Terms of reference

Terms of reference

1. To advise Senate and the University Executive Board on all matters relating to the research strategy of the University, to support the development of the University's Research Strategy and to support the Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive Board and Pro-Vice-Chancellor(s) in driving the strategy forward.
2. To identify priority areas for research, to champion and promote research excellence, and to develop, promote and monitor policies and practices to stimulate research programmes in the agreed areas.
3. To set internal policy and monitor progress in response to external requirements (eg peer review processes, external research assessment).
4. To advise the University Executive Board and Planning Committee on organisational structures for research, on the selective distribution of resources within the University in order to ensure appropriate alignment of resource allocation with research strategy, and where other initiatives within the University have implications for research activity.
5. To support the University in its engagement with key external stakeholders relating to research, including business, industry, the government, cultural institutions and funding agencies.
6. To monitor the research performance of the institution, departments in terms of research quality, financial sustainability (generation of research income), impact and research integrity drawing on national and international benchmarking data.
7. To receive annual updates from departments on research activities and performance including research impact, in order to advise the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research on areas where improvements could be made, where there are significant risks and/or where new opportunities may be pursued.
8. To monitor and influence the development of research policy and strategy of key national and international agencies in the interests of the University (eg HEFCE, Research Councils, European Union).

Reports to: Senate

Summaries of business sent to: University Executive Board & Planning Committee

Committees which report in to University Research Committee

       Faculty Research Groups (PDF , 375kb)

University Research Priming Committee

Clinical Trials Sponsorship Committee

York Graduate Research School Board

Global Challenges Research Fund Steering Group

Research Excellence Framework (REF) Strategy Group 

Research Excellence Training Steering Group

Research Communications Strategy Group

Membership

Committee membership

• The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Chair)
  • Professor Deborah Smith
    
    
• The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange)(ex officio)
  • Professor Jon Timmis

• The Dean of the York Graduate Research School (ex officio)
  • Professor Tom Stoneham

• The Deans of Faculty (ex officio)
  • Professor Brian Fulton (Sciences)
  • Professor Ambrose Field (Acting Dean, Arts and Humanities)
    
  • Professor Stuart Bell (Social Sciences)

• The Faculty Associate Deans (Research) (ex officio)
  • Professor Colin Brown (Sciences)
  • Dr Kate Giles (Acting Associate Dean, Arts and Humanities) 
  • Professor Matthew Festenstein (Social Sciences)

• The Director of Research and Enterprise (ex officio)
  • Ms Jennifer Gilmartin (Acting)
    

• The Associate Director and Head of Research Services (ex officio)

• The Research Strategy and Policy Manager (ex officio)
  • Ms Anna Grey 

• Three academic members from each Academic Faculty, normally with experience on Departmental Senior Management Teams. No two of these members should be from the same department.
  • Professor David Barnett (until September 2020)
    TFTV
  • Professor Stuart Carroll (until September 2021)
    History
  • Professor Mathew Evans (until September 2021)
    Chemistry
  • Professor Maria Goddard (until September 2021)
    Centre for Health Economics
  • Professor Stephen Smith (until September 2021)
       Electronic Engineering
  • Professor Jenny Steele (until September 2020)
    Law
  • Professor Jacco Thijssen (until September 2021)
       York Management School
  
  • Professor Elizabeth Tyler (until September 2021)
    English
  • Professor Piran White (until September 2020)
    Environment

In attendance

• Research Strategy and Policy Officer (Secretary)
  • Dr Alice Wakely 

Operational Procedures

Membership of University Research Committee:roles and responsibilities (PDF , 207kb)

URC procedures for handling conflicts of interest (PDF , 491kb)

URC proforma for annual declaration of interests (Word format) (MS Word , 18kb)

Minutes

Research committee minutes

In line with the University's Freedom of Information Policy, the minutes of the meetings will be made publicly available in the January after the end of the academic year in which the meetings took place. If you believe you should have access prior to this date, please contact the Secretary to the Committee.

Commercially sensitive content has been removed in accordance with provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Full minutes are available for staff members only.

2016-17

Meeting	Public access
28 June 2017	20170628PUBLIC (PDF , 718kb)
26 April 2017	20170426PUBLIC (PDF , 691kb)
10 March 2017	20170310PUBLIC (PDF , 606kb)
1 February 2017	20170201PUBLIC (PDF , 560kb)
17 November 2016	20161117PUBLIC (PDF , 565kb)
27 September 2016	20160927PUBLIC (PDF , 341kb)

2015-2016

Meeting	Public access
15 June 2016	20160615PUBLIC (PDF , 465kb)
20 April 2016	20160420PUBLIC (PDF , 525kb)
9 March 2016	20160309PUBLIC (PDF , 504kb)
27 January 2016	20160127PUBLIC (PDF , 549kb)
9 December 2015	20151209PUBLIC (PDF , 476kb)
4 November 2015	20151104PUBLIC (PDF , 506kb)‌
29 September 2015	20150929PUBLIC (PDF , 461kb)‌

2014-2015

Meeting	Public access
10 June 2015	20150610 Public (PDF , 542kb)
21 April 2015	20150421 Public (PDF , 413kb)
11 March 2015	20150311 Public (PDF , 423kb)
14 January 2015	20150114 Public (PDF , 378kb)
26 November 2014	20142611 Public (PDF , 385kb)
15 October 2014	20141510 Public (PDF , 395kb)

2013-2014

Meeting	Public access
11 June 2014	20141106 Public (PDF , 527kb)
30 April 2014	20143004 Public (PDF , 456kb)
19 March 2014	20141903 Public (PDF , 381kb)
15 January 2014	20141501 Public (PDF , 413kb)
20 November 2013	20132011 Public (PDF , 551kb)
09 October 2013	20130910 Public (PDF , 550kb)

2012-2013

Meeting	Public access
14 June 2013	20131406 Public (PDF , 250kb)
13 March 2013	20131303 Public (PDF , 244kb)
16 January 2013	20130116 Public (PDF , 277kb)
28 November 2012	20121128 Public (PDF , 360kb)
03 October 2012	20121003 Public (PDF , 284kb)

2011 - 2012

2010 - 2011

Older minutes

Members' archive

URC members' archive

An archive of URC business dating from October 2012 - June 2018 is available in this secure area. Full records of business from January 2018 onwards are available to members separately via Googledrive.

• Access the secure area for committee members