Committees

General

1          The Chairman of Council and the Vice-Chancellor and Warden shall normally be ex officio members of all Council Committees with the exception of Audit Committee.

The Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors (Education, Research and Partnerships and Engagement) shall normally be ex officio members of all Senate Committees.

2          All reports of Committees shall be circulated before the meeting of Senate or Council, as appropriate, at which they are to be presented.

3          The Chair of a Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Committee on matters requiring immediate approval which are routine or non-contentious or within the financial limits laid down in the financial regulations and which would not justify holding a special meeting of the Committee.  The exercise of such power must be reported to the next meeting of the Committee.

4          Except where otherwise provided, the date of appointment for new members of Senate and Council Committees or for representatives of Council shall be 1 August, and all Committees appointed for the following academic year shall assume responsibility from that date.  Except where otherwise provided, appointed membership of Committees shall normally be for a period of three years which may be renewed.

5          Except where otherwise provided, the Registrar and Secretary shall provide the secretariat for all Senate and Council Committees and Joint Senate and Council Committees.

6          All Committees of the University shall conduct their business in a fair, proper, transparent and ethical manner, having regard to the values of the University as stated in the University Strategy and following the Seven Principles of Public Life set down by the Nolan Committee (accessible on the Web at  http://www.public-standards.org.uk/About/The_7_Principles.html).

7          The Chair and Secretary of each Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that an appropriate induction is provided to new members of that Committee.

8          There shall be quorum at any meeting of Senate and Council Committees and Sub-Committees where either ten members or at least one third of the members are present.

 For membership and terms of reference of Senate and Council Committees and Joint Senate and Council Committees see the University website at http://www.dur.ac.uk/committees/