Terms of reference for Council

The University Council has decided to adopt the Committee of University Chairs (CUC) Code of Governance (as re-issued in February 2009) and has agreed this Statement of Primary Responsibilities in line with the Code. The Statement was also updated and reconfirmed by the Council as part of its review of corporate governance in 2010.

Primary responsibilities

  • To approve the University's mission, strategic vision, long term business plans, key performance indicators (KPIs) and annual budgets
  • To appoint the Vice-Chancellor as the University's Chief Executive Officer and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance
  • To ensure systems of control and accountability, covering finances, operations, risk assessment, internal grievances and conflicts of interest
  • To monitor the University's performance against plans and key performance indicators (benchmarked against other institutions where possible and appropriate)
  • To ensure compliance with the statutes, ordinances and other provisions regulating the University and its governance framework

Effectiveness and performance review

  • To review the Council's effectiveness not less than every five years
  • To ensure a parallel review of Senate's effectiveness
  • To monitor University performance against key performance indicators
  • To publish the results of effectiveness reviews and reviews of University performance

Delegation of responsibilities

While Council determines some matters itself, many matters are delegated to individuals and groups in order that suitable proposals may be brought forward.

The key principle is that the delegation of authority should be:

  • to a statutory committee when there is a legal or due process requirement;
  • to Senate and the Vice-Chancellor as its Chair for academic matters (for example course details, examining procedures, awarding degrees, etc);
  • to the Vice-Chancellor, the Senior Management Group (SMG) or individual officers when it is an executive matter, in accordance with the agreed Scheme of Delegation.

In addition to the above responsibilities, the Council also has a number of powers and functions as set out in Statute 11 of the Charter and Statutes (PDF , 151kb).

 

University Council chair

  • Sir Christopher O'Donnell
    Pro-Chancellor

Who to contact

Meeting dates

All meetings take place on Fridays at 12.00 in room H/G15, Heslington Hall.

  • 25 November 2011
  • 2 March 2012
  • 22 June 2012
  • 20 July 2012

Away day

  • Friday 7 October 2011