FE Governance Committee
Terms of Reference
Introduction
The Further Education Governance Committee is one of four committees of the University of Derby Governing Council. The role of these committees is to advise Council on governance matters relating to major areas of University activity. Further Education forms a significant part of the academic portfolio and is managed by the University of Derby Buxton Faculty where it is offered by the School of Further Education under the brand name Buxton College of Further Education.
Buxton College of Further Education therefore is a constituent part of the University. The School of Further Education is one of two schools which make up the University of Derby Faculty. Mary Blauciak, the Head of Buxton College of Further Education is also Assistant Dean within the Faculty and forms part of the faculty senior management team. Dr Peter Dewhurst, the Dean of Faculty is line directed by a Pro Vice-Chancellor. Decisions regarding faculty and school strategy are taken by the Faculty Management Board in which the members of the University Executive join with the senior management of the Faculty.
The FE Governance Committee comprises selected members of the Governing Council together with a senior manager, a staff member, two student members and four co-opted members who have relevant expertise and a passion for further education. It is serviced by members of FE management. Normally the Chairman of the Governing Council and the Vice-Chancellor attend the meetings of the Committee. The Chairman of the FE Governance Committee is Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill who is a senior and long-standing member of Governing Council.
FE Governance Committee reports to and advises the Governing Council on all matters relating to Further Education. It is invited to endorse decision of the University Executive and offer advice on matters of strategy. It also maintains a close interest in the shape of the curriculum, the quality of deliver and the student performance and response.
Terms of Reference
The function of the FE Governance Committee is to advise the Governing Council on the strategy for the development of further education provision and to evaluate the performance of the provision. More specifically, the FE Governance Committee is expected to undertake the following.
- Consider how the University should endeavour to contribute to the proper and reasonable sufficiency of further education provision in Derbyshire.
- Recommend a strategy for the development of further education across the University in collaboration with regional partners, where appropriate, and in accord with the advice of the Department for Education & Skills, the Learning and Skills Council and Regional Development Agency in Derbyshire.
- Maintain an oversight of the portfolio of FE programmes available at the University and consider FE progression to HE. FEGC should consider the implications of developments in HE for delivery of FE and the overall FE student experience.
- Assess the FE financial performance of the University including marketing, publicity and recruitment and its contracts with the Learning and Skills Council, ensuring that the institution is maximising the strength of its position.
- Evaluate the academic performance of the FE provision in relation to the quality of the teaching and learning, student retention and achievement and approve the outcome of the Self-Assessment process for submission to the Learning and Skills Council.
- Assure itself that the University management is responding appropriately to the outcomes of external inspection.
- Assess the adequacy of the teaching accommodation and staff resource for the delivery and administration of further education.
Composition
- Four independent councillors
- One staff member of the Governing Council
- The Vice-Chancellor or nominee
- Up to four co-options of appropriately experienced individuals from business, education or voluntary organisations
- Two student representatives, normally a UDSU Sabbatical Officer and an FE student.
Current membership (2011/12)
- Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill (Chairman)
- Mrs Olivia Dean
- Mr Chris Hughes, Chairman of Governing Council
Vice-Chancellor's nominee
- Professor Elizabeth Barnes
Student Representatives
- Mr Dominic Anderson, UDSU Vice-President Academic Affairs
- FE Student representative (vacancy)
FE Staff Member (co-opted)
- Sheila Hughes
Co-options
- Mr Kenneth Cook CBE
- Mr Jesse Elms
- Mrs Louise Potter
- Ms Christine Walters
In attendance:
- Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor
- Dr Peter Dewhurst, Dean of Faculty
- Ms Mary Blauciak, Head of the School of Further Education, UDB
- Ms Frances Sussex, UDB
- Ms Rachael Hatchett, UDB
- Ms Jo Brewin, Business Accountant for UDB
Quorum is five members including two independent members
- Terms of Reference first approved by Governing Council 13 December 2002
- Revised terms of reference and composition agreed by FEGC 17 February 2004
- Accepted by FEGP and recommended to Governing Council for approval 26 February 2004.
- Approved by Governing Council 19 March 2004
- Revised terms of reference agreed by FEGC 20 September 2005.
- Approved by Governing Council on 7 October 2005.
- Amendments to the terms of reference agreed by FEGC 18 May 2006 and FEGP on 22 June 2006.
- Approved by the Governing Council 7 July 2006.
- Amended composition approved by Governing Council July 2007.
