The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | Established 1992 | Issue 393 | 14th March 2023
Bus services slashed
Meet your new Full-time Officers!
pg. 4
pg. 12-13
Venue: Reads for International Women's Month
pg. 9
Norwich MP calls for "official investigation" into UEA finances 15 years on the Executive Team and nine years as Vice-Chancellor, I have concluded News Editor now that the time has come for me to step away so that UEA can develop a new Several significant events have shaken long-term vision.” Dr Howes also explained the very foundations of UEA over the past that Deputy VC Christine Bovis-Cnossen month. would temporarily take on the role whilst the council searched for a permanent Concrete has sought to set out a replacement. chronological timeline of these events based upon as much factual information Speaking exclusively to Concrete, a and diversity of opinion as possible to UEA Professor (who asked to remain provide clarity to our readers at this anonymous) expressed, “it is a good thing critical time. that the Vice-Chancellor has taken some responsibility and resigned (though I 22 February: Deficit rises to £30 million find it deeply regrettable that he couldn’t bring himself to actually apologise — and On Wednesday, 22nd of February, it actually in writing take responsibility — in was revealed the university now faces his leaving-statement), but the truth is that a revised budget deficit of £30m for the handful of senior people who have 2023/2024 - having risen by £7 million been his closest advisers and deputies since January. In an all-staff email, the are just as responsible for this right royal then Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor mess.” Another member of academic Christine Bovis-Cnossen, explained that staff (who asked to remain anonymous) the previously reported £23 million also expressed, “UEA UCU (University figure was calculated based on “figures and College Union) very clearly voted no set before the UCAS student application confidence in the then VC, the Deputy VC deadline at the end of January”. In short, and the CRO (Chief Resource Officer Ian the university has again missed its Callaghan). Of course, it was the VC who student recruitment targets for the next had put the others in place, but there academic year - resulting in a substantial has been an overall failure in leadership. loss of revenue from tuition fees. The Maybe it is not feasible for all of them to email also forecasted this deficit rising to go at once, but I would expect the other £45 million over the next three years. two to also take responsibility in a similar manner soon.” 27 February: Vice-Chancellor David Richardson resigns Questions raised in the House of Commons On Monday 27th of February, students and staff were informed of the sudden During a Commons question session with resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor the Minister of State for Higher Education, David Richardson via an email from the Robert Halfon, Clive Lewis - Labour MP Chair of the UEA Council (the governing for Norwich South - made the following body of the University), Dr Sally Howes. address: “Is the Secretary of State and In a personal statement posted on My her department aware of the severe UEA, Prof. Richardson said, “I have been financial crisis engulfing the University conscious of the need for a new vision for of East Anglia - one so severe that the UEA since we began to emerge from Covid Vice-Chancellor has today resigned? in 2021 and have deliberated whether I am This will have a dramatic impact on the the person to lead that vision or whether regional economy…As such, will the a new vision needs a new leader. After Minister agree to meet with me and a
Jamie Bryson
delegation from UEA to discuss this most critical issue as soon as possible?”. The Minister promptly responded, “Yes, I’d be very happy to meet with the honourable gentleman, sooner rather than later”.
28 February: An open letter signed by 123 staff members warns of “irreparable harm" In an open letter leaked to the Eastern Daily Press, 123 academic staff expressed they felt the situation was “now out of control” and feared “that if the current chaos continues, our university will suffer irreparable harm." Signatories went on to suggest that the proposed business restructuring of the university (including compulsory redundancies) - would mean “UEA will no longer strive for excellence in teaching or research”. The letter also suggested that at least two faculties would be turned into teachingintensive “cash cows” (as opposed to investment in current research-led study), which would have a "disastrous impact" on student recruitment and could raise the threat of “full insolvency”. Furthermore, the academics accused the Executive team of being "a small clique of non-academic managers". Concrete asked one signatory, Dr Rupert Read - an associate professor of Philosophy - why he believed this to be the case, to which he responded, “During the 24 years I have been at UEA, academic governance of the University has been reduced in power, and more and more decisions have been taken by very well-remunerated senior managers (plus management consultants they have periodically hired in, rather than asking academics for advice on how to run our own affairs better). Now we end up in this mess. Draw your own conclusions.”
1 March: Senior leaders say open letter made “incorrect” claims In response to the open letter, Acting Vice-Chancellor Christine Bovis-Cnossen
said, “I fully acknowledge the depth of with extenuating financial circumstances feeling and concern which has led to to defer implementation of the pay award so many senior staff writing this letter. by up to 11 months”. The Acting VC also These are very worrying times for all informed staff that “by the end of March, colleagues…Work is being undertaken we hope to have appointed a new Interim across the University to address the Vice-Chancellor with the ambition that financial situation, and we have been they start in that role by the beginning open about those challenges. No of June or earlier”, and adding “We are decisions have been taken regarding seeking a candidate with the experience where any potential redundancies may and skills in tackling strategic change come or on the future vision or structure” and the financial challenges we face. We and added, “Claims in the letter, including expect this person to be in post for around references to insolvency and to creating 18 to 24 months”. ‘teaching-intensive cash cows’, are simply incorrect.” 8 March: UEA meeting with the Minister of State for Higher Education and Clive 5 March: Clive Lewis MP calls on Lewis MP Government to intervene A spokesperson from UEA confirmed that In conversation with Greatest Hits “Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Christine Radio, the Norwich South MP called on Bovis-Cnossen, with others from UEA’s the Government to intervene in what executive team, met The Rt. Hon. Robert he labelled a potential "widespread Halfon MP, Minister for Higher Education, institutional collapse" across Norfolk. Mr online with Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said, "You, the Government, need Lewis on Wednesday 8”, following a to help and find some support for the request made by Mr Lewis in the House UEA because this will go against your of Commons in February. They added, objectives to invest in the East". “We look forward to the opportunity to engage with them again soon.” Concrete 6 March: UEA Council discuss cost-saving understands that the Minister emphasised proposals and interim VC appointment he was only acting as an intermediary figure within a discussion between the Members of the UEA Council (the employer and employee representatives. university’s governing body) met on In response to asking for reassurances campus to discuss details of cost-saving on the government’s ability to “step in proposals. In a follow-up email to all staff financially” if required, Mr Lewis told 48 hours later, Acting VC Bovis-Cnossen Concrete that Mr Halfon stated, “We [the stated, “As we have already said, we Department of Education] do not have a expect that towards the end of April, pot that universities under financial stress we will be able to share more detail on can get help from”. The Norwich South MP the number of roles at risk, in which also asked the minister “to go away and areas, and more information about the find out if there is a way to conduct an processes and timeframes”. The email also official investigation into these failings”. revealed that the University would delay It is understood the Minister of State will the implementation of the minimum 3% now write an official response to Mr pay rise for staff members for the current Lewis regarding such questions put to financial year by 11 months, as previously him in the 45-minute meeting. agreed nationally by the University and Colleges Employers Association. BovisCnossen explained that “there is a clause Continued on page 3... [in the agreement] that allows universities