UTech, Ja Annual Report 2017-18

University of Technology, Jamaica “Pioneering Past; Bright Future ” ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 25 the resignation of Dr Dave Muir from the University. In keeping with the requirement of the UTech, Jamaica Act, new members of Council and the Academic Board were duly appointed by the Cabinet through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and by the Pro-Chancellor respectively. Achievements in keeping with Committee Deliverables A part of the focus of the work plan of the Unit is directed towards supporting the execution of the terms of reference of those committees for which it is responsible. Several aspects of its work programme addressed reserved business deliberations of the Council and hence are excluded from this report. These underpinned the work related to the following: - Human Resources Committee - President’s Targets Ad Hoc Committee - Remuneration Committee - University Appointments and Promotions Committee The work involved communicating the decisions of Council and the Academic Board to the relevant officers and tracking the completion of the activities and updating the Council and Academic Board as necessary. Follow up actions also included facilitating the work of the University Registrar in bringing to the attention of the Minister of Education matters as identified by the Council such as the approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the Years Ending March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017. Honorary Doctorates and Other Awards The University had been invited in January 2018 to submit nominees for Honorary Degrees 2017. Three persons were selected by the Committee, subsequently approved by the Academic Board and the Council, to receive Honorary Doctorates for 2017. The University presented two persons for consideration by the Chancery to receive the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to the Nation for 2017. Both were successful - Professor Vernon Buchanan , Faculty of Engineering and Computing and Mrs. Patricia Eves-McKenzie – retired Senior Counsellor. Development / Review of Governance Instruments Work continued by the Secretariat, spearheaded by the Governance Unit on the amendment and development of existing and new Governance Instruments. The University was invited, by way of a Call for Input, to make submissions for inclusion in the Governance Work Plan, the finalised documents from which were approved by the Council. These governance instruments addressed administrative related areas. Final approval for academic related instruments is granted by the Academic Board, with the exception of Regulations which require the approval of the Council as guided by the UTech, Jamaica Act. New Projects Relocation of Corporate Records to the University Archives The proposed relocation of corporate records from the University Secretariat to the University Archives was an initiative of the Unit for 2017/2018. It was driven by challenge of limited office space