Congregation
- Thursday 18 November 2010
- No. 4935
- Vol 141
- Congregation 25 November: Election
- Congregation 30 November
- Congregation 2 December: Elections
- Congregation 14 December
Congregation25 November
Election
Medical Sciences Divisional Board
Details are in 'Elections' section below.
Congregation30 November
30 November 2 p.m.
¶ Members of Congregation are reminded that any two members may, not later than noon on Monday, 22 November, give notice in writing to the Registrar that they intend to vote against, or propose an amendment to, the resolution below (see the note on the conduct of business in Congregation below). If no such notice has been given, and unless Council has declared otherwise, the resolution shall be carried, and the meeting may be cancelled.
The title for this agenda item has been amended from that published last week so that, in conformity with the request received from the members of Congregation, it now refers to one resolution, and to a consultative ballot on the proposed changes put forward by the Employers Pension Forum and the University and College Union.
Voting on resolution to conduct a consultative ballot on changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme put forward by the Employers Pensions Forum and the University and College Union
Text of Resolution
Congregation notes that the University as an employer has a statutory obligation, under the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006, to consult affected employees on the changes that have been proposed to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
Congregation further notes:
(a) that persons who are active members of USS or are eligible to join the scheme have received as part of that consultation process a copy of a USS document outlining the proposed changes and a document from the Employers Pension Forum for Higher Education (EPF) which purports to explain 'why changes are needed' and that 'the proposed changes are considered by the employers to be right for the benefit of the scheme and its members'; and
(b) that as the body representing all employee members of USS under the rules of the Scheme, the University and College Union has published on its website (at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4598) criticism of the process being followed by Higher Education employers in carrying out the consultation, and (at http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/q/9/USS_statement2_Oct10.pdf) a critique of the EPF document.
Believing that consultation, if it is to be meaningful, must seek the views of those consulted when the latter have been provided with all the information necessary for them to make an informed response, Congregation determines that the University will:
(i) publish to all affected employees the alternative proposals for changes to USS put forward by the EPF and by UCU, together with supporting arguments for each;
(ii) conduct a consultative ballot on those alternative proposals;
(iii) publish the result of the ballot to scheme members within the University;
(iv) send the ballot result to USS as the principal local response to the statutory consultation exercise; and
(v) ensure all members of USS are able to engage in the process and that their comments are fully reflected in the institution's response to USS and that they are published locally.
Proposed by:
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Congregation2 December
Elections
Contested election
Council
Uncontested elections
Humanities Divisional Board
Board of the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics
Board of the Faculty of Oriental Studies
Details are in 'Elections' section below.
Congregation14 December
14 December 2 p.m.
¶ Members of Congregation are reminded that any two members may, not later than noon on Monday, 6 December, give notice in writing to the Registrar that they intend to oppose one or more of the resolutions below (see the note on the conduct of business in Congregation below). If no such notice has been given, and unless Council has declared otherwise, the resolutions shall be carried, and the meeting may be cancelled.
Voting on resolutions authorising use of sites at the Old Road Campus
Explanatory Note
The Old Road Campus was acquired by the University from the NHS in 1996. The site is now the focus for a significant proportion of the University's medical research, housing both general and specialist laboratories together with facilities for office-based research. In 1999, following the acquisition of further land and the completion of the first major new building on the site (the Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine), a master-planning exercise was undertaken to identify the main development plots. Since that time, the site has evolved rapidly. However, one area (the location of the original NHS buildings) has yet to be developed. It is proposed that space in that area be allocated for the construction of two new buildings: the Kennedy Institute and a new building for the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM).
The establishment of the Kennedy Institute in Oxford aligns with a key strategic aim of the Medical Sciences Division: to develop an institute capable of pursuing state-of-the-art biomedical research at both a basic and translational level in autoimmunity and inflammation. The facility will offer the ability to provide high-quality research space that will enhance recruitment and retention of high calibre researchers.
The new NDM facility would accommodate work on Structural Biology, a Target Discovery Institute and clinical trial activities. This project is closely aligned to high priority objectives of both the Medical Sciences Division and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, and each of the three components that would be incorporated into the facility will strengthen an aspect of the University's medical research position.
Text of Resolutions
(i) That a site at the Old Road Campus (providing approximately 3,710 sq.m. net usable space) be allocated for the construction of the Kennedy Institute;
(ii) That a site at the Old Road Campus (providing approximately 2,380 sq.m. net usable space) be allocated for the construction of a new building for the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Note on procedures in Congregation
¶ Business in Congregation is conducted in accordance with Congregation Regulations 2 of 2002 (www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/529-122.shtml). A printout of these regulations, or of any statute or other regulations, is available from the Council Secretariat on request. A member of Congregation seeking advice on questions relating to its procedures, other than elections, should contact Miss S. Cowburn at the University Offices, Wellington Square (telephone: (2)70193; email: sarah.cowburn@admin.ox.ac.uk); questions relating to elections should be directed to the Elections Officer, Ms S.L. Stacey (telephone: (2)80463, email: elections.office@ox.ac.uk).