1) Purpose

The heidi User Group exists to:

• identify and prioritise areas for the on-going development of heidi
• offer feedback on the heidi service

2) Responsibilities

The User Group will:

• Represent all users of heidi
• Provide user advice and input to HESA with regard to the ongoing operation and maintenance of heidi and on specific system and data development issues
• Actively participate in testing and evaluating new versions
• Consider the volume and type of support requests that are being made to HESA
• Highlight to HESA any other significant issues that may arise
• Provide an annual report to the Advisory Group on the development and operation of the heidi service
• Recommend future developments
  

3) Membership

The User Group will have thirteen members, including:

• One from a sector organisation
• One from Universities UK
• Eleven from HE institutions

Currently, heidi user group members are:

• Christine Couper, University of Greenwich (Chair)
• Stephen Chadwick, Durham University (Deputy Chair)
  
• Andrew McKie, University of Leeds
  
• Brian Oldham, Kings College London
• Jovan Luzajic, Universities UK
• Manya Buchan, University of Edinburgh
• Stephanie Neave, Equality Challenge Unit
• Sue Richardson, University of Sunderland
• Paul A Marshall, University of Hull
• Eugene McCrossan, University of Northumbria at Newcastle
• Frank Lynch, The University of Glasgow
• Steve Phillips, University for the Creative Arts

Members of the User Group will undertake the dual role of representing their HE institution/area of interest and having collective responsibility for ensuring all user needs are taken into account within the operation, maintenance and development of the service.

HESA staff will attend User Group meetings as necessary. HESA will provide the secretariat for the User Group.

Subscribing organisations will be invited to nominate individuals for the User Group. These nominations will be considered by the Advisory Group and a recommendation on membership will be made to the HESA Board.

The User Group will be invited to appoint a Chair and a Deputy Chair, at least one of which must be from an HE institution. Both the Chair and Deputy Chair will become members of the Advisory Group.

Each Member of the User Group is appointed for a four-year period. An HE institutional representative may be reappointed once, after which a two-year period must elapse before he/she is eligible for further appointment. Other representatives may be reappointed without limit. The User Group shall elect its Chair and Deputy Chair for a two year period. At least one must be an HE institutional representative. A one-year period must elapse before further re-election, but the Deputy Chair is eligible to be elected as Chair. Service for part of a year shall be neglected when computing periods served.

Exceptionally, to ensure some turn-over of User Group membership, six of the initial members shall be appointed for two years and shall then be limited to one further four-year period of appointment if they are HE institutional members.

Regardless of period of appointment, membership is contingent on the continued existence of the User Group beyond 2012.

4) Frequency

The User Group will meet twice each year at HESA offices in Cheltenham, and on an ad-hoc basis for specific purposes if needed. Expenses for meeting attendance will be paid by HESA.

5) Reporting lines

The User Group reports to the Advisory Group, with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the User Group reporting user views and issues at the Advisory Group meetings.

6) Expiry date

The User Group will be in place up to 31 July 2012; subsequent governance and management arrangements will be decided during 2011/12 by the HESA Board, following a review conducted in consultation with the Advisory Group, and with input from the User Group..