Community & Governance

Role/Purpose

The role of the Governance Board is to provide strategic direction and leadership to the HEAT membership. The Board will meet twice yearly at the University of Kent, or by ‘virtual’ attendance.

The HEAT Governance Board sets out to deliver:

• Successful monitoring and achievement of HEAT Service outcomes against agreed KPIs
• Financial monitoring and efficient use of funds and resource
• Effective communication to funders and the wider HEAT membership
• Effective data compliance and security
• Manage the transition to a single sustainable model beyond HEFCE funding

Term

The Terms of Reference are effective from 1st January 2018, and will remain ongoing until terminated by agreement between the parties.

Membership

The HEAT Governance Board:

• Ben Cosh, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Modernisation, University of Kent (Chair)
• Anita Jackson, Director of Planning and Student Information, University of Kent
• Daniel Knox, Head of Information Services, University of Kent
• Clare Allison, Head of Outreach and Participation, University of Kent
• Anna Anthony, Director of HEAT, University of Kent

Nominated Higher Education Institution members:

• Samina Khan, University of Oxford
• Mike Kerrigan, Nottingham Trent University
• Liz Hurley, University of Leeds
• Nathaniel Pickering, University of Greenwich
• Lauren Bellaera, The Brilliant Club
• Richard Thomas, Southampton Solent University

Roles and Responsibilities

The Board is accountable for:

• Removing obstacles to the successful delivery of the Service
• Maintaining the focus of the Service at all times on the agreed scope and outcomes
• Monitoring and managing factors outside the Service’s control that are critical to its success

The membership of the Board will commit to:

• Champion the Service within the university and across the sector
• Make timely decisions and take action so as to prevent delay or interruption to the Service
• Notifying members of the group, as soon as practical, of any matter arising which may be
• Deemed to affect the development of the Service
• Attendance at all meetings and if necessary nominate a proxy

Members of the Board will expect:

• To be provided with complete, accurate and meaningful information in a timely manner
• To be given reasonable time to make key decisions
• To be alerted to potential risks and issues that could impact the Service as they arise
• Open and honest discussion, without resort to any misleading assertions
• Ongoing ‘health checks’ to verify the overall status and ‘health’ of the Service

Meetings

• All meetings will be chaired by Ben Cosh
• A meeting quorum will be 4 members of the Board, comprising at least equal representation from the University of Kent (not including the chair) and nominated HEI members.
• Decisions will be made by consensus (i.e. members are satisfied with the decision even though it may not be their first choice). Where consensus is not reached the Chair will make the final decision.
• Meeting documentation will be provided by HEAT, including:
  – Agendas and supporting papers
  – Meeting notes and information
• If required, subgroup meetings will be arranged outside of Governance scheduled meetings, at a time convenient to subgroup members

Amendment, Modification or Variation

The Terms of Reference may be amended, varied or modified in writing after consultation and agreement by all members of the Governance Board.

Role / Purpose

The purpose of the HEAT Steering Group is to provide an oversight of the collaborative Service outcomes through a bi-annual review of the HEAT Service plan. Through its membership the group will monitor Service outputs and ensure that members are satisfied that the objectives of HEAT are being met.

Objectives

• To provide strategic advice to the HEAT Central Team on longer term development and sustainability of the HEAT Service
• To receive and review information and examples of Service outputs e.g. datasets and evidence and to ensure that this information is appropriate
• To provide advice on future planning of the HEAT Service
• To review the HEAT budget and advise on budget spend
• To review policy and receive updates from other partners such as the Office for Students and Department for Education to ensure that the HEAT Service remains fit for purpose
• To ensure that HEAT positions itself and its outputs appropriately in relation to sector and government changes

Membership

Group Membership is by self-nomination, but the Service Director will ensure that there is appropriate representation on the group to mirror the membership. Membership may be limited for practical reasons and final decisions on membership will lie with the Governance Group. If a member leaves the Steering Group, their organisation will be able to nominate a replacement. If no replacement is possible, the Service Director may approach an alternative member to ensure the group remains quorate. Representation on the Steering Group is by organisation and does not follow individuals.

In addition, the group will invite the following organisations to be in regular attendance (though without voting or decision making rights):

• A representative from Office for Students
• A representative from the Department for Education (Data)

The group may invite other representatives to attend meetings when their expertise, input or judgement is required.

Meetings

Formal meetings will take place twice a year in (approximately) December and July.  For a meeting to be deemed quorate and agree decisions at least 1 more than fifty percent of representatives must be present (excluding the HEAT Central Team).

Amendments, modifications and Variation

The Terms of Reference may be amended, modified or varied in writing following consultation and agreement by all HEAT members, and ratification by the Governance Board.