Thread by @felicitycallard

Today's reading: getting to grips w recent history of UUK, particularly in relation to 2014 consultation on USS funding. Placing these public links on Twitter for others to read, digest & use as we piece together last few years.
Too tired to comment today. #ucustrike #USsstrikes

UUK's response (2 December 2014) to USS consultation document on 2014 Actuarial Valuation (October 2014). Document provides glimpse of how UUK, working with their advisers Aon Hewitt, was thinking at the end of 2014 employerspensionsforum.co.uk/sites/default/…

I am now slowly reading through the university (& college) responses to the 2014 UUK USS valuation consultations -- only possible because of all @nm_davies's amazing FOI work. (Search under 2014 AND USS & UUK here whatdotheyknow.com) #ucustrike #ussstrike

I am trying to get a sense of discourse around these 2014 responses. All sorts of provisos should be made here in terms of assessing overall discourse. Missing data of all kinds. #ucustrike #ussstrikes

Including at least one instance (Cardiff, which was, it should be emphasised, helpful in its desire to remedy the situation) of: "we no longer hold a
copy of the [2014] response, however have requested a copy from UUK which we will forward once received. "whatdotheyknow.com/request/respon…

There's a whole other project to be done here on recent histories & sociologies of university paperwork; on which note, see: zonebooks.org/books/38-the-d… #ussstrikes #ucustrike

All substantive comments on the discursive characteristics of the available 2014 responses as a whole to be deferred to some future moment, when I have more energy or more time. (Hint: This is also an invitation to others.) #ucustrike #ussstrikes

Just one response for now. It's the 2014 response from University of Birmingham, dated 9 Sept 2014 & signed by Provost & Vice-Principal Professor Adam Tickell whatdotheyknow.com/request/440691…

I am fully aware of the danger of over-investing in the name of one signatory, given the collective nature of these responses, & the constraints of this genre. I also haven't yet read the full body of these 2014 responses.

But from what I've read so far, not every response emphasised one particular lack of understanding on the part of Ernst & Young in their assessment of the USS covenant; #ussstrike #ucustrike

Adam Tickell stated: "We feel the assessment showed a lack of understanding of the sector's need to hold reserves to fund capital programs required to support institutional development at a time of increasing competition in the market" #ussstrikes whatdotheyknow.com/request/440691…

To be clear; I am sure that this is a not unusual position for a university to have in 2014. I'd appreciate if others could take a look at the whole body of 2014 responses & reflect further. Right now, I need to get some rest before Monday. #ucustrike #ussstrikes

So many thanks to @nm_davies for all the work and brilliance and persistence behind these FOI requests #ucustrike #ussstrikes

All in the thread below should be contextualised through a MUSTREAD from @CLIVEYB. It's an excellent & complex account of the shifting imperatives of universities poptheory.org/2018/03/10/the…