University Executive Board minutes - 2 March 2021

Date:

2 March 2021

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), Professor S Hartley (SH), Professor M Hounslow (MJH), H Fraser-Krauss (HFK), J Jones (JJ), Professor C Newman (CN), Professor D Petley (DNP), R Sykes (RS), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor M Vincent (MV), Professor C Watkins (CW)

In attendance:

Dr T Strike (TS), Mr I Wright (IW)

Apologies:

-

Secretary:

M Borland (MB) / N Button (NB)

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1. Minutes of UEB held on 5 January 2021

   • The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

2. Minutes of UEB held on 26 January 2021

   • The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

3. Minutes of UEB held on 2 February 2021 

   • The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

4. Closed Minute and Paper

5. Closed Minute and Paper

6. Closed Minute and Paper

7. Report of UEB Strategic Advisory Group: Student Numbers and Fees

   • UEB considered the report of the UEB Strategic Advisory Group Student Numbers and Fees (SAGSNaF) and approved the following:
     • Recommendations relating to a PGT Alumni Scholarship proposal.
     • Recommendations relating to PGR students who deferred their place to 2020/21.
   • UEB also noted a correction to the Politics and International Relations overseas PGT target for 2021/22.

8. Report of UEB Information Management & Security Group

   • UEB considered the report of the UEB Information Management & Security Group (IMSG) and noted the matters discussed, including on issues with the MyResearch tool, the work on the Ethics Framework, the implementation of data protection work, and the cybersecurity report.

9. Coronavirus Update

   • General Update
     • No update given.
   • Update from the Major Incident Group
     • RS updated UEB on discussions around quarantine arrangements. UEB discussed and agreed that the University would cover the costs of quarantine hotels for international students returning to Sheffield on a one-off basis. In addition, UEB agreed to the position on not paying for dependents’ travel, but allowing for applications to the Covid fund under extraordinary circumstances.
   • FVP Update
     • MJH updated UEB on arrangements for practical face-to-face teaching, which was due to recommence the following week. Communications had been sent out to affected students asking them to return to campus.

10. Round Table

    • Semester dates: CW updated UEB on the consultation exercise on semester dates, noting that the majority of staff seemed content with the status quo.
    • Library: IW informed UEB of a Health & Safety inspection of the University’s Library services, which had resulted in a positive report.