Issue 7

 University of Bolton reach undisclosed settlement with Markeys

 
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13787658.Undisclosed_settlement_reached_after_University_of_Bolton_staff_sacked_for_gross_misconduct/

Unabridged copy of letter from CEUB published in Saturday's Bolton News

University of Bolton’s poor showing in the Sunday Times league table will come as no surprise to observers of the way the place has been run over the last few years.  It’s the culmination of bad management decisions and poor oversight by the Board of Governors. As well as failing utterly in their duty of care to staff who now operate in a climate of fear, the Governors have also have sanctioned financial decisions that in most other institutions would be considered at the very least questionable. Legitimate concerns remain over these financial decisions. There are also question marks over the vice-chancellor’s professional qualifications and his awarding of honorary doctorates to staff members in apparent contravention of guidelines. The Campaign for an Ethical University of Bolton has submitted over twenty Freedom of Information requests around these issues to try to bring some clarity to the situation. Each one has been rebuffed, for the flimsiest of reasons, including one nonsensical claim that the person making the request was using a pseudonym.  As a result the University is being referred to the Information Commissioner. All universities in England are independent of government ministries and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The only check on the governance of the University of Bolton therefore is the Board of Governors. As the vice-chancellor seeks to blame the league tables themselves for the University’s failings, it seems clear that neither he nor the Board of Governors are up to the job. Bolton deserves better. Much better.

Chris Chilton

Joe Whittaker

Tom Hanley

Phil Vasili

Campaign for an Ethical University of Bolton (CEUB)