• CONSULTATIVE NOTICE
  • Review of the Humanities Division
• GENERAL NOTICES
  • Vice-Chancellor's Question Time *
  • Notice of Public Exhibition: the New Bodleian Library
  • University Gazette: Publication arrangements
  • Harris Manchester College: musical events
• APPOINTMENTS
  • John G. Winant Professorship of American Government
• COMPOSITION OF SELECTION COMMITTEE
  • Pro-Vice-Chancellorship (Development and External Affairs)

• Links to some University institutions:
  • Ashmolean Museum
  • Christ Church Picture Gallery
  • Oxford University Museum of Natural History
  • Pitt Rivers Museum
  • Museum of the History of Science
  • Bate Collection of Musical Instruments
  • Bodleian Library
  • The University Club
  • Oxford University Society
  • Language Centre
  • Computing Services
  • University Church of St Mary the Virgin

CONSULTATIVE NOTICE

Review of the Humanities Division

On behalf of Council and its committees, the Vice-Chancellor will chair a review of the Humanities Division. The terms of reference for the review are set out below. Initial meetings of the review committee are scheduled to take place in early June 2010. The review committee would welcome written comments on matters falling within its terms of reference. These should be sent to Ms Judith Finch, University Offices, Wellington Square (e-mail: judith.finch@admin.ox.ac.uk), by Tuesday, 4 May.

Terms of reference

1. To review divisional strategies in the light of the current internal and external climate, and the forecast for the medium and longer term.

2. To review progress made in response to the division's strategic plans: five-year plan, recent operating statements, and any other divisional strategy documents, as follows: Review the division's mechanisms for promoting the excellence of academic activities in the faculties and departments which constitute the division, with particular reference to international standards of excellence, and in the context of the University's Strategic Plan and other strategic/policy documents. More specifically, the division's mechanisms for ensuring:

(a) the quality and direction of the research of the division as a whole, including its promotion of interdepartmental, interdivisional and interdisciplinary activities, its research profile and strategy, and future challenges and opportunities;

(b) the overall quality and direction of undergraduate and graduate programmes offered within the division and the division's policy for the development, monitoring and quality assurance of those programmes, taking account of University policies in relation to:

• access and admissions;
• curriculum design and programme structure;
• teaching, learning and assessment;
• the relationship between teaching and research;
• academic and pastoral support and guidance;
• the provision and use of learning resources (including staff resources);
• specific arrangements for the pursuit of graduate studies (including research degrees research training and provision for part-time study);
• relationships with colleges;
• student number planning;
• quality assurance mechanisms;

(c) the division's work in relation to 'third-leg' activities.

3. Personnel. To review the division's approach to human resources issues, including:

• academic employment issues;
• recruitment and retention;
• balance of teaching and learning in academic contracts;
• major support staff issues;
• career development;
• equal opportunities.

4. Space and Capital Expenditure. Current and future plans, including:

• new build/refurbishment;
• laboratory and teaching space;
• research equipment;
• services including links with ASUC.

5. Finance. To consider the current and long-term financial position of, and funding arrangements for, the division, and its financial strategy.

6. Organisation and administration. To review the organisation of the division, its management structures and the relationship between the faculties/departments and the division, and between the division and other university bodies and committees, including such matters as:

• strategic planning;
• leadership and management;
• administration;
• devolution of responsibilities between units within the division, and between the division and its units;
• fundraising;
• the relationship (structural and operational) with (a) cognate subject areas, (b) colleges, and (c) national and international bodies, including research councils and funding bodies to which it is linked in teaching and research.

GENERAL NOTICES

Notice of Public Exhibition: the New Bodleian Library

The New Bodleian Library is in urgent need of upgrading to modern standards, appropriate for one of the largest and most important repositories of manuscripts, archives and other research materials and cultural treasures. Extensive works are required to ensure the building complies with national standards for the storage of these outstanding Special Collections.

The Bodleian Library would like to take this opportunity to consult members of the collegiate University and the local community on the proposals at a forthcoming exhibition, prior to submitting Planning and Listed Building applications to Oxford City Council. The exhibition will be held on 4 and 5 March between 2 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. in Seminar Room 132 of the New Bodleian Library (Parks Road Entrance). For those people unable to visit the exhibition, the boards will be made available in the foyer of the New Bodleian for a further two weeks, or can be downloaded from www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley/home.

University Gazette: Publication arrangements

Members of the University are asked to note that the last full issues of the Gazette for the present term will be published on 4, 11, and 18 March.

An issue of the Gazette will also be published on 25 March, but will be limited to Council, Congregation, and Convocation business, and examination regulations.

The usual deadline for receipt of official notices (midday on Thursday of the week before publication) will continue to apply.

Publication for Trinity Term will begin on 22 April.

Changes to the Gazette to take effect in 2010–2011

The change to publication arrangements set out above, and a change to arrangements in July, are part of a number of changes to the Gazette approved by Council last term. The other changes will take effect in 2010–11, and are listed below. Further details will be circulated to departments and colleges in due course. Enquiries may be directed to gazette@admin.ox.ac.uk.

• Notices and supplements to appear once only, with certain exceptions
• 'University Acts' to be renamed 'Council and Major Committees'; 'University Agenda' to be renamed 'Congregation'
• Special Lecture List to be published in the Gazette only, and returned to its original purpose as a listing of lectures of cross-University interest
• The supplement of lectures and seminars for the term to be published in noughth week
• Prizes, Grants and Funding section to be removed and replaced by a brief list of prizes and grants notified, with a reference given to an appropriate Web site or contact information
• Lists of undergraduate awards made by Colleges, Halls, and Societies to be removed
• Appointments section to be removed and replaced by a listing of vacancies notified, with a reference given to a Web site on which information can be found, or contact details for enquiries
• Diary to be removed and replaced by an expanded 'What's On' page of the University Web site
• University Libraries 'Vacation Hours' notice to be removed
• Learning Institute supplements to be removed and replaced by a termly notice giving the Learning Institute Web address
• Full publication of new examination regulations in the Gazette to end: the Gazette will carry a brief descriptive notice, with a reference to a University Web site on which the full text of the new regulations can be found
• Publication of non-urgent notices may be postponed for up to two weeks to help keep the Gazette to an even length
• The online Gazette to be moved to the new UAS Content Management System, with improvements made to appearance and navigabililty The printed Gazette to be redesigned to improve its usability
• The annual number of issues to be reduced from 37 to 35, to be achieved by removing the issue of week 10 of Michaelmas Term, and the final Gazette in July. The Gazette of week –2 of MT, and week 10 of HT, normally to include Council and Congregation business only

                                       Appointed by


        Mr Vice-Chancellor              ex officio 
        The Master of Balliol           Council
        The Principal of Linacre        Council
        The Pro-Vice-Chancellor 
            (Personnel and Equality)    Council                                
        The Senior Proctor-elect 
            (Dr C. Thompson)            Council
        Professor T. Softley            Council
        Professor P. Robbins            Council
        Professor S. Shuttleworth       Council
        Professor R. Goodman            Council