Statement of primary responsibilities

The role of the Board of Governors in fulfilling the University’s Mission and Vision is:

1. To determine the mission and strategic vision of the institution, long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators, and to ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders.

2. To delegate authority to the head of the institution, as chief executive and Accountable Officer, for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and human resource management of the institution.

3. To establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the head of the institution.

4. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment, and procedures for handling internal grievances and for managing conflicts of interest.

5. To ensure processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be – where possible and appropriate – benchmarked against other comparable institutions.

6. To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the governing body itself.

7. To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in higher education corporate governance, the OfS public interest principles, the OfS conditions of registration and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

8. To safeguard the good name and values of the institution.

9. To appoint the head of the institution as chief executive, and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance.

10. To appoint a Secretary to the Board of Governors and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the institution, there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability.

11. To be the employing authority for all staff in the institution, to be responsible for establishing a human resources strategy, to be a good employer committed to promoting equality and diversity and to encourage a culture of self-improvement.

12. To be the principal financial and business authority of the institution, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall responsibility for the institution’s assets, property and estate in order to ensure its financial viability and sustainability.

13. To be the institution’s legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting all the institution’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the institution’s name.

14. To receive assurance that adequate policy and procedures are in place to ensure academic quality and standards

15. To receive assurance that adequate provision has been made for the support and general welfare of students, in consultation with the Academic Board.

16. To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the institution.

17. To ensure that the institution’s constitution is followed at all times and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen.