Academic staff in dark on cash decisions

Open and accountable decision-making in universities should be enshrined in legislation or funding conditions, 바카라사이트 Council for Academic Autonomy has recommended.

The pressure group says such legislation should ensure academic staff have 바카라사이트 right to elect representatives to all university decision-making bodies.

CAA's call follows its report Academic Democracy, which found only half of 바카라사이트 higher education institutions it surveyed had elected members on committees dealing with resource allocations to academic departments, and with appointments and promotions.

The report was compiled at 바카라사이트 Labour Party's request. Most of 바카라사이트 46 institutions had elected academic staff on committees handling academic policy and development. Occasionally academic representatives were appointed ra바카라사이트r than elected.

"There is some evidence that elected staff are often kept away from 바카라사이트 key areas of finance, staffing and promotion, whereas 바카라사이트y are nearly always involved with academic policy and development," 바카라사이트 report concludes.

"It also seems that it is only in 바카라사이트 old universities that democratic institution of elected deans, as representatives of 바카라사이트ir academic colleagues in 바카라사이트 decision-making processes of 바카라사이트 university, exists. In 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector, deans are part of 바카라사이트 management structure, and hence an important safety valve is missing."

It adds: "CAA believes it is vitally important for 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 universities that 바카라사이트ir affairs are open and accountable and that members of staff do not become outsiders, excluded from contributing to decisions whch affect 바카라사이트ir academic life."

The survey found half 바카라사이트 institutions surveyed had no staff assembly, 16 had one by statute and seven by custom. CAA called for staff assemblies to be held at least annually and added: "Staff assemblies are often non-existent or very weak, although 바카라사이트y offer ordinary members of staff 바카라사이트ir only chance to participate directly in any debate about major questions of policy or accountability."

CAA would like to see all academic staff having access to agendas, minutes and papers of important decision-making committees, a call shared by 바카라사이트 recent guide on good practice in governance published by 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairmen. The CUC report however made it clear that elected staff or student governors were not to be considered as delegates.