This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Copies of periodic communications between the Vice-Chancellor and staff'.



From: External Relations  
Sent: 21 July 2017 10:58 
To: Staff 
Subject: Geoff's Update - July 2017 
 
 
Geoff's Update - July 2017 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Geoff's Update - July 2017
 
 
We start with a congratulations to Professor of 
Information Science Mike Thelwall and the Statistical 
Cybermetrics Research Group, Research Institute of 
Information and Language Processing (RIILP), for their 
number one world ranking for their research in the 
Academic Ranking of World Universities – Shanghai 
Ranking – published recently. 
 
  
 
  
Clearing 2017 - update for staff 
 
Clearing is now open across UK universities, and we are working towards one of the 
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busiest periods in the Clearing process when students receive their A Level results on 
Thursday 17 August and our Hotline opens to them at 7am that morning. 
 
Prospective students are already looking at our Clearing web pages and can register 
their interest to receive a call from us on A Level results day or to apply to us directly if 
they already know their results. We will once again be running a widespread advertising 
and publicity campaign to promote the University during Clearing, and holding an Open 
Day on Saturday 19 August where students can apply directly to us on the day by 
bringing in their results. 
 
This year we have evolved our Clearing process internally to ensure our potential 
students get the very best experience possible, enabling us to handle more calls than 
ever as we have increased our Clearing Centre phone lines from around 20 to 87 call 
stations this year. We are expecting in the region of 6,000 calls to the Clearing Hotline on 
the first day alone. 
 
For the first time, over 50 trained student advisors will be answering the calls on the 
Clearing lines as the first point of call for enquirers. Not only will prospective students be 
speaking to current students of the University – a real positive, and reassuring for those 
going through Clearing – but these advisors will also be able to make offers to 
prospective students on the spot if they have the right entry grades for courses. The call 
handlers will be supervised by members of staff experienced in Clearing. 
 
These advisors will refer calls to academic staff when there is more detail needed or to 
discuss other courses that may be available to the potential student – all in the ethos of 
us as the ‘University of Opportunity' and enabling students to access higher education 
and start the right course at the right level. 
 
Inevitably, the Clearing Hotline can get extremely busy and we do not want prospective 
students to be left waiting or having to call back. A phone hunt group is being set up so 
that if the Clearing Hotline phone lines are all busy, calls will be taken by staff 
experienced in Clearing throughout the University. 
 
Admissions staff will be focusing on confirmation and processing international, 
postgraduate and part-time applications for 2017/18 entry. 
 
The Clearing Hotline number is 01902 51 85 85 and opens from 7am – 7pm on 
Thursday 17 August,
 7am – 7pm on Friday 18 August9am – 5pm on Saturday 19 
August, 10am to 4pm on Sunday 20 August, and 8am to 5pm from Monday 21 August
 
onwards. 
 
As well as the Open Day, we will be holding Clearing Open Afternoons on a Wednesday 
from 2pm onwards where potential students can visit us, tour the University, find out 
more about their course/s of interest and apply. These start from Wednesday 23 August. 
 
The Clearing process lasts right through to the start of the new academic year so across 
the University we will all be focusing on assisting as many new students as possible to 
start with us in 2017/18. Students First is our priority and recruitment is competitive now 
across all UK universities – Clearing no longer has the stigma it may have once had and 
you'll see students will all different types of grades coming through the system as it is a 
‘buyer's market', the power is with them to choose where they would like to study. We 
have to do everything we can to ensure Wolverhampton is their number one choice in 
Clearing and that's a job for all of us. 
 
University safety checks following Grenfell 
 
You can read the latest information on our safety checks following the Grenfell fire here 
 
  
 
 
  
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Staff appointments  
 
  
 
 
Welcome to Emma Bull, who has joined the University 
as Director of Organisational Development in the Offices 
of the Vice-Chancellor from her previous role as Director 
of Student Services at QMUL, where she also spent time 
as Interim Chief Operating Officer. As mentioned in a 
previous Geoff's Update, Emma will lead the 
development of our systems through a cultural 
transformation process in which, together with Deputy 
Vice-Chancellors and Corporate Service Directors, a new 
way of working will be established with an enhanced 
customer focused service. 
 
 
  
 
  
Honorary graduates lunch 
 
We recently held a lunchtime celebration for our honorary graduates – attendees 
spanned across music, sports, the arts and business. You can find out more here 
 
Estates update – transport strategy 
  
A five-year transport strategy is being developed that encompasses inter-site travel, 
parking and commuter travel. Stakeholder comments and views will be sought in due 
course. This will be a major opportunity to shape how the University responds to 
environmental needs. 
 
Geoff 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
University of Wolverhampton
 
Wulfruna Street 
 
Wolverhampton 
 
 
WV1 1LY 
 
  
 
Website : www.wlv.ac.uk 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
© 2017 University of Wolverhampton 
  
 
 
 
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