Staff Briefing

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Next editions Next editions and entries to the briefing General University notices Promotions and Performance Recognition Awards 2006-07 Notice from Security/West Yorkshire Police Progress Report on the HR/Payroll Implementation Project The ICT has moved! Richmond Building RoamNet Wireless coverage temporary changes Mirpur Connection - Conference in Pakistan First Aid Course - 3 hour course ICT Servicedesk - opening hours Give Invention Light: the University in pictures Training and Development Opportunities for Staff Mentor Training - staff interested in mentoring colleagues or students Metalib training available at the JB Priestley Library Staff Training Opportunities Works on Campus Great Hall Staircase Electrical Shutdown of Horton A, Chesham B and Chesham C buildings Arts on Campus Theatre in the Mill - this week Exhibition in Gallery II (David Hockney) Music concert Lectures, seminars and newsletters Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture Job Vacancies at the University

Next editions and entries to the briefing

• Monday 30 October
• Tuesday 7 November
• Monday 13 November

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

Promotions and Performance Recognition Awards 2006-07

Following the successful assimilation of all staff onto the University’s new grading structure in August 2005, the introduction of a revised promotions process and performance recognition (discretionary pay) scheme has been a priority.

This work has been ongoing over a number of months and has involved detailed discussions and negotiations with all campus trade unions and senior managers. Thanks to the contribution and commitment of all involved I am pleased to report that a consensus has now been reached on a series of broad principles that will underpin the University’s approach to promotions and performance recognition awards (discretionary pay awards) in the future.

This agreement means that work can now begin on the detail of criteria and procedures for both purposes with a view to having these finalised, agreed and made publicly available to enable a promotions and a performance recognition awards exercise to take place in January 2007.

The University is mindful of the fact that this will be the first exercise to have been held since assimilation and recognises that there might be cases where it will be appropriate to consider the backdating of a promotion or an award to 1st April 2006.

John Hawksworth
Head of Personnel

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Notice from Security/West Yorkshire Police

New scam - the Trading Standards Office have brought the following scam to our attention:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number). DO NOT call this number as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.

If you call this number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 0207 239 6655 or ICTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at http://www.icstis.org.uk or your local trading standards office (web link will open in a new window).

This is a genuine scam

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Progress Report on the HR/Payroll Implementation Project

• Word version of this item for your records (will open in a new window)

Replacement of the HR/Payroll System

I am writing to let you know that the University has started the process of implementing a new HR/Payroll system ResourceLink to replace the existing OpenDoor.

The project has been split into three phases. Work has commenced on Phase 1, which includes the transfer of the Personnel Database, Payroll Functions and Absence Processing onto ResourceLink. We plan to go live on Phase 1 for the start of the next Tax Year, April 2007.

Phase 2 will include Recruitment, Training and Occupational Health and Safety modules. Phase 3 (currently scheduled for the end of 2007) will provide managers and employees with access to selected functionality over the web.

Data Cleansing Exercise

A Data Cleansing Exercise is now underway to cleanse the data currently held on OpenDoor. It is important that all users of OpenDoor support the Data Cleansing Exercise by ensuring any new data they enter onto OpenDoor is complete and accurate. Data cleansing will continue after the completion of phase 1 and you may be approached over the next few months to check names of staff or that data we hold against your name is accurate.

Examples include data of birth, national insurance number and checks for duplicate entries.

Parallel Running and New Working Procedures

The implementation of the new system will provide the opportunity to improve efficiency, data accuracy and management reporting. All groups of users will be advised of the new working procedures for each phase in due course.

Phase 1 will include time for Parallel Running of ResourceLink and OpenDoor – currently scheduled for mid January to early March 2007. During Parallel Running, users will be asked to enter data onto both systems and a number of users will be invited to take part in short acceptance tests.

Details of Phase 1 will be communicated to all users prior to Parallel Running, via your Personnel contact.

http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/personnel/who'swho/index.html

Sally Webster
Project Manager
October 2006

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The ICT has moved!

The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (formerly Cancer Research Unit) has now moved to its new premises on Tumbling Hill Street next to the IPI.

Also, if you would like to donate to Professor Mike Bibby's retirement collection the last date for donations will be Wednesday 25 October.

An account has been set up with Cashiers: account details are 78055/83001/0050. There is also a card to sign. Professor Bibby worked for the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (formerly Cancer Research Unit) for many years and will be well known throughout the university.

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Richmond Building RoamNet Wireless coverage temporary changes

Due to building work in the lower parts of the Richmond Building, equipment that provides part of the RoamNet Wireless service will have to be temporarily removed. Unfortunately it is hard to pass on more precise information due to the way the building work is scheduled. We apologise for this and hope users will bear with us.

If you find RoamNet Wireless in your favourite spot reduces in power, or vanishes completely, there are plenty of other areas to pick from to use this service.

Please check out http://www.roamnet.brad.ac.uk/ which has a list of all places you can connect. This site is constantly updated but it is worth mentioning right now there is good wireless coverage in the Richmond Atrium so feel free to give that a go!

LSS BigComms team

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Mirpur Connection - Conference in Pakistan

15 December 2006 – 20 December 2006

A conference looking at education and educational links with Mirpur/Azad Jammu and Kashmir will take place in December.

Delegates from the University of Bradford have assisted with the development of this five day programme that takes place in Mirpur/Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). It is aimed at educationalists and other interested individuals wishing to gain a better understanding of the culture, history, background and education system of communities coming from Mirpur/AJK to Bradford.

The proposed itinerary is on the Mirpur Connection website at: http://www.mirpurconnection.com/news/2006-08-11-mirpur-connection-pakistan-visit.php

Anyone interested in attending, or finding out more should email info@mirpurconnection.com

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First Aid Course - 3 hour course

First Aid Week will be taking place at the University of Bradford on Tuesday 24th, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th October. During each three hour session, students/staff will look at caring for casualties at incident scenes and how to administer CPR and deal with problems such as choking and bleeding.

Training will also be given on how to treat shock, burns and scalds, heart attacks, poisoning and drowning.

All students/staff who take part in the training will receive a certificate at the end.

Sessions will run between 6 and 9pm in MR2 in the Union Communal Building (opposite the Courtyard). The session will cost £3 per person; this is to cover the cost of running the course. Spaces are limited to twenty people a session so sign up now! Sign up forms are available in the 'Sports and Societies' office based in the student union, communal building behind the JP Priestley library.

For all the latest information about 'First Aid Week' visit http://www.ubu.brad.ac.uk/socs/stjohn/firstaidweek

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ICT Servicedesk - opening hours

Having recently studied the incoming call profile to ICT Servicedesk we will be implementing a small adjustment to opening hours.

With effect from week commencing 30.10.06, ICT Servicedesk will be available to take calls 07.30 - 17.30. A voicemail service is available to callers outside these hours.

Roger M Goodair
Telecoms & ICT Support Manager

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Give Invention Light: the University in pictures

"Give Invention Light: the University in pictures" is a display of University Archive aerial views, maps, plans and photographs showing the University from its earliest days as Bradford Technical College, right up to the present.

Created to accompany the Charter Celebrations on 18 October, it remains on show near Richmond entrance to give more people a chance to see it.

The exact location and the dates it will remain of course depend on the works going on in the Atrium and hub areas.

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Training and Development Opportunities for Staff

Mentor Training - staff interested in mentoring colleagues or students

Wednesday 1st November, 9.30am to 4.30pm

This mentoring training event is a one day event which can be accessed in its entirety or participants can choose to attend the morning or the afternoon event (depending upon which aspects appeal to their requirements).

The morning will give participants an opportunity to find out what mentoring is, what skills a mentor should seek to possess. There will also be an opportunity to practice and develop communication skills for mentoring purposes. Boundaries and confidentiality will also be covered.

The afternoon session seeks to engage participants who are specifically interested in setting up a mentoring scheme for staff or students.

We would particularly welcome staff who have an interest in mentoring either staff or students and from those staff who might require a mentor.

This training event is delivered in conjunction with WYAMS (West Yorkshire Aimhigher Mentoring Service).

Booking and further details from People Development on ext: 3102.

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Metalib training available at the JB Priestley Library

Learning Luncheons and Tea-time Tutorials back by popular demand!

Come and hear what the Library's Metalib portal and SFX online journal linking service can do for you! Metalib brings together the Library's online subject resources for users to run searches across several databases, whereas the SFX service will allow you to link directly from your search hits to the online journal articles. The JB Priestley Library is now offering a series of general talks and hands-on training sessions on Metalib and SFX. Join us for one of the talks on the following dates:

21st November
12:00-13:00
JB Priestley Library
Room 1.7

22nd November
18:00-19:30
JB Priestley Library
Room 1.7
This session includes hands-on training

28th November
12:00-13:00
JB Priestley Library
Room 1.7

29th December
18:00-19:30
JB Priestley Library
Room 1.7
This session includes hands-on training

There's no need to book a place. Simply turn up at one of the sessions and bring you sandwich along. Tea and biscuits will be provided!

Contact lib-webadmin@bradford.ac.uk for further information.

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Staff Training Opportunities

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Works on Campus

Great Hall Staircase

The staircase flight between E and F Floors will be closed for 2 weeks commencing 23 October to enable erection of scaffold, completion of ceiling, lighting and services, and subsequent stripping of scaffold.

The F Floor balcony is now open for access to the refectory.

An additional assistance is that the new Atrium lift should be operational.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during these works and if you have any further queries please contact Mr Peter McCluskey on ext. 3422.

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Electrical Shutdown of Horton A, Chesham B and Chesham C buildings

I would advise you that 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 28th October 2006 and in consequence there will be no electricity supply to ANY of the above buildings from approximately 0930 hours to 1200 hours.

All lifts will be "parked" before 0930 hours.

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

This electrical shutdown will in addition affect network access from some areas that are not included in the power outage. These are Horton D block, including all the teaching rooms there, the Sports Centre, Unipol and the houses on Claremont and Ash Grove. This will mean in reality that PCs in those areas won't work until the network area in Chesham is powered back up.

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 27th October 2006 and leave them switched off over the weekend.

If you have any queries regarding this work, please contact Mr. C. Overton telephone 3425

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Arts on Campus

Theatre in the Mill - Grimm's Fairy Tales

Friday 27th & Saturday 28th October | 7.30pm
Tickets £4.50/£3

Everyone knows what happens when Snow White bites that apple, everyone knows what happens when Cinderella’s finger catches that needle and we all remember when Little Red Riding Hood enters Granny’s house, but how many ways have you heard those stories end? That is the magic of fairy tales; they constantly change from telling to telling yet have stayed the same from generation to generation.

Lifted from the pages of the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm collection, BUTG wishes to share with you its own interpretation of some of the most loved fairy tales ever told.

http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/theatre/season/grimm.php

Booking on ext: 3200, or email: theatre@bradford.ac.uk

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Exhibition in Gallery II (David Hockney)

David Hockney - Prints
Till Friday 24 November 2006

FREE

David Hockney’s early reputation was established as much by his printmaking as by his painting.

Full details at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/gallery/hockney.php

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Music concert

Sunday 5 November | 6.00pm

Festival of Remembrance

University Wind Band with Bradford Metropolitan Wind Band, St George’s Concert Hall, Bradford.

All areas: £6 available from St Georges Hall 01274 432000

Annual concert to commemorate the Festival of Remembrance, consisting of entertainment, Parade of Standards, Service of Remembrance and community singing.

Box Office: 01274 432000

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Lectures, seminars and newsletters

Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture

Wednesday 25 October at 4pm in E1 (Richmond)

“Thomas Kuhn and the Quantum Revolution”. The speaker is Michaela Massimi of University College London.

Synopsis: In his later writings, Thomas Kuhn reinterpreted incommensurability as untranslatability between scientific lexicons. Scientists using different scientific lexicons would resort to different lexical taxonomies that cannot be inter-translated. In this talk I investigate Kuhn’s argument for untranslatability and question some of its crucial assumptions about lexical taxonomies. I support and illustrate my criticism of Kuhn with the historical case study concerning the emergence of the brand new concept of electron’s spin during the revolutionary transition from the old quantum theory to the new quantum theory around 1925.

http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/ihs/seminar/royal_institute/

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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.

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

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