Staff Briefing - week ending 14 October 2011

Edition 515

Staff Briefing home

University news

• Val Hunter 1953-2011
• Join the Metro Card Scheme
• Security advice
• Latest lenses at the Eye Clinic
• World Mental Health Day today
• 100 Objects Special Collections
• Students' Union charity appeal
• Study abroad poster session
• Information for your students - Academic Course Rep Training

Events on Campus

• The Grand Trunk Road: From Delhi to the Khyber Pass
• Chancellor Imran Khan – launches book at University
• Narcissus and Echo - a new chamber opera at Theatre in the Mill

Development opportunities, courses and workshops

• Featured courses
• Development opportunities for staff

Jobs

• Job Vacancies at the University

Add an Entry

• How to add an entry to the Staff Briefing

University news

Val Hunter 1953-2011

It is with the deepest of sorrow that I have to inform colleagues of the sad news that Val Hunter has passed away following a short battle with cancer. Val joined the University in 1970 and was working as a secretary in the School of Computing Informatics and Media at the time of her retirement earlier this year.

Details regarding funeral arrangements will be circulated shortly. Could we request that at this time, the family is left to come to terms with the shock. 

Best regards,

Professor Geoff Tupholme
Emeritus Professor 
Department of Mathematics 
School of Computing, Informatics & Media

Join the Metro Card scheme

December 1 2011 is the next start date for anyone wishing to join the Metro Card Scheme.

Download a Metro Card application form

Completed application forms must be sent by post or emailed to Human Resources by 15 October 2011 at the latest.  Please note; new members  will be required to bring two passport size photographs for your application to be processed.

• The University operates a scheme for staff to purchase Metro Cards at a 15% discount off the normal cost of an annual Metro Card.

• Metro have agreed this discount with the University in recognition of our efforts to promote sustainable travel choices and our commitment to developing and maintaining a travel plan.

• A Metro railzones map can be accessed via www.wymetro.com (external link, will open in a new window)

• The scheme involves the University purchasing the Annual Metro Cards on a bulk basis and recovering the cost from participants by equal deductions from their salary/wage spread over the year.

Contact:  Sarah Bentley in HR on ext: 3093 or s.e.bentley1@bradford.ac.uk     

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Security advice

Since the start of term incidents of thefts in buildings and thefts of pedal cycles around City Campus have increased, staff and students are asked to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious or where they see a crime in progress to the Security Control Room on 01274 236999 (ext. 6999) or 01274 238888 (ext. 8888) if an emergency or urgent.

What can you do to help

• Keep offices and rooms secure when not occupied, use the access control and set the alarm where these are provided.
• Do not leave attractive items such as lap tops, mobile phones, ipods and cameras out and on display and lock all such items securely away at the end of the day.
• Do not keep cash around the office, where this is required minimise the amounts kept and keep it in a locked cash box and inside a secure cupboard or draw. Where money is collected for any reason deposit it at the Cash Office or Bank the same day unless you have a safe in which to secure it. Don’t forget if lock drawers and cupboards don’t then leave the keys accessible in the office.
• Be alert to who is in your area, if suspicious contact security.

Cyclists

• Join Unibug and get your bike in to more secure storage cages.
• Review your personal bike security, cheap thin security cables are easily defeated so consider D Shackles or Heavy Duty security cables.
• Consider security marking your cycle by stamping it with your post code.

For further advice on all security and crime prevention matters please go to  http://www.bradford.ac.uk/admin/estates/security.php 

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Latest lenses at the Eye Clinic

The Eye Clinic at the University have lots of new frames in stock this semester, including the Lacoste and CK brands and many budget styles too.  We also have some new sunglasses from the Polaroid brand at very reasonable prices so why not buy early for your winter holidays?

Appointments are now being taken for sight testing and contact lens consultations.  Please call Eye Clinic reception on 01274 234649.

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World Mental Health Day today

Today (Monday 10 October) marks a global day where raising awareness of mental health and well-being issues is brought to the fore. The Mental Health Advisers, Russell Delderfield (eating disorders researcher) and Occupational Health are running an information stall for the day. Stop by and see them in the Atrium from 10am onwards. There’s a chance to win a hamper of well-being goodies and you can test your awareness of local mental health issues by trying your hand at our guessing game.

More info

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100 Objects Special Collections

Bradford wool merchant Joseph Riley’s adventure on the Orient Express in 1889.
http://100objectsbradford.wordpress.com

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Students' Union charity appeal

The Students' Union finance office are collecting plastic bottle tops so a young boy can get an electric wheelchair before he starts big school.
The wheelchair company has offered to give the boy the chair for free if they can match his weight in bottle tops.

This is being organised by Airedale General Hospital physio dept. Heather or Tracey in the Students' Union are able to collect the bottle tops from different department or send them in the internal post. Thank you in advance.

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Study abroad poster session

There will be a display of photographs and essays from returning study abroad students in D floor foyer, Monday 10 October from 15.00 onwards.  Drinks and nibbles will be available from 17.00 when we have the welcome back reception for the students. Staff and students also welcome.

The display will also be available at the Study Abroad stand in Escalate at the Open Days - Friday 14 October (10am - 2.30pm) Saturday 15 October (9am - 2.30pm).  Please encourage visitors to come and look at study abroad opportunities on offer.

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Information for your students - Academic Course Rep Training

The initial training sessions for new Academic Reps are detailed below.

These will take approximately 2 hrs and will cover what is expected by the role and how to get the most from it.  Reps need only attend one of the sessions and further development opportunities will follow.  Please, encourage students to attend, where possible.

• Wednesday 19 Oct, 4pm, B0.24 Chesham
• Monday 24 Oct, 1pm, B1.21 Chesham
• Tuesday 25 Oct, 3pm, B0.33 Chesham
• Wednesday 26 Oct,1pm, B0.24 Chesham
• Thursday 27 Oct, 1pm, B0.24 Chesham
• Friday 28 Oct, 10am, B1.20 Chesham
• Wednesday 2 Nov, 1pm, B0.24 Chesham

If none of these times suit, it may be possible to arrange alternative training. If you (or your students) require further information, please contact:

Mark Dawson, LDU (m.dawson3@bradford.ac.uk) or Imad Faghmous, Academic Affairs Officer (ubu-aao@bradford.ac.uk)

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Events on Campus

The Grand Trunk Road: From Delhi to the Khyber Pass

The Public and Community Engagement Team within SLED are pleased to host a lecture as part of the Faith and the City public lectures series by Irna Qureshi and Tim Smith. The lecture will take place on Wednesday 12 October at 6pm in the JSB Lecture Theatre.

Entry is by E-Ticket only and must be booked in advanced.

Click for more information and to book a place

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Chancellor Imran Khan – launches book at University

On Saturday 15 October, Chancellor Imran Khan will launch his book ‘Pakistan: A Personal History’ at the University of Bradford, Horton Barn Lecture Theatre at 3.15pm.
The book launch provides an opportunity to hear the Chancellor talk about his new book followed by a Q&A session and book signing in person.  Waterstones will be selling the book in the venue on the day.

Tickets are free. To register visit www.imrankhanbooklaunch.com

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Narcissus and Echo - a new chamber opera at Theatre in the Mill

Narcissus and Echo - a new chamber opera comes to Theatre in the Mill (produced in collaboration with the Lowry) http://www.brad.ac.uk/theatre/whats-on/performances/Narcissus-and-Echo/

Development Opportunities, Courses and Workshops

Featured courses

There are still places available on the following events between now and the end of October. Each course title has a hyperlink to the booking form:

New courses
Building Productive Working Relationships

Recommended for new staff
University Governance
New Staff Induction
Getting the Best out of My Performance Review

For managers
Recruitment & Selection Refreshers (Several briefing sessions available)
An Introduction to Managing Change

For all staff
Voice Projection  (How to make yourself heard when delivering presentations and lectures)
Customer Focus: Who is the Customer?

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Development opportunities for staff

Staff Training Opportunities

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Jobs

Job Vacancies at the University

Current Internal Job Vacancies at the University can be found on the Information for Staff section of the Human Resources website (UoB username and password required).

The page is password protected so you need to click on the Internal Job Vacancies link on the left hand side and you will be prompted for your details.

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How to add an entry to the briefing

Please keep entries concise (around 150 words maximum) with, if necessary, a link to further details on the web. Please check entries carefully for accuracy, grammar and timeliness before sending.

Entries will not routinely be repeated but a further entry is welcome when additional information or clarification is provided for publication.

Please also ensure information is signed off and suitable for general public consumption. Deadline for entries is (generally) 12 noon each Friday.

Email: briefing@bradford.ac.uk with the title "For the briefing" in the email subject.

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