A number of changes to the Academic Registrar’s Office are due to take effect from April this year. This is to enhance capacity and resilience in key administrative areas for students, academic staff and academic and general services.

The changes, which will take effect from 23 April, are as follows:

• Roberta Wooldridge Smith, Deputy Academic Registrar, will become the professional lead for the teaching and learning agenda and will work with the related Pro-Vice-Chancellors in this regard. She will also provide enhanced support for those working in academic administration in academic departments.
• Andrew Higgins, Director of Student Admissions and Recruitment (SARO) will move into the role of Director of the Academic Office, taking the lead on student administrative processes and the Graduate School.
• A new Director of Research Support Services (RSS) has recently been appointed. Catherine Cochrane will take up the role from
  Wednesday 18 June 2014. Catherine is currently the Head of Research Support, Finance & Governance at the University of Liverpool, responsible for a team of 50 staff covering pre and post award, research management systems, research ethics and a joint research office with the local health service. Previously Catherine has worked in a range of roles in the North East and North West covering regional engagement, innovation and partnership both in higher education and local government sectors. More information will be shared with colleagues once Catherine joins the University.

These changes will also provide an opportunity to look specifically at the optimal relationship between SARO and Marketing prior to recruiting a new Director of SARO. Until a new Director is appointed, Delyth Chambers, who has been working with the Academic Registrar’s Office over the past year, will provide leadership support to SARO on a consultancy basis. Delyth has served as Director to the equivalent services in both the universities of Manchester and Birmingham and is a respected expert in the sector for this area.