No 6816
Wednesday 25 February 2026
Vol clvi No 21
pp. 352–358
28 February, Saturday. Congregation of the Regent House at 10 a.m.
4 March, Wednesday. End of third quarter of Lent Term.
16 March, Monday. Scarlet Day. Congregation of the Regent House at 2.45 p.m. (ceremonial installation of the Chancellor).
17 March, Tuesday. Discussion by videoconference at 2 p.m. (see below).
20 March, Friday. Full Term ends.
25 March, Wednesday. Lent Term ends. Last ordinary issue of the Reporter in Lent Term.
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Discussions (Tuesdays at 2 p.m.) |
Congregations (at 10 a.m. unless otherwise stated) |
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17 March |
28 February 16 March, 2.45 p.m. (ceremonial installation of the Chancellor) 28 March 11 April |
The Vice-Chancellor invites members of the Regent House, University and College employees, registered students and others qualified under the regulations for Discussions (Statutes and Ordinances, 2024, p. 111) to attend a Discussion by videoconference on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 at 2 p.m. The following items will be discussed:
1.Report of the Council, dated 18 February 2026, on the demolition of the former Cavendish Laboratory buildings in Cambridge West (Reporter, 6815, 2025–26, p. 348).
2.Report of the Council, dated 18 February 2026, on changes to Statutes J 4 and C XV (Reporter, 6815, 2025–26, p. 349).
Those wishing to join the Discussion by videoconference should email Discussions@admin.cam.ac.uk providing their CRSid (if a member of the collegiate University), by 10 a.m. on the date of the Discussion to receive joining instructions. Alternatively contributors may email their remarks to Discussions@admin.cam.ac.uk, by no later than 10 a.m. on the day of the Discussion for reading out by the Proctors,1 or may ask someone else who is attending to read the remarks on their behalf.
In accordance with the regulations for Discussions, the Chair of the Board of Scrutiny or any ten members of the Regent House2 may request that the Council arrange for one or more of the items listed for discussion to be discussed in person (usually in the Senate-House). Requests should be made to the Director of Governance and Compliance, on paper or by email to UniversityDraftsman@admin.cam.ac.uk from addresses within the cam.ac.uk domain, by no later than 9 a.m. on the day of the Discussion. Any changes to the Discussion schedule will be confirmed in the Reporter at the earliest opportunity.
For general information on Discussions see the Reporter website at https://www.reporter.admin.cam.ac.uk/discussions.
1Any comments sent by email should please begin with the name and title of the contributor as they wish it to be read out and include at the start a note of any College and/or Departmental affiliations held.
2https://www.scrutiny.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/regent_house_roll/.
In July 2024, the Council approved the creation of a new part-time fellowship secondment programme sponsored by the Vice-Chancellor, to provide emerging academic leaders with experience of working at a senior level within the University and having responsibility for delivering University- or School-wide initiatives.1 These opportunities are intended to create an internal pipeline of future academic leaders at the University. The programme comprises up to six Fellowship Secondments, each supported by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) or Head of School (as appropriate). The first two Fellows were selected in May 2025 and a further two in October 2025. Applications are now invited for a fifth Fellow with the following portfolio:
The Fellow will play a crucial role in supporting the University’s review and redesign of its professional services operating model by an external specialist/consultancy that will be commissioned in mid-2026. The Fellow will bring deep institutional understanding and academic insight to ensure that the consultancy’s longlist, shortlist, and Strategic Outline Business Case are grounded in the practical realities of Cambridge’s structures, governance, and working culture. Working alongside the external specialist, the PVC for Resources and Operations and the Directors of UAS Divisions, the Fellow will contribute to option development, stakeholder engagement, and the assessment of feasibility, ensuring that proposed operating model changes are both ambitious and implementable.
The successful candidate is likely to be a senior academic (Grades 10–12), with a desire to obtain greater experience of working across the University and the Colleges and a view to taking on a leadership role in the future. The individual will have a curiosity about how the University currently works and how it can be best supported by its professional services, with the ability to influence and persuade and build consensus. Strong communication skills and the ability to prioritise will be essential.
This Fellowship Secondment will be at the equivalent of 20% FTE for two years (equivalent to one day a week), renewable for a further year. In addition to a Leadership Allowance,2 the Fellow will receive professional development support, including participation in the University’s Senior Leadership Programme Level 3 course.3
The Vice-Chancellor expects to make the secondment appointment during the Easter Term, with a start date to be agreed with the Fellow but expected to be from June 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomes expressions of interest. This is an internal scheme open to individuals from within the University and the Colleges.
Requests for further information about the role and/or expressions of interest, including a curriculum vitae and covering letter, should be sent by email to the Resourcing Team in the Human Resources Division at seniorrecruitmentfellows@admin.cam.ac.uk by 12 noon on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.
2Variable according to base pay; to be calculated as the difference for each successful Fellow between 20% of base pay and £25k p.a. payable by their current employer as an uplift to base salary.
3See the Senior Leadership Programmes overview at: https://www.ppd.admin.cam.ac.uk/leadership-development/leadership-development-programmes/senior-leadership-programmes-overview.
The Council and the General Board, after consultation with the University and Staff Joint Board, have approved revisions to the following policies to reflect legislative changes arising from the Employment Rights Act 2025, effective from 6 April 2026:
•Paternity and Co-Parent Leave Policy
•Ordinary Parental Leave Policy
•Shared Parental Leave Policy
•Sickness Absence Policy
•Whistleblowing Policy
•Disciplinary Policy
•Grievance Policy
•Staff and Student Relationships Policy
•Assistant Staff Rules
These changes ensure compliance with statutory requirements, including ‘day one rights’ for paternity and parental leave, adjustments to shared parental leave, reforms to statutory sick pay and enhanced whistleblowing protections. The revisions do not alter any procedures set out in the Statutes or Special Ordinances. Updated policies will be published on the Human Resources website prior to the commencement date.
At a meeting on 23 February, the General Board had a detailed discussion about the future of veterinary education at Cambridge. It has agreed next steps in light of the analysis put forward by both the School of the Biological Sciences and the Department of Veterinary Medicine, and the concerns of many in the Cambridge community and the veterinary profession more widely.
The General Board acknowledged the long-standing and serious challenges facing veterinary education at Cambridge, and thanked the School of the Biological Sciences for its work and support of the Department of Veterinary Medicine during a critical phase of the accreditation process and in appraising the options. In addition, having heard the strength of feeling in the community around Cambridge continuing to offer veterinary education, the General Board agreed the following:
•The University will continue to admit students onto the course. Offer letters will go out imminently for students to enter the course this autumn.
•As both the Department and the School recognise, there is a need for new leadership in the Vet School to be put in place to support the Department in addressing its many challenges, and that transition should begin.
•The General Board will share the analysis conducted by the School and the Department with the Regent House.
•The General Board recognises that the School of the Biological Sciences cannot be solely responsible for the future of veterinary education.
•Further analysis, supported by external experts, is required to develop and evaluate alternative models for the future of veterinary education at Cambridge. The General Board will hold the Vet School to account and keep the Regent House informed on progress.
•The financial and operational reorganisation of clinical services, outlined in the Department’s submission, should move forward. All immediate cost savings identified by the Vet School should go ahead without delay.
Both the Yard and the Combination Room will be closed on Monday, 16 March 2026 from 12 noon to 5 p.m., due to the Congregation for the ceremonial installation of the Chancellor. Access to the University Offices will be from Trinity Lane.