The Dr Frederick Hickling subcommittee, which proposed the University Town Centre and the Caribbean Institute of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, also recommended expanding the nursing programme to train an additional 200 registered nurses on campus and 5,000 via distance education per annum.

Another recommendation was for an increase in the number of medical students it turns out each year from approximately 85 to 300, utilising local hospitals in Jamaica as training centres.

. The subcommittee chaired by Professor Ishemkumba Kahwa made recommendations on improving scholastic output, student experiences and institutional research.

He noted that the deployment of funds for research by UWI academics has been low. And, while conceding that research grant funding opportunities are limited for UWI Mona researchers, he said full advantage is not taken of the few that are available.

The recommendation from the Kahwa subcommittee is for the university to establish a “single, transparent and quantitative scheme” that can be used to analyse and compare research work. The scheme would be tied to a compensation package. Kahwa also suggested that the UWI “negotiate with the government(s) to establish a Research Grant Agency to disburse research funds on a competitive peer review basis”.

. The team led by Dr Trevor Munroe made recommendations for curriculum changes and programme development. One of the many recommendations was for an immediate audit of course enrolment, and that those courses with fewer than 20 students be discontinued “unless special approval is given for continuation based on specific justification for retention”.

The team estimated that 31.5 per cent of courses offered had student registrations of under 20. They also suggested that each department establish its own income-generation programme, which would be “explicitly incorporated” into the Assessment and Promotions Criteria.

And for further transparency in the area of appointments, the team has proposed that the CVs of academic staff who have been promoted to senior positions and received awards be posted electronically on the campus website.

. The sub-committee chaired by Professor Verene Shepherd noted that the appointment/selection procedures for campus heads and acting heads were not always transparent, with seniority ignored in some cases.

One recommendation asked for the enforcement of a strict term-limit on headship and other leadership positions as of this academic year. Another suggested the dismissal of non-performing leaders and staff members.

The team also expressed dissatisfaction with existing relationships between some of its campus staff, pointing to the failure of some staff members to display acceptable levels of professionalism and respect for colleagues. Some women commented that there was an unacceptable level of sexism on the campus, according to the report. Their recommendation also called for a survey to find out what is contributing to low staff morale.

. Professor Alvin Wint’s team gave a set of proposals for identifying sources of funding. Among them was a suggestion for a Research and Consultancy Unit that would improve the range and quality of research, help the UWI become a very professional, internationally competitive organisation that is skilled at winning and delivering on large contract research and consultancy projects.

It also included a proposal to strengthen UWI’s financial base, thus reducing reliance on public funding. Another major recommendation sought “an assessment of the productivity of each academic department.

This would focus on output of undergraduate students, output of graduate students in taught and research programmes, research, income-generation and public service. Wint’s team also called for an annual evaluation system in which each faculty reports on its teaching, research and service activities.