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STUDENT SUPPORT COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 February 2008.

Present: 15 attendees

In attendance: 2 individuals

Apologies: 4 individuals

Minutes (Paper SCC 2007/9)

2007.26 The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2007 were
confirmed.

Promoting Good Campus Relations (Paper SSC 2007/10)

2007.28 The Committee received a briefing report from the Department
of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) on Promoting Good
Campus Relations, fostering shared values and preventing
extremism.

2007.29 It was reported that the report updated a paper first published in
2006 and that stakeholders would be consulted to form the
College’s response

2007.30 The Committee considered the key objectives set out in

Appendix 2 of the paper and made the following observations:

2007.31 Objective 1
[a] It was noted that the College’s Code of Practice on Freedom
of Speech was to be updated by the Academic Secretariat
[b] The importance of identifying shared values was noted

[c] The need to ensure the most appropriate use of language to

demonstrate an inclusive environment.

2007.32 Objective 2
[a] The need to ensure that policy on the use of the multi-faith
centre was implemented and to ensure College was welcoming
to students all faiths;
 [b] That the Student Union would have a pivotal role in
promoting multi-faith activities

2007.33 Objective 3
[a] It was noted that the College’s Code of Student Discipline
and Harassment Policy appeared to work well;

[b] The need to ensure that students are aware of such

procedures;

[c] It was felt there could be issues in need of addressing

relating to the communication of required standards to students

2007.34 Objective 4
[a] The need to review communications with both staff and
students;

[b] Access of information - the need to review the prominence of

information eg in handbooks and on websites and the possibility
of issuing a digest of information;

[c] The need to review where staff and students expect to find
such information;

[d] The need to provide appropriate training for staff.

2007.35 Objective 5
[a] The importance of ensuring effective communication;

[b] As the College was responsible for ensuring appropriate

behaviour on campus it was important to ensure that College
remained well informed of all activities;

[c] It was felt there might be areas where it was necessary for
the College to be more robust in enforcing procedures, this
required collaboration between QMSU and Estates;

[d] It was felt that best practice to ensure trust and confidence
on campus was necessary and that it might be useful if a wider
range of expertise was called upon to inform future discussion;

[e] It was suggested that authorised student activity in Library

Square could be easily identified if the Students’ Union issued
wrist bands.