For Staff

July enews: Access agreement for 2012-13 approved

The staff enewsletter is brought to you by the communications and press team. If you'd like to let us know what you think of the enewsletter, be it positive or negative, please send your comments to webcomms@leeds.ac.uk

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University's access agreement for 2012-13 approved

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has approved the University's Access Agreement for 2012-13.

The decision paves the way for a comprehensive package of financial support for students to be made available, and a doubling of investment in outreach activities to £16m to help bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at Leeds.

Approval has also been given for the University to charge tuition fees of £9k for full-time home/EU new entrants from 2012-13.

For more information see http://forstaff.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/2230/

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Curriculum enhancement project

The academic year is in the spotlight. This is your opportunity to have your say on the proposed changes to the structure of the academic year. The suggestion is to dispense with institutionally-organised exams at the end of the first semester, and have eleven weeks of teaching before Christmas and then between New Year and Easter. After Easter there would be a four-week, University-organised, formal assessment period. The initial consultation period is to the 2 September 2011. See further details on the new Curriculum Enhancement website at http://curriculum.leeds.ac.uk/

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ISS training rooms

From 1 August 2011, you can book ISS training rooms free of charge. All standard staff courses run by the IT Training Unit will also be free from this date.

For more information see http://forstaff.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/2241/

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Session 2012-13 dates now confirmed

Key dates for session 2012-13 have now been confirmed and are available to view on the Forward Planner.

Download the Forward Planner at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ssc/timelines.htm

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USS pensions

USS has recently revised its benefit modeller in light of the changes to the scheme which take effect from 1 October. It will be publishing fact sheets on its website over the summer and issuing fully revised guidance to members in advance of the changes.

For more information see http://www.uss.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

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Pro-Vice-Chancellor appointments

Professor David Hogg, Head of the School of Computing, has been appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation from 1 September. (Professor Edward Spiers will continue as Acting PVC until the end of August.)

Professor Dawn Freshwater, Head of the School of Healthcare, has been appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Staff and Organisational Effectiveness from 1 August.

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Staff Festival 2011

We're still looking for performers, stallholders, volunteers and charity suggestions. If you'd like to run a stall selling your crafts, cakes, pies or other goodies; perform as an acoustic musician or with your band; run a free workshop or help out on the day, we'd love to hear from you. Staff Festival is on Friday 9 September from 3 to 6.30pm and supports two local charities nominated by staff. Please let us know your suggestions. For more details see http://www.leeds.ac.uk/staff_festival or email StaffFestival@leeds.ac.uk

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Reith Lecture to be given in Leeds

Dame Eliza Manningham Buller, the former head of MI5, is to give a BBC Reith Lecture on 'Securing Freedom' at Leeds City Museum on 7 September 2011.

She will be discussing security in the context of the 10th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks and speaking more generally about why we need an intelligence service and the role it plays.

For more information see http://forstaff.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/2193/