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Committees and Boards

Committees and Boards, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

Senate

Membership

  1. The Principal (Chairman of the Senate)
  2. The Vice-Principal
  3. The Deans of the University
  4. The Heads of Schools and Institutes
  5. Chairs of Senate Committees who are members of the Senate Business Committee (not already included above)
  6. The President of the Students Union and one member of the Council of the Students Union of the University appointed by the Council of the Students Union.
  7. The holders of academic posts to be determined by the Court on the recommendation of the Senate provided that there shall be not more than six members in this category
  8. Such number of elected members from the Schools and Institutes of the University as shall be prescribed in the Ordinances.

Functions

The Senate superintends and regulates the teaching and discipline of the University and has the authority to promote research.

The Senate meets five times annually.

The minutes of meetings of the Senate may be read by accessing the menu to the left. Any enquiries regarding the Minutes should be made to the Head of Senate Services.

Remit of Senate

Terms of Reference (Statute XIII, Paragraph 4)

Subject to the provisions of the Charter and these Statutes and to the powers reserved to the Court, the powers and functions of the Senate shall, in addition to all other powers vested in it by the Charter and these Statutes, include the following:

      (a)  To direct, regulate and promote the teaching and research of the University.

(b)  To regulate the admission of persons to the University and to courses of study in the University.

(c)  To regulate and conduct examinations and to appoint, remove and suspend external and internal examiners.

(d)  To authorise the granting of Degrees (including Honorary Degrees), Diplomas, Certificates and other awards to persons who have satisfied the conditions for the award thereof as prescribed in the Statutes and the Ordinances.

(e)  On what it shall deem to be good cause, to deprive persons of any Degrees or other awards conferred on them and to revoke any Diplomas or Certificates granted to them by the University.

      (f)   To be generally responsible for the administration of the University Library.

(g)  To recommend or to report to the Court as it may require.

(h)  To report to the Court, if the Senate shall so think fit, on any academic matter.

(i)   To report to the Court on any matter referred to the Senate by the Court.

(j)   To discuss and declare an opinion on any matter relating to the University.

(k)  To report to the Court as to the expediency of the establishment of Schools, Institutes, Delegacies, Boards or other similar constituency or body and to make recommendations as to their organisation, constitution and functions and the modification or revision thereof.

(l)   To receive and consider recommendations and reports from, and to review, amend, refer back, control or disallow any act of any Board, School, Institute, Delegacy, Joint Board or other similar constituency or body, and to give directions to any such body.

(m) To regulate the discipline of the students of the University.

(n)  To prescribe the academic dress to be worn by the various Officers and members of the University, and the occasions on which it shall be worn.

(o)  To take such other action as the Court may authorise.