning from those outcomes

The reflexive nature of the institution to be explained Ensure that the student voice is represented and demonstrates the level of

student engagement within the university

AC/14.21 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR TAUGHT AWARDS – MINOR MODIFICATIONS

Minor amendments to the Academic Regulations for Taught Awards were identified following Chair’s approval of revisions to the regulations discussed at the 18 June 2014 meeting of Academic Council. The changes relate to regulation 7.13 dealing with the provision of the HEAR and to Appendix D, regulation 4.1 of the Plagiarism Regulations relating to the Assessment Offences Panel. After some discussion COUNCIL agreed that regulation 7.13 should be removed from the regulations.

COUNCIL approved the removal of regulation 7.13 and approved the minor amendment to the Plagiarism Regulations relating to the Assessment Offences Panel, for the 2014-2015 academic session.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR TAUGHT AWARDS – DEROGATIONS

The Academic Quality Unit had been tasked with identifying all derogations from the Academic Regulations for Taught Awards. A list had been prepared for review and approval, as part of the three yearly review process, by COUNCIL.

COUNCIL approved the list of derogations for renewal with the proviso that faculties should work with the AQU to confirm that all the derogations were still required and to present a paper setting out any derogations that may be rescinded to the March 2015 meeting of COUNCIL.

PROPOSAL FOR A DEROGATION FROM THE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR TAUGHT AWARDS – FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, COMPUTING AND HUMANITIES

A new regulation (4.18) and Grade Translation Policy approved in September 2014 disadvantaged some students from the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Humanities who had agreed to undertake a year abroad under the Erasmus scheme. Derogation from the regulation is sought by the Faculty in respect of 8 students in order that the university honours its contractual position with these students. The derogation will take place for 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 only.

COUNCIL considered and approved the proposed derogations from the Academic Regulations for Taught Awards

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AC/14.22 ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK POLICY – DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIVERSITY-WIDE OPERATIONAL PLAN, UPDATE

The Director of Learning and Teaching from the Faculty of Business informed COUNCIL that she had met with other DLTs to discuss operational approaches to the implementation of the Assessment and Feedback Policy. It had been expected that a university wide plan would be prepared by December 2014. However, a plan will be presented to the 11 March 2015 meeting of COUNCIL, for implementation during the 2015-2016 academic session.

COUNCIL noted the adjusted timeframe for the development and presentation of a university wide plan.

AC/14.23 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK – POLICY PROPOSALS FROM SEC

The Pro Vice Chancellor (FACH) reminded COUNCIL that the Student Experience Committee (SEC) was established to focus on all aspects of the student experience. The SEC has developed a Student Engagement Framework as a result of its own work, from input from the Students’ Union and as a result of the university’s preparation for institutional review. The Pro Vice Chancellor (FACH) presented a position paper with process and timelines to COUNCIL as well as the Student Engagement Framework which will be implemented from 1st January 2015, subject to endorsement by COUNCIL.

COUNCIL endorsed the Student Engagement Framework with effect from 1st January 2015. COUNCIL noted that a report on implementation would be provided by the SEC for consideration at the 17 June meeting of COUNCIL.

AC/14.24 SUMMARY REPORTS FROM ACADEMIC COUNCIL COMMITTEES

COUNCIL received reports from the Academic Planning, Academic Quality and Standards, Student Experience and University Research Ethics Committees and from the Faculty Boards of Architecture, Computing and Humanities and Education and Health, summarising the current status of their work.

Academic Planning Committee

COUNCIL noted this summary report and ratified decisions made by the Academic Planning Committee.

Academic Quality and Standards Committee University Research Ethics Committee Student Experience Committee Architecture, Computing and Humanities Faculty Board Education and Health Faculty Board

COUNCIL considered and noted the summary reports from the above mentioned Committees and Faculty Boards.

AC/14.25 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

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This meeting of COUNCIL was the final meeting for Professor Simon Jarvis, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) before he leaves the university to take up a new post. The Vice Chancellor thanked the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Development) for his work while at the university and especially for his work on preparation for the forthcoming HER.

There was no other business.

FORMAL AGENDA

AC/14.26 REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN BY THE CHAIR ON BEHALF OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL

COUNCIL noted action taken by the Chair to approve items of business on behalf of COUNCIL. Final revisions to the Medway School of Pharmacy MPharm programme level regulations as agreed at the meeting of Academic Council held on 8 October 2014, were approved as noted at Minute AC/14.07.

COUNCIL noted the action taken by the Chair.

AC/14.27 MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Minutes of the following meetings were received by COUNCIL:

Academic Planning Committee, 2 October (confirmed) Academic Planning Committee, 29 October 2014 (confirmed) Academic Quality & Standards Committee, 24 September 2014

(confirmed) Academic Quality and Standards Committee, 22 October 2014

(unconfirmed) Student Experience Committee 16 October 2014 (unconfirmed) University Research Ethics Committee, 10 October 2014 (confirmed) Faculty Board – Architecture, Computing & Humanities,18 June 2014

(unconfirmed) Faculty Board – Architecture, Computing and Humanities, 15 October 2014

(unconfirmed) Faculty Board – Education and Health, 7 October 2014 (unconfirmed)

Minutes are awaited from the following Committees:

Research and Enterprise Committee, 1 October 2014

COUNCIL noted the flow of minutes.

AC/14.28 NEXT MEETING OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL TO TAKE PLACE ON 21 JANUARY

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2015, AT 3.00pm, QUEEN ANNE 075, GREENWICH CAMPUS

The Director of Student Affairs drew the attention of COUNCIL to the short timeframe between the December 2014 meeting and the January 2015 meeting because of the re-scheduling of the meeting originally set for 26 November. He informed COUNCIL that the deadline for submission of papers for the January meeting would be 7 January 2015 and asked that authors of papers adhere strictly to this deadline. Any later submissions must be by agreement with the Secretary to Academic Council.

COUNCIL noted the date, time and venue for the next meeting.

21 January 2015

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Signature of Chair Date

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