Statement of Primary Responsibilities
The University of Derby is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee and it is an exempt Charity. The following statement sets out the primary responsibilities exercised by the Governing Council. This statement has been informed by the CUC Guide for Members of HE Governing Bodies in the UK published in November 2004.
The principal responsibilities of the Governing Council are as follows:
- To contribute to and approve the mission and strategic aims of the University, the Corporate Plan and financial forecast and the key performance indicators and to ensure that these meet the interests of the stakeholders.
- To determine the academic and educational character of the University.
- To hold the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Executive to account for academic, corporate, financial, estate and personnel management of the institution. Also to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within which the management functions under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor.
- To ensure through a properly constituted audit committee the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability including financial and operational controls, solvency and risk assessment. In addition the Council must ensure that there are procedures for handling internal grievance, managing conflicts on interest, anti-fraud and corruption and 'whistle blowing'.
- To ensure that processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the University against the plans and approved key performance indicators. The latter should be benchmarked against comparable institutions.
- To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the Governing Council itself.
- To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in higher education corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee of standards in Public Life.
- To appoint the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Executive and the other members of the Executive and to put into place arrangements for monitoring their performance.
- To appoint a Clerk to the Governing Council and to ensure that there is an appropriate separation of his lines of accountability from his management functions.
- To be the employing authority for all staff in the institution and to ensure that there is a human resource strategy.
- To be satisfied that the University is fulfilling its responsibility for making adequate provision for the welfare of students and staff.
- To be the institution's legal authority and to ensure that systems are in place for meeting the University's legal obligations arising from contracts and other legal commitments.
- To act as the trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the University.
- To ensure that the University's Constitution as set down in the Memorandum of Association, the Articles of Government and the Instrument of Government are followed at all times.
Approved by Governing Council 8 July 2005
