Academic Chemistry Workload Modelling

University of Reading did not have the information requested.

Dear University of Reading,

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request
the following information from the University regarding the workload
allocation models and tariffs used to model the workload of your academic
Chemistry staff:

1. What activities are recognised by the workload model for Chemistry
staff?

2. What tariffs are associated with each activity (i.e. how much time is
allocated for each activity) for Chemistry staff?

3. How is the total workload of a member of Chemistry staff modelled (i.e.
what protocol is used to combine tariffs)?

4. What formal guidance is given to managers relating to the link between
contracts of employment and the calculated workloads of Chemistry staff?
In particular:

(a) What are the maximum and minimum permissible tariffed workloads for a
member of staff in a full-time role?

(b) What are the broad subcategories of activity (such as Teaching or
Research) recognised in academic roles?

(c) What is the division of total workload between these subcategories in
contracts of employment (e.g. 40% Teaching, 60% Research)? How does this
division relate to modelled workload?

(d) How are part-time contracts modelled differently to full-time
contracts?

(e) What is the intended relationship between modelled workload and true
workload? (e.g. modelled workload is expected to be 20% less than true
workload, or to match true workload, or to exceed true workload by 20%)

Please provide information in the form of a Microsoft Word document in
either the .doc or .docx format.

If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the
information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section
12, please provide advice and assistance – under your Section 16
obligations – as to how I can refine my request to be included within the
scope of the Act.

In any case, if you can identify ways that my request could be refined
please provide further advice and assistance to indicate this.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as stipulated by
the Act.

If you have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me, and I
will be happy to clarify what I am asking for.

Yours faithfully,

Mr O'Neill

IMPS, University of Reading

Dear Mr O'Neill,

This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information below and to let you know it is being processed.

We'll get back to you as soon as we can, but in any case within 20 working days from 06/11/20.

Please quote the reference number in the subject line on any future correspondence, thank you.

Yours sincerely,

IMPS

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
t: +44 (0)118 378 8981 www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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IMPS, University of Reading

Dear Mr O’Neil, 

 

We have completed the compilation of information in response to your
request.

 

We can confirm that we do not hold the information specified in your
request. Our responses are given below each limb of your request below. 

***************** FOI RESPONSE *******************

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request
the following information from the University regarding the workload
allocation models and tariffs used to model the workload of your academic
Chemistry staff:

1. What activities are recognised by the workload model for Chemistry
staff?

No information held, the University does not have a workload model for
chemistry staff.

However, under section 16 (duty to provide help & assistance), we can
advise the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy operates a self-assessed
workload profile. This assessment asks staff to assess the percentage of
their time they spend to the following categories: Research and
Scholarship; Teaching; Citizenship/Esteem; Professional development and
Other activities. There are no formal division of activities laid down in
contracts of appointment for academic staff. Self-assessments are
discussed with the staff member’s line manager during the annual
performance and development review. Line managers who undertake
performance and development reviews must complete the University
performance and development reviewer training.

2. What tariffs are associated with each activity (i.e. how much time is
allocated for each activity) for Chemistry staff?

N/A – see response to Q1

3. How is the total workload of a member of Chemistry staff modelled (i.e.
what protocol is used to combine tariffs)?

N/A – see response to Q1

4. What formal guidance is given to managers relating to the link between
contracts of employment and the calculated workloads of Chemistry staff?

N/A – see response to Q1

In particular:

(a) What are the maximum and minimum permissible tariffed workloads for a
member of staff in a full-time role?

N/A – see response to Q1

(b) What are the broad subcategories of activity (such as Teaching or
Research) recognised in academic roles?

N/A – see response to Q1

(c) What is the division of total workload between these subcategories in
contracts of employment (e.g. 40% Teaching, 60% Research)? How does this
division relate to modelled workload?

N/A – see response to Q1

(d) How are part-time contracts modelled differently to full-time
contracts?

N/A – see response to Q1

(e) What is the intended relationship between modelled workload and true
workload? (e.g. modelled workload is expected to be 20% less than true
workload, or to match true workload, or to exceed true workload by 20%)

N/A – see response to Q1

************************************************ 

 

We are required to include details of our complaints procedures, including
your rights to apply to the Information Commissioner.  The procedure is
detailed in our Freedom of Information and Environmental Information
Regulations policy on the web at
[1]www.reading.ac.uk/freedom-of-information-policy

 

If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the
Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the access to
information regimes: [2]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ 

 

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

Sinead Latham

Information Compliance Officer

 

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading,
Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH

[3][University of Reading request email]    t: +44 (0)118 378 8981   
[4]www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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Dear IMPS,

Thank you for a timely and full response to my request under such difficult national circumstances.

Yours sincerely,

Mr O'Neill