Ordinance IX

The Senate

(Version effective from 12 February 2020)

1.

The constitution of the Senate shall be as below: 

  1. Ex-officio Members
    1. The Vice-Chancellor
    2. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor
    3. The Pro Vice-Chancellors
    4. The Deans of the Schools
    5. The Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Doctoral College
    6. The Librarian
    7. Any member of the Senate having been elected to the Council pursuant to Ordinance VIII paragraph 1(iii)(a) whose membership of the Senate shall otherwise have ceased.
  2. Appointed Members
    1. One member of the Academic Staff appointed by the Dean of each School, who shall normally be a member of the School Management Team, except that when the number of Academic Staff within the School exceeds 15% of the Academic Staff of the University the Dean shall appoint a further member of the Academic Staff, who shall normally be a member of the School Management Team.
    2. Two students of the University appointed by the Students' Union Executive from within its own number. (If there is only one such person the other appointment shall be made from within the University members of the Students' Union Council. If there are no such persons both appointments shall be made from within the University members of the Students' Union Council).  
  3. Elected Members
    1. Four non-professorial members of the Academic Staff elected by the Academic and Academic-Related Staff members of the General Assembly.
    2. Two members of the Academic Staff elected by each School from within their own number, at least one of whom shall not be a professor, except that:
      • When the number of Academic Staff within the School falls below 7% of the Academic Staff of the University only one member shall be elected, who shall not be a professor.
      • When the number of Academic Staff within the School exceeds 15% of the Academic Staff of the University a third member shall be elected.
    3. Three University students, representing a range of subject areas, elected from and by the students involved in the academic representation structure of the Students’ Union, according to the processes established by the Students’ Union Council.
    4. Paragraphs 8-10 of this Ordinance shall prescribe the method of election of the Elected Members. 
  4. Co-opted Members
    One member of the University co-opted by the Senate who shall normally be a member of the Academic Staff concerned with the Residential Halls.

2.

Subject to the University’s Statutes, members of the Senate shall hold office for the following periods:

  1. Ex-officio Members shall hold office for so long as they continue to occupy the positions by virtue of which they became members;
  2. Appointed Members shall hold office for a period of one year and shall be eligible for re-appointment provided they remain eligible in accordance with paragraph 1(ii) of this Ordinance. 
  3. Elected Members shall normally hold office for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for re-election until the expiration of one year from the end of their term of office. (Elected members who are students shall normally hold office for one year and shall be eligible for re-election once only).
  4. Co-opted Members shall normally hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for further three year periods. 

3.

A vacancy among the Elected, Appointed or Co-Opted Members of the Senate shall be filled as soon as possible by the body which elected,  appointed or co-opted the member whose place has become vacant. Where a vacancy arises after an Elected, Appointed or Co-Opted member fails to complete their full period of office, the new member shall be elected, appointed or co-opted for a full new period of office.  

4.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Ordinance, any member of the Senate elected to the Council in accordance with the provisions of Ordinance VIII shall continue to be a member of the Senate until the end of his/her term of office as a member of the Council. 

5.

The Senate shall exercise certain of its functions (normally those concerning individual members of University staff or individual students) at Special Meetings. Student members of Senate (i.e. those appointed under paragraph 1(ii)(b), and elected under paragraph 1(iii)(c) of this Ordinance) shall not attend, or receive or have access to papers relating to Special Meetings. In the case of any doubt, the Vice-Chancellor shall decide whether a matter should be considered at a Special Meeting, and their decision shall be final. 

6.

The Senate has responsibility for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, research and the academic aspects of enterprise, and for promoting the student experience, subject to the University’s Charter, Statutes and Ordinances. The Senate  has the following specific functions:

  1. To regulate all teaching, and programmes of study or research, including:
    1. The establishment of programmes of study;
    2. The maintenance of the general academic framework for programmes of study, contained within University Regulations,
    3. Arrangements for the admission of students to programmes of study, including the appropriate recognition of prior learning,
    4. Arrangements for assessment, including the appointment of internal and external examiners, and for the conferral of Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and all other academic distinctions and titles, including those in respect of joint or dual awards delivered in partnership with other institutions.
  2. To make recommendations to the Council in relation to:
    1. Matters concerning the academic business of the University, including matters relating to the terms and conditions of academic staff.           
    2. Matters concerning the academic structure of the University. 
    3. Matters concerning the discipline of students of the University. 
    4. The award of honorary degrees and University medals. 
    5. Any other matter of interest to the University. 
  3. To regulate the processes for terminating the studies of students, in appropriate circumstances, in relation to registration, attendance, academic performance, tuition fee payment, and (subject to the provisions of Statute XXIV) behaviour.
  4. Where there is good cause to do so, to revoke any Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates or other distinctions or titles previously conferred by Senate.
  5. To elect members of the Council as provided for under Ordinance VIII.
  6. Generally, to exercise all such powers as are, or may be conferred on the Senate by the Charter and Statutes, including the power to make Regulations in the exercise of the powers expressly set out in this Ordinance and of all the other powers of the Senate. 

7.

  1. The Senate may establish Committees, to which it may appoint members of the Senate and other persons. The Senate may also establish, with the Council, Joint Committees to which the Council may appoint members of the Council and other persons, and the Senate may appoint members of the Senate and other persons. The Senate may delegate any of its functions to any such Committee or Joint Committee. 
  2. The Senate may establish Joint Committees of the Senate and representatives of the Students' Union. 

8. 

When an election is required, the Academic Registrar shall arrange the preparation of the following Electoral Rolls: 

  1. of the Academic and Academic-Related Staff members of the General Assembly for the purpose of electing:
    1. two members of the Academic Staff to the Council pursuant Ordinance VIII paragraph 1(iii)(b)  
    2. four members of the non-Professorial Academic Staff to the Senate pursuant para. 1(iii)(a) of this Ordinance. 
  2. of the Academic Staff in each School for the purpose of electing so many of their number to the Senate as shall be determined pursuant para. 1(iii)(b) of this Ordinance. 
  3. of the staff of the University other than those who are members of the Academic Staff, for the purpose of electing one from their number to the Council pursuant Ordinance VIII para.  1(iii)(c). (iv) of the members of the Senate for the purpose of electing so many of the Academic Staff from their number to the Council as shall be determined pursuant Ordinance VIII para. 1(iii)(a). 

9.

  1. Each year before the commencement of the second semester the Academic Registrar shall determine the number of elected and appointed members of the Senate from Schools for the year beginning 1 August next following.
  2. The Academic Registrar shall monitor annually the number of elected and appointed members arising from the provisions of paras 1(ii)(a) and 1(iii)(b) of this Ordinance. Should total numbers change the provisions shall be reviewed by Senate.

10.

  1. Nominations of staff candidates for election to the Council and the Senate with effect from 1 August shall be called in reasonable time to ensure that the elected members are in place by 1 August.
  2. Nominations of candidates in each election shall be receivable until noon on the fourteenth working day following the publication of the call for nominations excluding days falling in University closures. If the number of valid nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, a ballot shall be arranged in a manner approved by the Council or the Senate as the case may be. 
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