University Executive Board minutes - 25 January 2022

Date:

25 January 2022

Present:

Professor K Lamberts (KL) (in the Chair), Professor J Derrick (JD), Professor S Fitzmaurice (SF), Professor S Hartley (SH), J Jones (JJ), Professor J Litster (JL), Professor D Petley (DNP), R Sykes (RS), Professor G Valentine (GV), Professor M Vincent (MV)

In attendance:

Dr T Strike (TS), T Wray (TW), I Wright (IW), D Barcroft (DB) (item 4), L Carlile (LC) (item 4), L McCarthy (LM) (item 4)

Apologies:

Professor C Newman (CN), Professor C Watkins (CW)

Secretary:

M Borland (MB) and Dr E Smith (ES)

1. Minutes of UEB held on 19 January 2021

   • The Minutes were approved as an accurate record.

2. Minutes of UEB held on 13 April 2021

   • The Minutes were approved as an accurate record.

3. Closed Minute and Paper

4. Budget 2022-23 Update

   • UEB received a presentation which covered latest 2021-22 faculty contributions, 2022-23 indicative core budget expenditure targets, current payroll commitments, and emerging cost pressures.

5. Closed Minute and Paper

6. Modern Slavery Statement

   • UEB considered a paper that outlined the high level actions undertaken by the University in the last financial year in relation to the Modern Slavery (transparency in supply chains) Act (2015). The paper provided a draft Modern Slavery Statement for publication on the University’s webpages.
   • UEB:
     • Noted the contents of the briefing paper
     • Approved the Modern Slavery Statement for the University of Sheffield for publication.
     • Noted that the University is compliant with the Modern Slavery (transparency in supply chains) Act (2015), and has processes and actions in place to mitigate risks.

7. Languages Change Programme

   • UEB received an overview of work completed to date and a brief progress report regarding the programme.
   • During discussion, it was noted that the ambition of the programme remained unchanged.
   • UEB noted progress to date.

8. Council Task and Finish Group – Departmental Reviews

   • ​​​​​​​UEB received a report of the Council Task and Finish Group which reviewed the processes for reporting departmental progress and performance to Council and reflected on whether, and if so, this might be enhanced. The report was scheduled to go to Council’s February meeting.
   • During discussion, UEB noted that the report articulated how Council exercises its duty to monitor the University Strategy.
   • UEB noted the findings of the Task and Finish Group.

9. USS Valuation 2020 – Response to employer consultation

   • ​​​​​​​UEB considered a paper which provided a summary of the responses to the recent USS employer consultation with affected members, eligible members and their representatives and outlined the next steps in the consultation and valuation process. Attention was drawn to the polarisation of opinion. A summary of responses had been sent to USS and UUK.
   • During discussion, it was noted that a summary of the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) had been provided in the paper.
   • UEB noted the next steps in the valuation process as set out in the paper.

10. Industrial Action: Report from the Incident Management Team

    • ​​​​​​​UEB received and noted a verbal update on industrial action.

11. Round Table

    • ​​​​​​​Teaching in Semester 2: UEB considered the University’s advice that if students were unable to attend their programme in person from the start of semester 2 on 7 February they may be asked to take a Leave of Absence and resume their programme at the appropriate time in the next academic year (2022-23). It was agreed to offer some flexibility by extending the deadline for arrival to the end of February. This would be communicated to students affected, or potentially affected.
    • Hybrid Working Survey: IW updated on the headlines from the survey and further details would be sent to members of UEB.
    • Student Lifecycle Project: RS provided an update on potential changes, including an update on forthcoming communications.