University Executive Board minutes - 25 April 2023

On

Date:

25 April 2023

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), J Jones (JJ), R Sykes (RS), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor M Vincent (MV), Professor C Watkins (CW), I Wright (IW)

In attendance:

J Strachan (JS), T Wray (TW), D Ormerod (DO) (Item 1), A Winter (AW) (Item 2), R Rothman (RR) and R Farrow (RF) (Item 4)

Apologies:

Professor A Blom (AB), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Hartley (SH), Professor J Litster (JL)

Secretary:

Dr E Smith

  1. SU Chief Executive: Thoughts Six Months In

    • (DO in attendance for this item)
    • UEB received a presentation covering the Chief Executive of the Students’ Union’s (SU’s) experiences and findings during the first six months of his tenure. Key points covered included:

      • The potential reasons for the SU’s strong reputation among students and peer institutions, including its physical location, range of service provision, and the support of the University.

      • Areas of strength and scope for improvement across a range of the SU’s business functions.

    • During discussion, UEB raised and/or noted the following points:

      • The relationship between the University and SU had been strengthened as part of the COVID recovery process. This included the robustness of the governance relations between the two bodies.

      • There was an ongoing challenge of securing continuity of mission between successive SU Officer administrations despite some common strategic objectives, e.g. sustainability.

      • Further work was required around the SU’s academic representation systems, ensuring that the student voice encompassed not just the SU Officer Team but also other student interest groups.

      • There was also scope as part of SU Officers’ inductions to help them to understand the University’s Vision and Strategy and the structure of its decision-making bodies.

      • There could be merit in arranging training provision for SU Trustees.

      • The University could provide advice to the SU.

  2. OfS Consultation: New Approach to Regulating Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

    • (AW in attendance for this item)

    • UEB considered and approved the draft institutional response to an OfS consultation outlining a proposed new approach to regulating sexual harassment and violence on campus. Attention was drawn to the background surrounding the consultation, including the fact that the area had become of increasing concern to students and other stakeholders in recent years.

  3. Closed Minute and Paper

  4. Report of the UEB Sustainability Steering Group

    • (RR and RF in attendance for this item)

    • UEB approved the report of the UEB Sustainability Steering Group and received a related presentation from RR and RF on the challenges that Scope 3 carbon emissions would pose to the University achieving its target to become Net Zero Carbon across all activities by 2038. It was highlighted that, of the 15 categories of emission in Scope 3, those in supply chains had substantial baseline emissions baselines and required significant intervention in some areas. The presentation outlined the current data on supply chain emissions and the broader opportunities that undertaking concerted carbon reduction in this area could entail.

    • UEB:

      • Acknowledged the extent of the University’s supply chain carbon emissions and the work required to meet its targets.

      • Agreed to encourage consideration of supply chain carbon reduction among all staff.

      • Endorsed the creation of carbon budgets to be considered alongside financial budgets, noting that a draft plan would be proposed. It was also recommended that the approach be piloted in a smaller group of Departments/Schools in the first instance alongside a communications plan.

      • Agreed to continue internal support for Scope 3 reduction to Net Zero.

  5. Report of the UEB Estates and Capital Sub-Group

    • UEB approved the report, noting the Group's most recent discussions and decisions that had not already been reported to UEB, and approving the following project in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation:

      • Dentistry Façade