The university’s governing documents are the (pdf). These determine the overarching governance framework of the university and set out the power and responsibilities of the Board of Governors, the Academic Board and the Vice-Chancellor.
The Board of Governors is the governing body of the university. It is responsible for overseeing the university’s activities, determining its future direction and developing and sustaining an environment in which its mission is achieved and learning is fostered.
The Board of Governors draws its authority from the Articles of Government and the governors are the corporation members. The majority of governors are external to the university, but the board also includes student and staff members, including the Vice-Chancellor and President of the Students’ Union. The role of Chair of the Board is separate from the role of the university’s Chief Executive, who is the Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive of the university and is the ‘accountable officer’, accountable for the use of public funds under the requirements of the Office for Students (‘OfS’).
The University Executive Board, which is the primary executive decision-making body of the university, supports the Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for developing and implementing strategy. This is undertaken through regular monitoring of the higher education policy environment, approval and review of key university projects, and monitoring of the university’s financial performance and key performance indicators, which are then reviewed by the Board of Governors. The University Executive Board receives reports setting out key performance and risk indicators and considers possible control issues brought to its attention by early warning mechanisms which are embedded within the operational units and reinforced by risk awareness training.
For further information about the Board of Governors or if you are interested in being considered for a governor role, please contact: