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Dear Jenny, First of all to put you in the picture about W'ton, a thumbnail sketch of what we do and how we are working on networks. Here we have an ED committee chaired by the Deputy VC who has in all his roles here shown a strong commitment to E&D. The committee has representatives from all our Schools and the Unions, and at present some but not all departments. At present after a couple of committee training days to look at how the committee works (one of them run for us by Naseem from Glasgow) we are working on strengthening the school link, i.e. ensuring that these reps report to an appropriate committee in their School, some schools have an EDC, for others the right place is their School Board etc . We want two way communication on ED matters so we want their feedback on what we do. Our first staff network arose after the Carter Fenton Modood report on ethnic minority employment in HE to which you refer. It was set up to consult with staff and get a sense of the main issues and possible solutions as they saw things. This network which is still going is chaired by the DVC but confines itself to institutional and wider issues though it has served to link individuals who have supported each other as friends with specific issues. It has been strongly supported by each successive VC and they have from time to time sent out messages to all managers saying that staff should be allowed the time to attend network meetings (3 a year) We are looking to refresh this approach as we feel we keep covering the same ground and are going to discuss some other models with the group. All our other networks arose as consultative groups from the legislation. Some are still solely consultative but we hope to make the transition to a networks when we are clearer about appropriate models and the best way forward for tying them into our institutional structures. The Black Staff network has been successful in that we usually have a minimum of about 20 attending, most has probably been about 45, and the staff seem to have fruitful discussions in the small groups we organise to give feedback in the meeting. We have regular reports from Personnel Services (yes it is still Personnel here and I must say I like that ) on staffing matters and we have looked at policies etc. which hasn't produced much comment from the group. Those attending are invited to put items on the agenda, they rarely do beforehand but things do come up in the meeting. The fact of senior management support has been important, and the last meeting was good as we had two black governors to talk about their lives, how they came to be governors and what governors do. Their experience seemed to chime with many of those present and there was a real feeling of camaraderie at that meeting. Lots of people went up to talk to the governors after the meeting. The idea for these speakers came from the DVC. Anyway I don't know how much help this is to you but you might find it interesting. Berry ________________________________ From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jenny Woodhouse Sent: 08 May 2008 11:30 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Staff race equality networks Dear colleagues I have recently taken over responsibility, pro tem, for work in the area of race equality. We have recently attempted to launch a race equality network, with very little initial take-up. As a white woman I can only speculate as to why this is - whether our global majority (thanks to Gus John for the formulation) staff simply don't want a network, or whether the culture discourages them from seeking to network, for instance by locating the 'problem' with the individual rather than the culture (Carter, Fenton, Modood, c. 1998). I'd be very grateful for any information colleagues can give me about successful networks, how they have been set up, how they function, and any suggestion such as speakers who might help us to focus. With best wishes to all - sorry to trouble you again so soon! Jenny Jenny Woodhouse Equality and Diversity Policy Officer University of Cambridge Human Resources Division 25 Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1QA 01223 332344 Please note that I work part-time. My normal working days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.