No 6358
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Vol cxlv No 2
pp. 23–34
1 October, Wednesday. Michaelmas Term begins. Congregation of the Regent House at 9.30 a.m. (Vice-Chancellor’s address, and election and admission of the Proctors).
7 October, Tuesday. Full Term begins.
14 October, Tuesday. Discussion at 2 p.m. in the Senate-House (see below).
19 October, Sunday. Preacher before the University at 11.15 a.m., The Right Reverend A. Bellenger, JE, formerly Abbot of Downside.
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Discussions at 2 p.m. |
Congregations |
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14 October |
1 October, Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. |
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28 October |
25 October, Saturday at 11 a.m. |
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11 November |
29 November, Saturday at 2 p.m. |
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25 November |
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9 December |
The Vice-Chancellor invites those qualified under the regulations for Discussions (Statutes and Ordinances, 2013, p. 103) to attend a Discussion in the Senate-House, on Tuesday, 14 October 2014, at 2 p.m. for the discussion of:
1. Report of the Council, dated 15 July 2014, on the implementation of electronic voting in ballots of the Regent House (Reporter, 6355, 2013–14, p. 744).
2. Report of the General Board, dated 2 July 2014, on the establishment of the University offices of Lecturer (teaching) and Senior Lecturer (teaching) (Reporter, 6355, 2013–14, p. 745).
3. Report of the General Board, dated 2 July 2014, on the establishment or re-establishment of two Professorships in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Reporter, 6355, 2013–14, p. 747).
4. Report of the General Board, dated 2 July 2014, on the re-establishment of a Professorship of Surgical Oncology (Reporter, 6355, 2013–14, p. 748).
5. Report of the General Board, dated 2 July 2014, on certain University offices in the School of Clinical Medicine (Reporter, 6355, 2013–14, p. 748).
6. Report of the Council, dated 22 September 2014, seeking authority to extend Phase 1 of the North West Cambridge development (Reporter, 6357, 2014–15, p. 11).
7. Nineteenth Report of the Board of Scrutiny, dated 9 July 2014 (Reporter, 6357, 2014–15, p. 13).
8. Second-stage Report of the Council, dated 1 October 2014, on the replacement and rationalization of facilities covered by the University’s Home Office Establishment Licence (p. 31).
The Vice-Chancellor gives notice that an election is to be held of eight persons to serve as members of the Council for four years from 1 January 2015. Members are to be elected in the following classes (see Statute A IV 2, New Statutes and Special Ordinances supplement, p. 3):
(a)two from among the Heads of Colleges;
(b)two from among the Professors and Readers;
(c)four from among the other members of the Regent House.
The Council is the principal executive and policy-making body of the University. It has general responsibility for the administration of the University, for defining its mission, for the planning of its work, and for the management of its resources. The Council deals with relations between the University and the Colleges, and conducts negotiations with outside bodies on many matters (other than those relating directly to the educational and research programmes of the University, which are dealt with on its behalf by the General Board of the Faculties). It is responsible for the appointment or nomination of certain members of internal and external bodies, and for many student matters (excluding the selection of entrants, which is a College concern). Further information about the Council is available to members of the University on the Council website (https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/committees/council/). Questions about its work can be addressed to the Registrary by emailing registrary@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Council membership offers a particularly rewarding and demanding experience. The University is both an exempt charity,1 and a corporation established by common law. As such, Council members are both charity trustees of the University and, effectively, its corporate directors. They have associated legal responsibilities and duties, and are required to promote the interests of the University and act with integrity, care, and prudence.
It is strongly recommended that those considering standing for nomination review the Handbook for Members of the Council, which sets out the Council’s primary responsibilities. Section 4 of the Handbook provides advice and guidance to members of Council on their legal and other responsibilities. The Handbook is available to members of the University to download from the bottom of the Council web page at https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/committees/council/handbook/. Potential nominees might also wish to familiarize themselves with the key aspects of the University’s Statutes and Ordinances (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/), the most recent Budget and Allocations Report (Reporter, 6347, 2013–14, p. 539), and the University’s Annual Report and Financial Statements (Reporter, 6329, 2013–14, p. 158).
Further useful information is provided by HEFCE (http://www.hefce.ac.uk/whatwedo/reg/charityreg/goodpracticeguidanceforinstitutionsascharities/), and the Charity Commission (http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Publications/cc3.aspx). This information includes details of the extent of a charity trustee’s personal liability. Instances of personal liability are rare and unlikely to occur, providing trustees act honestly, prudently, in good faith, and in the best interests of the University, and in compliance with legislation and the University’s governing documents. Nonetheless, it is important for nominees to recognize and accept the obligations that Council membership would confer upon them.
Further to the Notice published on 25 June 2014 (Reporter, 6353, 2013–14, p. 647) and following the approval of Grace 3 of 25 June 2014, there shall be an election for one member of the Board of Scrutiny in class (c)(i) to serve with immediate effect until 30 September 2015, which will be held in November 2014 at the same time as the biennial election to the Council.
The Vice-Chancellor gives notice that an election of four members of the Regent House in class (b) to serve on the Committee of Management of the University Combination Room for four years from 1 January 2015 (Statutes and Ordinances, 2013, p. 144) will be held in November 2014 at the same time as the biennial election to the Council. The electors will be those whose names appear on the Roll of the Regent House which is due to be promulgated on 6 November 2014.
The nomination procedure and election timetable for the elections to the Council, the Board of Scrutiny, and the Committee of Management of the University Combination Room is as follows.
In order to be eligible, a candidate for election in each case must be nominated on a paper sent to the Vice-Chancellor at the Old Schools so as to be received not later than noon on Friday, 7 November 2014. The nomination paper must contain (a) a statement signed by two members of the Regent House, nominating the candidate for election and specifying the class in which he or she is nominated, and (b) a statement signed by the candidate certifying that he or she consents to be so nominated. Forms to facilitate the nomination process are available on the governance website (see https://www.governance.cam.ac.uk/Pages/news/Elections-MT-2014.aspx). The candidate is also required to provide a statement of her or his curriculum vitae by the same date (see below). No one may be nominated for election in more than one class. The Council has agreed to make known its view that two periods of four years should normally be regarded as the maximum length of continuous service for elected members.
The Vice-Chancellor would be obliged if nominations could be delivered to the Registrary in the Old Schools during office hours. Nominations will be published on the Senate-House Noticeboard as they are received; the complete list of nominations will be published in the Reporter on Wednesday, 12 November 2014.
In accordance with the regulations governing the election (Statutes and Ordinances, 2013, p. 110), each person nominated for election is required to send to the Registrary, not later than noon on Friday, 7 November, a statement of her or his curriculum vitae for distribution to members of the Regent House with the voting papers. It is suggested that such a statement should be of not more than 500 words in length, and that it should cover the following points:
•the candidate’s present position in the University;
•previous posts held, whether in Cambridge or in other universities or outside the university system, with dates;
•a note of the candidate’s particular interests within the field of University business.
The election will be conducted by postal ballot, under the Single Transferable Vote regulations. Voting papers will be distributed, together with the statements provided by candidates, not later than Monday, 17 November 2014. The last date for the return of voting papers will be Thursday, 27 November 2014.
1The University has charitable status but is exempt from the statutory requirement which otherwise obliges a charity to register with the Charity Commission. HEFCE is the principal regulator of the University as regards its compliance with its legal obligations in exercising control and management of its administration as a charity.
The Council wishes to make appointments to three Pro-Vice-Chancellorships, one of which will be tenable from 1 October 2015 (vice Professor Jeremy Sanders), and two of which will be tenable from 1 January 2016 (vice Dr Jennifer Barnes and Professor Lynn Gladden). The Council expects to make these appointments at its meeting on 15 December 2014. All three offices would be tenable for three years in the first instance. The Council will be advised by a Nominating Committee chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and with the following members: Professor Martin Daunton, Dr David Good, Professor Frank Kelly, Professor Robert Kennicutt, and Professor Dame Shirley Pearce.
The general role of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors is to take forward strategy and policy development and to support the Vice-Chancellor in providing institutional leadership to the University, particularly in their areas of responsibility. The Pro-Vice-Chancellors work closely with the Heads of Schools, the Registrary, and his senior colleagues. Pro-Vice-Chancellors are normally appointed from academic officers respected by the University.
The University has five Pro-Vice-Chancellors with the following portfolios:
• Planning and Resources (Professor Steve Young, to be succeeded by Professor Duncan Maskell on 1 August 2015)
• Education (Professor Graham Virgo)
• Research (Professor Lynn Gladden)
• Institutional Affairs (Professor Jeremy Sanders)
• International Strategy (Dr Jennifer Barnes)
Professor Young is the current Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the senior member of the team of Pro-Vice-Chancellors with the duties of leading and co-ordinating their work. Professor Maskell will succeed Professor Young as the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor when he takes up office on 1 August 2015 and will be involved in the current appointments.
The Council has agreed that the needs of the University will be best met in the next period by reinforcing leadership in the research portfolio – which is characterized by a demanding and broad set of responsibilities – by a shift in focus of the duties of the office currently held by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy. More generally, the Council has emphasized the need for flexibility in how elements within individual portfolios are initially allocated around the key strategic leadership areas that currently characterize the Pro-Vice-Chancellorships. The Council is also conscious that a new Vice-Chancellor will take up office on 1 October 2017 on the expiry of the permitted term of the current Vice-Chancellor. The Council will expect the team of Pro-Vice-Chancellors to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities between Vice-Chancellors and ensure that institutional leadership is maintained during this period.
The Council is seeking individuals from within the University to fill the three offices who can provide institutional leadership in strategy and policy in the following key areas:
• Human Resources (including personal and professional development and equality and diversity)
• Research
• Local and Regional Relationships
• Environmental Sustainability
• Museums and Collections
A principal focus for one of the Pro-Vice-Chancellorships will be Human Resources and the University’s ambitions for the development of its staff. For another, research will be the principal responsibility but it is likely that the Council will wish to share this responsibility between two of the individuals appointed so that its breadth, which encompasses internal and UK-facing strategy and funding questions, European and international dimensions and partnerships, strategic corporate relationships, and enterprise, including Cambridge Enterprise, can be appropriately covered. The University’s growing international strategic activity is principally focused on establishing research partnerships, where much of the activity will increasingly be carried out overseas. The need to foster and manage the University’s international ambitions will characterize much of the work of the senior leadership team in the next period and will inflect the responsibilities of all of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors.
With respect to the other responsibilities listed, the division of them within the team will depend on discussions with those appointed to the Pro-Vice-Chancellorships, taking into account their interests, expertise, and overall workload. The Council will wish to appoint individuals to a team who are flexible in their approach and, under the leadership of the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, can adapt as priorities arise and strategic priorities evolve.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellors will be appointed for 80% of full time. The stipend payable for the office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor is point 87 of the single salary scale: £118,091 (as at 1 August 2014) pro rata.
The Nominating Committee welcomes expressions of interest by and suggestions of suitable persons who hold a senior post in the University or a College and have extensive experience in higher education and a demonstrable interest and significant experience in the strategic and policy areas listed above.
Expressions of interest and suggestions should be communicated to the Vice-Chancellor, University Offices, The Old Schools, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, by Friday, 31 October 2014, from whom a fuller description of the roles may also be requested. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Young, Professor Duncan Maskell (the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor-designate), and the Registrary may also be consulted for further information.
Professor Roel Sterckx (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies) has been appointed the University Race Equality Champion until 30 September 2017.
As part of its commitment to equality of opportunity,1 the University has launched InterConnect, an initiative that focuses on race equality and cultural inclusion for Black, Asian, Chinese, Mixed Heritage, and White Other ethnic groups. An InterConnect Action Plan 2014–172 has been agreed by the Human Resources Committee. The delivery of the Action Plan will be overseen by the InterConnect Working Group, which includes representation from the World In Cambridge Network3 (formerly the Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Network), the UAS, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the Schools, the Colleges, and the Trade Unions. The Working Group, chaired by the University’s Race Equality Champion, reports to the University’s Equality and Diversity Committee.4
The Council has authorized the closure of the University Offices from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 24 December 2014, until 8.30 a.m. on Monday, 5 January 2015. The University Messenger Service will not operate during the period of closure.
The Combination Room is open for the use of current members and retired members formerly on the Roll of the Regent House. Visiting academics may also be issued with access cards, on nomination by their College or Department. The Combination Room will be open from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless notified in the Reporter otherwise.
Details of how to gain access to the University Combination Room can be found at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/combinationroom/.
The Cambridge University Reporter appears each Wednesday during Term. Special Numbers are also published from time to time.
Notices for publication in the Reporter should be sent to the Editor, Cambridge University Reporter, Registrary’s Office, The Old Schools, Cambridge, CB2 1TN (tel. 01223 332305, email reporter.editor@admin.cam.ac.uk). Copy, preferably in electronic form, should be sent as early as possible in the week before publication; short notices will be accepted up to 4 p.m. on Friday for publication the following Wednesday. Inclusion is at the discretion of the Editor.
Certain material published in the Reporter (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/) will be restricted to those with access to the University of Cambridge network (i.e. the Cam domain) or with raven usernames and passwords. Separate pdf versions are provided as appropriate.
The editor much regrets that the wrong almanac was printed at pp. 6–7, and apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused.
The correct almanac for 2014–15 is:
Reprinted copies of the corrected calendar to insert into the Pocket Diary may be collected free of charge from the Cambridge University Press Bookshop.
In the list of University Officers and in the College section, please note the following corrections and additions since the Pocket Diary went to press:
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p. 299 |
Human Resources Division The Old Schools. Director: S. Gupta. |
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p. 311 |
Fitzwilliam Master: N. M. Padfield. Bursar: R. A. Powell. Senior Tutor: P. A. Chirico. |
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p. 312 |
Newnham Principal: Prof. Dame Carol Black. Bursar: J. Raine. Senior Tutor: T. E. Apter. |
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p. 313 |
Selwyn Master: R. Mosey. Bursar: N. J. A. Downer. Senior Tutor: J. H. Keeler. |