Committees of the Senate

Senate Committee which reports termly

Academic Board

Faculty Boards

Humanities and Comparative Studies
Law and Management
Science and Engineering
Social Sciences

Academic Partnerships Board

Academic Staffing Committee

International Academy Board/Inter-Faculty Board

Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee

University Campus Suffolk Joint Academic Committee

Senate Committees which report annually

Ethics Committee
Honorary Degrees Committee
Library Committee
Professorships Committee
Research Strategy Committee
Student Disciplinary Panel

Advisory Group

Arts Advisory Group

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Structure of Senate Committees

Further information about The Senate can be found on The Senate homepage.

5. To approve all new taught programmes of study and awards offered by the Faculty and the discontinuation of programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.
6. To approve departmental Annual Monitoring Reports.
7. To receive reports from Periodic Review Panels for taught programmes offered by the Faculty and to make a recommendation to Senate.
8. To approve, monitor and review progression arrangements with international partners involving programmes in the Faculty, where these do not involve recognition of credit.
9. To report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.
10. To advise the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee on the effectiveness of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework in relation to those matters which are the responsibility of the Faculty Boards, and to refer issues for consideration to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee as appropriate.

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Law and Management

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Professor Nigel South
Dean of the Faculty: Dr Peter Luther (Chair)
Associate Dean of the Faculty: Dr Magda Abou-Seada

Appointed

Director of Professional Development Studies: Ms Janet Phillips

The following Departments and Centres are members of the Faculty:

The Head of Department or up to two nominees from the academic staff per department, authorised to represent the views of the department on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught provision:
Essex Business School
Law (School of)

The Director of the Centre, or one nominee from the academic staff of the Centre, authorised to represent the views of the centre on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught provision:
Human Rights Centre

Elected

Student representatives: Faculty Convenor and three representatives.

Co-opted

The Faculty Board may co-opt three members from departments/centres that are not members of the Faculty (no more than one per department/centre)

The Faculty Board may invite individuals presenting specific proposals to attend Board meetings.

Terms of Reference

5. To approve all new taught programmes of study and awards offered by the Faculty and the discontinuation of programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.
6. To approve departmental Annual Monitoring Reports.
7. To receive reports from Periodic Review Panels for taught programmes offered by the Faculty and to make a recommendation to Senate.
8. To approve, monitor and review progression arrangements with international partners involving programmes in the Faculty, where these do not involve recognition of credit.
9. To report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.
10. To advise the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee on the effectiveness of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework in relation to those matters which are the responsibility of the Faculty Boards, and to refer issues for consideration to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee as appropriate.

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Science and Engineering

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Dr David Pevalin
Dean of the Faculty (Acting):  Dr Tracy Robinson (Chair)
Associate Dean of the Faculty: to be confirmed

Appointed

The following Departments and Centres are members of the Faculty:

The Head of Department or up to two nominees from the academic staff per department, authorised to represent the views of the department on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught provision:
Biological Sciences
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Health and Human Sciences (School of)
Mathematical Sciences
Psychology

Elected

Student representatives: Faculty Convenor and four representatives.

Co-Opted

The Board may co-opt up to three members from departments/centres that are not members of the Faculty (no more than one per department/centre)

The Faculty Board may invite individuals presenting specific proposals to attend Board meetings.

Terms of Reference

5. To approve all new taught programmes of study and awards offered by the Faculty and the discontinuation of programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.
6. To approve departmental Annual Monitoring Reports.
7. To receive reports from Periodic Review Panels for taught programmes offered by the Faculty and to make a recommendation to Senate.
8. To approve, monitor and review progression arrangements with international partners involving programmes in the Faculty, where these do not involve recognition of credit.
9. To report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.
10. To advise the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee on the effectiveness of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework in relation to those matters which are the responsibility of the Faculty Boards, and to refer issues for consideration to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee as appropriate.

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Social Sciences

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Professor David Sanders
Dean of the Faculty (Acting): Dr Simon Carmel (Chair)
Associate Dean of the Faculty: to be confirmed

Appointed

The following Departments and Centres are members of the Faculty:
The Head of Department or up to two nominees from the academic staff per department, authorised to represent the views of the department on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught provision:
Economics
Government
Language and Linguistics
Sociology

The Director of the Centre, or one nominee from the academic staff of the Centre, authorised to represent the views of the centre on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught provision:
Psychoanalytic Studies (Centre for)

Elected

Student representatives: Faculty Convenor and four representatives.

Co-Opted

The Board may co-opt up to three members from departments/centres that are not members of the Faculty (no more than one per department/centre)

The Faculty Board may invite individuals presenting specific proposals to attend Board meetings.

Terms of Reference

5. To approve all new taught programmes of study and awards offered by the Faculty and the discontinuation of programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.
6. To approve departmental Annual Monitoring Reports.
7. To receive reports from Periodic Review Panels for taught programmes offered by the Faculty and to make a recommendation to Senate.
8. To approve, monitor and review progression arrangements with international partners involving programmes in the Faculty, where these do not involve recognition of credit.
9. To report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.
10. To advise the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee on the effectiveness of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework in relation to those matters which are the responsibility of the Faculty Boards, and to refer issues for consideration to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee as appropriate.

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Academic Partnerships Board

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Dean, Academic Partnerships: Dr Ceri Watkins (Chair)
Associate Dean, Academic Partnerships: Mr Allan Hildon
Associate Dean (University of Essex Online): Dr Dominic Micklewright
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Standards): Professor Jane Wright
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Partnerships): Professor Nigel South
Dean of the Graduate School, or his/her nominee: Dr Pam Cox
Deans of Faculties
Dean of Southend Campus
Deputy Academic Registrar (Academic Standards and Partnerships): Ms Claire Nixon
Head of Registry: Mrs Sara Stock
Director of the International Academy, or his/her nominee

Appointed

Up to two representatives from each UK partner institution, and one from each international partner institution with substantial provision, with which the University has a formal agreement to validate programmes which lead to University of Essex awards:

Colchester Institute: Jane Davis, Ian Davis
Kaplan Open Learning:  Mr Alan Jenkins, Mr Dan Roe
South Essex College of Further and Higher Education:  Ms Colette Coleman, Mr Andy Rees
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: Mr Louis Taussig
Writtle College: Mr Martin Stimson, Ms Helen Fitch

Observers

One observer representing University Campus Suffolk Ipswich: Dr Mark Lyne
One observer representing the UCS Learning Network Colleges: Ms Fiona Fisk

Elected

Students' Union Vice-President (Education): Mr Zain Kukaswadia

Nominated

One student representative from each partner institutions, to be nominated by partner institutions by invitation of the Chair

The Academic Partnerships Board may invite individuals presenting specific proposals to attend Board meetings.

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Terms of Reference1

1. To approve, monitor and review all University of Essex awards offered by the University's partner institutions excepting those that fall within the remit of the UCS Joint Academic Committee, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate. Specifically, to be responsible for:

1. validation of proposals for new programmes of study and awards, including undergraduate, taught postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses

2. annual monitoring

3. periodic reviews

4. reports from External Examiners.

2. to make recommendations to partner institutions on best practice and on the enhancement of the quality of collaborative education at partner institutions;

3. to establish panels for the approval of new partner institutions, to consider institutional validation reports and to make recommendations to the Senate;

4. to approve, monitor and review all international partnership arrangements involving progress arrangements (with recognition of credit), articulation arrangements, dual or multiple awards and validation arrangements, and to make recommendation to Senate as appropriate;

5. to establish panels for the review of institutions, to consider institutional review reports and to make recommendations to the Senate;

6. to consider issues referred to it by the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee in respect of information from national and international bodies concerning quality assurance and enhancement matters relating to collaborative education;

7. to advise the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee on the effectiveness of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework in relation to those matters which are the responsibility of the Academic Partnerships Board, including procedures for the development, validation, monitoring and periodic review of taught programmes of study at collaborative partner institutions, and to refer issues for consideration to the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee as appropriate;

8. to report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on new developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.

¹Where the partnership, new or existing, involves postgraduate research degrees, responsibility is shared with the Academic Board.

International Academy Board/Inter-Faculty Board

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Standards): Professor Jane Wright (Chair)
Deans of Faculties
Director of the International Academy: Mr Richard Barnard
Associate Dean (International Academy): Dr Karen Hulme

Appointed

Deputy Academic Registrar (Academic Standards and Partnerships): Ms Claire Nixon
Programme directors for non-IA provision overseen by the Board:
Director of Employability or nominee: Mr David Stanbury
Programme Director of PG CHEP: Mrs Linda Pearsall

Elected

Two International Academy student members
One student representative for each non-IA programme overseen by the Board

Co-Opted

The Board shall have the power to co-opt  members.

The Faculty Board may invite individuals presenting specific proposals to attend Board meetings.

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Terms of Reference

1. Taught Programmes in the International Academy

1. To approve all new taught programmes of study and awards offered by the International Academy and the discontinuation of programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.

2. To keep the taught programmes of study offered by the International Academy under review, including:

   1. Providing a forum to discuss innovation in the curriculum and teaching methods; renewal and development of the curriculum; employability and ways of increasing student recruitment;

   2. Considering issues arising from International Academy KPIs including student survey outcomes, and recruitment and retention statistics, and from departmental annual monitoring reports;

   3. Considering issues arising from External Examiners’ reports

   4. Approving departmental Annual Monitoring Reports;

   5. Receiving reports from Periodic Review Panels for taught programmes offered by the International Academy and making a recommendation to Senate.

3. To approve, monitor and review progression arrangements with international partners involving programmes in the International Academy, where these do not involve recognition of credit.

2. Other Inter Faculty Provision

1. To approve all relevant new inter faculty programmes of study, awards and credit-bearing modules not linked exclusively to other Departments, Schools or Centres, and the discontinuation of such programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.

2. To keep this taught provision under review, including:

   1. Providing a forum to discuss innovation in the curriculum and teaching methods; renewal and development of the curriculum;

   2. Considering issues arising from appropriate KPIs including student feedback, and recruitment and retention statistics, and from departmental annual monitoring reports;

   3. Considering issues arising from External Examiners' reports;

   4. Approving departmental Annual Monitoring Reports;

   5. Receiving reports from Period Review Panels and making a recommendation to Senate.

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3. CPD Programmes

1. To approve all relevant continuing professional development programmes not linked exclusively to other Departments, Schools or Centres, and the discontinuation of such programmes, and to make recommendations to Senate as appropriate.

2. To keep this taught provision under review, including:

   1. Providing a forum to discuss innovation in the curriculum and teaching methods; renewal and development of the curriculum;

   2. Considering issues arising from appropriate KPIs including student feedback, and recruitment and retention statistics, and from departmental annual monitoring reports;

   3. Considering issues arising from External Examiners' reports;

   4. Approving departmental Annual Monitoring Reports;

   5. Receiving reports from Periodic Review Panels and making a recommendation to Senate.

4. All Programmes

1. To act as a forum for discussion of academic issues which are of interest or relevance to members of the Board and to receive the minutes of the IA Teaching and Learning Committee.

2. To act as a forum for discussion of student issues.

3. To report and make recommendations to the Academic Board on developments which fall outside existing rules, policies and procedures.

The Board shall receive annually a schedule of the programmes for which it is responsible.

Academic Staffing Committee

Ex Officio

The Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise): Professor David Sanders
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Resources): Professor Jules Pretty(Chair)
Dean of Humanities and Comparative Studies: Mr Richard Barnard
Dean of Law and Management: Dr Peter Luther
Dean of Social Sciences: Professor Robert Stones
Dean of Science and Engineering (Acting): Dr Tracy Robinson

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Appointed

Professor Chris Barry
Dr Michaela Giebelhausen
Dr Elizabeth Kuti
Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier
Dr Lorna McGregor
Dr Lynne Pettinger
one vacancy

Terms of Reference

In the following terms of reference ‘staff’ means all Academic and Research staff:

1. to report to the Senate on the terms and conditions of appointment of staff or of sections of the staff;

2. to keep under review and advise the Senate on procedure for the appointment of staff;

3. to conduct the annual review of staff and to determine and report to the Senate on:

1. extensions of probationary periods;

2. confirmation of appointments as permanent;

3. promotion to Lecturer Grade 8, Research Officer, Lecturer Grade 9 and Research Fellow;

4. promotion to Senior Lectureships, Senior Research Fellowships and Readerships;

5. the award of additional increments for staff who have not reached the top of their scale, subject to the availability of such awards in any year;

6. the award of discretionary increments to staff on scales with discretionary points, subject to the availability of such awards in any year.

4. to report to the Senate at any time on any matter relating to the staff, including such matters as may be referred to it by the Senate.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee

Ex Officio

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Anthony Forster
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Standards): Professor Jane Wright (Chair)
Associate Dean (Postgraduate Innovation and Quality): to be confirmed
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Comparative Studies (Acting): Dr Lisa Wade
Dean of the Faculty of Law and Management: Dr Peter Luther
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Acting): Dr Tracy Robinson
Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Acting): Dr Simon Carmel
Dean of Graduate School: Dr Pam Cox
Dean of Academic Partnerships: Dr Ceri Watkins
Dean of Southend Campus: Professor Stuart Manson
Academic Registrar: Mr Stephen McAuliffe
Deputy Academic Registrar (Academic Standards and Partnerships): Ms Claire Nixon
Head of Learning and Development: Dr Jo Andrews
Students' Union Vice-President (Education): Mr Zain Kukaswadia
Students' Union Vice-President (International):  Miss Jovanna Yiousellia
Director of Student Support: Ms Rachel Fletcher
Director of Information Systems: Mr Richard Murphy
Director of Employability: Mr Dave Stanbury

Appointed

Four Faculty Representatives (nominated by Faculty Boards)
A representative from Colchester Institute, Writtle College and South Essex College of Further and Higher Education
A student representative appointed by the Students' Union.

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Terms of Reference

1. To be responsible for the development and maintenance of the University’s Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework and to advise the Academic Board on matters of policy and practice in order to enhance learning and teaching;

2. to ensure that quality assurance and enhancement policy meets both the University’s internal needs and the requirement of external agencies, and to make recommendations to the Senate as appropriate;

3. to monitor the achievement of targets set out in the Learning and Teaching Strategy, including those specified to HEFCE, and recommend enhancements and developments to the Senate, as appropriate;

4. to assess the effectiveness of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Framework by monitoring relevant performance indicators including external and internal student satisfaction survey results; student retention and employability data and Professional Statutory Body (PSB) and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) audit reports;

5. to consider documents from external bodies, concerning academic quality assurance issues and the implications for provision leading to University of Essex awards and to co-ordinate a University-level response where required;

6. to be responsible for oversight of major external quality assurance audits and reviews;

7. to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of specific learning and teaching initiatives funded by external or internal grants;

8. to act as an advisory body for professional development activity in learning and teaching and to receive reports on specific initiatives in professional development;

9. to oversee, on behalf of Senate, the conduct and development of pedagogic practice across the University, including to foster innovation and to identify and disseminate good practice;

10. to keep under review the impact of the University’s Strategies on pedagogic practice and advise Senate accordingly;

11. to monitor and evaluate developments in learning and teaching and publish reports of these activities as required by the University and/or external agencies;

12. to determine procedures for the development, validation, monitoring, periodic review and termination of taught programmes of study and to oversee their operation.
     

University Campus Suffolk Joint Academic Committee

Appointed by the University of East Anglia

Ex Officio

Director of Partnerships (Joint Chair): to be confirmed
Director of University Services: Ms Alison Rhodes

Three members appointed by the Senate:
Head of School of Education and Lifelong Learning: Professor Nigel Norris
Professor of Management Accountancy, Norwich Business School: Professor Naresh Pandit
Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery: Professor Valerie Lattimer/Head of the School of Allied Health Professionals: Professor Jacqueline Collier (alternating)

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Appointed by the University of Essex

Ex Officio Members

Dean of Academic Partnerships (Joint Chair): Dr Ceri Watkins
Academic Registrar: Mr Stephen McAuliffe

Three members appointed by the Senate:
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Partnerships): Professor Nigel South
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Acting): Dr Tracy Robinson
Dean of Graduate School: Dr Pam Cox

Appointed by UCS

Ex Officio Members

Provost: Professor Mike Saks
Deputy Provost (Professional Services): Mr Richard Lister
Director of Academic Development: Ms Christine Dobson
Academic Registrar and Director of Academic Services: Ms Jen Mackness
UCS Head of Quality Enhancement: Dr Mark Lyne
Head of School of Applied Social Sciences; tbc
Head of School of Arts and Humanities: Ms Chrissie Harrington
Head of School of Business, Leadership and Enterprise: Professor David Weir
Head of the Graduate School: Dr Penny Cavenagh
Head of School of Science Technology and Health: Professor Brendan Noble
Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery: Ms Carol Smith

Appointed via the UCS Students' Union:
One student representative: President, UCS Union, Mr Jonathan Wright

Appointed by UCS Learning Network Centres
One senior representative from each Centre:
UCS Bury St Edmunds: Mr Phil Thirkettle
UCS Great Yarmouth: tbc
UCS Lowestoft: Mr Phillip Belden
UCS Otley: Ms Angela Carter
UCS Suffolk New College: Ms Christine Walters

In Attendance

The UCS Head of Academic Partnerships: Ms Fiona Fisk
Director of Planning and Partnerships: Mrs Susan Spencer
Deputy Academic Registrar (Academic Standards and Partnerships):  Ms Claire Nixon
The Head of the Partnerships Office, University of East Anglia: Ms Sally Walker

Terms of Reference

1. To consider all matters related to the quality and standards of academic provision of UCS and to make recommendations to the Senate of the University of Essex and the Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate of the University of East Anglia accordingly;

2. to prescribe and keep under review the quality assurance policies and procedures to be followed by UCS to satisfy the requirements of the two Universities;

3. to maintain an overview of the quality of the student experience for all UCS students, including the monitoring of internal and external student satisfaction survey outcomes; to receive annual reports on complaints, academic appeals and student discipline;

4. to receive proposals for new taught and research degree programmes, to oversee the approval process and to make recommendations to the Senate of the University of Essex and the Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate of the University of East Anglia as appropriate;

5. to have oversight of the annual Self-Assessment, Review and Evaluation process for all aspects of UCS academic provision;

6. to receive reports of course re-approval of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and to make recommendations to the Senate of the University of Essex and the Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate of the University of East Anglia on the continuation or discontinuation of programmes as appropriate;

7. to receive annually at the last Joint Academic Committee meeting of each academic year, a formal assessment of and report on progress with regard to the PGR student experience;

8. to receive reports of institutional reviews of UCS partner institutions, and to make recommendations to the Senate of the University of Essex and the Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate of the University of East Anglia as appropriate;

9. to receive reports of external reviews of UCS partner institutions or programmes, including QAA reports and reports from professional, statutory and regulatory bodies;

10. to review annually UCS's strategy for growth in student numbers and the growth of the institution as a whole including UCS admissions, progression, retention and achievement data;

11. to make recommendations to the Senate of the University of Essex and the Learning and Teaching Committee of the Senate of the University of East Anglia on new institutional partners for UCS in terms of the maintenance of quality and academic standards;

12. to agree arrangements for the appointment of External Examiners for all UCS provision and have oversight of the External Examiner procedures;

13. to monitor the development of staff at the Learning Network Centres to ensure they have opportunities for appropriate training and Continuing Professional Development that reflect the Higher Education ethos and focus of University Campus Suffolk and to receive a regular report on progress at the second meeting of the academic year.

14. to consider and approve publicity protocols relating to academic provision including publicity via electronic and editorial media.

15. to receive minutes, recommendations and regular reports from the UCS Academic Board;

16. to receive an annual report from the UCS Research Committee.

17. to receive an annual report from the Partnerships Management Group.

Quoracy

The quorum for meetings of JAC shall be not less than half of the members, rounded up to a whole number.

All appointed or elected members of the Joint Academic Committee are entitled to vote on any matter put to a vote at a meeting of the Committee. No resolution may be deemed to be carried that is not supported by the majority of University of East Anglia and University of Essex members present at the meeting. In the event of disagreement within the JAC between its University members which cannot be resolved at the meeting, then the Chair will defer and seek resolution outside of the meeting. It should be noted that the decision of one University (ie the University of East Anglia Senate or the University of Essex Senate) cannot be implemented in respect of any course leading to a joint award without the approval of the other.

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Advisory Group