1.HEFCE funding cuts (i.e. government looking to cut cost of supporting students):
For the year 2010/11, Higher Education will be receiving £449m less than
it had been promised back in 2008.
Awaiting HEFCE funding letter and RAE allocation, due in mid-March.
Uncertainty with election looming (May?) Warden said HE was not a
concern among the general public, so not an election issue.
To sum up : shortfall in cash very much 'not of our making'
As Goldsmiths had been able to 'put cash in reserve' over the past 2 years
it did mean that the SMT could now say that 'draconian measures [were] NOT
needed'. However we would have to be 'financially responsible' within the
next 5 years which could be achieved by reduction in staff costs and
increased overseas recruitment (Simon McVeigh and Vicky Annand were named
as in charge of this initiative). A 2.5% expenditure cut across all
budgets was put forward(as proposed to HODs on Monday).
It was stressed that Union involvement was 'very important' in handling
these issues. We were assured that 'worse times are on their way' and that
'we need to handle [this crisis] together'. There were no current plans
for compulsory redundancy (in reply to a question from the floor).
Warden is on the board of UniversitiesUK (www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/)
2. Alison Ahern spoke on points-based immigration rules and the
obligation to report non-attendance to UK Border Agency. Confirmed that
the College is planning to interpret ten 'instances' of non-attendance as
ten WEEKS of non-attendance.
3. Pensions - USS (Chris Pearson): mentioned info on pensions on HR website: http://www.gold.ac.uk/hr/uss-pensions/ (which has a link to the USS
website.)
We are awaiting result of consultation, due end of April 2010. Any changes
would begin October 2010. Consultation with USS members first[May 2010]
USS is still a 'final salary scheme'.
Normally a pension scheme is evaluated every 3 years.
USS 'needs to remain solvent' - problems caused by increased life expectancy
and higher final salaries.
GC (employers) contribution likely to rise by 8%. (£460,000 per annum at
present.)
Any questions? email us at gucu-admin@gold.ac.uk.