Senate

The powers of Senate are conferred on it by Council and are set out in full in Ordinance 14. These comprise:

• Academic Policy and Strategy
• Powers of appointment
• Degree regulation and awarding powers
• Academic regulation
• Student regulation
• General

Through these powers Senate supports and enables the development and implementation of the University Strategy, our Research Strategy and Education Strategy and relevant Supporting and Sub-Strategies, considers reports on our performance in relation to our education and research KPIs, contributes to shaping policies and procedures that fall within Senate’s remit, oversees enhancements in academic quality and assurance of academic standards, and to ensure the continued effective operation of the ordinances. Senate business will be shaped in any given year by our research and education priorities as set out in the Research Action Plan and Education Action Plan. Senate also receives regular reports from its sub-committees which support Senate in its work.

The agendas, papers (unless restricted) and minutes of Senate are made available to all University and Students’ Union staff through the Senate Digital Committee Portal. A range of other relevant information is also provided, including guidance and templates for paper sponsors and authors.

There are a number of ways in which members of the University community are able to engage in the work of Senate:

• Sign-up to Top Lines – a regular briefing from the Vice-Chancellor for all staff that summaries the key issues, debates and decisions made by Senate – by emailing the Communications Office.
• Make use of our Senate Digital Committee Portal to delve into the detail contained in the minutes and papers.
• Engage in departmental and team briefings and communications on Senate matters. Ordinance 27 sets out that the agenda for each departmental meeting shall contain a standing item on Senate to provide the Head of Department with an opportunity to update academic staff on Senate decisions and related activity and to provide a forum for discussion.
• Review, and work with others to act on our summaries of academic policy decisions.
• Raise items for consideration for future meetings of Senate with the Senate Agenda Group.
• If eligible, stand for election to the membership of Senate.