Becoming a member

Elections

Vacancies

Academic Staff Members of Senate

We’re seeking academic members of Senate, who are a member of Senate until at least 31 July 2024 to stand for election to Council. We currently have four vacancies on Council that can be filled only by academic members of Senate, two of whom must be a Head of Department or School, and one of which is not a Professor.

Professional Services Staff

We invited staff from across Professional Services to put themselves forward to stand in an election to become a member of Council. We currently have one vacancy and an election will be held to fill this post.

Eligibility

Academic Staff Members of Senate

To be eligible to stand for election, you must:

• be an academic staff member of Senate, and a  member of Senate until at least 31 July 2024. We have four positions, two of which must be filled by a Head of Department or School, and one of which must be filled by a member who is not a Professor.
• have a contract of employment that commenced at least 20 working days prior to the call for nominations, and it must run through to at least 31 July 2024.
• be free from any conflicts of interest that might preclude you from serving as a governor and trustee of the University, and meet the Office for Students’ test of being a ‘fit and proper’ person.
• If you have not already done so, agree to complete all of the How We Work at Essex essential training modules and additional modules for University Committee members, within four weeks of being appointed or prior to attending your first Council meeting or event, whichever occurs first.
• Agree that you will on appointment you would accept the Governor Code of Conduct.

Nominations

You can download an Applicant Pack and our guidance for applicants, which includes instructions, guidance, and further information on the short forms that need to be completed as part of the pre-appointment process.

Submission

You will need to complete and submit the following forms:

• Relevant Nomination form, within the applicant pack
• Fit and Proper declaration (.docx)
• Register of Interest form (.docx)
• Equality and diversity monitoring form (.docx)

Next steps 

All completed forms must submitted to the Governance Office via a secure Box folder. All nominations will be acknowledged.

Upon receipt of nominations, applicants will receive a link to complete an online tool that will allow Council to demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that all members of the governing body are in good standing, and meet the regulatory test of being a ‘Fit and Proper’ person.

Fit and Proper Persons’ declaration forms will also be subsequently reviewed by the Registrar and Secretary, or their nominee, and assurance provided to Nominations Committee.

Election

Should it be necessary to hold an election for the appointment of academic members of staff to Senate, eligible members will receive an email to their Essex email address.

Further information

Council normally meets in-person, four times a year (plus at least one away day), and holds an additional joint meeting with the Senate each July.

You can find out more about Council, the role description, the members of Council, Council’s primary responsibilities, the Standing Orders for Council, Council agenda, minutes and meeting dates, and the Committees of Council on the Governance webpages.   

Informal queries can also be submitted to the Governance Office, email elections@essex.ac.uk.

Meeting Dates

2023-24

• Monday 27 November 2023, 10.30 - 16.30
• Monday 8 January 2024, 10.30 - 16.00
• Monday 18 March 2024, 09.00 - 15.00
• Monday 13 May 2024, 9.00 - 15.00

Council meeting and Joint meeting of Senate and Council

• Thursday 11 July 2024, 9.00 - 16.00

 Find out the meetings dates of Council and Council committees on the diary of meetings, which is published annually.