Present: Alan Knox (Aberdeen, Convenor), Neil Curtis (Aberdeen, Secretary), Matthew Jarron (Dundee), Ewen Smith (Glasgow), Dawn Kemp (Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh), Jacky MacBeath (Edinburgh), Ann Jones (Heriot-Watt), Arnold Myers (Edinburgh), Ian Carradice (St Andrews), Jane Cameron (Stirling), Peter Trowles (Glasgow School of Art), Evelyn Silber

1. Apologies
Donna Holford-Lovell (Abertay), Justin Parkes (Robert Gordon University)

2. Approval of minutes of Committee meeting on 20th November 2007
The minutes were approved.

3. Matters arising
UMIS Conference 2008
Neil reported that there had been over 20 expressions of interest in presenting, many from overseas, though none as yet from UMIS members. There were suggestions for further distribution of the call for papers.
ACTION:

• All to consider other publicity and proposals.

UMAC Conference 2008
There was discussion about UMIS participation at the UMAC conference in Manchester (17-19 September). While there was no particular desire to organise a UMIS session or other event at the UMAC conference, it was felt that there should be a UMIS presence, including the production of banners and UMIS conference leaflets. The value of links between UMIS and the University Museums Group (UMG) was discussed.
ACTION:

• Ewen to discuss possibilities with the conference organizers.
• Alan to continue discussions with UMG.

Report from SMC
Ewen tabled a report of highlights from SMC. Mark McLeod had been appointed to develop SMC's relationship with its members. Ewen suggested that we might like to invite him to a UMIS committee meeting. Ewen had raised the issue of the unfairness of SNC subscriptions fees for SMC and had therefore joined the SMC finance committee. SMC was to rebrand as Museums Galleries Scotland on 31st March. Evelyn reported that applications for Recognition will continue with annual opportunities to apply: funding for Recognised collections would continue, but probably from a standstill budget (though with hopes of an increase as the number of Recognised collections increased). Evelyn reported that partnership bids would be able to include already-Recognised collections to ensure the integrity of a bid.
ACTION:

• Alan to invite Mark McLeod to a future meeting.

4. Advocacy: metrics and case studies
Alan tabled two papers: one summarising draft 'Performance Indicators for University Museums in Scotland' (the responses to the metrics survey), the other listing UMIS members and their collections showing Registration, Recognition and SFC funding status. The metrics survey had been very valuable, despite some variation in the basis for figures between different institutions, and interpretation of the questions. The challenge is to gather robust and realistic figures of value to funders etc., without undue effort. There was a need to record more detailed information about particular venues and institutions recorded to demonstrate the realities of providing access.
The difference was discussed between access provided for the wider public ('dedicated museum spaces') and the large numbers of students/university staff/others exposed to the dispersed display of collections on campus (noting the difficulties of estimating accurate figures). While the latter could generate large numbers, it was also noted that the AHRC and other grant bodies are interested in evidence of venues that are open for substantial periods (e.g. >30 hours/week); there was also a danger of being seen to over-inflate figures. It was agreed that both of these approaches were a characteristic of university museums, likewise the substantial difference between institutions. It was agreed that the draft metrics should be shared with the SFC representatives at the following meeting. It was agreed that the value of these figures lay in demonstrating the range of activities undertaken by university museums and collections, and could help to identify ways of measuring such activity for SFC.
ACTION

• All to consider ways of refining the capturing of activities in robust metrics and to circulate them on umis@jiscmail.ac.uk.

5. Scottish Funding Council
At this point David Lott (Senior Policy Officer, Scottish Funding Council) and John Caughie (University of Glasgow and Convenor of the Cultural Engagement Group, Scottish Funding Council) joined the meeting.
ACTION

• Alan to maintain contact with David Lott on behalf of UMIS through the review
• Alan to provide updated metrics to David Lott on the basis of comments received from UMIS members.
• Alan to provide information on relative funding of Scottish and English university museums. (e.g. Designation fund, Renaissance, DCMS Wolfson Gallery Improvement Fund) and figures from UMG.
• The notes of the meeting with David Lott would be circulated among those present, but not included in the minutes of the committee.

6. AOB
Simple Loans Administration consultation
To be discussed on the email discussion list

SMC Research and Evidence Framework consultation
The consultation was noted.

NMS Partnerships
A review of NMS partnership activity was noted.

Royal Society of Edinburgh consultation about research capacity and potential in the creative industries on behalf of SFC.
Evelyn had been invited to respond and had incorporated comments by UMIS members.

HEACS
Evelyn Silber reported that the Historic Environment Advisory Council was to be abolished by the Scottish Government. There were therefore fears for independent advice to government on heritage matters.

7. Date of next meeting
21st May 2008 - Dundee
3rd September 2008 - Stirling
Conference/AGM - 20th/21st November 2008 - Aberdeen
4th February 2009

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