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Student Governor Role Description

COUNCIL

 

STATEMENT OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The principal responsibilities of the Council are set out in its Statement of Primary Responsibilities as follows.

 

  1. To determine the mission, educational character and strategic vision of the institution, the long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators, and to ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders.

  2. To delegate authority to the head of the institution, as chief executive, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and personnel management of the institution and to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the head of the institution.

  3. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment, and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest.

  4. To ensure processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be, where possible and appropriate, benchmarked against other comparable institutions.

  5. To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the governing body itself.

  6. To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in higher education corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

  7. To safeguard the good name and values of the institution.

  8. To appoint the head of the institution as chief executive and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance.

  9. To appoint a secretary to the governing body and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the institution, there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability.

  10. To be the employing authority for all staff in the institution with direct responsibility for Strategic Management Group appointments and to be responsible for establishing a human resources strategy upon which the University relies to inform HR practice and procedure.

  11. To be the principal financial and business authority of the institution, to ensure that proper books of accounts are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall responsibility for the University’s assets, property and estate.

  12. To be the institution’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting all the institution’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the institution's name.

  13. To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students, in consultation with Academic Board.

  14. To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the institution.

  15. To ensure that the institution’s constitution is followed at all times and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen.

The University is seeking to appoint an additional student governor to join the University’s Council (board of governors).  Together with the SU President, who is also a member of the Council, they will enable Council to hear directly from members of the student body.

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Other than the Vice-Chancellor, members of Council are volunteers. They are responsible for ensuring that the University is run properly and complies with its legal, financial, and regulatory, obligations. The Statement of Primary Responsibilities (attached) explains in more detail what the Council is responsible for.

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As a governor, you will attend the Council meetings. Council typically meets four times a year, in October (full day), November, March and July. Meetings normally last between two and three hours except the October meeting which is a full day. 

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The student governor will be elected by the student body for a term of office of one year, with an option to be re-elected for a further term of one year.

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Nominations open 12pm on 24 April until 12pm on 5 May
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