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Main University Committees

The Secretariat is responsible for servicing several of the University's key governing and operational committees. Below is a non-exhaustive list (please see the University committee structure diagram for a full list of University bodies).

Guidance has been produced to support the presentation of business to University committees. [Coming soon. Currently being updated]

Council

The Council, the University's governing body, is comprised of 23 members, the majority of whom are lay (neither staff nor students of the University). This includes the Chair of Council Alastair da Costa. Members of the Council are trustees of the University.

The Council is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, as well as meeting the obligations placed on us as an exempt charity and body in receipt of public funds. The Council has a responsibility to promote the University's wellbeing and to ensure its sustainability. Its specific responsibilities include:

  • corporate strategy, plans and budgets
  • corporate policy and major business decisions
  • establishing the framework for governance and management
  • monitoring institutional and executive performance

The Council meets at least six times a year.

Find out more about:

(Key contact: Catherine Cho)

Principal committees of the Council

The principal committees which underpin and support the work of the Council include:

Audit and Risk Committee

Chaired by Heather Swanston, the committee normally meets five times a year. It has a significant role in reviewing the effectiveness of the systems of internal control, including financial procedures and risk management, considering the reports received from the University’s internal and external auditors. The committee also:

  1. reviews the control and quality assurance of data returned to external authorities and is responsible for meeting the compliance demands of various agencies
  2. reviews aspects of the University’s financial statements, including the audit report, the statement of primary responsibilities of the Council and the statement of internal control
  3. provides the Council with assurances, including compliance with the OfS conditions of registration, the terms and conditions of funding of the OfS and of Research England, as appropriate, and other key regulatory demands
  4. undertakes periodic deep dives into key areas of strategic risk

(Key contact: Elspeth Summerfield)

Strategy and Investment Committee

Chaired by Seb Elsworth, the committee advises the Council on the development and implementation of the University strategy and on major investment, funding and borrowing decisions, including any significant changes to treasury policy. To help advise the Council on strategic direction, the committee:

  1. receives regular reports from the University Executive Group
  2. considers the University’s current risk appetite
  3. monitors agreed key performance indicators (KPIs)
  4. undertakes periodic review of the external environment and comparative performance against benchmarks
  5. reviews and helps to determine the investment envelope at any given time

(Key contact: Catherine Cho)

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee

Chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and President, maintains an overview of the University’s arrangements for securing the health and safety of staff, students and visitors.

(Key contact: Cathy O'Neill)

Nominating and Governance Committee

Chaired by the Chair of the Council, the committee brings forward to the Council nominations to fill vacancies for members of the Council and its committees. In doing so it has regard to a member’s skills and diversity matrix, along with the need to both draw members from a diversity of backgrounds and to maintain an appropriate balance between continuity and rotation in membership. It also makes recommendations to Council as appropriate on matters concerning the operation and effectiveness of corporate governance arrangements, in line with best practice.

(Key contact: Catherine Cho)

Remuneration Committee

Chaired by Helen Grantham, the committee comprises five lay members of the Council. Its main responsibility is to determine the remuneration of the Vice-Chancellor and President and other members of the University Executive Group. In doing so, the Committee has regard to the Council for University Chair’s Higher Education Senior Staff Remuneration Code. The committee makes an annual report to the Council, which is publicly available.

(Key contact: Lucie Naylor)

Ethics and Values Committee

Chaired by Janet Sheriff, the committee provides governance oversight and assurance on ethical matters affecting the University which contribute to the achievement of its strategic objectives, accord with its values and meet regulatory and legal obligations. It also provides an ethical and values-led framework for debate and decision-making on proposed institutional responses or activities that might have an impact on the University’s reputation or its integrity.

(Key contact: Catherine Dickson)

Senate

The Senate is responsible to the Council for academic governance and for regulating:

  • the admission of students
  • the curriculum
  • academic standards
  • the award of degrees and other qualifications

The Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and President. It consists of more than 50 members including academic staff and student members. In addition to its responsibility for academic governance, the Senate has an advisory role extending across most aspects of our work.

(Key contact: Cathy O'Neill)

 

Committees of the Senate include:

Other key committees of the Council and Senate

There are various committees which support the work of the Council and Senate.