Open House - July 2000
VC's Column
Serving the University
The July meeting of the OU Council was a significant milestone. From the next meeting Council will be smaller and a different process will be used to appoint its lay members. These changes result from the recommendations of the Dearing Review in particular and of the work of the Nolan and Neil committees in general. The OU aims to be a model of openness, transparency and effectiveness in its governance just as in other areas of its activity. Of course such changes, however desirable, have a human impact. Normally a number of members of Council complete their terms of office at this time of year. This month the number of departures was greater because of Council's decision to reduce its size from 45 to 35. Furthermore, the practice of having certain members of Council named by external bodies such as the BBC, the Local Government Association, the Royal Society and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has also ended.
The OU is extremely fortunate in the quality of the individuals who offer to serve it, without material recompense, as lay officers, members of Council and its sub-Committees, and in other ways. The nomination of members by external bodies provided an element of variety and the nominees of the Royal Society, in particular, considered it an honour to serve both their Society and the OU in this way. The new Membership Committee of Council now has the challenge of ensuring both variety and commitment. The signs are promising. Such is the OU's reputation that distinguished people are pleased to be approached to serve it in a lay capacity. The continued strength and diversity of Council is a matter of interest to all of us and the membership Committee is always grateful to receive suggestions for possible new members.
The OU is also privileged to have a dedicated staff, many of whom serve the University for substantial periods. Length of service has been on my mind this month. That is partly because I have just completed ten years with the OU myself, partly because I recently signed another batch of 25-year service certificates, and partly because the annual update shows we still have twelve staff who are 69ers - they joined the year the OU was founded. Since I still think of myself as something of a newcomer it was a surprise to learn that 40% of the current OU staff have joined since 1995 and 60% since 1990. In part this reflects, of course, the significant increase in overall staff numbers over recent years rather than the turnover of people in post.
Earlier this year, when I visited all the Faculties and Schools and many other units, I was struck by the buzz of excitement that colleagues attributed to the significant numbers of new staff who have joined them in the last two years. I hope that we are striking a good balance between longevity and renewal in both the Council and the staff.