Governance and structure
The University of Essex Charter
The University of Essex admitted its first students in 1964, with the
Royal Charter granted in 1965. The
Charter outlines the objectives and powers of the University: to advance
education, scholarship, knowledge and understanding by teaching and
research, for the benefit of individuals and society at large.
University Council
As the executive governing body University Council
has overall responsibility for the management and administration of the
revenue and property of the University. The Council is entrusted with
the proper conduct of University business in support of the objectives
defined by the University Charter and Statues – including strategic
planning, financial affairs, including the annual budget, estate management,
staffing matters, health and safety issues and oversight of the Students'
Union. Council normally meets four times a year.
University Senate
University Senate is the supreme academic authority of the University
and is accountable to Council. The role of Senate is to promote the academic
work of the University both in teaching and research and regulate and
supervise education and student discipline.
University Court
University Court is a formal body, established
under Charter and Statutes, which encourages local stakeholders to engage with the University and comment on how we operate.
An annual meeting of Court is attended by invited
stakeholders including our alumni and local MPs. This meeting receives a
report from the Vice-Chancellor on the workings of the University, alongside
the University's annual audited statement of accounts.
University Steering Group (USG)
Chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, the University Steering Group (USG) is the executive leadership team which meets fortnightly during term time and advises the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating
to the management of the University. USG prepares and recommends to Council the University's strategic plan and the annual budget and resource allocation and then reviews and
monitors implementation of the approved plans and budgets throughout the year.
Faculties
The University of Essex has three Faculties:
Executive Deans
Each Faculty is headed by an Executive Dean. A Faculty Steering Group meets regularly and consists of:
- Executive Dean (chair);
- Head of Departments/Schools (and Centres where applicable) within the Faculty;
- Deputy Dean (Education); and
- Faculty Manager
The Executive Dean has line management responsibility of the Deputy Dean (Education) and the Heads of Departments (and Centres) within the Faculty.
The Executive Dean is supported by and works closely with the Faculty Manager, who in turn co-ordinates the Faculty Support Team.
Education committee
The Education Committee is responsible to Senate for the development and recommendation for approval by Senate of the University’s Education Strategy and for oversight and
monitoring of the strategy’s effective implementation. The Committee has a number of key responsibilities in relation to the University’s commitment to excellence in Education,
including consideration of issues related to all aspects of Education policy and practice across all University awards and oversight of the quality of the student experience in the
broadest sense.
Faculty Education Committee
Each of the three Faculties has a Faculty Education Committee, which is responsible for oversight and delivery of all aspects of the University’s Education
Strategy within the Faculty. Reporting to the Education Committee, the Faculty Education Committees provide a forum for discussion of student and Education-related matters in
the Faculty and strengthen academic links between Departments, Schools and Centres within the Faculty, across the University and with collaborative partners. The Committees also
recommend for approval by the Academic Quality and Standards Committee proposals to establish and to discontinue all taught programmes of study within the Faculty and ensure the
effective implementation within the Faculty of the University’s policies and procedures for assuring academic quality and standards and enhancing academic quality and the student
experience.
Research committee
Chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), the Research Committee has oversight of research strategy at University and departmental levels. On behalf of Senate, the Committee is
responsible for monitoring and reviewing progress and development of the University's research performance and for preparing the University's submission to the Research Excellence Framework.
The Committee has a number of key responsibilities in relation to the University’s commitment to excellence in research, including establishing and promoting models of good practice for the
management of research and advising departments on the strategic use of the centrally-provided research funds available to them.
The University's charity information
The University of Essex is an exempt
charity subject to the provisions of the Charities Act 2006