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Dear Alistair et al Thank you for your responses; I don't think a letter to the Times Higher would a helpful response at this point in my campaign to improve the pay and conditions associated with that role. It's worth noting that Bath Spa has a new Vice-Chancellor and is moving from being a financially-focussed organisation to an academically-led university. There are plenty of opportunities to improve issues, but the new leadership deserves a chance to implement new policies and systems before we go denouncing the whole University (or even it's HR department) in the national press. As I mentioned before, I am working to improve the situation; advertising the job widely at this rate is part of the process. I think the most helpful response to me and others on the list is, as Pauline suggested, a comparison of pay and associated responsibility. Thank you all for your support; I will keep you updated on how the campaign progresses. I look forward to the ammunition of comparative roles from around the UK (world?). Best wishes, Joelle *Joelle Adams, FSEDA, FHEA* *Writing and Learning Centre and FASTECH* *Bath Spa University* T: +44 (0)1225 876365 Visit www.bathspa.ac.uk Join us on: Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bath.spa.university> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/#!/BathSpaUni> | YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/BathSpaUniversity> | LinkedIn<http://www.linkedin.com/company/bath-spa-university> Newton Park, Bath, BA2 9BN *Think before you print * *Disclaimer * If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it from your system. Any views or opinions expressed in personal emails are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Bath Spa University. Neither Bath Spa University nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for viruses. On 9 August 2012 06:24, Pauline Ridley <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Re my earlier suggestion, if people would like to send me examples of > local job descriptions and pay scales, I will try and collate an anonymised > summary (probably not until October now due to various other commitments so > if anyone else can do it sooner please get in touch with me). > > Best wishes > Pauline > ------------ > Pauline Ridley > [log in to unmask] > > > On 9 Aug 2012, at 01:59, "Alistair McCulloch" < > [log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Hell folks**** > > ** ** > > Here’s my initial response to the advert (which I sent to John Hilsdon the > day it was circulated. [I think I’m the ‘greetings from Adelaide’ bit in > the subject line!])**** > > ** ** > > “I’m prompted to write because of the following post to the LDHEN list > (which I believe you ‘own’) this morning. I read the email and thought that > the pay rate was very low and then read the job description/person spec and > found myself getting angry that a university was trying to get away with > this level of exploitation (as a simple example, its pitched at only 4 pds > an hour above the minimum wage and expects a postgraduate qualification). I > toyed with responding to the list in much the same terms I’m writing to you > (which I’m happy to do if you feel it would raise appropriate questions), > and with a letter to the Times Higher to ask what on earth was happening in > UK HE when this sort of value is attached to the skills and qualifications > this post demands. **** > > ** ** > > In constructing a response in my head (as you so while you’re musing on > something) I did think of asking whether the list should refuse to carry > adverts for such exploitative positions as it makes it (the list) complicit > in the process of driving down the profession of learning adviser. Its bad > enough that positions are being pushed towards the professional side of the > university, but to offer the same amount of money an hour as I used to > receive for first year tutoring (in groups of 8 students) in 1980 as a research > student is an insult to both the profession of LA and also to the person > they’ll be employing.”**** > > ** ** > > I saw the response from Bath Spa (below) which said ‘this is how the role > has been graded by the HR department again and again’ and wondered about > the incompetence of the department or the direction the University is going > (i.e. is it cock-up or conspiracy?). Whichever it is, it still makes me > annoyed!**** > > ** ** > > Rant over.**** > > ** ** > > All the best**** > > ** ** > > Alistair**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* learning development in higher education network [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *McMorrow, Martin > *Sent:* Thursday, 9 August 2012 7:14 AM > *To:* <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Casual learning developer post at Bath Spa University - > Greetings from Adelaide**** > > ** ** > > Hi Joelle and all,**** > > ** ** > > I think everyone sympathises with your dilemma – i.e. between a ‘needs’ > rock and a budget ‘hard place’. Wouldn’t the UK Tertiary Education Union be > involved in the process, though? Here in NZ, we’ve found the union very > helpful in making a case for pay, conditions and recognition. By the way, > the centre I work for pays casual part-time student mentors the equivalent > of 13 pounds an hour – and New Zealand, in general, is a low-wage economy > compared to the UK. So, the pay on offer there for a senior staff member > does seem out of proportion to the skills and experience required. Good > luck with it!**** > > ** ** > > Martin McMorrow**** > > Massey University, New Zealand**** > > ** ** > > *From:* learning development in higher education network [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Pauline Ridley > *Sent:* Thursday, 9 August 2012 3:04 a.m. > *To:* <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Casual learning developer post at Bath Spa University - > Greetings from Adelaide**** > > ** ** > > I think this is just the kind of thing that this network and ALDinHE could > help with. If we can gather a cross section of job descriptions and pay > rates from sessional tutors and student mentors through to full time senior > posts then we could perhaps publish a sector good practice guide on the > ALDinHE site. This approach has been helpful in other sectors like arts and > museums where underpay and job insecurity are rife. > > Best wishes **** > > Pauline**** > > ------------**** > > Pauline Ridley**** > > ** ** > > > On 8 Aug 2012, at 15:45, "Joelle Adams" < <[log in to unmask]> > [log in to unmask]> wrote:**** > > Dear John, Jeanette, et al **** > > ** ** > > I agree - I think the rate of pay is 'shocking'; unfortunately, this is > how the role has been graded by the HR department again and again. There is > no option (at the moment) of hiring a permanent person on a fractional > post, so this is the option we're left with. What I need is this kind of > feedback to add my case about comparative roles in the sector, so if anyone > has any examples of job descriptions and rates they are willing to share, > I'd be most grateful.**** > > ** ** > > Rest assured I'm working on it....**** > > ** ** > > Best wishes,**** > > Joelle**** > > ** ** > > *Joelle Adams, FSEDA, FHEA***** > > *Writing and Learning Centre and FASTECH***** > > *Bath Spa University***** > > T: +44 (0)1225 876365**** > > Visit <http://www.bathspa.ac.uk>www.bathspa.ac.uk**** > > Join us on: Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bath.spa.university> | > Twitter <https://twitter.com/#!/BathSpaUni> | YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/BathSpaUniversity> > | LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/company/bath-spa-university>**** > > Newton Park, Bath, BA2 9BN**** > > ** ** > > *Think before you print ***** > > ** ** > > *Disclaimer ***** > > If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it > from **** > > your system. Any views or opinions expressed in personal emails are solely > those **** > > of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Bath Spa > University. **** > > Neither Bath Spa University nor the sender accepts any responsibility for > viruses **** > > and it is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for > viruses.**** > > ** ** > > On 8 August 2012 12:01, Jeanette Rowley < <[log in to unmask]> > [log in to unmask]> wrote:**** > > **** > > **** > > I must admit, I was shocked by the rate too.**** > > **** > > Jeanette**** > > **** > > **** > > **** > > **** > > *From:* learning development in higher education network [mailto:<[log in to unmask]> > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *John Hilsdon > *Sent:* 08 August 2012 11:59 > *To:* <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Casual learning developer post at Bath Spa University - > Greetings from Adelaide**** > > **** > > Dear Joelle and all**** > > **** > > I’m only recently back from leave and had missed your email (below). **** > > **** > > I am concerned about the rate of pay being offered here, despite your > comments about there being plenty of opportunities for hours and > professional development. I guess I’d be less concerned if this were a > graduate internship role and if it were not for your use of the word > ‘senior’ in the description of the role as ‘Senior Writing and Learning > Centre Associate’. More specifically, the details given include the > following paragraph: **** > > **** > > *“You will undertake activities such as designing and delivering bespoke > workshops, conducting 1:1 tutorials, and contributing to the day-to-day > running of the Centre. With an excellent understanding of academic writing > conventions and some experience of developing students’ learning in higher > education, you’ll be a clear, confident communicator who can engage > students in order to improve their learning.”***** > > * ***** > > These are exactly the kinds of skilled activities, and ‘profile’ I’d look > for in a learning developer. Here at Plymouth University I’d not be happy > having anyone conduct tutorials or teaching (‘delivering workshops’) on > such a low rate of pay. I might be happier if this person were assisting > with or contributing to these activities. An LD post here would *start*at £31,020 pa – with 30 days paid leave. This equates to about £18 per > hour. For comparative purposes it may be useful to know that our > undergraduate peer learning leaders are rewarded with honoraria equating to > £8.00 per hour. Their key role is to plan and facilitate group learning > sessions for fellow students and to liaise with Learning Developers and > academics.**** > > **** > > I am sure that Joelle is offering a great opportunity for the role-holder > to develop their experience in LD in higher education and it may be that I > have misinterpreted the level of responsibility they will have in practice > - but I felt it important to flag up these concerns.**** > > **** > > With best wishes**** > > **** > > John**** > > **** > > John Hilsdon > Head of Learning Support and Wellbeing**** > > Room 102, 3 Endsleigh Place > University of Plymouth > Drake Circus > Plymouth > PL4 8AA **** > > 01752 587750 > > <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] **** > > *MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from > "www.plymouth.ac.uk" claiming to be* <http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/learn><http://www.learningdevelopment.plymouth.ac.uk> > www.learningdevelopment.plymouth.ac.uk**** > > **** > > ** ** > > **** > > **** > > **** > > *From:* learning development in higher education network [mailto:<[log in to unmask]> > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Joelle Adams > *Sent:* Tuesday, 31 July 2012 11:23 PM > *To:* <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Casual learning developer post at Bath Spa University**** > > **** > > Bath Spa University is seeking a Senior Writing and Learning Centre > Associate at £10.35/hour.**** > > **** > > Please pass on to any suitable candidates in the Bath/Bristol area. Though > the pay looks low, there are plenty of opportunities for hours and > professional development. All queries should be directed to me at > <[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] or 01225 876365.**** > > **** > > Details are available here: <http://www2.bathspa.ac.uk/services/hr/jobs/current-vacancies/07_12_CSWL.pdf> > http://www2.bathspa.ac.uk/services/hr/jobs/current-vacancies/07_12_CSWL.pdf > **** > > **** > > Regards,**** > > Joelle**** > > **** > > *Joelle Adams, FSEDA, FHEA***** > > *Writing and Learning Centre and FASTECH***** > > *Bath Spa University***** > > T: +44 (0)1225 876365**** > > Visit www.bathspa.ac.uk**** > > Join us on: Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bath.spa.university> | > Twitter <https://twitter.com/#!/BathSpaUni> | YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/BathSpaUniversity> > | LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/company/bath-spa-university>**** > > Newton Park, Bath, BA2 9BN**** > > **** > > *Think before you print ***** > > **** > > *Disclaimer ***** > > If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it > from **** > > your system. Any views or opinions expressed in personal emails are solely > those **** > > of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Bath Spa > University. **** > > Neither Bath Spa University nor the sender accepts any responsibility for > viruses **** > > and it is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachments for > viruses.**** > > **** > > ** ** > > > ___________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by MessageLabs' Email Security > System on behalf of the University of Brighton. > For more information see <http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/> > http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/ > ___________________________________________________________**** > > > ___________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by MessageLabs' Email Security > System on behalf of the University of Brighton. > For more information see <http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/> > http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/ > ___________________________________________________________**** > > ___________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by MessageLabs' Email Security > System on behalf of the University of Brighton. > For more information see <http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/> > http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/ > ___________________________________________________________ > > > ___________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by MessageLabs' Email Security > System on behalf of the University of Brighton. > For more information see http://www.brighton.ac.uk/is/spam/ > ___________________________________________________________ >