Introduction To Our Publication Scheme

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, any member of the public can have access to the information held by Bath Spa University (BSU), except where it is of certain specifically exempt kinds. To help us fulfil our responsibility to the public under the Act, BSU has produced this "Publication Scheme", which is a guide to the information we hold. The scheme for BSU follows the Model Publication Scheme for Education - Universities (.pdf) approved by the Information Commissioner.

The scheme commits BSU to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by us.  BSU will:

• Proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information, including environmental information, which is held by BSU and falls within the classifications below;
• Specify the information which is held by BSU and falls within the classifications below;
• Proactively publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information in line with the statements contained within this scheme;
• Produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made routinely available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public;
• Review and update on a regular basis the information BSU makes available under this scheme;
• Produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made proactively available;
• Make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes Of Information

1. Who we are and what we do: Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance;
2. What we spend and how we spend it: Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts;
3. What our priorities are and how we are doing: Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews;
4. How we make decisions: Policy proposals and decisions. Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations;
5. Our policies and procedures: Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities;
6. Lists and registers: Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority;
7. The services we offer: Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

Exemptions

The classes of information will not generally include:

• Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure;
• Information in draft form;
• Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

For more information, please refer to the exemptions page.