Governance

Servicing the University's statutory bodies

Academic Board

The purpose of Academic Board is to keep staff on Grade E or above in touch with the governing bodies of the University and to provide an opportunity for discussion of large issues of policy and common matters of interest.
Meetings of the Board are held annually, usually in May, but other meetings may be held at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor or at the request of not fewer than 25 members of the Academic Board.

Academic Board

Convocation

Convocation is a statutory body of the University. Every graduate of the University is, by right, a member of Convocation and entitled to attend the annual meeting. In the annual meeting of Convocation, members receive a report from the Vice-Chancellor on current issues and future challenges facing the University and alumni are invited to put questions to the Vice-Chancellor.

Convocation also provides an opportunity to discuss any proposed changes to University Statutes. Members attending are also able to raise matters of concern to them and if they gain the support of those attending, have those views raised with Senate, Council or Court, as appropriate.

Convocation, therefore, provides the mechanism through which every graduate is able to hear at first-hand about the challenges being faced by the University; about the ways in which they are being tackled, and to have a voice in the way in which the policies of the University are formulated.

The formal powers of Convocation are limited to the appointment of the Chancellor of the University on the nomination of Court and Senate sitting in joint session but under the Statutes it may discuss, and, if it thinks fit, make representations on any matter whatsoever relating to the University.

The Acting Chair of Convocation, Clare Talbot-Jones, is also a member of Court.

Convocation

Court

Court has a largely formal role within the University's governance structure. The current total membership is 57, comprising representatives from many sectors of the community as well as the University's principal officers and elected members of staff.

The prime purpose of Court is to provide a channel of communication between the University and the community in Newcastle, the North East of England, and beyond, informing different constituencies of the work of the University and the University of the needs of these constituencies relevant to its activities.
Court meets twice annually in April and October.

Court

Council

Council is the executive governing body of the University, it is specifically charged with the management and control of the University's finances and property and reviewing the work of the University. It has 23 members, including lay members (lay members are those who are neither employees nor students of the University), and meets six times a year.

Council is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, as well as meeting the University's obligations as an exempt charity and body in receipt of public funds.

It has a collective responsibility to promote the University's wellbeing and to ensure its sustainability. Its specific responsibilities include:

• corporate strategy, plans and budgets
• corporate policy and major business decisions
• establishing the framework for governance and management
• monitoring institutional and executive performance

Council

Senate

Senate is, by Statute, the supreme governing and executive body of the University in all academic matters, and considers:

• the admission of students
• the curriculum
• academic standards
• the award of degrees and other qualifications
• the regulation and control of teaching
• encouragement of research
• academic training
• the conduct of examinations

Senate

Servicing committees