Staff Briefing

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Next editions Next editions and entries to the briefing General University notices The Christmas Challenge Energy Officer appointed to increase eco-friendliness Norcroft Conference Centre - Energy Consumption Display RAE 2008 Code of Practice Are you expecting a baby from next April onwards at the BRI? Update on the HR/Payroll Implementation Project English Language Placement Tests Latest Information on University Examination policies and procedures Catering opening times Baroness Lockwood Award for Distinguished Teaching (BLADT): Scheme for individual awards, 2006/07 Learner Development Unit - Becka Currant BUStA says Merry Christmas! Adult Learners Week Nominations - Final Reminder Buddhist Meditation Sessions Ken Tidswell's retirement Training and Development Opportunities for Staff Staff Training Opportunities Works on Campus Richmond Building Chesham C Building, level 02 Electrical Shutdown of Horton A, Chesham B and Chesham C Lectures, seminars and newsletters Research Bulletin LSS Bulletin Job Vacancies at the University

Next editions and entries to the briefing

• Monday 8 January 2007
• Monday 15 January 2007
• onday 22 January 2007

Please keep entries concise with, if necessary, a link to further details on the web. Please check entries for accuracy and timeliness before sending. Deadline for entries is (generally) 12 noon each Friday.

Email: briefing@bradford.ac.uk

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General University notices

The Christmas Challenge

The University's main campus electricity base load (the energy consumed when the campus is closed) never drops below half a Megawatt (500Kw). This equates to 1884 tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere every year and this is just when the University is closed.

The Christmas challenge is to reduce this base load by 10%, by ensuring that all none essential equipment and lighting is switched off over the Christmas break.

I will monitor our progress and report back in the new year.

Remember that we all have our part to play, to minimise the impact of the Universities operations on the environment.

If you have any energy or water conservation issues or ideas, please contact me via the email address below.

Have a Happy Christmas and an Energy Efficient New Year.

Robert Bradley
Energy Officer (see item below!)
Email Address: energy@bradford.ac.uk

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Energy Officer appointed to increase eco-friendliness

The new post of Energy Officer has been created by the University to ensure that the institution complies with legislation and capitalises on energy efficient measures.

Robert Bradley comes to the University from Oldham Council and has been appointed on a three-year contract to the Department of Estates and Facilities. His main remit will be to review energy and water usage across the campus.

If you have any concerns or a good idea that will conserve energy or water, please contact Robert at energy@bradford.ac.uk

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Norcroft Conference Centre - Energy Consumption Display

As part of a campaign to make staff, students and visitors aware of the environmental impact of the universities operations, a plasma screen has been installed in the foyer of the Norcroft Conference Centre (NCC).

This display is linked back to the NCC’s Building Management System (BMS) and indicates the conference centres total and daily electricity use in Kilowatt Hours and Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide, as well as certain internal and external environmental conditions.

Further energy use displays are being considered for other buildings, this is just the first element of the universities strategy to install automatic meter reading across the campus.

Robert Bradley
Energy Officer
Email Address: energy@bradford.ac.uk

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RAE 2008 Code of Practice

Please note that the draft Code of Practice on the Preparation of Submissions to RAE 2008, approved by Senate on 21st November 2006, to be used in the Mock Review, can be found at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/rkts/researchsupp.php?content=rae_2008

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Are you expecting a baby from next April onwards at the BRI?

Or are you interested generally in finding out about a project to discover the causes of childhood diseases and see how we can work together to improve the health of all babies born in Bradford?

You can get involved - and really make a difference - in this groundbreaking project. More information will follow, but in the first instance have a look at www.borninbradford.nhs.uk (external link, will open in a new window)

Cathy O'Neill
Centre for Community Engagement

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Update on the HR/Payroll Implementation Project

Replacement of the HR/Payroll System

The existing HR/Payroll system, OpenDoor, is due to be replaced by the new system, ResourceLink, from April 2007 onwards.

The project has been split into three phases. Phase 1 includes transfer of the Personnel Database, Payroll Functions and Absence Processing and is scheduled to go live at the start of the next Tax Year, April 2007, subject to satisfactory testing.

Phases 2 and 3 will follow later in 2007 and will include Recruitment, Training, Occupational Health & Safety and Self-Service modules. (Details of testing, training and implementation for Phases 2 and 3 will be communicated to users during 2007.)

Phase 1 - Parallel Running and New Working Procedures

We expect to begin Parallel Running of OpenDoor and ResourceLink in mid January 2007 for Phase 1. This will continue until the end of March 2007.

OpenDoor users will be asked to enter data onto both systems and a number of users may be invited to take part in acceptance tests. Also, users will shortly be required to keep a record of all entries made on OpenDoor until Parallel Running commences.

Phase 1 - Important Information for OpenDoor Users

It is very important that all existing OpenDoor users understand the revised process for data input. Training on ResourceLink will be provided for users in the New Year.

All members of the OpenDoor User Group should have received an email providing more information. If you are an OpenDoor user and have not received the email, please contact Julie Walker, Personnel Administrator, as soon as possible on ext: 3105, or via email j.walker@bradford.ac.uk.

Sally Webster
Project Manager

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English Language Placement Tests

Free English language classes are available for International students registered at the University of Bradford. These classes are to support students in their studies by helping them with the English skills that they will need for their course.

Before students can join a class, they need to take a placement test to determine which level is most appropriate.

The next test is on: Wednesday 24th January 2007, 1.30pm, F21, Richmond Building

Please pass this on to your students. Full details are at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/conted/lang/engtest.html

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Latest Information on University Examination policies and procedures

At its meeting on 21 November 2006 the University’s Senate approved the following new policies and procedures regarding examinations for implementation with immediate effect during the forthcoming formal examination period and Semester two 2006/2006 onwards for the setting of exam papers.

The following are Word documents that will open in a new window:

A formal approach to setting exam papers

University policy to discontinue the use of academic staff to act as examination invigilators

The re-instatement of the University policy on internal examiners

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Catering opening times

Please see: http://www.brad.ac.uk/news/catopening.html for catering opening times over the Christmas period.

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Baroness Lockwood Award for Distinguished Teaching (BLADT): Scheme for individual awards, 2006/07

Applications are now invited from academic and learning support staff for this year's awards. The BLADT scheme aims to provide reward and support for proven excellence in teaching and learning support, and to align with the general criteria employed by the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) (see at http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/NTFS.htm - external site, will open in a new window).

Applications must be submitted by January 22nd 2007 and full details of the format and criteria can be found at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/tqeg?bladt

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Learner Development Unit - Becka Currant

Please note that as of the 1 December 2006 the Learner Development Unit and Becka Currant have new contact details as outlined below:

Becka Currant
Senior Adviser
Learner Development Unit
University of Bradford
Tel: 01274 236821
Mobile: 07917 241214 (internal shortcode 1739)
Web: www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment
E-mail: r.currant@bradford.ac.uk

Please update your address books accordingly!

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BUStA says Merry Christmas!

The Bradford University Staff Association committee would like to say a big thank you to all that attended the BUStA Christmas Party and also welcome a number of new recruits that took advantage of our special offer membership deal. A Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone at the University.

BUStA committee.

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Adult Learners Week Nominations - Final Reminder

Don't forget that nomination forms must be returned to Liz Hough in Marketing by Friday 22nd December.

The list of nominees will be shortlisted by the AWP panel and successful nominees will be put forward for the Regional Award Ceremony.

Also, NIACE will be selecting some of the Regional Nominees to be put forward for the National Awards where winners will be invited to a national ceremony in London and receive a £200 learning voucher.

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Buddhist Meditation Sessions

The Buddhist Meditation sessions held on a Wednesday lunchtime have now moved from the Phoenix Building to Meeting Room 2 in the Communal Building.

As always everyone is welcome to attend, it takes place every Wednesday from 12.15pm to 1.30pm.

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Ken Tidswell's retirement

Many members of staff will know Ken Tidswell, who retired in October after many years of service as Subject Librarian for Archaeological Sciences, Chemical and Forensic Sciences, Optometry and areas within Informatics.

His retirement 'do' will be held on Saturday January 27th at the Tree House Café (in 2 Ashgrove, on the other side of Great Horton Road), from 12 noon until 4 pm. Food and drink will be provided.

All staff are welcome - bring the kids as well! Food will be vegan and vegetarian, and special dietary requirements can be catered for - just let Ken know via email to: k.b.tidswell@bradford.ac.uk

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Training and Development Opportunities for Staff

Staff Training Opportunities

Works on Campus

Richmond Building

Phase 1 installation of Cat6 cabling through the corridors and into rooms associated with the upgrading of the Richmond Building IT infrastructure.Work will commence on Tuesday 12th December 2006 and should be completed by Friday 19th January 2007.

Queries to Mr Dexter Wright on ext. 3432.

Workshop Block

Extension to WB09 to form Nano Technology Suite. The work will commence on 8th January 2007 and be completed in approx 22 weeks.

Please note that the existing fire escape door at WLB level onto Tumbling Hill Street will be closed off for the duration of the works. A temporary fire escape route will be in place. The car parking bays on Tumbling Hill Street fronting the fire escape door, up to the Workshop Block loading bay, will not be accessible for the duration of the works.

Queries to Mr Brian Ford on extension 3421.

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Sports Centre Main Hall

Maintenance treatment to floor. It is anticipated that the works will commence on 18th December 2006 and will be completed in one week after that date.

Queries to Mr Alan Harrison, Building Maintenance Officer on extension 3423.

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Chesham C Building, level 02

The installation of a new fire alarm system throughout the 02 level, including the Tasmin Little Music Centre.

The work will commence on Thursday 14th December 2006 and will take between 6 to 8 weeks to complete.

Queries to Mr C Overton on extension 3425.

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Electrical Shutdown of Horton A, Chesham B and Chesham C

In order to enable essential maintenance work to be carried out on the University's High Voltage equipment a complete shutdown of the electricity supply to the above buildings is necessary. Arrangements have been made for this to take place on Saturday 6th January 2007 and in consequence there will be no electricity supply to ANY of the above buildings from approximately 0830 hours to 0930 hours.

All lifts will be "parked" before 0830 hours.

Fire alarm systems will operate as normal and will show in the Security Control Room

As a precaution against possible loss or corruption of information it is advisable to "power down" all file servers and computer equipment at the end of the working day on Friday 5th January 2007 and leave them switched off over the weekend.

Queries to Mr. C. Overton on ext: 3425.

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Lectures, seminars and newsletters

Research Bulletin

The next edition of the Research Bulletin has now been published on the website at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/rkts/researchsupp.php?content=researchbulletins

Included in this issue:

• NERC to consult in Science Strategy early in 2007
• Latest information on EU Seventh Framework Calls for Proposals and Deadlines
• New Initiative to Boost Public Engagement
• Dr. Philip Hills "Winning Grant Funding" Workshop
• EU Calls for Proposals - Evaluators for the EU Seventh Framework Programme
• EPSRC
  • Green and Sustainable Chemical Technologies Integrated with Sustainable Energy Solutions
  • Joint NSF-UK Research Council Experiment(s)
• Journal of Industrial Ecology - Call for Papers "Nanotechnology and Industrial Ecology"
• Wellcome Trust University Awards
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation - Elders and Carers in Bradford: their Perspectives, Aspirations and Experiences of Care and Support
• Te British Academy, UK-Africa Academic Partnerships
• ESRC - Board and Committee Members
• Details of Applying for a personal account with ResearchResearch.com; joining the UKRO mailing list and subscribing to the ub-research mailing list at the University

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LSS Bulletin

The latest edition (Issue 16) of the LSS Bulletin can be found at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/news/bulletin/2006-12/index.php.

It includes IT, Library, e-Learning, Telephony, software, documentation and also general LSS news items.

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Job Vacancies at the University

Current vacancies at the University can be found at the Personnel website:

http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/personnel/jobvacancies/

The weekly bulletin can also be found as a pdf from the same page.

If you would like to receive the weekly vacancy bulletin by either e-mail or a paper copy please email Alexa Copley at a.copley@bradford.ac.uk

All queries should be directed to Personnel: ext: 5347, email: personnel@bradford.ac.uk

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