{"id":3993,"date":"2026-07-15T20:49:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/?p=3993"},"modified":"2026-08-25T19:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T18:22:47","slug":"grace-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/21percent.org\/?p=3993","title":{"rendered":"Grace Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Studio publicity still of Grace Kelly for the film Rear Window<\/em> (1954)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Grace<\/a> has now secured more than the required 50 signatures to proceed to a vote of Regent House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The petition will remain open for additional signatures until 5pm on 17 September 2026, and we encourage all colleagues who are members of Regent House to consider adding their support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grace was motivated primarily by difficulties experienced by staff in the MRC Epidemiology Uni<\/a>t and within University Information Services (UIS), alongside longstanding concerns about the handling of Grievances<\/a>. We see the Grace as a constructive opportunity to address these issues and improve current practices. The 21 Group also recognises the considerable pressures faced by junior HR staff in recent years and believes they stand to benefit from the proposed changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epidemiology is the first MRC Unit to be reorganised following funding changes. Mitochondrial Biology, Toxicology, Metabolic Diseases and Biostatistics are to follow. This has already resulted in dozens of redundancies in Epidemiology, with ~100 likely to be put at risk in the other units. Likewise, UIS staff are being placed at risk of job losses, seemingly without proper procedures being followed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We would be grateful if colleagues could continue to raise awareness of the Grace, as we believe it merits the widest possible support in the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In separate news, Professor Kamal Munir has announced that he will step down as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Community and Engagement in September. The announcement, along with the Vice-Chancellor\u2019s tribute, is available online here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We wish Professor Munir every success in his future teaching and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe this transition presents an opportunity for a reset. The next Pro-Vice-Chancellor should be a reform-minded leader, prepared to address areas of the University that are not functioning as effectively as they should, including aspects of the HR division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the six-year term, this is a consequential decision. The University must take the time \u2014 and show the resolve \u2014 to appoint the right person for the challenges ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Studio publicity still of Grace Kelly for the film Rear Window (1954) The Grace has now secured more than the required 50 signatures to proceed to a vote of Regent House. The petition will remain open for additional signatures until 5pm on 17 September\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t