Dear Colleagues,

While I accept that EO Committees are a good idea, it is important to be
minded of the RRAA General and Specific Duty requirements, when ensuring the
effectiveness with which the Committee will need to deal with the race part
of the Equality and Diversity Brief.

For instance certain pertinent questions will need to be answered by the
Terms of Reference, for example:

1. How are the "real" as opposed to the "perceived or prescribed" race
issues going to be identified, fed to the Committee, and dealt with
effectively and from a mainstream and institutional way?

2. How is the representation of Minority Ethnic staff and students, from
different racial groups, going to be ensured on the Committee?

3. If it is,how will this representation be authenticated to ensure it takes
into account the actual issues of all staff and all students, from all the
different racial groups within the institution. It needs to be remembered
that different racial groups have different needs that will need to be
clearly defined through meaningful dialogue.

4. How will meaningful dialogue, debate and any other communication be
ensured, between the Committee and staff and students, from different racial
groups in order to monitor,impact assess, review and take appropriate action
regarding the effects of institutional policies, aims, processes, procedures
and mechanisms.

5. Will the Committee Members receive any Equality and Diversity training?
If so, how will their needs be established, by whom.

6. How will the training be provided and by whom?

Though not exhaustive, the above are some of the questions that will need to
be answered appropriately, lest the formation and constitution of the EO
Committee is seen to be in conflict with the requirements of the RRAA
Duties.

As usual, all comments, suggestions, resultant issues, will be most welcome.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Mannie Kusemamuriwo
Policy Adviser: Ethnicity & Cultural Diversity
Equality Challenge Unit
3rd Floor, 4 Tavistock Place
London  WC1H 9RA

Tel 020 7520 7063
Fax 020 7520 7069
[log in to unmask]



-----Original Message-----
From: Clare Martlew [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 August 2003 11:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Equalities committees


Dear Colleagues

This is a copy of our EO structure - the Committee was the last element to
be completed.

regards

Clare Martlew
Human Resources Manager
Tel: (01782 58)4376
Email: [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Elizabeth Jean Rosemary
Burchett
Sent: 11 August 2003 10:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Equalities committees


Dear Colleagues

I would be grateful for some information on pre 1992 universities and
their position in relation to establishing equalities committees, terms
of reference, council membership, lines of reporting.  We have an
informal equalities working group at present but are considering whether
to establish a more formal committee.

Any information would be appreciated so that we can see what the
approach is elsewhere.

Regards


Liz

Liz Burchett, Equalities Co-ordinator
Room 325, level 3, Sussex House,
University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH
Tel 01273 877602   Email:
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