Reporter 26/5/99: Proposed office of University Senior Lecturer: Notice

Proposed office of University Senior Lecturer: Notice

The purpose of this Notice is to keep the Regent House informed of progress in relation to the proposal for the introduction of an office of University Senior Lecturer. In Recommendation IV of their Report on the recruitment, reward, and retention of academic and academic-related officers (Reporter, 1997-98, p. 804) the General Board proposed that the office of University Senior Lecturer should be introduced in the Cambridge structure of academic offices, and that promotional criteria, procedures, and other arrangements for appointments to the office should be as described in the Report, subject to a further Report proposing the necessary amendments of Statutes and Ordinances. A ballot was requested on the Grace for the approval of this proposal; as a result of the ballot the following amended proposal was approved:

That approval be given in principle for the introduction of the title of Senior Lecturer within the Cambridge structure, that the criteria for conferring that title be those outlined in paragraphs 49-51 of the General Board's Report, and that the salary structure be that outlined in paragraph 62; but that conferment of the title be not considered as promotion to a separate office requiring a new contract, and that the mechanisms by which the title is conferred be the subject of a further Report to the Regent House.

The original proposals contained in the Report were based on the General Board's understanding of the legal issues relating to the proposed office of University Senior Lecturer. The Board have now obtained legal advice on the question whether an alternative scheme along the lines described in the amended proposal constitutes promotion under the provisions of the Education Reform Act 1988. They are currently assessing the implications of that advice, and hope soon to be in a position to bring forward detailed proposals for consideration in the further Report requested by the Regent House.

In paragraph 55 of their Report the Board expressed the view that College teaching undertaken by a University officer should not be taken into account as part of the evidence for promotion to a Senior Lectureship. As a result of the ballot mentioned above, the Regent House approved a further amendment of the Grace, to the effect that College teaching (including direction of studies) should be taken into account for this purpose. The Board have obtained legal advice which indicates that there is no material legal reason for not allowing such teaching to be taken into account, notwithstanding the fact that College teaching cannot be required of University officers under the terms of their employment as set out in the Statutes and Ordinances of the University. However, care will need to be exercised by all those involved in operating the new arrangements, as indeed it must be exercised in all appointment and promotion matters, in order to ensure that no discrimination occurs in considering the merits of candidates. In their further Report the Board will include proposals relating to the inclusion of College teaching as part of the evidence required for assessing cases for promotion to Senior Lectureships.

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