Here is the text of an email sent by the Provost to all staff and students on 23 May 2024.

Téacs Gaeilge thíos

Dear College community,

I want to share some information with you that I provided to the May meeting of Board.

Student partnership

There have been a number of engagements recently between members of College management and student representatives during which a renewed joint commitment was made to student partnership. We expect an updated Student Partnership Agreement will be in place later this year. On this basis, the invoice issued to the Students’ Union for income lost as a result of disruption earlier this year will not be pursued.

This spirit of renewed partnership is exactly the kind of way we want to approach issues in College going forward.

Dignity and respect

Over the past number of weeks, I have received messages that make it very clear that members of our College community are deeply upset and feel intimidated by elements of recent protests. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office is working with other units in College to address concerns which have been raised and is continuing to engage with staff and students. I want to reiterate that there is no place in Trinity for antisemitism, hate speech or intimidation, and again underline the central importance in this university of our Dignity and Respect policy. I also want to highlight our new dedicated Dignity, Respect and Consent Service. 

Taskforce

The agreement that was reached at the end of the encampment included a number of commitments by College which will be addressed, along with other issues, in a taskforce. This taskforce, with an external chair, will work within the normal governance structures of Trinity and any recommendations made will go through our decision-making structures.

I have asked the Senior Dean, given his experience with our Legacies Review Working Group, to research possible approaches to the taskforce and to garner input from diverse voices and diverse expertise (internally and externally) about the format, shape, and terms of reference of this taskforce. These will then be considered via our governance structures and will ultimately go to University Council and Board for sign off.

One other aspect is crucial: The taskforce must develop, and use, processes that ensure meaningful widespread engagement. Any recommendations must have received thorough review.  We need to use the critical skills for which we are known and rely on evidence-based discussions. We also need to reach decisions together. More information will be shared, as it becomes available.

Warm wishes,

Linda

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A phobal ollscoile,

Ba mhaith liom eolas a roinnt leat a chuir mé ar fáil do chruinniú Bealtaine an Bhoird inné.

Comhpháirtíocht Mac Léinn

Bhí roinnt coinnithe ann le déanaí idir bhainistíocht an Choláiste agus ionadaithe mac léinn ina ndearnadh comhthiomantas athnuaite do chomhpháirtíocht mac léinn. Táimid ag súil go mbeidh Comhaontú Comhpháirtíochta Mac Léinn nuashonraithe i bhfeidhm níos déanaí sa bhliain. Ar an mbonn sin, ní rachfar níos faide leis an sonrasc a eisíodh d’Aontas na Mac Léinn maidir le hioncam a cailleadh nuair a cuireadh isteach ar ghnóthaí níos luaithe i mbliana.

Is le spiorad na comhpháirtíochta athnuaite seo ar mhaith linn tabhairt faoi shaincheisteanna sa Choláiste amach anseo.

Dínit agus Meas

Le roinnt seachtainí anuas, tá teachtaireachtaí faighte agam a chuireann in iúl go soiléir go bhfuil baill de phobal ár gColáiste an-trí chéile agus go gcuireann gnéithe de na hagóidí a bhí ann le déanaí faitíos orthu. Tá ár nOifig Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Cuimsithe ag obair le haonaid eile sa Choláiste chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar ábhair imní a ardaíodh agus tá sí ag leanúint le teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an bhfoireann agus le mic léinn. Ba mhaith liom a athdhearbhú nach bhfuil áit ar bith i gColáiste na Tríonóide don fhrith-Sheimíteachas, don fhuathchaint ná don imeaglú agus leagaim béim arís ar thábhacht lárnach ár bPolasaí Dínite agus Measa san ollscoil seo. Ba mhaith liom freisin aird a tharraingt ar ár Seirbhís thiomnaithe nua don Dínit, Meas agus Toiliú.

Tascfhórsa

Áiríodh sa chomhaontú ar thángthas air ag deireadh an champa roinnt gealltanas ón gColáiste a dtabharfar aghaidh orthu, mar aon le saincheisteanna eile, i dtascfhórsa. Oibreoidh an tascfhórsa seo, a mbeidh cathaoirleach seachtrach air, laistigh de ghnáthstruchtúir rialachais Choláiste na Tríonóide agus cuirfear aon mholtaí a dhéanfar trínár struchtúir chinnteoireachta.

D'iarr mé ar an Déan Sinsearach, mar gheall ar a thaithí le Grúpa Oibre na nAthbhreithnithe Stairiúla, taighde a dhéanamh ar chuir chuige fhéideartha i leith an tascfhórsa agus ionchur a bhailiú ó ghuthanna éagsúla agus ó shaineolas éagsúil (go hinmheánach agus go seachtrach) maidir le formáid, cruth agus téarmaí tagartha an tascfhórsa seo. Déanfar iad seo a mheas trínár struchtúir rialachais ansin agus sa deireadh cuirfear os comhair Chomhairle na hOllscoile agus an Bhoird iad le faomhadh.

Tá gné amháin eile ríthábhachtach: Ní mór don tascfhórsa próisis a fhorbairt, agus a úsáid, a chinnteoidh rannpháirtíocht fhiúntach fhorleathan. Ní mór athbhreithniú críochnúil a bheith déanta ar aon mholtaí. Ní mór dúinn na scileanna criticiúla aitheanta atá againn a úsáid agus brath ar phlé bunaithe ar fhianaise. Ní mór dúinn cinntí a dhéanamh le chéile freisin. Cuirfear tuilleadh eolais ar fáil de réir mar a bheidh sé ar fáil.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Linda