University of York
Academic Support Office

Equality and Diversity Committee

Contact for agendas and minutes: Lois Gregory, Senior Adviser: Equality and Diversity (extension 4696)
Contact for apologies:  Linda Whiting (extension 4681)
Chair: Dr David Duncan, Registrar and Secretary
Reports to: Council

Background and purpose

The University policy is to ensure that all staff and students are fairly treated on grounds of a range of equality and diversity dimensions, including age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, creed, disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, religion, belief and non-belief, gender, marital or parental status, political belief or social or economic class. It aims to foster a working and learning environment in which all staff and students can fulfil their potential.

The Equality and Diversity Committee will aim to be representative of the University community by ensuring that a diversity of experience and perspectives is taken into account and informs its decisions.

Its purpose will be to contribute to the promotion of an effective and equitable working and learning environment consistent with a culture and ethos of respect and tolerance.

Terms of Reference

  1. To advise the Council on the fulfilment of the University's statutory obligations in respect of equality and diversity.
  2. To oversee a strategic approach to ensure that equal opportunities policies and principles are translated into action in relation to, as a minimum, all six equality dimensions.*
  3. To monitor implementation of equal opportunities policies in the University and to receive reports from Departments, Advisory Forums, committees and relevant University officers.
  4. To establish two-way communication with Advisory Forums to ensure that their views are sought and represented as appropriate.
  5. To seek to be inclusive of student perspectives (as represented by the YUSU and GSA).
  6. To receive and consider annual reports on equal opportunities monitoring statistics in respect of staff and students.
  7. To receive synopses of sub-committee meetings (currently the Dignity at Work and Study Committee, the EO in Employment Task Group and the Race Equality Implementation Group).
  8. To advise the University as to progress towards equality and diversity goals, by reporting annually to Council and other committees as appropriate.

*Currently disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, belief and non-belief, age.

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Constituency of Members

Ref Constituency
1 Chair
2 One member appointed by and from Council
3-4 Two members of the academic staff appointed by the Senate (one to be a member of the Senate)
5-8 Four members nominated by and from the support staff
9 Deputy Director of Human Resources (ex officio)
10 Senior Adviser: Equality and Diversity   (ex officio)
11 Manager of  Disability Services (ex officio)
12 Manager of Student Support Services (ex officio)
13 One undergraduate student nominated by the Students' Union
14 One graduate student nominated by the Graduate Students' Association
15 One international student nominated by the International Students' Association

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Membership 2010/2011

Ref Name Department Term expires
1 Dr David Duncan Registrar and Secretary N/A
2 Mrs Amanda Selvaratnam Research and Enterprise Office July 2012
3 Professor Maria Goddard Centre for Health Economics July 2013
4 Dr Sonia Mazzi Mathematics July 2013
5 Dr Philip Evans Registrar's and Planning Office July 2013
6 Mr Simon Willis International and Student Recruitment and Admissions July 2013
7 Dr Rukmal Abeysekera Research and Enterprise Office July 2013
8 Mr Nik Miller Admissions and Student Recruitment July 2012
9 Mrs Paula Tunbridge Human Resources N/A
10 Ms Lois Gregory Senior Adviser: Equality and Diversity N/A
11 Ms Penn Snowden Manager of Disability Services N/A
12 Mr Steve Page Manager of Student Support Services N/A
13 tbc Students' Union July 2011
14 tbc Graduate Students' Association July 2011
15 tbc International Students' Association July 2011

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Academic Support Office / Janet Barton / jcb503 / September 2010
24/09/2010