Cambridge University Reporter No 6597, Wednesday 25 November 2020, Vol 151, No 9

The Board of Scrutiny provides independent analysis and oversight on behalf of the Regent House, examining the Annual Report of the Council (including that of the General Board to the Council); the Abstract of the Accounts; and any Report of the Council proposing allocations from the Chest. [...] Therefore the Board has agreed, in light of the current circumstances and in particular, of the delayed publication of the Allocations Report, to publish its now customary Annual Report at the start of the academic year, and to then report to Regent House with a Supplementary Report on the finances. [...] Before commenting on the areas that the Board has specifically focused its attention on this year – the Size and Shape of the University, the Foundation Year and the new Discipline Code – we first provide an update on the situation at the UCS and the DRC, as well as a brief commentary on the Careers Service and on the Office of Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals (OSCCA). [...] The Board recommends that the Council publishes a full report on the Foundation Year, detailing the objectives of the programme; the rationale for the proposed content and delivery mode; the criteria for admission onto and progression from; a cost-benefit analysis; the indicators that will be used to determine whether the programme has been successful; and long-term funding implications. [...] The Board recommends that the Council commissions a study to develop a transparent understanding (for internal use and distinct from TRAC) of the financial impact of research to support a unified strategy which the centre and the departments can share, for the sustainability and optimal direction of research excellence in the future.