New University Constitution Under Consideration
13 February 2012
Governing Council members have commenced a major revision of the University's constitution.
Governing Council has commenced a major revision of the University's constitution.
Currently the University is a 'private company limited by guarantee' and an exempt charity.
The current constitution dates back to 1995 and is a lengthy document comprising a Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, Instrument of Government and Articles of Government.
These sections set out the objectives of the University, the enabling powers, the composition of Governing Council and the governance process.
Governing Council believes the current constitution is in some respects restrictive for a University in the 21st century, and that much of the language is quite legalistic and inaccessible.
The aim is to create a much more compact and enabling constitution which - while giving important protection for stakeholders - does not constrain what a University is able to do in pursuit of its objectives.
It is proposed to include much less detail in a new constitutional document which will be known as the Articles of Association. These Articles will then be supported by a comprehensive set of Ordinances, which are the detailed rules and procedures by which governance will be conducted.
The Articles of Association will need to be approved by the Privy Council (the UK council of senior politicians, archbishops and judges which advises the Queen on State matters); which is itself advised by The Charity Commission (regulating UK charities) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The set of Ordinances will be approved by the Governing Council.
A very important part of the exercise will be full consultation with stakeholders on the new Articles of Association, which will of course include staff and students of the University. This consultation process is planned for the Spring (2012).
