The Board of Governors met on 2 February, 29 March, 18 May, 30 June and 26 July 2017. The following is a summary of business considered and decisions made at the meetings:

• The Vice Chancellor kept Governors updated with news of recent appointments and changes to the Senior Leadership Team which included, inter alia, the appointment of Mr Simon Parkes as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance & Infrastructure, the appointment of Mr Julian Free as Deputy Vice Chancellor for People Services & Operations, the appointment of Professor Toby Wilkinson as Deputy Vice Chancellor for External Relations, the appointment of Ms Ros Pepper as Director of Human Resources and the appointment of Ms Harvey Dowdy as Director of Estates.

• The Board welcomed Mr Kudzai Muzangaza, who had recently started his post as the Students’ Union President, as the new Student Governor.

• The Board thanked Dr Sarah Barrow, who was leaving the University to take up a Pro Vice Chancellor post at the University of East Anglia, for her hard work and valuable contribution to the governing body since 2014; and agreed the appointment of Professor Duncan French and Dr Karen Savage as Staff Governors for a period of four years.

• The Vice Chancellor provided regular reports on the latest developments in the HE sector including the enactment of the Higher Education & Research Act 2017, possible implications of Brexit for HE, the appointment of Nicola Dandridge as the Chief Executive Officer of the Office for Students, the call by the National Union of Students for a boycott of the National Student Survey 2017, and the University’s achievement of a Gold Award in the TEF 2 assessment.

• Lincoln had been ranked at 47th in the Guardian University league table and was, therefore, in the top 50 in all three major league tables in one year – the first time this had been achieved. Governors welcomed this very positive and pleasing development.

• Professor Stuart reported to Governors, that following the Grenfell Tower fire in London, the University was conducting a thorough review of its fire safety precautions, including with respect to construction materials, provision of fire safety measures and evacuation procedures in all campus buildings and student residential accommodation.

• The Board received an update on the outputs from the meeting of the Financial Sustainability Working Group held on 13 January 2017, including the latest draft ten year financial model, changes to key assumptions in the base case and the latest scenario modelling.

• The Chief Finance Officer provided monthly summaries of the University’s financial position. Governors received and noted the portfolio of insurances and, in March, the Board approved revisions to the Financial Regulations. In July, the Board approved a recommendation to permit the University to place investments with AAA-rated money market funds and approved the associated changes to the Treasury Management Policy. Additionally the Board approved the five year financial forecast data and financial commentaries for submission to HEFCE.

• The Board received a presentation from the Director of Lincoln International Business School on developments in the School following its repositioning as a fourth College of the University, including its new management structure, student recruitment and key goals during its transition year set against the University’s strategic objectives.

• Governors received updates on progress in respect of the core principles of Thinking Ahead, the Strategic Plan 2016-21. DVC Sue Rigby reported on Graduate Success; DVC Andrew Hunter on Research with Impact, and on Strong Partnerships and Employer Engagement; and Director of HR Ros Pepper on Dynamic, Engaged People, as part of the HR annual report to the Board of Governors.

• The Board received a presentation on the Student Enterprise Service and the specialist support it provided to students and graduates interested in self-employment which included core self-employment workshops, one-to-one mentoring and funding to help final year students and graduates turn their idea or skill into a business.

• The Clerk to the Board reported on the overall outcomes of the effectiveness review, which had found that governance at the University of Lincoln was effective and fit for purpose, particularly from a structural and procedural standpoint. The Board approved the action plan arising from the feedback received through the survey and the interviews with Governors carried out by the former Chair of the Board, Mr Graham Secker.

• The Director of Planning & Business Intelligence provided Governors with an overview of changes to the UCAS tariff taking place for students commencing study in the 2017-18 academic year, the changing environment in relation to post-16 policy in schools and colleges; and a report on market intelligence relating to HE markets, demographic changes and student number trends.

• The Director of Research & Enterprise reported on external funding support for the development of agri-food.

• The Board received the letter from HEFCE confirming the outcome of the Annual Provider Review 2016/17, which had been the first year that HEFCE had also required assurances from the governing body about academic quality and standards matters; and noted that the University had been placed in the most favourable category.

• The Director of Estates provided Governors with an update on the progress of capital projects and summer works.

• The Board noted the University Code of Ethics, first approved by the Board in July 2013, and updated to refer to the annual Transparency Statement prepared in compliance with the Modern Slavery Act and to provide a link to the Code of Practice for Research.

• The Board received reports on progress relating to the University’s ambition to deliver undergraduate medical education in Lincoln.

• The Board discussed a review of the long term financial sustainability of the Local Government Pension Scheme and considered alternative pension provision for new professional services employees joining the University from April 2018.

• The Board approved the appointment of BDO LLP as the University’s external auditors for a period of 1 year from 1 July 2017 with an option for the University to extend the contract for a potential additional 3 years and 6 months.

• The Board approved the recommendation of the Audit Committee to extend the internal audit contract with Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP for a further three years ending 31 July 2020.

• The Board considered recommendations from the Nominations Committee and approved the appointment of Professor Jean Ker as a members of the Audit Committee.

• The Board considered a proposal for the University to provide loan funding to facilitate the acquisition of a key strategic site proximate to the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park.

• The Board considered a report from the University Registrar and endorsed the direction of travel as set out in the Student Accommodation Strategy; and subsequently approved a proposal to enter into a lease to provide additional student bedrooms plus associated ground floor non-residential accommodation.

• The University Registrar took Governors through the High Level Risk Register; Governors noted that each of the high level risks had been assigned to a Deputy Vice Chancellor and would be closely monitored throughout the year.

• The Board received and considered the annual report of Academic Board and noted the key work undertaken by Academic Board, particularly with respect to promoting student engagement and digital enhancement.

Paul Walsh Clerk to the Board of Governors September 2017