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The Senior Governor

Best governance practice recommends that the roles of chairman and chief executive should not be held by the same person.

The Principal is the University's chief executive but it is most unlikely that any Rector would ever be able to undertake a chairman's role whether by reason of limited availability or lack of intimate knowledge of the University.

Accordingly, the Court has instituted the position of Senior Governor whose role is to preside over meetings of Court in the Rector's absence but, more importantly, to undertake all the other responsibilities expected of a chairman.

The Senior Governor is elected by the Court from amongst its lay members. Court will normally indicate the expected duration of the Senior Governor's appointment which shall be subject to satisfactory annual appraisal report by the convener of the Audit Committee and to the Senior Governor remaining a lay member of the Court.

Duties and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Governor are as follows:

  1. Ensure that the Court fulfils its objectives in a proper and effective manner; and in particular:

    1. promote cohesion and team spirit among all members of Court, whilst fostering independence of thought and the free expression of concerns for the University or ideas for promoting its wellbeing;

    2. be satisfied that both committees of Court and their officers effectively fulfil their remits;

    3. monitor on a continuous basis the performance of the Court (individually and corporately) and ensure that the Court generally upholds standards of governance;

    4. oversee the induction process for new members of Court;

    5. prior to each Court meeting, review with the Principal and the Rector the business agenda for that meeting so that, for example, strategically important proposals presented to Court display the options considered and the reasons for supporting the recommended course of action.

  2. Preside over meetings of the Court in the absence, or at the request, of the Rector.

  3. Review annually the performance of the Principal in accordance with agreed criteria; and monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the Principal's terms and conditions of employment.

  4. Convene the Remuneration Committee; and be a member of any committee charged with the appointment of a Principal. (The Senior Governor shall not be a member of the Audit Committee.)

  5. Receive the agenda for meetings of all University committees and have the right of attendance at such meetings.

  6. Represent the University on the Committee of University Chairmen (CUC) and on such other national bodies requiring a lay representative of the University as the Court's Governance and Nominations Committee may determine.

  7. Act as a confidant(e) of the Principal and/or the Rector in any matter relating to the wellbeing of the University; and interact as appropriate between all members and officers of the Court.

  8. Be responsible normally, on reference from the Clerk, for the review of cases invoked in terms of the University's Code on Public Interest Disclosure.

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