Disability Equality Scheme 2006 - 2009:
2. Management and Responsibilities

2.1 The University's commitment to promoting disability equality is progressed through the University Court and by staff in management and leadership positions who are required to be proactive in tackling unlawful disability discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and good relations between disabled and non-disabled people. All members of the University community are responsible for supporting the implementation of the Disability Equality Scheme (DES) and Action Plan, and individual responsibilities in this respect are set out in 2.2 to 2.14 below.

2.2 The University Court has ultimate responsibility for:

Ensuring that the University complies with the statutory requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (2001) and the Disability Discrimination Act (2005), and ensuring that the University meets the General and Specific Duties of the Disability Equality Duty.
Ensuring that the DES and Action Plan are implemented, monitored and reviewed.

2.3 The University Senate is responsible for:

Regulating and overseeing the academic work of the University to ensure consideration of disability equality issues in all academic-related services from admission through all teaching and research activities to graduation.

2.4 The Principal is responsible for:

Providing a consistent and high profile lead on issues that involve disability equality and for promoting an institutional culture that recognises the importance of equality of opportunity.

2.5 The University Secretary is responsible for:

Promoting and supporting the DES both within and outwith the University.
Ensuring that the promotion of disability equality is central to the University's Corporate Vision and Strategic Plans.
Ensuring that Managers and Directors fulfil their role in delivering the DES.

2.6 Vice Principals, Heads of College, Deans, Directors, Managers and Heads of School are responsible for:

Ensuring that the DES as it affects their areas of responsibility, is put into practice.
Ensuring that staff operate within the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty and the aims of the DES.
Giving a consistent lead on the mainstreaming of disability equality requirements within all their relevant functions.
Ensuring that appropriate action is taken whenever complaints of unlawful disability discrimination are raised by staff and students.
Taking action in response to staff or students who are acting in breach of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality Duty.
Encouraging, supporting and enabling all staff and students to reach their full potential.
Ensuring that staff are aware of their responsibilities to promote disability equality and that they receive appropriate support, training and information to carry out their activities effectively and equitably.

2.7 The Equality and Diversity Working Group (EDWG) (a subgroup of the University's Human Resources Committee) is responsible for:

Ongoing monitoring and development of the DES.
Ensuring the DES is published, promoted, monitored and reviewed and the results of the Action Plan are published in an accessible format, on an annual basis, to all staff, students and the external University community.
Ensuring all members of the University community are given appropriate support to enable them to implement the requirements of the DES within their area of activity and in line with their University role.
Ensuring that disability equality training opportunities and guidance are available and form part of the University's staff development strategy.

2.8 The Equality and Diversity Officer is responsible for:

Promoting, advancing and co-ordinating equality and diversity initiatives across the University for both staff and students according to legislative requirements and best practice.
Contributing to strategy and developing annual action plans for equality and diversity objectives.
Producing reports to appropriate committees and an annual report to the University Court outlining achievements.
Updating existing policies and developing new policies according to legislative requirements.

2.9 The Head of Disability Services is responsible for:

Acting as the main University contact for disability compliance issues.
Providing advice and guidance to senior management on inclusive practice and disability-related legislation.
Raising awareness of disability services, issues and inclusive practice with all members of the University community.
Monitoring and reviewing the University's policies and procedures in response to disability-related legislation and quality assurance requirements.
Co-ordinating and delivering disability-related staff development opportunities.
Producing reports for University committees as appropriate, including an annual progress report on Disability Services' Performance Indicators for the University Court.
Progressing the development of the University's Disability Equality Scheme and response to the Action Plan.

2.10 All Teaching Staff, including part-time, visiting and temporary lecturers are responsible for:

Ensuring that curriculum design, delivery and assessment are inclusive, meet the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty and reflect the priorities of the University's Disability Equality Scheme.
Supporting the provision of a learning environment that promotes equality of opportunity and good relations between disabled and non-disabled people.

2.11 All Employees of the University are responsible for:

Supporting the implementation of the Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan and complying with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality Duty.
Ensuring they are aware of disability-related issues by undertaking disability-related training and staff development opportunities as part of their continuous professional development.
Promoting disability equality and non-discriminatory practice.

2.12 All Students of the University are responsible for:

Ensuring that their behaviour promotes positive relationships between disabled and non-disabled people.
Supporting the aims of the University's Disability Equality Scheme.

2.13 All members of the public, visiting or engaging with the University, are responsible for:

Supporting the aims of the University's Disability Equality Scheme.

2.14 Contractors and Service Providers for the University are responsible for:

Complying with the statutory requirements of the Disability Equality Duty in the provision of services to the University. It is a requirement of the General Duty that, when institutions procure the services of other providers, and where those services are disability equality relevant, the institution remains responsible for ensuring that Contractors and Service Providers meet the requirements of the Disability Equality Duty.

2.15 The University requires all staff, students and others associated with the University to support the University's obligations under the Disability Equality Duty and the aims of this Disability Equality Scheme. The University will take appropriate action in response to any person associated with the University who disregards these obligations and aims.

2.16 Any person who feels they have been treated in a way that is not consistent with the University's obligations under the Disability Equality Duty should write to the University Secretary outlining their concerns.

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