Committee Effectiveness Review

Introduction

Through the Academic Governance Review, Senate and its committees made a commitment to regularly review the form and function of our committees. By doing this annually we seek to ensure continued effectiveness of our academic committees.

Through the review it was agreed that:

Good academic governanceLink opens in a new window is where the Senate and its committees work coherently on behalf of the Council to self-govern education, research, and student matters inclusively and transparently, in support of the values, sustainability, strategy, and regulatory compliance of the University as a whole.

We also committed to shared Academic Governance PrinciplesLink opens in a new window. These include principles on staff and student representation, diversity of voice and evidence-based decision making.

Access guidance, templates and resources in the Committee Reviews SharePoint area

The Committee Effectiveness Review considers annually whether for the Senate and its committees:

A Committee’s terms of reference remain fit for purpose and help deliver the institution’s intended outcomes as part of the wider governance structure, i.e. the University strategic objectives.
Constitutions and memberships remain appropriate and help committees to fulfil their remit.
Committees are functioning optimally to fulfil their terms of reference and reflect the academic governance principles.

Committees in Scope

The committees in scope of the review are:

Tier 1: Senate

Tier 2: Education and Student Experience Committee, Research Committee

Tier 3: Learning and Teaching Subcommittee, Postgraduate Research Subcommittee, Quality and Standards Subcommittee, Student Success Subcommittee, Faculty Education and Student Experience Committees, Faculty Research and Impact Committees

Committee Effectiveness Review scope (2025-26 onwards):

Review Process

The review process is led by committee Secretariat with the Chair. The following tools and approaches are utilised:

A survey of committee members exploring perceptions of committee matters and effective operation.
Review of schedule of business, alongside mapping of business against the committee terms of reference, including consideration of business flow in and out of the committee.

Preparation of a summary report and action plan considering the findings of the above, and reflection on progress against previous years’ action plans.
Assurance reporting to parent committees, including action plans to address identified enhancement needs.

Timeline

Term 3	Members are surveyed following the final meeting of the committee each year
Summer	Desk based review tasks and preparation of summary reports and draft action plans.
Term 1	Summary reports and actions plans are discussed at the first meeting of the year, and action plans are agreed. Outcomes including action plans are reported to parent committees at first opportunity for assurance.

Resources for Secretariat

Secretariat to committees in scope can access guidance, templates and resources in the Committee Reviews SharePoint area. If you are unable to access the link (and think you should be able to), please contact with details of the committee you support.