Provost's Update No. 9 (February 2018)

Applications for 2018/19

The UCAS deadline has now passed and the final position with respect to applications this year is positive. Although there is considerable variation by subject, it’s very encouraging to see that application numbers are markedly better than the national position and ahead of our competitors. Heads can see a more detailed report, emailed directly to them.

2018/19 Planning Round

The first meeting of Financial Planning Sub Committee for this year has now taken place. This meeting sets the broad parameters for the University’s financial plan for the coming academic year. I thought you might want to be aware of some of the broad conclusions from these discussions. Key points that were highlighted included;

• Surpluses in the initial roll-forward plan are lower than for last year
• Tuition fees – the previous version of the plan had budgeted for an inflationary increase in tuition fees. These will now not happen and so the income figures have been revised downwards based on the student numbers as per the last planning round. As you’ll be aware, the target numbers are currently being revisited and these will be fed into the plan.
• The initial financial projections also include a slight increase in costs because the pay settlement was higher than assumed, because there are additional costs for business rates, and some additional costs to deal with GDPR.

FPSC also noted that there was likely to be considerable uncertainty around the finding environment both because of market uncertainty and also the proposed Government review of the funding of HE.

Capital Projects

Projects in the Design Phase

• Arts Faculty Building – this is now detailed development of the design and the production of project documentation sufficiently to enable the procurement of a main contractor during the first and second quarter of 2018, with a start on site anticipated in January 2019 and completion targeted for spring 2021.
• Interdisciplinary Biological Research Building (IBRB) – dominantly research but also teaching space including a 400-seater lecture theatre. FGPC has recommended to Council that the spend be approved. Subject to that approval it is anticipated that work will start on site anticipated towards the end of 2018, project completion is ideally targeted for December 2020.
• WMG Degree Apprentices Centre (DAC) – essentially academic teaching accommodation. Start on site anticipated in June 2018 and completion targeted for March 2019.

Active Projects

• National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) - main construction works will be complete in April 2018, to be followed by fit-out and specialist equipment installation with anticipated completion in September 2018. Public realm adjacent to the building is being progressively released, with the main frontage and route to University House now being open.
• Sports Centre – provision of new sporting facilities including pool, gym squash courts and climbing wall. Work commenced in August 2017 and is due for completion in March 2019. Associated projects including the 4G "all weather" pitch, the water based hockey pitch and an activity zone are complete and in use.
• Mathematical Sciences - completion is programmed for September 2018. The scope of the project has been amended to include a full and revised "fit out" of the 5th floor to accommodate additional academic staff relocating from Senate House.
• Kirby Corner Car Park (Car Park 16) - adjacent to University House, this will provide a total of 1300 car parking spaces. Work is due to commence on site in March 2018 for completion in January 2019.
• Arts Centre 20/20 - the Phase 1 refurbishment is underway and due for completion in July 2018 and will be followed by the new build extension. Overall completion is anticipated to be in July/August 2020.
• Cryfield Village Residential Accommodation - will provide 828 rooms to be completed in three phases. Phase 1 completion is anticipated in October 2019, Phase 2 in October 2020 and Phase 3 in October 2021. Extensive enabling works are underway.
• WMG Materials Engineering Centre – provision of a range of teaching facilities, including laboratories, a workshop, and office space. Operations on site commenced in November with a completion date of September 2018.

Creating an integrated student services centre

Space Planning, in conjunction with CSAG has been looking at space use and particularly at the way in which Senate House is used to provide a range of student services. Plans are still at an early stage, but we are hoping to make some significant changes to enhance student service provision. Many of the relocations are still under discussion and details are to be finalised, but the aspiration is

• To ensure the more of the important “touchpoints” for students are available conveniently and in a central campus location
• To bring more in the way of well-being services into central campus
• To provide a flexible space for a number of transient services at different times of the year, PNC checks, VISA checks
• To enhance the advice service to Students: (self-service, convenient, accountable, joined-up) working with Student Personalised Information Programme (SPI) and the implementation of Student Information Desk(SID)

Senate House is an ideal location, especially given the services that are already hosted there. However, limited space suggests that we may only be able to accommodate staff who are student facing advisers or who need to meet with students. This will present some challenges for a range of professional services because they may need to split teams (either between floors or between UH and Senate) and potentially adjust their service delivery to fit the new arrangements. We will also need to work hard around efficiencies to ensure that student waiting times are acceptable.

Adam Waddingham : 05 Feb 2018 16:39 |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem