2017-18

Principal Committees of the University

University Court

The Court has ultimate responsibility for the deployment of resources in the University and for the strategic plans of the institution. It also has a monitoring role in relation to the overall performance of the University. It is responsible for the well-being of staff and, with the Senate, for students. The Rector is, ex-officio, the President of the University Court. The Rector chairs such parts of the Court meetings as the Court may from time to time decide. The Convener, a lay member of Court appointed through an open recruitment process, chairs those parts of the Court meetings not chaired by the Rector. The full membership of Court is given on page viii.

Committees reporting to Court

Committee

Convener

Business

Audit Committee

Ms Heather Cousins

To oversee on behalf of Court the effectiveness of the University’s arrangements for corporate governance, financial reporting, systems of internal control and risk management and the activities and processes related to these systems. This will include arrangements to ensure the University’s compliance with the requirements of the Financial Memorandum between the University and Scottish Funding Council.

Estates Committee

Mr Ronnie Mercer

To develop and maintain a strategic estates plan for consideration by Court which supports the delivery of the University’s Strategic Plan taking into account resource implication and the importance of environmental sustainability.
In doing this the Estates Committee will:

- Provide the Programme Governance to the overall capital programme and the Director of Estates will ensure that regular performance updates are provided to the Committee.

- Provide governance for the development of the master plan and a design guide and colour palette. The master plan will be brought to Estates Committee and only with the approval of the Committee will it then proceed to Court in advance of seeking City Council approval.

- Approve the commercial property aspects of projects, including leases, disposals and any acquisitions.

The Estates Committee will not have responsibility in relation to design as this is the responsibility of individual project boards, however for all projects valued at £25m or more, the Project Governance Board Convenor would, at design stages B and D [B = Concept Design; D = Developed Design], bring the design to Estates Committee for information and comment. Responsibility for approving the design would remain with the Project Governance Board.

To develop policies to guide implementation of plans by Estates & Buildings
To ensure that the Committee's membership includes the skills and experience necessary to address its remit effectively. To this end, the Committee may request that the University Court appoint one or more additional co-opted members to the Committee. The Chair of the Committee will participate in the selection process for a new co-opted member.

Finance Committee	Mr Graeme Bissett	To monitor the income and expenditure of the University To consider financial policies and issues and to make recommendations to Court on: - the annual revenue and capital budget; - banking, borrowing and lending; - the investment of endowment funds; and - other financial matters, always having regard to the importance of financial sustainability To advise Court on the financial implications of policy decisions being considered by Court To consider the financial statements of the University and make recommendations to Court thereon Having received a report from the Capex Committee: - to make recommendations to Court on the budget for capital projects; - to decide on all capex proposals involving expenditure of £500,000 and £25M, subject to these proposals being included in the Court approved capital plan and, where appropriate, having been approved by the Estates Committee; - to make recommendations to Court on all capex proposals involving expenditure of £25M or above, subject to these proposals being included in the Court approved capital plan and, where appropriate, having been approved by Estates Committee; and - to decide on all requests for capital budget variances of £500,000 or above. To authorise individual items of revenue expenditure costing £1M or more To ensure that the Committee's membership includes the skills and experience necessary to address its remit effectively. To this end, the Committee may request that the University Court appoint one or more additional co-opted members to the Committee. The Chair of the Committee will participate in the selection process for a new co-opted member.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Committee	Dr David Duncan	The primary roles of the Committee shall be to: Provide a forum within which consultation and discussion on health and safety, environmental and sustainability matters may take place between representatives of University management and representatives of staff and students who may be affected by University activities Make representations and recommendations to the University Court Advise Court on all matters affecting the health and safety of staff, students and visitors to the University and on environmental management issues, having regard to the importance of environmental sustainability
Human Resources Committee	Ms June Milligan	On behalf of Court, to review the University’s HR Strategy and, through agreed performance indicators, monitor its relevance, implementation and effectiveness Ensure that the strategy is consistent with and supports the University’s mission, vision and values Monitor compliance with the legal and regulatory framework for HR and ensure the adoption of best practice Act as a sounding board for the University’s executive officers and HR function, providing advice, from a breadth of perspectives, on human resource management issues Ensure that the University’s senior management demonstrate the importance of HR to the institution by providing support and leadership to all its staff. To ensure that the Committee's membership includes the skills and experience necessary to address its remit effectively. To this end, the Committee may request that the University Court appoint one or more additional co-opted members to the Committee. The Chair of the Committee will participate in the selection process for a new co-opted member.
Nominations Committee	Ms Elizabeth Passey	To make recommendations to Court on the appointment of co-opted lay members, having regard to the skills and experience required To make recommendations to Court on the appointment of Court committee members, in consultation with the relevant Committee chairs; and to make recommendations on the convenership of Court committees To advise Court on any other matter relating to its membership
Remuneration Committee	Ms June Milligan	To formulate the University's remuneration policy, and to review that policy annually, recommending changes to Court as appropriate To determine salaries for members of the Senior Management Group, having regard to: - their performance in advancing the University's strategic objectives, - the need to offer salaries that are competitive with those of other major UK universities, as reflected in robust comparative data, and - the budget approved by Court In the absence of the Principal, to determine the Principal's salary; Annually, to determine the University’s policy on the performance-related reward of professorial and senior administrative staff (all level 10 staff); and To advise Court on the University's policy on severance arrangements for staff, and, within parameters agreed by Court, to implement that policy, considering on an individual basis, any severance proposal: - that departs from the parameters agreed by Court, and/or - that pertains to a member of the Senior Management Group. To ensure that the Committee's membership includes the skills and experience necessary to address its remit effectively. To this end, the Committee may request that the University Court appoint one or more additional co-opted members to the Committee. The Chair of the Committee will participate in the selection process for a new co-opted member.

Senate

The Senate is charged with the regulation and superintendence of the teaching and the discipline of the University and the promotion of research. Senate is convened by The Principal.

Committees reporting to Senate

Committee	Convener	Business
Council of Senate	The Principal	To undertake all normal business of Senate on behalf of Senate
Academic Dress Committee	Clerk of Senate or his/her nominee	Ceremonial dress
Education Policy & Strategy Committee*	Professor Frank Coton	Review, development and promotion of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy
-- Academic Standards Committee	Professor Tom Guthrie	Academic regulations and quality assurance matters
-- Learning & Teaching Committee	Professor Moira Fischbacher-Smith	Development and enhancement of provision of learning opportunities for students
Honorary Degrees Committee	The Principal	Nominations for the conferment of Honorary Degrees
Library Committee*	Professor John Briggs	Application of Library funds and review of Library policy, strategy and performance
Research Planning & Strategy Committee*	Professor Jon Cooper and Professor Miles Padgett	Definition, promotion and implementation of the University's Research Strategy
-- Deans of Graduate Studies Committee	Dr Duncan Ross	Defining and implementing the University’s PGR Strategy and matters relating to PGR provision
Research Institute Management Groups	Information available from each University Research Institute	Definition, promotion and implementation of the University’s Research Strategy with regard to the Research Institute
Senate Appeals Committee	Dr Maureen Farrell	Academic appeals from students
Senate Business Committee	The Principal	Agenda of Senate meetings
Senate Student Conduct Committee	The Principal^[1]	Conduct and disciplinary cases against students
Student Support & Development Committee*	Professor John Briggs	Student support and development including review of Accommodation, Student Counselling & Advisory Service, Careers Service, Sport & Recreation Service, Chaplaincy Centre, University Health Service, Special Needs Service, Student Information Desk, International Students' Adviser and the Nursery

[1] Convenership is delegated to Vice Principals and the following nominees: Professor Tom Guthrie, Professor Karen Lury, Professor Chris Philo, Professor Martin Sullivan.

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