Dame Denise Holt, Chair of Council

I am writing this exactly seven months to the day since the UK went into a national lockdown and never could I have imagined the state of the world nor the challenges all humanity would be faced with during this period. After 40 years in the diplomatic service, I don’t say that lightly.

As Chair of Council, my first and foremost thought is about our students and ensuring they are receiving the best possible education and experience in what continues to be very difficult circumstances. I am all too aware that what should be one of the most promising and adventurous times in their lives has been curtailed and I admire so many of them for the fortitude that they are showing.

With this in mind, I invited our Students’ Union representative, Connor Moylett, to present at our most recent Council briefing session about how the Union is supporting students, working alongside the University, and to share the views of students. I know that Connor will be providing more details to the Council’s Student Experience Committee soon and this will ensure the University is addressing any arising issues.

The Students’ Union is, rightly, concerned with the big picture issue of ensuring students get value for money at the University. But, I was also heartened to hear about the practical measures the Students’ Union has put in place to help students settle in and find like-minded friends. Such as enhancing the excellent ‘Buddy Scheme’, organising Covid-safe walks in the Downs, and the move that many students societies have made to put their activities online.

Since I last wrote in the summer, Council members have been receiving regular briefings on the full range of education and student support initiatives. Members have been impressed by the effort and imagination that has gone into creating the blended learning experience that our students are receiving. We know that work continues to ensure that we are delivering what we have told students that we will, and Council will keep a close eye on this. Council has also been particularly concerned about student welfare, and we were particularly pleased about the financial and care support package the University is providing to all students in self-isolation. This was one of only five initiatives to come to me as Chair of the Financial Sustainability Group, established to ensure we protect the University’s finances during the pandemic. It was absolutely the right thing to do and one that we have heard is being taken up by those students.

But Council is not just focused on students’ needs. We are also hugely appreciative of the relentless effort made by our staff - both academic and professional services - to ensure that students receive both the education and the care they deserve. In 2020 we have all had to adjust our ways of working - none more so than those who teach. I know it is exhausting and this was underlined during the Council briefing by video clips from some Heads of School. I imagine that many, many of you are looking forward to a break soon. I want to thank all of you on behalf of Council for the imagination, creativity and sheer hard work that you have put in for months now.

As you would expect, at our Council briefing sessions we also continue to get regular updates on the health and safety measures in place on the University’s campus, including information on testing, tracing and steps to reduce transmission of Covid-19 within our community. Neither Council nor the University’s leadership is in any way complacent. But we are thankful that to date the impact has been modest. Council recognise that this has been achieved because of the outstanding cooperation of staff and students, as well as the thoughtful and comprehensive measures taken by the University’s leadership to maintain the safety of its staff and students.

On 23 October, we also held a brief, single issue, Council meeting to receive an update on pensions. This was in the context of a UUK consultation on the USS Trustee’s proposed methodology and assumptions for the Scheme’s technical provisions in relation to the 2020 Valuation. Despite the technical nature of the consultation, University leaders were asked to engage with their Councils (formal approval was not required). Following a discussion of the key issues, it was agreed to submit the proposed response to the consultation in line with the UUK deadline of 30 October 2020. I am aware of the significance of these issues to many University staff, but these decisions are rightly confidential - the University is being consulted on the position the employers organisation (UUK) will take in negotiations that are still in progress. Nonetheless, it would be fair to say that the technical nature of this consultation meant that it was relatively uncontroversial. For any staff who are interested in finding out more and keeping up to date on the USS situation, I know they can visit these webpages to do so.

Unless anything significant arises, I will write to you again following our next Council meeting at the end of the November. In the meantime, I encourage you all to engage with the many communications and events provided by the University and to be an active member of our community. I know that together we can support each other and our students through this pandemic.

Dame Denise Holt
Chair of Council