Onstream home (/onstream/) / Onstream highlights 11 October 2018
Brookes launches a new Report and Support student safety tool and It's Not Brookes. It’s Not OK campaign
A new University-wide Report and Support tool (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/report-and-support/) is now live, enabling Brookes students and staff to report incidents or behaviours involving students. These may be related to (but not limited to): bullying and harassment hate incidents sexual assault and rape unwanted sexual conduct and stalking.
Incidents which have occurred on campus or away from the University can be reported, either with contact details or anonymously using the online tool.
It’s Not Brookes. It’s Not Ok campaign Later this month, the University is launching a campaign to students across all our campuses promoting the Report and Support tool through posters, screens and social media. Students will be encouraged to pledge their support for the campaign and wear the It’s Not Brookes. It’s Not OK temporary tattoos and badges.
How you can support the campaign Staff are encouraged to help make students aware of the Report and Support tool and how to use it. If you’re concerned about the safety of a student you can also use the tool to report incidents in the following ways: submit a report of an incident witnessed that involves a student or group of students make a report on behalf (and with the permission) of the student make a report of an incident you have experienced that involves a student. Further information about the Report and Support tool including why we’ve developed it and the background to the project, can be found on the dedicated staff web page (https://intranet.brookes.ac.uk/staff/report-and- support/).
What happens when an incident is reported? If you report an incident involving a student and use your contact details, the Student Welfare Team will contact you to discuss your report. The team can provide guidance if you are supporting vulnerable students, and can also work directly with students in crisis. Where a student reports an incident and uses their contact details, a member of the Student Welfare Team will contact them within three working days to offer an initial appointment to discuss support available to them as well as reporting options. They also offer practical support such as helping a student access an external agency.
How can you report incidents concerning another member of staff? This tool can only be used to report an incident involving a student or group of students. If you wish to raise an incident involving another member of staff, please follow the Harassment and Bullying Policy (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/staff/human-resources/equality-diversity-and- inclusion/harassment-and-bullying/). If you have questions about the Report and Support tool, please email [email protected] (http://).
PTES Survey Success
The results of the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2017/18 has been published with Brookes achieving 84%. This is a positive outcome at 4% above a sector average of 80%. The PTES is run by Advance HE and is the only UK higher education sector- wide survey to gain insight from taught postgraduate students about their learning and teaching experience. The satisfaction rate measures student opinion with one statement: "Overall I am satisfied with the quality of my course".
The Strategic Business and Planning Office (SBPO) is in the process of analysing the raw data. Of particular note, is the fact that sampling methodology was changed slightly this year, to include only students in their final year. Improvements were gained in a number of areas including:
Assessment (+6%) Skills Development (+5%) Organisation and Resources (+3% each) There is however room for improvement. Brookes has performed above sector in all areas except for Dissertation, where a gap of -2% was recorded. Advance HE added three additional measures to PTES 2018. They are: Assessment, Retention and Employability. Specific questions from within the survey were marked out and aggregated to score the measures. Brookes' scores were in the Upper Quartile for all three.
A more detailed report will be circulated widely in the near future.
Join inquisitive minds at the IF Festival of science and ideas
A new festival, IF Oxford, will take over Oxford city-centre for eleven days this month (12-22 October 2018), building on the legacy of the Oxfordshire Science Festival, with more than 120 events and activities at 20 venues around the city and beyond. Venues include Oxford Town Hall, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian theatre, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford Playhouse and even a few good pubs! Designed for inquisitive minds of all ages and taking a broad approach to science and society, the festival includes both cutting edge research and investigation from world-leading academics and business alongside a refreshing new approach to ideas about humanity and the world at large, knitting the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines. Expect comedy, art, theatre and dance as well as dozens of hand-on events for families across the city at which children and adults can have a go at keyhole surgery, take away tips for becoming a forensic super-sleuth or get lost in a logic labyrinth. Researchers from Oxford Brookes will be amongst those exhibiting at the festival. These will cover a wide-range of scientific disciplines including sessions providing opportunities to: • look through the eyes of a modern paramedic • play computer games for scientific research • join the PsychScience booth which will provide a window into psychological research • learn how to break the rules in research writing (and dance!) • consider the album Spot the Difference by Squeeze and understand replication, rights and the musical work. Milly Farrell, Research Engagement Officer at Oxford Brookes, commented: "IF Oxford will be an explosion of ideas, innovations and science across the city. Here at Brookes we're delighted to be a part of this diverse and exciting 10-day programme of events. The festival provides a brilliant opportunity for our researchers to take their work out of the University and into the public realm; encouraging questions to be asked, passions to be ignited and hopefully sparking some awe and wonder along the way!" The full programme can be found on the dedicated webpages (https://if- oxford.com/).
Nominations invited for the election of staff to Academic Board
Nominations are invited to fill five vacancies on the Academic Board. The posts are:
Two members of professional services staff (from the total of three professional services representatives): - following Sebastian Blake’s departure in July 2018 the vacancy is currently available - when Robert Drake reaches the end of his current term of office on 31 January 2019. Robert Drake is eligible to stand for re-election. The position will be vacant from 1 February 2019. One member of academic staff (from the total of six academic staff representatives), due to Peter McGunnigle reaching the end of his current term of office. The position is currently vacant. One member to represent the Heads of Professional Services Directorates due to Alison Cross’s departure. The position will be vacant from 1 January 2019.
One member to represent Associate Lecturers. This is a new constituency with one position within the membership of the Board dedicated to representing this category of staff. The position is currently vacant. The Academic Board is the senior committee within the academic governance structure, and membership of the Board provides an opportunity to contribute to University decision-making at the highest level. It is also an interesting and worthwhile activity, which will enhance your CV. All members of staff, regardless of contract, are eligible to stand for election in the relevant category.
The Board is keen that the membership of key University committees reflects the composition of our workforce, as well as the student population. We would therefore welcome nominations from all sections of the academic and support staff community, and particularly from under-represented groups including staff with disabilities and members of our black and minority ethnic communities.
Details of eligibility criteria, as defined by the Rules for the Conduct of Elections and nomination forms are available to download from the Academic Board Google pages (https://sites.google.com/brookes.ac.uk/university-committees/academic- board?pli=1)where you will also find further details about the election process and key dates.
Completed nomination forms should be returned in hard copy, or as a scanned document attached to an e-mail, (with all appropriate signatures in each case) to the Secretary of the Academic Board (John Kirk), BCK2.01, Buckley Building, Headington Campus by 4pm on Friday 19 October 2018.
SRS admissions drop-in sessions – coming to a campus near you! As featured recently in Onstream (https://intranet.brookes.ac.uk/onstream/2018/sep/a-major-milestone-for- the-student-record-system/), the new SRS (Student Records System) reached a significant milestone when the admissions system, CRM Recruit, went live. The roll-out has been smooth, with no major issues experienced by applicants or by the University’s Admissions team.
A few weeks on from this success, and as agreed with senior faculty staff, the SRS team are now launching the faculty review functionality of the system.
Faculty and ACP (Associate College Partnership) colleagues will be provided with comprehensive support materials in the coming days. These will be combined with campus drop-in sessions for admissions systems users. Just come along at any point during the scheduled times, meet members of the SRS team and ask any questions you may have.
These admissions-specific drop-in sessions will visit all campuses during the week commencing Monday 29 October: Harcourt Hill: Wednesday 31 October, FLG02, 10.00am - 4.00pm Headington: Monday 29 October, JHB403, 9.00am - 12.00pm and Thursday 1 November, JHB405, 1.30pm - 5.00pm Marston Road: Tuesday 30 October, MR115, 9.00am - 12.00pm Swindon: Friday 2 November, JOF.1.05, 10.00am - 1.00pm Wheatley: Thursday 1 November, HLG01, 9.00am - 12.00pm
These sessions are part of a tailored approach, as discussed and agreed with faculty admissions teams.
You can find out more about the SRS project by visiting the project webpages (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/staff/student-records-system/) and look out for the next Top 5 in 5 in November.
Preview the new look staff landing page
The Communications Team has been working to improve the design of the staff landing page to make the vast amount of content more accessible. Key changes include a different layout and looking at new ways to prioritise messages.
This work is in response to feedback from colleagues at the Internal Communications focus groups and from the findings of the Staff Survey 2018. It's also in line with improvements to the students and alumni homepages. A large user-group of colleagues from across the University has already been consulted on the new design and their comments have also been included.
You can preview the redesigned staff landing page here (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/staff-redesign/).
Benefits include:
increased visibility of Onstream - you are also more likely to see important notifications, news and events a better entry point to University services, signposts to staff experience and working at Brookes, and quick links to the most popular destinations simplified site navigation so that the staff link goes directly to the new page (rather than a drop down menu which can't comprehensively list all areas) a look and feel that mirrors the redesigned students homepage (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/).
Your feedback Before the new pages go live at the end of October we’d like to offer all colleagues the opportunity to take a look at the preview pages and feedback views. If you have any comments or feedback, please send any comments to: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) by 19 October.
Getting to know your digital workplace...
You might have noticed recently that Gmail has introduced a new email and calendar interface.
Perhaps you’ve been using it for months already. Or you might only just be getting to grips with it after Google set them as standard over the past two weeks. Whatever your level, there’s plenty of new functionality you may not have noticed yet; so we thought it might be useful to highlight a few tips when using the new features in G Suite.
Email, calendar and tasks - a new integrated view You can now organise your email, calendar and digital tasks side by side in one view. With your email window open, you will notice a right-hand side panel with three icons displayed. If you click the calendar icon, it will open out to display your events for the day. Or you can use the digital task board - the bottom icon on the side panel - to drag across relevant emails to save as tasks.
You can also alter the amount of detail held within your email view to suit your preferences. To do this, go to your settings cog, select the option ‘density display’ and choose from the three options. Feedback from colleagues tends to favour the ‘comfortable’ view, rather than the default view.
You can find more tips to give you the best Gmail experience at the GSuite Learning Center (https://gsuite.google.com/learning- center/products/gmail/#!/).
Video conferencing
Another useful feature is Hangouts Meet which is similar to Skype.This allows you to hold video meetings with up to 25 people - inside or outside of Oxford Brookes - using any device.
Meet will soon replace the Hangouts service we currently use in G Suite, but you can start using it now by selecting the app behind the grey grid icon, in the top right of your window. It is very similar to Hangouts but brings with it new features like adding conferencing to a calendar event. After you save a calendar event, a meeting video link can be added - just click on the ‘add conferencing’ drop-down beneath the location box when editing your event. Currently a dial-in feature is only available for USA or Canadian phone numbers.
You can find out more about Hangout Meet on the Google support pages (https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/meet/get-started/#!/). Instant messaging - Hangouts Chat
The new Hangouts Chat - similar to WhatsApp - gives you the option to create ‘rooms’ that teams can collaborate within. Your teams can instant message or video chat as individuals or as a group, as well as share documents, calendar events and tasks. Individuals can also manage their own notifications and membership of chat rooms.
You will find the new Hangouts Chat behind the grey grid icon, in the top right of your window. You can find out more about Hangouts Chat on the Google support pages (https://gsuite.google.com/learning-center/products/chat/#!/).
The IT Training team (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/it/training/it-training-drop- ins/) run drop-in sessions every Tuesday lunchtime between 12.30 and 1.30pm if you would like to explore GSuite a bit more. You will find them in the Lloyd Training room LLD G.03 - just turn up! Living with a Total Artificial Heart: a colleague's story of a daughter and former Brookes employee
Mike Henderson, Head of Finance and Planning in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences sent Onstream a link to a remarkable story in the Guardian about his daughter who has survived a very rare condition - cancer of the heart - through use of a total artificial heart (TAH).
Mike's daughter Rebecca Henderson, who has worked as Research Assistant for Anne-Marie Kilday, Pro Vice-Chancellor - Student and Staff Experience, is the only person in the world with a total artificial heart as a treatment for heart cancer.
The TAH is usually fitted for heart failure. Rebecca is only one of 19 people in the UK who has had one fitted and only the second UK patient to leave hospital with the TAH attached to a driver which acts as a portable pump. You can read Rebecca’s story here (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/31/experience-i-have- an-artificial-heart).
We all admire Rebecca’s tremendous bravery and wish her and Mike and the family the very best for the future.
Your chance to track wild tigers in India next Easter
If you’re seeking more than rainy days and chocolate eggs during your next Easter break, then consider this trip with a difference.
Staff are invited to join Professor Stewart Thompson as he embarks on his annual trip to Rajasthan, India, to track tigers in Ranthambore National Park. Now in its 15th year, the trip gives students, staff and family members the opportunity to join Stewart and experienced local guides in searching for these majestic creatures, alongside a wide range of other flora and fauna. The two-week trip also includes time spent in the ancient city of Jaipur and a chance to see the wondrous Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Last year, Onstream reported on the trip, with a first-hand account from a colleague who attended – read it here (https://intranet.brookes.ac.uk/onstream/2017/oct/tracking-tigers-in- rajasthan--a-once-in-a-lifetime-trip/). The cost of the trip, which was around £1,650 last year (and depends on numbers), includes:
return flights to India transfers to Ranthambore National Park full-board accommodation close to the park (eight days) permits for park entry train travel to and from Jaipur and Agra (for Taj Mahal). If you’d like to find out more about the trip, drop in to the information session on Tuesday 16 October, 12 noon in JHB205. Find the event details here (https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/events/tiger-tracking-in- ranthambhore---easter-2019/).
Update on the Online Expense Management System
The Finance and Legal Services department can announce the successful launch of the new Online Expense Management System which went into live service on 19 September 2018. Since going live, the system has gained over 500 active users, and on Monday 1 October it completed its first BACS payment run, which saw expenses for all approved claims successfully reimbursed. New users who wish to access the new system are reminded to contact their department’s Finance Team first to request activation.
Newly activated users will receive an invitation email from Access Workspace to join the system, an example of this invitation is illustrated below: Please Note: to coincide with the statement dates, all Corporate Card expenses will be processed via the new online expense system from the following dates: Corporate Credit Cards: 9 October 2018 Corporate Purchasing Cards: 15 October 2018
Finance and Legal Services are also encouraging users to provide feedback on their experience with the system thus far. Please share your responses using the User Survey available here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC5FodfhZF6L3BKi4Vez1SBffJReq1ORu8mjwDy6Ln4_Rb5Q/viewform? usp=sf_link). For more details about the system and the benefits it provides please see a previous Onsteam article (https://intranet.brookes.ac.uk/onstream/2018/may/new-online-expense- management-system/?type=roundup).
Further support: To view policies, instructions and user guides please visit our expenses help page (https://intranet.brookes.ac.uk/fls-intranet/finance/policies-and- procedures/expenses-policy/online-expenses/).
If you have any questions or queries please feel free to contact the system administrators at [email protected]
New literary magazine launches for staff, students and alumni
Poetry and prose enthusiasts will be excited to hear that a new literary magazine is soon to be launched at Oxford Brookes. The Brookes Review, it is a collaboration between the Creative Writing department - including academics Morag Joss and James Hawes - and the Scholarly Communications team in the library. The Brookes Review will publish short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction by staff, students and alumni of Oxford Brookes. It is now open to submissions. So if you have a few stories or sonnets tucked away and you’re not sure about the next step, this could be what you’ve been waiting for! Dan Croft, Scholarly Communications and Research Team Leader, said: "The magazine is intended to help build a community of all writers at Oxford Brookes, not just the staff and students within the Creative Writing department. We are especially keen to provide an opportunity to those who are at an early stage of their writing careers and are looking for routes into publication." Submission guidelines are available on the magazine's webpage (https://doi.org/10.24384/BrookesReview) and all submissions must be made through the submission form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfklZjp2oPhb9-ndAKw- RZy96JtNmB6uEgJoOXEppXcuLJz_g/viewform). You must be logged into your Oxford Brookes Google account in order to fill out the form. Submissions will be accepted based on literary merit, and the team are happy to read any genre or literary form. If you’d like any more information, you can email the editors at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). The magazine will be published online in spring 2019 and will be free to read.
Fun, friends and freebies - a successful Freshers’ Fair
The Brookes Union (https://www.brookesunion.org.uk/) Freshers’ Fair took place on Friday 21 September. There were over 140 stalls, which could be found in the John Henry Brookes Building, in Abercrombie Glass Tank and outside. Luckily it stayed dry - albeit very windy! Students - and staff - were able to sit outside and enjoy some tasty free snacks. The Cowley Retreat served up hot dogs and coffee from their stall in the Central Courtyard. Domino’s was, as ever, incredibly popular, with a long queue for free pizza snaking across the piazza.
“Freshers’ Fair is an incredible event that demonstrates what’s on offer and draws in thousands of new students.”
Josephine Bushby, Vice-President: Societies Development
The main purpose of the Freshers’ Fair is to give new students the opportunity to find out more about societies and join up, and an estimated four to five thousand students attended throughout the day. The Union currently supports over 100 societies, allowing students to try loads of new things, make new friends and learn new skills. Over 80 societies had a stall at the Fair, from the Quidditch Society (https://www.brookesunion.org.uk/groups/quidditch-500d) to the Dog Lovers Society, from Dance Society (https://www.brookesunion.org.uk/groups/dance-society-66ba) to the First Aid Society (https://www.brookesunion.org.uk/groups/first-aid-st-john). We also had a number of commercial clients at the Fair, including local and national businesses, charities and local venues. Josephine Bushby, Vice-President: Societies Development, said: “Freshers’ Fair is an incredible event that demonstrates what’s on offer and draws in thousands of new students. Our societies are the most important part of the fair - getting involved is a great way for students to meet like-minded people, who may well go on to be their friends for life. Plus the fair is the place to pick up freebies!”
Brookes Union would also like to say a huge thank you to the staff across the University without whom the Fair would not be such a wonderful success.
Unimart Accommodation / Property to let
Furnished Double Room to Rent
Tuesday, 02 October 2018
Furnished double room. Sharing with live in landlord. £500pcm inc bills & wifi. OX4 location Available beginning of November. Looking for quiet professional Contact Jenna on 07787148520 to view
Contact: Dave Shaw Tel: Mob: Email: [email protected]
3/4 bedroom house to let in Long Hanborough - 10mins Oxford by train
Friday, 28 September 2018
Detached 3/4 bedroom house oiro £1650 pm + bills. This is my mother's house which I am letting because she has moved to a home. Completely redecorated, bright and sunny in village with good travel links, shops, school and doctor's. Walking distance to Hanborough station - mainline to Oxford and London Paddington. Garden with far reaching views across to Blenheim Estate. Drive, parking for 3 cars. See link to Breckon and Breckon for full details and photos. Please do not hesitate to ask my for any further information.
Contact: lindsey harrison Tel: 01865485354 Mob: Email: [email protected]
Classified for sale
Apple Mac Mini £250
Tuesday, 16 October 2018
For Sale Apple Mac Mini 2.3Ghz Intel Core i5 8GB DDR3 Memory 500GB Hard Drive Running macOS High Sierra comes with apple keyboard and apple mouse £250
Contact: Dave Shaw Tel: 3374 Mob: Email: [email protected]
Gretsch Streamliner - £350
Monday, 15 October 2018
Mint condition Gretsch Streamliner G2622T with Bigsby in stunning Flagstaff Sunset red. This has upgraded Grover locking tuners and comes with a Gretsch hard case. An absolute bargain.
Contact: Phil Stuhldreer Tel: 5701 Mob: 07968 462754 Email: [email protected] Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster - £180
Tuesday, 09 October 2018
If you're looking for a first electric guitar this might be it. In excellent condition, this Squier Jazzmaster in Sonic Blue is from the top of the Squier range. Will include a gig bag and new set of strings.
Contact: Phil Stuhldreer Tel: 5701 Mob: 07968 462754 Email: [email protected] Fender Stratocaster - £250
Tuesday, 09 October 2018 it's time to find a new home for this 2007 MIM Fender Stratocaster. A very nice example in great condition. Upgraded with American Standard tuners. Will include a Fender gig bag and a new set of strings.
Contact: Phil Stuhldreer Tel: 5701 Mob: 07968 462754 Email: [email protected]
i7 Gaming PC - barely used
Friday, 05 October 2018
£1,149 PC Specialist Vanquish Colossus VR II Gaming PC, Intel Core i7-7700k Quad Core 4.20GHz, 16GB DDR4, 3TB HDD, 128GB SSD, No-DVD, NVIDIA GTX 1080 8GB, WIFI, Windows 10 Home. Bought less than a year ago but now sitting unused. As-new condition. With original packaging, manuals, etc. Collection from Abingdon near Oxford. Respectfully, no offers please.
Contact: Marinka Walker Tel: 8368 Mob: Email: [email protected] Antique Barley twist lamp bases £35
Friday, 28 September 2018
Two lamp bases not matching Both in working order
Contact: Jonathan Warhurst Tel: 483895 Mob: 07771795666 Email: [email protected]
Chest of drawers and cabinets £95
Friday, 28 September 2018
Solid pine set of drawers and matching bedside tables. Chest of drawers H 93cm W 80cm D 45cm Bedside cabinets H 58cm W 38cm D 28 cm Contact: Jonathan Warhurst Tel: 483895 Mob: 07771795666 Email: [email protected]
Motor for sale Classified for free
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