Academic Governance Committee Typology
Academic Governance Committee Typology
The following typology defines the role of each level of academic governance body that operates within the University's Academic Governance Framework.
Body |
Definition |
Committees/Tier |
| Principal Academic Body | Established in the Charter and Statutes. | Tier 1 - The Senate |
| Strategic Committees | Established by the Senate to deal with specific business on its behalf. The Senate Committees have broad strategic oversight; provide assurance to the Senate; and have delegated authority to approve policy. |
Tier 2 - (e.g. Research Committee / Education and Student Experience Committee / Academic Resourcing Committee) |
| Sub-Committees | Bodies established on a long-term basis by a higher committee to deal in more detail with an area of the committee’s business. A group that represents a larger body (e.g. Council/the Senate) and either has delegated authority to make decisions on behalf of that larger body or, after discussing proposals makes a recommendation to that body. It has the functional responsibility for proposing policy and approaches to strategy. |
Tier 3 - (e.g. Quality and Standards Subcommittee /Postgraduate Research Subcommittee / Student Success Subcommittee/Faculty Research Committee) |
| Panels | Panels are responsible for implementing and operating a policy framework. | Tier 4 - (e.g. Senate Sub-group; Course Approval Panel;) |
| Working Groups/Programme and Project Boards | These terms should normally be reserved for short term bodies established to deal with specific tasks. A working group is a group of people with knowledge and expertise who work together to achieve specified goals. |
Tier 4 - (e.g. Student Experience Management Group, Educational Partnerships Oversight Panel) |
| Task and Finish Groups | A task and finish group is set up as part of a larger project group to look at one specific item that needs to be delivered. There should be a defined time for this group to complete its work, report and then be disestablished. | Tier 4 |
Further Information
To see up to date committee Terms of Reference, memberships and contact details, visit the A-Z of Committees.
For a visual representation, view a Diagram of Committee Structures.
Read about the Academic Governance Review here.