Main University Committees

The Corporate Governance team 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. The terms of reference and constitution of those key bodies are available on the University Committees webpage).

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

The Council, the University's governing body, is comprised of 22 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: Head of Corporate Governance)

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:

reviews the control and quality assurance of data returned to external authorities and is responsible for meeting the compliance demands of various agencies
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
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
undertakes periodic deep dives into key areas of strategic risk

(Key contact: Eleanor Harris)

Finance and Investment Committee

Chaired by Seb Elsworth, the role of the committee is to advise Council on matters relating to the overall financial governance and sustainability of the University. This includes providing Council with advice and assurance around the University’s financial performance and related compliance, strategic investment opportunities and capital expenditure (physical, digital and infrastructure). Oversight of the direction and delivery of the University’s overall Strategy is reserved to Council.

(Key contact: Eleanor Harris)

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: Head of Corporate Governance)

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: Eleanor Harris)

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:

Taught student education board (chair: Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Student Education and Experience, Professor Kenneth McDowall)
Graduate board (chair: Dean of the Doctoral College, Professor Luke Windsor)
Research and innovation board (chair: Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Nick Plant)
International strategy board (chair: Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hai-Sui Yu)
Digital transformation strategy board (chair: Dean of Digital Transformation, Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee)

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