In November 2017, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden outlined plans to re-shape the University and move to a five-faculty structure. A number of activities are now underway to ensure that the new faculty structure is in place by 1 August 2018. Work to align our Professional Services to the new faculty structure will continue through 2018 and 2019.
We will be posting regular updates on SUSSED, and a copy of this information will also be sent to senior managers, our Unions, and our colleagues at the Students’ Union so that they can facilitate sharing within their own departments and networks.
Professional Services update
Over the next few weeks we will be providing more clarity to Professional Services colleagues regarding the changes that they can expect before 1 August 2018 and throughout the 2018-19 academic year. This week’s update focuses on the Faculty Operating Service.
Faculty Operating Service (FOS)
Our FOS colleagues provide an invaluable service in our faculties and it is important that we ensure their work can continue seamlessly as we move to a five-faculty structure.
- FOS colleagues who support an academic unit or department will remain in their current roles when the new faculties launch on 1 August 2018.
- Externally funded FOS staff will remain in the same organisational unit as the Principal Investigator.
- FOS staff currently working at a faculty level will be aligned to the appropriate new faculty. This will be discussed and decided before 1 August, based on the expected needs of our new faculties.
- In the interim, our five Deans will continue to receive support from their current Executive Assistant/Officer. A consistent approach to support for the Deans will be developed in the new academic year.
Staff moves will be kept to a minimum, and colleagues will be updated before August if any changes are necessary.
After 1 August 2018, like other Professional Services, we will be taking time to consider whether Faculty Operating Service support has been appropriately and fairly allocated to meet each new faculty’s objectives. This process will take place throughout the autumn, and there may be changes in 2019 if it’s determined that the support needs to be re-balanced.
More information is currently being communicated directly to FOS colleagues about these changes.
Further Associate Dean appointments
Last week, we updated you on the process to appoint Associate Deans for our five new Faculties. We are pleased to confirm that four further Associate Deans have now been appointed.
In the new Faculty of Social Sciences, two colleagues will share the role of Associate Dean Research & Enterprise:
1. Associate Dean Research & Enterprise, Faculty of Arts & Humanities – Professor Lucy Mazdon
2. Associate Dean Research & Enterprise [shared role], Faculty of Social Sciences – Professor Sally Brailsford
3. Associate Dean Research & Enterprise [shared role], Faculty of Social Sciences – Professor Rebecca Hoyle
4. Associate Dean Academic Infrastructure, Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences – Professor Michael Butler
You can view a chart showing all the appointments to date here. Please note, this diagram will be updated as further appointments are made.
Incoming Associate Deans will take up post on 1 August, but they will work alongside existing leadership teams over the next two months to ensure an efficient handover.
For more information
You can find our previous restructure SUSSED updates here.
During this change programme, some information that is sensitive for external audiences or considered commercial in confidence will be posted on SharePoint and require a staff log-in. To meet our commitment to transparency with our student community, wherever possible this information will be shared with the Students’ Union President and sabbatical officers.
If you have questions about the faculty restructure, please email: [email protected] (colleagues in the Strategy Implementation Team manage this mailbox).
If you would like to contact a member of the executive team about the restructure, you can email either Professor Mandy Fader ([email protected]) or Ian Dunn ([email protected]).
