Senate elections 2021
Nominations are now open for new members to join the University Senate.
What is Senate?
Senate is the University’s supreme academic body, it is chaired by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor and its role includes:
- Directing and regulating teaching and promoting research at the University
- Discussing matters of strategic importance for learning, teaching and research
- Approving the award of degrees including honorary degrees
- Oversight of the work of three Senate Standing Committees
- Recommending or reporting to Court where required
More information on the role of Senate can be found on the Senate webpages:
Who can stand for Senate?
All teaching and research (academic) staff who are in post from 31 January 2021 are eligible to stand for Senate. This is a broad category and includes:
- Teaching staff
- Research staff
- Clinical staff
- Postdoctoral fellows
- Postgraduate tutors
There are 120 positions available this year, and these allow for self-nomination. More information on how to do this can be found below.
Representation across Senate must be spread across the three Colleges. Below is a breakdown of the positions open this year:
|
Position by college and role |
Total positions for election in 2021 |
|
CAHSS Academic staff (Non-professorial) |
12 |
|
CAHSS Academic staff (Professorial) |
21 |
|
CMVM Academic staff (Non-professorial) |
15 |
|
CMVM Academic staff (Professorial) |
27 |
|
CSE Academic staff (Non-professorial) |
19 |
|
CSE Academic staff (Professorial) |
26 |
Why become a Senate member?
Senate is an important University forum for consultation on academic matters, and is a key opportunity for our teaching and research staff community to have their say.
Senate and its Committees have an important role to play in ensuring the University continues to deliver excellent teaching and research, and has the ability to propose recommendations to Court, the University's decision making body.
Each meeting opens with a presentation and discussion session, focusing on a strategic issue and is open to all staff, and in the Formal Senate Business meeting, Senate members have an opportunity to provide further reflection and feedback on the presentation topic.
Presentation and discussion topics at Senate in 2019/20 included:
- Support for Early Career Researchers
- Student Support and Wellbeing
- Curriculum Reform
In 2020/21, topics are based around Adaptation and Renewal (ART):
- ART: Students
- ART: Research and Innovation
- ART: Reshaping, and Estates & Digital Infrastructure
How to get involved
If someone is interested in being part of Senate they can self-nominate via the website:
Each nominee is asked to provide a short statement in support of their nomination, but no supporting signatures are required.
The deadline for nominations is 12 noon on 10 March 2021.
Further details of the election process can be found on the Senate webpages: