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Senate

Senate

Senate is our senior academic board and is responsible to Council for: general issues relating to the research, scholarship and teaching of our courses; taking appropriate action to safeguard the standards and quality of our awards; considering the development of our academic activities and the resources needed to support them; and for general advice on other matters that Council or the Vice-Chancellor may refer to them.

Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and membership includes senior academics and professional service employees, representatives of the University’s teaching body, and Students’ Union representatives. Senate is supported by the University Secretariat. For queries please contact Dr Emma Tomsett, University Secretariat Manager and Senate Secretary (extension 3186). Proposed agenda items should be sent to the Secretary at least two weeks before the meeting to enable the agenda to be set in good time.

 

Senate meetings and sub-committees

Meeting dates for Senate in 2023-2024 are: 20 September 2023, 6 December 2023, 20 March 2024, and 5 June 2024. Members may access Senate paperwork by logging in to their Board Effect Platform.

The work of Senate is delegated to various sub-committees. Please see the University Committees document for full details of constitutions and terms of reference.

Academic Planning Committee (APC) is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and is responsible for the development of the University’s academic taught portfolio and its formal strategic educational partnerships. This includes approval of business cases for new courses and - through the work of the University Partnerships Board (UPB) – new partnerships as well as oversight of changes to existing courses and partnerships.

Meeting dates for APC in 2023-2024 are 21 September 2023, 19 October 2023, 30 November 2023, 25 January 2024, 6 March 2024, 2 May 2024 and 4 July 2024.

For queries please contact Ciara Walsh, Committee Officer and Secretary (extension 3186).

For queries relating to partnership activity please contact Mrs Shabana Hussain, Senior Registry Officer and UPB Secretary (Extension 3571).

Education Committee is chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) and has responsibility for issues relating to learning, teaching and the assessment of our academic taught portfolio of courses. This includes putting into operation the educational aspects of our strategic plan Thrive 2028, monitoring of other plans including our Access and Participation Plan, maintenance of quality and academic standards, and oversight of all aspects of the student journey.

Meeting dates for Education Committee in 2023-2024 are: 4 October 2023, 9 November 2023, 17 January 2024, 13 March 2024, and 10 May 2024. 

For queries please contact Wendy Binmore, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and provides strategic direction and oversight of our development and performance in creating a culture of genuine inclusion for students and colleagues, one that celebrates diversity and proactively develops good relations between people. It is responsible for several key policies and strategies, including the Equality Strategy 2023-2028.

Meeting dates for EDI Committee in 2023-2024 are: 11 October 2023, 14 December 2023, 7 March 2024, and 15 May 2024.

For queries please contact Ciara Walsh, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

The Institute of Health and Social Care Board is chaired by the Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) and provides a co-ordinating centre for BNU health and social care provision and internal/external stakeholders to maximise opportunities for collaboration, increase innovation and introduce additional forms of income. It also provides inter-related quality assurance and compliance for the University’s health and social care provision in accordance with external regulation requirements.

Meeting dates for the IHSCB in 2023-2024 are: 18 September 2023, 12 March 2024, 28 May 2024, and 23 July 2024.

For queries please contact Wendy Binmore, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

Research and Enterprise Committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing research performance across the University, identifying priority areas for research and enterprise effort and activity, and monitoring the research student environment. This includes preparation for our submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise.

Meeting dates for REC in 2023-2024 are: 11 October 2023, 14 December 2023, 7 March 2024, and 15 May 2024.

For queries please contact Kate Heyworth, Research Governance and Excellence Manager, or Ciara Walsh, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

Student Experience Forum is chaired by the Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) and aims to provide a student-experience focus to the work of the University in order to deliver overall improvements in student engagement, satisfaction and experience.

Meeting dates for SEF in 2023-2024 are: 18 September 2023, 4 December 2023, 25 March 2024, and 13 June 2024.

For queries please contact Ciara Walsh, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

Sustainability Committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and aims to fulfil the University’s Sustainability Vision and Mission through positive impact on social, environmental, and economic sustainability and delivers benefits to colleagues, learners and communities at BNU through our activities and partnerships. It is responsible for several key documents, including the Sustainability Strategy.

Meeting dates for Sustainability Committee in 2023-2024 are: 11 October 2023, 14 December 2023, 7 March 2024, and 15 May 2024.

For queries please contact Wendy Binmore, Committee Officer and Secretary (Extension 3186).

Additional information

If you would like more information on the way in which Senate and its sub-committees operate, or would like to explore the role of different members on a committee, please consult the Committees Handbook. For a diagram of the University’s deliberative committee structure please see the University Committees document.

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