Role description for Council members

It comprises 22 members and meets five times each year (including a strategic away day). All Council members are offered induction, training and development as appropriate.

Types of members

The majority of the Council's members are from outside the University - the ‘lay’ members. They contribute a wide range of experience and expertise from different sectors. Lay members are also usually expected to take part in one or more of the Council's subcommittees.

Members of University staff hold a number of seats on the Council. Two seats are held ex officio by the Presidents of the two representative student associations (YUSU and GSA).

All members act in the interests of the University as a whole, rather than as representative of any constituency. The University maintains a register of interests of members of the Council, which is available online for public scrutiny.

All members are expected to attend scheduled meetings as regularly as possible. 

Although technically members are charity trustees, their role is similar to that of the non-executive directors of a company. 

They have collective responsibility for Council decisions. As with all governing bodies, they must respect the distinction between their strategic governance role and that of operational management of the institution. The personal liability of members is protected by the University’s indemnity insurance.

Contributions of members

Members bring a wide range of knowledge and expertise. They apply balanced and disinterested judgement to Council's deliberations. Their main assets are their independence and their objectivity. Their principal contributions are:

• to see issues from all aspects
• to represent an external view
• to offer special skills
• to give an independent view on possible internal conflicts of interest
• to provide useful contacts
• to advise on the public presentation of the University

Qualities of members

The qualities required of lay members are:

• commitment to the University and to its objectives
• a general understanding of universities
• an appreciation of broad social and economic trends as they affect universities
• the ability to discuss without being adversarial or losing respect and goodwill
• acceptance of collective responsibility for Council decisions
• common sense and an acknowledgement of the art of the possible
• the capacity to question information and explanations supplied by officers of the University
• honesty and integrity
• respect for confidentiality.

Members of the Council who are staff or students of the University are required to bring the same broad range of qualities as lay members.

In addition, they bring specific and general knowledge and understanding of the University's work and culture. They ensure communication throughout the governance and management structure, including links with the Senate, Council subcommittees and staff and student groups. 

Understanding of higher education governance

As well as keeping to the seven Nolan principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership), Council members are expected to understand the seven primary elements in The Higher Education Code of Governance produced by the Committee of University Chairs (CUC).