Staff news

Senate meeting: 1 February 2017

The next meeting of the University Senate takes place on Wednesday 1 February 2017.

The Senate meeting will be the last one to be presided over by the Principal prior to his retirement in September, since he will be unable to attend the meeting on 31 May. 

A drinks reception to mark the occasion will be held after the meeting and as a result the usual meeting format has been reversed. 

Meeting timings will be as follows:

[14.00 Formal business - this section will be open to Senate members only]

14.30 Tea and coffee

14.50 Musical interlude: HarmonyChoir

15.00 Presentation and discussion: review of support for students with disabilities and student mental health strategy

16.30  Drinks reception   

All members of staff are warmly invited to attend the meeting from 14.30 onwards and drinks reception afterwards.  We hope that as many as possible will attend to celebrate the Principal’s long service and achievements as President of Senate.

The thematic focus for the presentation and discussion is the recent review of support for students with disabilities and the student mental health strategy.  The discussion section will provide members of staff with an opportunity to comment and ask questions.  Full details and a list of speakers are provided below.

The presentation and discussion will be preceded by a performance by the Edinburgh HarmonyChoir.

Presentation and Discussion

The review of support for students with disabilities was established to evaluate support for disabled students provided by the University and to make recommendations for improvements.  The review focuses on:

  • How adjustments for disabled students are made and implemented
  • The accessibility of the University estate
  • Policy and practice around Interruptions of Studies

Student mental health strategy: the University is facing rapidly growing demand for support from students experiencing mental health issues. The issue of growing numbers has created particular pressures on the professional services with specific responsibilities in this area, but the impact is noticeable across many areas of the University, including the academic heartland.

A cross-University Student Mental Health Strategy Group has developed a medium-term strategy for the University, focussing on both support for students who experience difficulties and promotion of wellbeing in the student population more generally.  

Speakers

  • Jane Norman, Vice Principal, People and Culture

Review of support for students with disabilities: overview, summary of action plan and timescale

  • Jess Husbands, Students’ Association Vice President, Societies & Activities

Student perspective

  • Tina Harrison, Assistant Principal Academic Standards & Quality Assurance and Iain Gordon, Head of School of Mathematics

Mainstreaming of adjustments

  • Sandy Tudhope, Head of School of GeoSciences and Senatus Assessor

Implementing adjustments

  • Gary Jebb, Director of Estates

Improving accessibility of the estate

  • Gavin Douglas, Deputy Secretary Student Experience and Helen Cameron, Director of the Centre for Medical Education

Student mental health strategy: overview, summary of action plan and timescale

Meeting Details

Wednesday 1 February 2017, 14.30 – 16.30, Debating Hall, Edinburgh University Students' Association, Teviot Row House, Bristo Square. (Formal business to start at 14.00).

The meeting will be followed by a drinks reception at 16.30 in the Dining Hall, Edinburgh University Students' Association, Teviot Row House, Bristo Square.

Members of staff who are interested in attending the meeting must book a place through MyEd due to venue capacity requirements.

Map

Link to MyEd

Related Links

Senatus Academicus