Annex 2 - Appointment of Provost & Deputy Vice Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellors
A – Statutory Provisions
I - Number, Titles and Duties of Pro Vice-Chancellors
The Charter: Paragraph 9:
There shall be a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and there may be other Pro-Vice-Chancellors not exceeding five in number, with functions and duties as may be prescribed by Council from time to time.
II - Appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors
Statute VI: The Pro Vice-Chancellors:
1. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Council after consideration of a report from a Joint Committee of Council and Senate chaired by the Senior Pro-Chancellor.
2. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for such period and on such terms and conditions and subject to these Statutes shall have such functions as the Council may determine, in addition to exercising and performing all the academic functions of the Vice-Chancellor in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor.
3. Pro-Vice-Chancellors may be appointed by the Council on the recommendation of a Joint Committee of Senate and Council chaired by the Vice-Chancellor. Pro-Vice-Chancellors shall hold office for such periods and on such terms and conditions and shall have such functions as the Council may from time to time determine, after receiving the advice of the Vice-Chancellor.
III - Appointment and Terms of Office of Pro Vice-Chancellors
Ordinance VII: The Pro-Vice-Chancellors
- The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellors shall be appointed in accordance with procedures approved by Council on the recommendation of the Senate.
- The rights of speech and voting of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or any Pro-Vice-Chancellor acting for the Vice-Chancellor shall be the same as those of the Vice-Chancellor acting in that capacity.
B – Procedure for Appointment of Provost and DVC, and PVCs
1. The Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Pro Vice-Chancellors are appointed by Council on the recommendation of a joint committee appointed by the Senate and Council. Appointments are made for an initial period of between three and five years. Office holders are eligible for re-appointment on an unlimited number of occasions in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 7 below.
Committee for Appointment of the Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor
2. For the appointment of the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor the joint committee appointed by the Senate and Council will be as follows:
- Chair of Council (Chair)
- Vice-Chancellor
- 2 lay members of Council appointed by the Chair of Council
- 2 members of Senate appointed by Senate upon the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor
- 1 elected member of Senate elected by Senate
There shall be no all-male or all-female panels.
Committee for Appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors
3. For the appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors the joint committee appointed by the Senate and Council will be as follows:
- Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
- Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- 1 lay member of Council nominated by the Chair of Council
- 2 members of Senate appointed by Senate upon the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor
- 1 elected member of Senate elected by Senate
There shall be no all-male or all-female panels.
Job Description and Person Specification
4. An updated job description and person specification will be prepared each time there is a vacancy for the role of Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro Vice-Chancellor. The job description and person specification will be approved by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with Senate.
Call for Applications
5. The Secretary to Council or his/her nominee will arrange for the advertisement of vacancies to members of University staff.
Interview and Recommendation to Council
6. A short list for interview will normally be drawn up by the Vice-Chancellor and Chair of Council in the case of the appointment of the Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor and by the Vice-Chancellor and Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor in the case of the appointment of a Pro Vice-Chancellor. After interviewing those shortlisted, the committee shall make its recommendation to Council.
Reappointment of Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellors
7. Appointments are made for an initial period of between three and five years. Office holders may be re-appointed on an unlimited number of occasions for periods of up to five years. Where an office holder is eligible for reappointment, the Vice-Chancellor may make a recommendation to the Chair of Council for such a reappointment. Before making a recommendation to the Chair, the Vice-Chancellor will consult with Senate and Council. The Chair of Council may then determine to reappoint the office holder without recourse to the appointment process for new appointments. Where a recommendation for reappointment is not made or accepted then the normal process for new appointments will apply. Existing office holders are eligible to reapply in this circumstance.
Appointment of Acting Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellors
8. Where there is a vacancy or a temporary absence or inability of the Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor may make a recommendation to the Chair of Council for the appointment of an acting Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor or an Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The appointment of an acting Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor shall normally be for the duration of the vacancy in office or of the temporary absence or inability of the principal holder thereof.
If the appointment is likely to be for a period of more than 6 months, the Vice-Chancellor will consult with Senate and Council before making a recommendation to the Chair of Council.
The Chair of Council may then approve the appointment of an acting Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor and the appointment will be reported to Senate and Council.
Appointment by External Advertisement
9. Roles shall normally be advertised externally, although the Chair of Council has the discretion to proceed with an internal advertisement only, should he/she determine in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor that this is the appropriate course of action.
November 2013, updated July 2015