Universities of Sanctuary Award –Re-appraisal Process

A vital part of the City of Sanctuary awards process, including the University of Sanctuary award, is ensuring there is an opportunity for continuous improvement and a level of accountability, certain standards, and continued evaluation after a university is awarded. Throughout the 3 years of an award, we encourage institutions to record and evidence their activity in relation to the minimum criteria and the ‘Learn, Embed, and Share’ principles.

The re-appraisal process is a chance for universities to demonstrate and reassess their sanctuary work. It helps them track improvements and growth in their Sanctuary initiatives, and importantly, check the progress of commitments made in the initial application. Once a re-appraisal is submitted, it is an opportunity for universities to gather momentum again, set new commitments or milestones, and have fruitful and collaborative relationships with other universities and their local community (forming part of the re-appraisal panel) in order to achieve even more.

Step 1: Three months prior to the expiration of an institution’s University of Sanctuary award,  we contact the dedicated / lead of the Sanctuary work at the institution informing them that the institution’s award status is soon to expire. The UoS Coordinator enquires into whether the institution intends to reapply. 

Step 2: If the university intends to reapply, the UoS Coordinator prepares the re-appraisal report. The report will ask the university to:

• Inserts areas of activity and three-year plan targets sourced from the institution’s initial award application (i.e. the application on the basis of which the award was successfully made); and
• Provide any updates and evidence of activities in line with the ‘Learn, Embed, and Share’ principles of the City of Sanctuary.

Step 3: The University fill and return the report to the UoS coordinator.

Step 4: The UoS Coordinator/lead builds an appraisal/assessment panel to convene a meeting, discuss and review the University’s activities, as well as provide recommendations or collate questions for the University. 

Step 5: At this point that the re-appraisal panel decides whether it is necessary to meet with the institution (either remotely or in-person).*

Step 6:  The UoS Coordinator sends the finalised report to the dedicated contact at the institution with a request to return a copy signed by the lead applicant. In this email, the UoS Coordinator also

1. a) arranges details for payment of the re-accreditation fee
2. b) supports the institution to disseminate news of their reaccreditation and
3.  supports the university with holding a celebration event and inviting relevant guests.

Step 7: Once received, the UoS Coordinator places a copy of the double-signed reappraisal report on file and the University is officially re-accredited for another 3 years.

*A re-appraisal panel will consist of a minimum of two members, namely the UoS Coordinator and a member of the Universities of Sanctuary Steering Group (as lead member of the re-appraisal panel). A decision to hold a meeting with the university will be the exception. In other words, it is expected that a re-accreditation decision can be made solely on the basis of the information provided in the re-appraisal report.