Senate

Member Role Descriptor

Senate guides the University's academic direction, is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, and draws membership from academic staff, students and other senior staff. Senate's members' roles are described below.

  1. The Senate is responsible for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, research and the academic aspects of enterprise. It is established within the University’s Royal Charter together with the University’s ultimate governing body, the Council. Its formal powers are set out in University Statute XIV and Ordinance IX. It has the right to comment to Council on the academic aspects of any matter of University business and under the CUC Code of Governance Council is expected to ensure the effectiveness of Senate is reviewed regularly. As the senior academic body of the University, Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.
  2. The membership of Senate is drawn from the academic staff and students of the University together with the University Librarian. The composition includes the follow groups:
    1. Senior academic office holders (DVC, PVCs, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Doctoral College)
    2. Deans of School
    3. Members appointed by the Deans of School
    4. Members elected by Schools
    5. Members elected by all academic and academic-related staff
    6. Student members
    7. Co-opted members
  3. The Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer are in attendance. The Academic Registrar acts as secretary to Senate with assistance from a member of the Academic Registry staff.
  4. Members bring to the Senate’s deliberations a wide range of knowledge and expertise. All are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Nolan Principles of Conduct Underpinning Public Life, and to contribute by participating in discussions, bearing in mind the interests of the University as a whole, rather than acting as representatives of any constituency. All members have an equal right to contribute and the Vice-Chancellor, as chair, aims to give all the opportunity to exercise this right should they wish to do so.
  5. The principal contributions expected of members of Senate, on a collective basis, are to:
    1. consider matters with awareness of University strategy and a commitment to its further development and achievement;
    2. constructively engage in discussions with direct knowledge and experience of academic practice at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and elsewhere in the HE sector;
    3. maintain a broad awareness of the external challenges facing º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and consider the implications of these for future academic strategy and practice;
    4. ensure that quality and standards are maintained in all the University’s academic activities;
    5. be prepared to constructively challenge the proposals put to Senate;
    6. provide a mechanism for communication of Senate business to and from colleagues in Schools and to raise the awareness of the work of Senate within Schools;
    7. participate from time to time in Senate-related activities, events and/or working parties;
    8. enable effective committee work across the University to help implement and embed the University Strategy.
  6. Student members are expected to contribute their direct knowledge and experience of the learning environment at the University and to thereby ensure that the interests and concerns of students are taken into account at the highest level of academic governance. Student members are not involved in the consideration of business relating to individual members of staff or students. All members are expected to consider issues bearing in mind the diversity of the student and staff bodies.
  7. Senate members should: 
    1. read all papers for each meeting to ensure they are properly informed;
    2. attend induction and refresher events for Senate members as appropriate;
    3. have a strong commitment to the future success of the University and to maintaining high academic quality and standards;
    4. have a general understanding of the University’s internal processes as regards teaching, research and enterprise;
    5. have the capacity to debate academic issues with objectivity, openness and transparency; and
    6. be willing to accept decisions made in the broader interest of the University.
  8. Advice and informal guidance on the workings of Senate, previous decisions and procedures available to any member, from the Secretary and Assistant Secretary.