Court meeting: 22 June 2015
The University Court had its most recent meeting on 22 June.
Staff News publishes regular updates on matters discussed at all Court meetings, during which members consider matters of strategic importance to the University.
Meetings of the Court are held six times a year.
Governing body
The Court is the University’s governing body and its legal persona.
With a focus on strategic direction, it takes the final decisions on issues of fundamental concern to the wellbeing of the University.
Detailed information on the membership and activities of the University Court, including meeting agendas, papers and minutes, is available online.
Detailed information on University Court
Summary of Court meeting: 22 June 2015
The following reports are summaries of a selection of items discussed and agreed on at Court on 22 June.
The meeting’s agenda and papers are available online.
New Court member
Court warmly welcomed Ms Alison Grant as a new co-opted member of Court from 1 June 2015, following an open and transparent recruitment process. Ms Grant is a senior business professional whose experience spans major consultancies and global information and communications organisations including Microsoft UK plc and Accenture.
Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill
Court noted the publication of the anticipated Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill and discussed the potential implications for the governance arrangements for Court and Senate. Further information would be presented as the Bill progressed.
Designation of Assistant Principals
Court approved as follows:
Professor Susan Deacon's term of office as Assistant Principal to be extended for two years until 31 July 2017 and her designation to be amended to Assistant Principal External Relations.
Professor Natascha Gentz to be appointed for an initial period of three years with effect from the 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2018 to the new position of Assistant Principal - China.
Business Planning round 2015-2018
The business plans of the Colleges and Support Groups were approved by Court and the budget allocated for 2015/16, including the priorities for strategic investment and provision for the proposed estate and IT infrastructure programmes.
Enhancement-Led Institutional Review (ELIR) - Reflective Analysis and Case Studies
Court welcomed and endorsed the impressive documentation prepared for the Quality Assurance Agency Scotland (QAAS) formal review of the University, which occurs every four years. The external review team will be visiting the University in autumn 2015 prior to their report being published early in 2016.
SRUC update
Following detailed consideration of the information available, Court agreed that while wishing to maintain collaborative working with SRUC, it was not appropriate to proceed further at this stage with the strategic alliance.
University Risk Register
Court approved the 2015/16 University Risk Register, noting that this document is considered on an on-going basis throughout the year.
Resolutions
Court approved the following Resolutions noting that no observations had been received except in respect of Resolution 20/2015 where minor typographical changes had been required:
- Resolution No. 10/2015
- Foundation of a Chair of Chemical Reaction/Catalysis Engineering
- Resolution No. 11/2015
- Foundation of a Chair of Applied Control Engineering
- Resolution No. 12/2015
- Foundation of a Chair of Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health
- Resolution No. 13/2015
- Foundation of a Personal Chair of Global Environmental Law
- Resolution No. 14/2015
- Foundation of a Chair of Cyber Security and Privacy
- Resolution No. 15/2015
- Alteration of the title of the Chair of Epigenetics
- Resolution No. 16/2015
- Abolition of the Waddington Chair of Systems Biology
- Resolution No. 17/2015
- Foundation of a Chair of Materials Engineering
- Resolution No. 18/2015
- Boards of Studies
- Resolution No. 19/2015
- Code of Student Conduct
- Resolution No. 20/2015
- Postgraduate Degree Programme Regulations
- Resolution No. 21/2015
- Undergraduate Degree Programme Regulations
- Resolution No. 22/2015
- Degree of Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)
Other items
Court approved a number of items to progress the University's current estates programme. There was also consideration and approval of a revised Finance Strategy and the Estates Funding Strategy. Court also received reports from the following committees: Policy and Resources, Audit and Risk, Nominations, Knowledge Strategy and the Committee on University Benefactors.
Further information on the remit and work of Court and its Committees can be found online.