Susan Price to take the reins at Leeds Met - Comments

From one dysfunctional university to another. Both should be closed.

I sat next to her on a train once. She read the Guardian, and was very polite to the guard. So that bodes well for Leeds met, I think.

"I sat next to her on a train once. She read the Guardian, and was very polite to the guard. So that bodes well for Leeds met, I think". So guardian reading saint and was also very polite to the train guard. A good way of assessing a VC. The Guardian paper hierarchy behaves worse than the image they project and also a few VCs that we know who the staff loathed read Guardian too. Wait and see in 2011. Wonder why she was not considered for the permanent VC position at UEL, and why she opted for Leeds Met which has lesser worms in the can than Leeds Met.

It should be " which has more number of worms in the can than UEL".

Actually, she was very much under consideration for the permanent VC position at UEL and word is that she will be much missed. She has shown great loyalty to UEL through tough times, and who can blame her for having her head turned by a better offer?

Interested Surely UEL is less of a vipers nest than Leeds Met as the poster above says. Why trade loyalty for dosh? Leeds Met is in a bigger mess, and its previous VCs who were both experienced failed in their own ways. The UEL is paticularly better placed for moving forward given its location and the Olympic 2012. I do not believe in any new university I hasten to add given their track records.

What a talented lady! Didn't she also come second in this year's X-Factor?

What a brave effort. Sadly not convincing to those of us who have lived through the reality...and an interesting definition of "excellent academic reputation". UEL's gain..

I’m not convinced! Despite what Simon Lee did or didn't do for the university, his sporting contributions and efforts were great, even though I’m not a sports student myself; other faculties were certainly over looked! I feel that with Simons focus all about sport, Price might now overlook this. Professor Price has many great qualifications, a member of recognised institutions first class honours degree, linguists… marvellous she speaks five languages, but will she speak the language that the students and staff have waited so long to hear..........

The Yorkshire Post is suggesting that the University name change may not go ahead as planned: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Leeds-Met39s-name-change-put.5511877.jp

re: "I sat next to her on a train once. She read the Guardian, and was very polite to the guard. So that bodes well for Leeds met, I think." Bobbo that's brilliant!!! Thanks for this. A real cheerer, this comment. And possibly one of the best descriptions of "essential criteria" for a senior academic post that I have ever read. Fabulous.

We should really be looking to slowly close these institutions...The behaviour of some is pure farce.

Trollery aside, interested is right. Prof Price has been an effective leader at UEL over the years and will be much missed. Imho Leeds Met are lucky to get her and whoever lands the VCship at UEL will inherit a sound organisation that is generally moving in the right directions. PS. there's nothing wrong with worms - it's just they don't like being canned.

Yes all of us as trolls except the fellow Guardian readers of Price. Yes UEL will move in the right direction after the UCU trouble maker was disciplined. As far Price, the female Brutus at UEL, she should watch her back at Leeds Met. The oldest ploy is to kill the leader and move away. Leeds Met has reinstated the full fee for students and not the sliced off bribe and given its reputatio we would be getting news about Price's leadership in the not distant future. Since when Language skills in many languages are an essential qualification for a VC? We had a deputy VC who spoke Italian and Spanish but turned out to be a disaster.

Let's just see what happens eh? As far as I'm concerned anyone who's not Simon Lee is an improvement. A multi-lingual, female VC with a focus on academia rather than sport sounds good to me, as long as she's not got a macho Thatcherite chip on her shoulder.

If anyone can steer the Leeds Met ship through troubled times it is Prof Price. They chose well. Many at UEL will miss her and wish her well.

My experience in these most dysfunctional institutions is that the person who follows the chief who is thrown out turns out to be either of the same kind or worse. It is commonsensical as there are not good senior people in any of these new universities. The only change will be relocation of some to move upstairs. All thse people are bred in the same swamp. If they are any good, there are not many, occcasionally one or two come along like Professor Rick Trainor who was a VC at the U of Greenwich and King's College quickly snapped him up. But then he is an American not raised in the above swamp ,studied at Oxford and U of Greenwich was only a temporary move. Macho Thatcherite with guts to take head on? Unlikely. Friends at UEL say that she is sneaky and say she will work with the governors closely, rather very closely. Leeds Met will be the same, the governors become powerful. There will be fewer students as the full fee tag descends!

'Friends at UEL' eh...easy to be snide and nasty about someone you have no experience of...Prof Price did a good job under difficult circumstances here at UEL. Many of us hold this view. Others don't, that's life! As Bye Bye Simon says, the proof of the pudding and all that...

Here is what happened to Martin Everett ( ref THES): "The University of East London's vice-chancellor resigned last week after a seven-month suspension. Martin Everett was suspended in July 2008 by the chair of the board of governors, Jim McKenna, following allegations of a lack of leadership and vision. He resigned shortly after a report from the special committee convened to investigate the case was handed to the board. A UEL statement says: "The board recognises Professor Everett's considerable standing as an academic and researcher, and makes no criticism of his integrity or conduct. "However, Professor Everett and the board both believe that in the circumstances, where there has been an irretrievable mutual breakdown in trust and confidence, a new vice-chancellor would be better placed to take the university forward." Susan Price, UEL's acting vice-chancellor, was among those whose evidence to the special committee was highly critical of Professor Everett. However, most senior academics supported him: 25 professors were among the signatories of a letter sent to the board last October demanding his reinstatement. It is understood that the special committee's report criticised some aspects of the handling of the concerns raised about Professor Everett. Gillian Slater, former vice-chancellor of Bournemouth University, resigned from UEL's board in June after Mr McKenna declined to give full details of the reasons for the suspension. Staff, including staff governors, were originally told that Professor Everett was on "indefinite leave" before it emerged that Mr McKenna had offered him a payment to resign or face "procedures to remove him". Professor Everett refused the pay-off. In a letter seen by Times Higher Education, he wrote: "These actions and proposed actions are not only unfair and unlawful, but also represent a substantial risk of the misapplication of public funds." Hope Susan Price gets her come uppance at Leeds Met.

Ah yes, that tired old story about ME. There is another view held by many staff that was drowned out by the folk promulgating the above line. Some staff supported ME, others considered he lacked leadership and vision. Some deans supported ME several others did not. A complex situation, it seemed to me, not helped by all the vituperation (see above)

OK. Brian Roper is free now from London Met. He will work well with governors. Get him! We can't see any other person of any repute coming to UEL.

See my previous comments about vituperative, only one view allowed etc. I support our colleagues at London Met, attended their demo, and am a committed UCU member but I just don't subscribe to the above line, as is my right, and I know many others who feel the same, and felt silenced when the campaign to save Martin was on. Good luck to Susan Price at Leeds Met, I hope she and they do well and likewise to all of us in the Post 92 sector, it aint easy but it's always rewarding.

If not Brian Roper, there is Simon Lee. It is a good idea of getting him to UEL as Price is going to Leeds Met! Apart from these two/three I did not see any one else interested as VC in Leeds Met and UEL. There is a slight correction: Ninian has already taken the reins at Leeds Met, Price is joining him and Steve!!!

We now have a VC tainted by a board who appointed her. The new VC will also have to take advice from, I won’t even go there. If the new VC can work out staff that want the best for the University, from the staff that want the best for themselves. I for one will support the VC all the way.

Reading this comments and opinions it seems to me the most important criteria for being a VC is a thick skin.

"If the new VC can work out staff that want the best for the University, from the staff that want the best for themselves. Expecting from a new VC who would like to please the governors more than the staff in her initial years knowing fully well that any wrong move she will be dumped like Lee? In an institution where the chair of governors is powerful and ruthless, independently-thinking new VC? Must be joking! Survival comes first as the post carries good pat and bonus..

Susan Price? Is that the Scottish singer?

Who said my agency is a turkey? They are all top knowledge people in the world. What sort of food are you eating?

Susan is definitely Leeds Met's gain.

In the rebranding of education as a business and nothing else, it's all gains for these select climbers. Who cares?

I personally think that its a great loss to UEL, I think she has done a great job in leading us through all the turblent times. Cant see why Susan was not offered the post in the first place, now we are vc less and acting vc less.

re: "I sat next to her on a train once. She read the Guardian, and was very polite to the guard. So that bodes well for Leeds met, I think." Bobbo that's brilliant!!! Thanks for this. A real cheerer, this comment. And possibly one of the best descriptions of "essential criteria" for a senior academic post that I have ever read. Fabulous.

It will be very interesting to see how Susan gets on with Sally and the 3 Steve's. What sort of management style do you think she will adopt with them?

How would price get on with the great and the good like ninian and 3 Steves? Very well indeed, considering she did get on extremely well with the governors at UELacting as female Brutus to the VC, who as the new VC was not there long enough. The Leeds Met governors picked some one who can work well with the governors!! Just why did Price leave fromUEL? She just wanted to be an acting VC which does not usually collect a baggage and still enables her to be "available" if another university wants her!!!

Sorry some errors and I coorected them.. How would Price get on with the great and the good like Ninian and 3 Steves? Very well indeed, considering that she did get on extremely well with the governors at UELacting as female Brutus to the VC, who as the new VC was not there long enough. The poor fellow was badly treated given his sort tenure at UEL. The Leeds Met governors picked some one who can work well with the governors!! Just why did Price leave UEL? She just wanted to be an acting VC which does not usually collect a baggage and still enables her to be "available" if another university wants her!!!

I can't win! Sorry some errors and I corrected them!!!!! Why this happens whenever I think about Price, UEL and Leeds Met?

There's only one Brutus.

How about Simon Lee coming to UEL as the VC? He was responsible for the Sports Centre at Leeds Met, and after Olympic 1012, the Olympic arena situated not far from the UEL which needs offers after the Olympic event, can be developed as the Sports Centre of the UEL.

I'm not sure what you mean by Simon Lee being responsible for the Sports Centre at Leeds Met - do you mean the actual buildings at Beckett Park Campus (which were mostly there already) or the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence? Or something else? In fact, if anyone knows what the UKCCE actually does and why it's so amazing that it's at Leeds Met I'd love to know. I'm hopeful that Susan Price won't be repeating Simon's madness when it comes to splashing out on sport.

But there are 3 Steve's.

My rather supercilious take on this is - Fly the '3 Steve's' down club class to London City, install them on thrones in the UEL vice-chancellery, and encourage them to preside over a trial of that errant communist wag who pledged to bring down capitalism with his radical anthropology. Susan Price to parade triumphantly down the 'hedgerow; of whatever that shopping street in Leeds is called, and then to lay siege to the 'Merrion Centre', domain of the incompetent two-bit organisation known as 'Education Leeds' that runs compulsory Education in the city. Finally, Simon Lee to water ski (for charity) behind a ageing naval fast patrol craft from Leeds to Docklands, before changing to a superman costume and giving a 10 hour lecture at UEL on 'why all graduates should become VCs'.

Don't worry the conspirators will be well looked after.

Don't worry, Price will work extremely well with the chair of governors and his group of governors. As far supporting the staff, well.....

Will you let us all go to the AUA conference? We have a great time with Stevie. You should come too.

Which University uses compromise agreements most? How about a freedom of information request from the TH and produce a league table? My money would be on Leeds Met.

Starter for 10 You have already lost. That distinction goes to another Met in London.

" A long time afterwards, so I have been told, [Augustus] Caesar was visiting the son of one of his daughters. The boy had a book of Cicero's in his hands and, terrified of his grandfather, tried to hide it under his cloak. Caesar noticed this and, after taking the book from him, stood there and read a great part of it. He then handed it back to the young man with the words: 'A learned man, my child, a learned man and a lover of his country.''

Does that mean that in two of our Universities the HR strategy is based on the ‘only club in the bag’ compromise agreement? I agree that the league table would be interesting.

I dreamt I sat next to this chap on the train on the way to the Dent Festival and he told me that it had been a mixed year that he had made some new exciting friends at the AUA conference. He hopes that Susan lets him go next year as it’s an opportunity for him to network and let his hair down. He was worried that he had messed up the Quality audit. Was it just a dream?

Faculty Admin Review? No news is good news (help) http://www.leedsmetunison.org/ how about some discussion and meeting with all Union members or is that not allowed?

Discussion with the union-the deluded UCU you mean which is such a disaster at the Leeds Met? They want jobs for life for their members. Price is appointed to do cleaning which always means cleaning the trenches, the lecturers' end. Expect redundancies in 2010 What is so special about these as job losses are occuring in the insdustry all around.

I also had a dream that I was on a train sat next to a chap on his way to the bank. Lots of staff seem to think that he is arrogant, a know it all and that he is to blame for the financial crisis. Some think that he took his eye of the ball and did get involved in regeneration and property speculation. He seemed worried that he would have to pay back previous years bonuses. He kept saying something that sounded like ‘get me out of here’.

We need some more train travels as a few more new universities and City U are looking for VCs. What if the VC in question is not reading Guardian but is more into Independent or the Times?

UKCCE is another marketing trick; it’s like calling myself the UK centre for cabbage eating. Who’s to prove me wrong?

Someone said a decision had been deferred. I thought we were going ahead. Does anyone know?

LEEDS Metropolitan University's name change to Leeds Carnegie could be scrapped after a decision was deferred until its newly unveiled vice chancellor starts in the post next year. The university had earlier approved the Leeds Carnegie name and applied for it to be granted by the Privy Council which rules on such changes. However, a Privy Council spokeswoman said the proposal had been put on hold at the request of the university.

word on the street is the director of estates is going. any news?

I heard 2 of the 3 Steve's were trying to leave. Any news?

I want to see the clash of the assassins.

Still the snarky internet comments and nothing about the SETI stuff? Shame on you internet trolls.

Who is running Leeds Met now?

• LondonMet Staff member 6 August, 2009 If, as is alleged, LondonMet senior management and governors did not bother to properly manage and monitor such a critical income stream it surely comes as no surprise to those of us who work there at the coal face. We have 'senior management' in name only right across the board from HR to Marketing. Anyone with sound commercial experience would be staggered at the day to day ineptitude and complete lack of common sense in how the university is 'run' (a word I use with caution). From personal experience, the senior managment attitude seems to be that staff should 'take ownership' of everything. This blame culture is a well recognised ploy usually used by people in senior positions, generally bullies, who haven't the first idea what to do - except maybe, as is certainly the case of LondonMet, to count their overblown salaries and ring fence their own jobs against redundancy. The latest incarnation of this general malaise of senior management incompetence at LondonMet has to be the debacle that is called the redundancy process. Ill thought through and appallingly handled - you really couldn't make it up. Given the highly stressful nature of the exercise, it is actually quite obscene that it has been handled in the way that it has. There are some great staff at this university, and students come to that, and who deserve much much better. The time has surely come to clear out virtually the entire senior management and governors and start again. At the very least we need to see ring fencing of ANY university jobs removed forthwith and some senior managers sent packing right down to deputy heads or associate deans. I would have advocated sending in Sir Gerry Robinson but, as a fan of his television programmes, I wouldn't want to risk his health because the shock of what he would find would surely be too much for him to handle. Of course, this is all just my personal opinion. Someone else out there probably thinks the senior management are great .....

The turkey (Take Note) Not surprised that staff like you are in trouble. In case you failed to notice, this is Leeds Met thread, and you have plenty of threads for London Met appearing so often these days where you can pour out your problems and I can assure you nothing will change. The only connection between Leeds Met and London Met is that Leeds Met is another Met, and Mets are dysfunctional edifices. As for Leeds Met there ia a VC appointed and we should wait and see what happens. Simon Lee is a free player now and London Met can have him. Given the mess London Met is in I wonder whetrher there is any one else who would consider walking into this infected institution.

Who do you think is running the University? Do you think the Steve's are in a struggle to see who can have the most power? How well do you think they get on?

Whippet does not know much. A mere one liner!

Well i think there is a power struggle going on in the University. It looks like one of the Steve's wants an easy life and goes with the flow. The other two don't seem to get on with each other and both want to empire build and control. I'm not sure how Sally and the Deans fit into this?

Brutus, and as many as sixty or more men, stabbed Gaius Julius Caesar to death on March 15, 44 BC, the “Ides of March”. Caesar was the military dictator of Rome beginning about 50 BC, but his relationship with the Roman Senate was contentious, to say the least. Brutus, a friend of Julius, but a Senator first conspired with other Senators to kill Caesar as they feared his growing power would make the Senate obsolete. Supposedly, Caesar’s last words as he lay dying on the steps of the Forum were, “Et tu, Brute?” which roughly translates as “You too, Brutus?”

To famous assassinations: How topical this has become. For the Brutus, there has to be surely some kind of comeuppance waiting, this time it could be "Et tu Steve?".

''When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes into you."

Be very interesting to see if the acting as VC person continues to receive any income from the University after the 1 January.

Surely Hefce, Inland Revenue and the Pension authority have rules that must be followed? One thing for certain is that it will be the subject of a freedom of information request.

The more we hear about Leeds Met, the more it stinks. Close this edifice.

I would give it one more chance, the last chance.

I had a dream I was sat next to this chap from Oldham. He said he was a senior manager in a University but I wasn’t too sure because he was doing the crossword in the Sunday Sport. He asked if I new what QAA stood for. He said he might have to start getting the Guardian as his new boss was reported to like the Guardian

Was he tall with a good head of hair?

So he wanted to be Guardian loving champagne socialist.

Are you seriously suggesting that the university would consider making payments in different time periods to reduce the impact of pension reduction? I don't believe the university would do such a thing. I still believe in the integrity of our senior staff and senior union leaders.

Close this dysfunctional Met with othertwo Mets.

Could someone please explain the implications when someone who has taken an early retirement package comes back to the same employer and earns more income whilst in receipt of a pension? Is there a limit on earnings or a pension reduction?

I wonder if Susan has been told about a member of the senior management team leaving? Why no communication with staff? I'm sure if it had been one of the 3 Steve's that there would be a major news item and a leaving party. Is this a case of different treatment?

I didn't know that Joy had left. It does seem odd that no announcement has been made. Someone told me that Geoff was away and that he will probably inform us when he gets back. It does make you wonder who next.

Hit list?

Look if you can force a VC out then its going to be easy with others.

Albert: "I wonder if Susan has been told about a member of the senior management team leaving? " Susan Price is worried about Susan Price only! She would welcome any replacement by Ninian. She wants to survive which means that concerned about senior management member leaving, and leaving it to Ninian.

Do you think Susan will be worried about the number of compromise agreements, the AUA issue, the QAA, the quality of the senior team and their teamwork, the financial position and who she might meet on the train?

What does worry Susan? "Do you think Susan will be worried about the number of compromise agreements, the AUA issue, the QAA, the quality of the senior team and their teamwork, the financial position and who she might meet on the train?" The naser to this question is a firm NO. She knows that she has to survive at Leeds Met, having made a move from UEL as she was worried about people wielding knife behind her back in UEL ( to give her the taste of her own medicine when she stabbed the back of Martin Everett the UEL VC ). She knows if she is sacked at Leeds Met she has to take early retirement as no other post-92 would have her . The best bet is she will work with the chair of governors and the rest in the governing body and acts as they say.

How many Brutus people can one Institution accommodate?

Leeds Met does seem to attract them.

How well do you think Susan will be briefed on staff leaving on compromise agreements and the latest on the QAA visit?

Actually she will not care as it is not her decision.

Not only Leeds Met, but the other two Mets too.

The role of assassin has usually been identified as predominantly male. However, there have been a surprising number of female assassins.

Did you understand the finance briefing Susan? None of us did.

And did you find out why so many staff leave Leeds Met on compromise agreements?

A 'compromise agreement' is a legally binding agreement following the termination of your employment. It usually provides for a severance payment by your employer, in return for which you agree not to pursue any claim you may have to an employment tribunal. The only way an employer can be sure that an employee will not complain to a tribunal after redundancy is to persuade them to sign away their right to do so. This can be done in a compromise agreement and has the effect of turning the redundancy package into a "full and final" settlement of any claims the employee has against the employer.

I had a dream that I was on the train sat near this acting chap who was most concerned about his pension and his earnings. Never seen anybody so worried about their pension before.

Susan will want to know how often the website is updated. If you look at the link below to the Senior Officers one of them is no longer with us. Why would one of the senior officers who isn't called Steve go so suddenly? http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/ceo/index_senior_officers.htm

The Chief Executive’s office contacts need an update too. The Head of the Office hasn’t been seen for some time. Another compromise agreement? http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/ceo/index_contacts.htm

This corrupt and dysfunctional Met with the other two corrupt and dysfunctional Mets should be closed forthwith.

Minutes fiasco. PR fiasco. QAA fiasco. AUA fiasco. Security fiasco. Stressed out staff and who knows how many compromise agreements. Time to go?

Staff and students don't deserve this 'rambo' style of managment. This type of behaviour should not be tolerated. Sally and Steve both seem to have over reacted and caused a great deal of distress.

Susan Price will look after Susan Price! She will simply do whatever the chair of governors and other key governors ask her to do!

It will certainly be fun and games with Susan, Sally and the three Steve's. They could all go to the AUA conference to bond.

You're a backstabber, That's just who you are. But in life That wont get you far. You do this To all your friends. You'll have none In the end. You always talk Behind my back. I guess it's social skills You lack. So me and you Aren't friends no more.

Poor managers react instead of plan. Poor management decreases employee morale. Morale is the base of motivation. Motivation is a key component of productivity. Regardless of whether poor management is the result of incompetence or leadership deficits, employees refuse to exert effort for someone who is unable to manage projects or people.

There was a time when I was proud to say I worked for Leeds Met. No more.

Me too nobody seems to care any more.

Rob and Me too Rob - nobody is holding you hostage at your place of employment. If you are that unhappy, why haven't you moved on?

Not that unhappy I'm getting well paid for doing not much. Like many staff i didn't turn up for staff development events and went shopping. Geoff said we didn't have to go. Our senior managers get big salaries for playing games with each other and creeping to Susan. I suppose things will changein January.

Re Options - nice to see professionalism at work (or it would be). Before you retort with "everyone else is doing this", that's not really the attitude for a professional to take, is it? "Geoff said we didn't have to go" - he was probably expecting you to be doing your job instead if you weren't attending the staff development events. You should be ashamed of yourself, imho.

I bet Geoff went shopping in his 5 weeks off. I'm sure I saw him in our aldi.

I worked when it was Leeds Poly training young people for vocational jobs awarding them HNDs and HNCs and running good practically-oriented BScs. Most students were recruited from the Leeds and surrounding Yorkshire areas and most were successful in securing good jobs as they had skills to contribute. There were very few drop outs. But then Leeds Met was born, the director became a VC and at one point Wagner who ruined PNL and UNL arrived and many of us left. Our experience in training young people in Leeds Poly meant that we had no problems in getting jobs at Leeds U and Sheffield U. Many who moan here should shut up and move out. It is clear they cannot get jobs anywhere else and such is the glory of Leeds Met!

Good advice I'm looking for jobs now. I don't like having nothing to do and being managed by people who don't know what they are doing. We do get well paid and have good pensions and you get a compromise agreement and a bundle of money when they want you out.

Commercial Office by any chance?

Spooky. How did you know?

A compromise agreement isn’t necessarily a cosy pay off to gag the recipient. It might be what we need to do to placate victims who might expose bullying, harassment, uncover covered things, - exposing fraud, or management inadequacy. This list might become very long.

I have experienced the negative effects on teams resulting from the excesses of back covering and stabbing among middling managers that is unrivalled of in the private sector. All at the tax payers expense.

Backstabbing. Not nice. Now the Steves are all falling out with each other everything going wrong and there's no-one else left to blame and it's getting very ugly in the Bunker. Anyone got a light?

I don't think the 3 Steve's and Sally should be able to have compromise agreements. Why pay them off? Can't they just resign?

Does it mean Geoff won't get some sort of pay off when Susan takes over? He can't be kept on as a consultant?

We have had blogs on this before. The issue seems to be Geoff's pension from when he left a few years ago and current pay. It's like having your cake and eating it. # Dear Marge 25 August, 2009 Are you seriously suggesting that the university would consider making payments in different time periods to reduce the impact of pension reduction? I don't believe the university would do such a thing. I still believe in the integrity of our senior staff and senior union leaders. # Dear Marge 16 August, 2009 Surely Hefce, Inland Revenue and the Pension authority have rules that must be followed? One thing for certain is that it will be the subject of a freedom of information request.

I'm sorry but I don't understand the concern for Geoff over his pension, tax position and his income. I'm sure he''ll be fine. What about a leaving do?

At least no-one will need to worry about photos at his leaving do. Now that no-one cares that the website is out of date they can use the ones from last time he left, like the ones of last years staff development festival that are still on latest images, last years freshers festival, last years sport, last years leeds met matters, last years everything. Well done Geoff, last years man

Hey you've just gotta laugh.

I'm not laughing I'm worried about my job.

"Is any man afraid of change? Why what can take place without change? What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature? And canst thou take a bath unless the wood undergoes a change? And canst thou be nourished, unless the food undergoes a change? And can anything else that is useful be accomplished without change? Dost thou not see then that for thyself also to change is just the same, and equally necessary for the universal nature?"

Why are you letting them restructure before you join us? We don't think they know what they are doing. Our jobs are under threat and we don't know what is happening. Please help us.

What planet is Geoff on he tells us today 'This week is good news week'. Not for all the admin staff who don't know if we are losing our jobs. Our unions don't seem too concerned either. Go on tell us how many of us are going and when? And if we are so dedicated why are you sacking us?

The university cannot move on whilst self gratifying, self centred managers run around trying desperately to cover their tracks and pretend they have done nothing wrong. Gross incompetence oozes through the ever widening cracks in the armour. Do the honourable thing.

Susan knows what she has to do and I'm confident that she has the bottle to do it. Simon Lee didn't get them out and I'm sure regrets not having encouraged them to go. Why would Susan make the same mistake?

Geoff is pleased to announce that, "with the agreement of the Vice-Chancellor Designate, Professor Sally Brown's role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) has been extended until 31 July 2010. This will enable Sally to continue leading on various academic initiatives and, in particular to Chair the new Quality Enhancement Committee of the Academic Board throughout this academic year". Oh dear looks like Susan's bottle has drained before she's even got here.

Is this a transfer to Sally of responsibility for quality? It could be a good move because it does seem to be an area that needs to be improved. There are lots of rumours about a poor QAA report but nothing official from Geoff.

We don't need the QAA to tell us about 'limited confidence'.

what does all this crap cost me ?

Has Susan agreed to the restructure? and does she know how we feel about it? We are very worried about our jobs and it isn't clear how many of us will be going. Geoff says we are doing great with student recruitment and getting grants so why are our jobs under threat?

I sat next to a man on the train he was reading the 'funnies' he was one minute grining the next scowling, he said he was an important fundraiser. I got up to try to find another seat. He shot me in the back.

I should like to comment on this but cannot as I might be compromised.

I can't comment either. Could we set up a society of former staff who have gone on compromise agreements. How could we get together? Its ok its tax free - don't accept their first offer.

'The formal QAA report will be published this Friday and they will comment that we have not consistently followed best practice in the periodic review of our courses across all of our faculties; neither have we exercised proper institutional oversight. They will express 'limited confidence' in the soundness of the institution's present and future management of the academic standards of its awards.' Will the person responsible be disciplined?

It must be coming clearer to you Susan that you need to do something about the senior team. At least its clear cut and not a matter of wait and see. I do hope you get the opportunity to appoint some external staff who you can trust.

I see UCU have a motion of no confidence in the Governors.

And about time too. The governors need a good shake up and not some arrangement where Keith takes over from Ninian.

Surely that won't happen?

See the Yorkshire Post. Limited confidence from the QAA. No confidence from the staff.

Yes but we didn't need the YP to tell us what is obvious. How could we have any confidence the way the university has been managed this last 12 months. At one time I was proud to say I worked for Leeds Met. Now I don't mention it.

The new VC will need all our backing and not bleating and moaning about not feeling proud. She should be in post now but who can blame her for taking time to move to the north. Anyway soon the pensioner acting as acting will be gone, the Chairman will have resigned and the work on restoring our reputation can begin. My hope is that she has the courage and wisdom to require the stooges to apologise for their mistakes, compensate somehow the victims of their bullying and where necessary offer jobs back to those forced out; and then publish (and be dammed!) the true financial losses on 'sporting partnerships', property deals and corporate over indulgence.

Come on down! I just hope the price was right and not more over the top spending. Senior management are desperate to review and shuffle the pack of workers in an attempt to impress the first lady. Lets hope from the three stevoogies she is able to discard the jokers! The house of cards is looking pretty shaky and with a staff survey on the cards will the the three horseman have the bottle to face the verdict? Will the first lady bring calm to a deck that is being marked as we speak by the poker faced trio? Will silly spending continue with the circus in town next graduation, and most importantly will some of the clowns in charge of Faculties face the final curtain? Here's hoping for at least one INN the cannon. Good luck first Lady and lets hope Father Christmas brings nice presents for all the workers the deserve it!

We certainly deserve better than Sally and the three Steve's. Come on Susan send them on their way. We want you to clean clear the decks. They can't get jobs anywhere else because they are overpaid and over promoted. These people will only bring you down.

And don't waste time and money on them with compromise agreements.

A tale of two reviews. Estates management in-house review. Outcome, plenty of staff recruitment and regarding (upwards). Estates services review, conducted by external consultants (very expensive). Outcome, a condescending fact less speech on cost saving and as you may have guessed front line jobs to go. If the head of estates wants to impress the new v c with cost savings she should look a little closer to home.

What did you expect? And do you expect our unions to do anything? Do you think Geoff knows?

Suggest you attend the current union meetings and vote on the motion of no confidence on the Board of Governors.

Thats right get to the meetings and lets have that no confidence in the Governors and their senior management team. On your way Ninian.

What permanent base does Leeds metropolitan university retain in the £7 million Carnegie stand? I hope the new V C is a rugby fan.

I'm not bothered if she is or not I just want her to get here asap and show some leadership. Lots of headless chickens about.

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/institutional/LeedMetropolitan09/RG543LeedsMetropolitan.pdf In para 77 the report identifies the use of ‘student liaison officers’ as good practice. Is it the AUA cronies who are not trying to get rid of student liaison officers.

Chief operating officers propose over-riding the QAA's example of good practice by losing the student liaison officers, as well as axing 4 grades in the admin staff career structure.

Apparently Susan woulds like the university to sort some of its problems out before she arrives. She doen't want to have to be sorting out senior staff as the first thing she does.

Is she going to use an `unpaid ambassador` who gets free luxury holidays? I volunteer.

Agreement to re-structure being carried out before she picks up the baton is not demonstrating leadership. Hurried, harried and ill-thought out admin re-structure is being proposed, and a dumbing down of key roles.

UCU have voted to ballot on a motion of no confidence in the governance of the University. Will UNISON now follow. Will the Governors do the right thing and resign? The best solution is for new governors and managers to help Susan Price rebuild. The alternative is oblivion.

No confidence - it is not just the governors who need to go. Spineless senior managers who never challenged Lee's regime/ heavy layer of too-well paid delegators need to go too. Staff survey will reveal all.

Get em sorted Susan. Go for it and do it get em sorted good and proper.

Le Tocsin is almost right but naive if he thinks that the staff survey will reveal all. Moreover there is little chance that anyone will resign be it managers, bag carriers or governors, although as we were told previously Ninian Watt will leave in the New Year. The University is a charity and as such it should be reviewed by the Charities Commission. Any money received by Governors should be repaid; the new VC should suspend the thee stooges pending disciplinary action and instigate an investigation into the antics of at least three Deans and certainly those appointed by Lee directly by-passing proper procedures. She should also apologise to those forced to leave because of the bullying of the Lee regime and consider re-appointing some. If Professor Price acts swiftly she will earn herself a huge amount of good will from the rest of the university community and beyond in the Leeds area. If she does not then the rate of erosion will increase and the Met might as well let itself be taken over by Huddersfield or even Leeds Trinity.

Grumpy, surely you mean "suspend the three stooges pending an investigation"?

Hey Leeds Trinity is a fantastic place to work and study. It is managed and governed by people who are honest and with integrity. There is no back stabbing at Trinity and when senior staff go to conferences they behave themselves. Why would we want to take over a shambolic institution?

Make way for another university community in Leeds – Leeds Trinity University College. The University College, previously known as Leeds Trinity & All Saints, is beginning the new academic year with a new title after being granted the power to award its own degrees. The new powers, granted by the Privy Council, mean that Leeds Trinity can design and approve its own courses and award Leeds Trinity University College degrees to its students. Currently the University of Leeds awards degrees to graduates of Leeds Trinity, under an accreditation agreement with the university. The institution has the highest levels of graduate employment in Leeds and will continue to offer degrees with a strong employment focus. Leeds Trinity University College Principal Professor Freda Bridge said, “We have taken a tremendous step forward to becoming the next university in Leeds. Awarding our own taught degrees and changing our name makes the status of the institution clear, both in the UK and internationally.”

Have you got any jobs for us? We wanna get out of this place.

I hope Freda Bridge isn't a rugby league fan !

Well there's a Wakefield Trinity rugby league team so maybe there could also be a Leeds Trinity team? Sadly for rugby union fans, Carnegie still sits at the bottom of the league - but I suppose that's in keeping with other league tables.

I think perhaps you should quietly inform your new VC that one of your much feted managers was in senior postion at TVU when it failed its special QAA review.....it must be unlucky to find yourself in the same situation twice ;o QAA comments then included...."the University is suffering from a serious breakdown of trust between a substantial proportion of its staff and its management" ...reading these I am guessing you are in a similar postion

To: From an interested observer Actually if properly done QAA reviews should fail most, if not all post-92 universities. Nothing unique about TVU case. Close all these post-92 institutions. Get rid off the lot of them.

Your vision Simon and you don't get a mention? Geoff said 'Last night we hosted a very successful opening of Broadcasting Place. It was with great pride that I reminded colleagues of the Board of Governors' commitment to revitalising the University's estate and that we have celebrated the opening of the Rose Bowl, the Carnegie Village and now Broadcasting Place all in a few months. There is no doubt that all three developments have enhanced the profile of the University. They are not only excellent buildings, but they significantly increase our trading opportunities through commercial letting and partnership events. Thank you to all colleagues who have contributed to the development and successful use of all these new additions to the Leeds Met'

Well if Simon is upset about this oversight he can always mention it on his Wikipedia page; why, he can even quote your comment to show the support of his loyal minions.

I am starting to get a bit confused, can someone help me, is Leeds Met funded by HEFCE or by the private sector. The reason I ask this is, on one hand we seem to have a band of managers who appear to be getting away with whatever they choose to do. On the other hand we have managers who would like to bring the University back to doing what managers are been paid to do, that is getting the best value for the University and our Students (Remember the Students are the ones that pay the wages not the AUA or private party’s, lots of Hotels in Leeds who will gladly provide this kind of entertainment and if its true that certain AUA members behaved badly they should be removed now) I know what side I’m on, if the Unions can’t help maybe HEFCE, can, suggestions please.

Its unusual for a new VC not to make changes at the top.....I would suggest Ms Price will need to be seen to make some changes in order to satisfy HEFCE....I am guessling Leed Met are on their 'at risk' list.

Freda Bridge as well as being a very fine leader - is a rugby fan (there is only one kind that matters) She supports Saint Helens - yet we loiners support her nevertheless

How could the managers be to blame for the poor performance of the university after all they have recieved massive performance related pay rises in the last five years and they have reached the targets necessary to trigger their bonuses. How could the Governors be responsible after all they work hard for their pay and expenses. A well earned trip to Ripley Castle is just what they need. How could UCU be so ungrateful as to ballot its members on a motion of no confidence in the Governors. How spiteful of the staff to make such negative comments in their first staff survey in five years. What do QAA know about standards. Why should HEFCE get involved.What is the Yorkshire Post whining about.Can't people just stop complaing on THES. Nothing to see here, just move on.

I don't complain, just tell me what it cost to sponsor the rugby league challenge cup, Indian film money bin, black dyke band, leeds carnegie egg chuckers, the very poor yorkshire one day cricket team, some lady in a yellow boat ?, and a load more minority gunk we the tax payer can ill afford.

'Business firmly woven into the fabric of new framework' Might be good news for a post 92 Uni but..................... Oh no we've really had it now! Susan pleeeeeeeease Give business back to the Business School and get rid of underperforming high cost 'Commercial' freeloaders on appointment. Start again on the innovation and enterprise message that might, in future, with your help and some new appointments and culling be a real strength at Leeds Met.

"In modern usage, legal or administrative bodies with strict, arbitrary rulings and secretive proceedings are sometimes called, metaphorically or poetically, star chambers. This is a pejorative term and intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings. The inherent lack of objectivity of any politically motivated charges has led to substantial reforms in English law in most jurisdictions since that time."

Nice one.

Partnerships, Liverpool Hope, QAA, Simon Lee, make the connections. Should we worry?

What? A vast 'regional' network all the way down to London, and a collaborative provision audit coming up, what could possibly go wrong...

Someone should tell our inept management to stop digging. Susan Price might well want problems sorted before she arrives but that is plainly beyond the three stooges and blunderwoman. Issuing edicts is not management. Geoff the bullying is still taking place on your watch, they just smile as they do it now. Roll on the next early retirement scheme.

The sooner Susan Price gets started and makes the necessary management and structural changes to sort out the university the better. One of the principal reasons for the very poor outcome to the recent QAA Audit was that the quality assurance processes within the university were accorded no importance and were significantly downplayed during the Lee regime. No thought was given as to how the quality control processes located in Schools and the quality assurance processes located in faculties/the university could operate once Schools were abolished. One consequence of these uncertainties was that most of the staff involved in quality assurance were completely marginalised, and many were very glad to have been given the opportunity to escape from employment at the university, with the loss of a wealth of valuable experience. Most of the managers who remained, at both university and faculty levels and many of whom are still in post, had little/no experience of these quality assurance processes, and they lacked both the interest and integrity to engage with them effectively. Thus the internal conduct of the QAA Audit was badly managed, with the inevitable outcome. The knee-jerk reaction to the audit has been to move the quality assurance processes down a bureaucratic path administratively driven by a check-list/tick-box approach. This clearly demonstrates the management's ignorance of what such processes are really about or how they should operate to enhance the quality of provision. And yet the managers still continue in much the same vein post-Lee. Current demoralising proposals to re-structure admin staff in faculties will lead to the down-grading and de-skilling of even more experienced staff, with the inevitable departures which will follow. This is an absolute disgrace - something for the new V/C to engage with before another disaster happens. The common theme here is that of a set of managers - pro VCs, Deans and Associate Deans, senior Registry staff etc - who are manifestly unsuitable in the management of the academic side of the university, let alone the financial elements. The new V/C will need to make significant changes in her team of senior managers if the university is to escape the damage of recent years. And then of course there are the governors...

Have we got the worst senior management team ever?

Try and get a decision out of anybody in the estates senior management team. More layers than an onion.

Not long now Susan. Get yourself fit and ready for sorting out the senior management team.

Connections tell me that the 3 stooges have been privately re-assured there will be no purge and probably no real action other than already arranged 'retirements' being brought forward. Surely you have seen the smug grins on the faces of them all? Shame really wasted opportunity.

I don't think so let's wait and see. Susan wants to make a name for herself and the best of luck to her.

What does Susan think of the article in todays YP? Would any VC want the three Steve's as their senior advisers?

What connection does leeds met have with My Peak Potential LTD, in other words who gets paid what?