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Concerns about the VCE’s decision to disband the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education

We write again concerning the decision of the VCE (the Vice Chancellor’s Executive) to disband SHE, putting much-valued colleagues At Risk. The decision also has university-wide implications and must be taken seriously by us all.

 

What are the projected savings from disbanding SHE?

SHE members have been asking for more information about the VCE’s decision. We have circulated among members an important document explaining why the decision to disband appears flawed.

Very significantly, the document points out that the projected savings of about £650,000 which UH claims it will make from disbanding SHE are incorrect. They are in fact about £200,000 and possibly less.

In particular, the projected savings from putting SHE’s senior managers At Risk are incorrect because most of these managers are 0.4FTE managerial but also 0.6FTE lecturers/researchers whose teaching etc would still have to be covered.

UH was unaware of this elementary fact when it made its savings calculations, as the deputy VC, Professor Julie Newlan, admitted when we met and questioned her on 28 March. All the same, she denied that the projected savings were misleading even as she conceded that they would have to be recalculated.

We were also told that this recalculation would only be undertaken at the end of the consultation period, but when we requested an opportunity to consult on it as and when ready, this request was denied.

The broader context here is crucial too. According to Wonkhe, “…the 10,685 PGT FT international students currently at or expected to join the University of Hertfordshire make it the largest in the sector…” Indeed, UH has increased its international student intake by 5,595 over the last two years. Assuming a rough and ready £15,000 per student, this is an additional income of some £84 million, making it even harder to justify disbanding SHE and putting highly experienced and valued staff At Risk in order to save £200,000.

 

All this raises major concerns over the decision to disband SHE.

We would ask SHE members, in particular, to consider the document and email their thoughts to our confidential address at uhucuoffacc@outlook.com

We would also invite SHE members who have raised ‘safe to speak up’ concerns over the consultation process to email us at this address too. We will collate your comments and pass them on anonymously.