The purpose of Senate and how it affects our work

Have you ever wondered about the purpose of Senate, the responsibilities of its members, what business it discusses, and how it affects our work?

Senate is the supreme academic authority of the University and is accountable to Council.  Its role is to promote our education and research mission and to oversee our academic work, and so it has an impact across many aspects of the activity that we undertake.  It is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, and is the largest of the University’s formal committees, comprising 56 members including members of our academic leadership, including Heads of Department, elected academic staff, and student representatives.

Shaped by our research and education priorities, the business of Senate is governed by its powers, which are set out in Ordinance 14 (.pdf).  Through exercising these powers, either directly or through the work of Senate’s Sub-Committees (.pdf), Senate makes decisions on a range of academic matters, which have an impact on how the University works.  Whilst Senate is responsible for considering recurrent items of business on an annual basis, it also has scope to consider new and emerging topics as these arise.  These might be topics that are instigated by external factors, such as the change in UK Government or the new Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, or by agendas that are important to us as a University community, such as our ongoing work to support student engagement and attendance at teaching events, our support for students who are unable to arrive until after term has started, the development of our Academic Calendar, our work on preparation for the next REF, and the development of our Partnerships Portfolio. Senate also supports progress towards the ambitions that we have set ourselves in our Education (.pdf) and Research (.pdf) Strategies.  For example, during 2022-23, Senate discussed the strategic use of the uplift in QR funding received as a result of our REF2021 outcome in supporting open research and our research environment and developing our impact and research support.  Senate has also been actively engaged in considering the output from our PGR Review

To support the development of business for Senate to consider, the Senate Agenda Group meets four times per year, in advance of each meeting of Senate to discuss potential items of business for future Senate meetings.  Senate Agenda Group is made up of the four members of Senate who are also elected Senate members of Council and the President of the SU.  This year’s members are:

• Dr Laurie James-Hawkins, Faculty Dean UG Social Sciences and elected Senate member
• Professor Faten Ghosn, Head of the Department of Government
• Professor Shane Martin, Dean PGRE
• Professor Onyeka Osuji, Dean of Essex Law School
• Lily-May Cameron, President of the Students’ Union

A key focus of Senate Agenda Group in 2023-24 was on supporting Senate’s engagement with the recruitment of the next VC and in our interim academic leadership arrangements, the consultation on the development of a new academic framework, and, in accordance with its powers, ensuring Senate was kept updated on the work to ensure our financial sustainability. Additionally, following discussion at a meeting of Senate Agenda Group, a review was undertaken of Listen Again and as a result Education Committee has agreed that a formal Lecture Capture Policy should be developed. The new policy is expected to be considered for recommendation to Senate by Education Committee in June 2025.

In 2024-25 and in accordance with its powers, Senate will be continuing to engage actively in (i) the work that is underway to ensure our financial sustainability, (ii) considering a recommendation for a new academic calendar, (iii) supporting the development of our academic partnerships, and (iv) working to promote and sustain our research and education excellence, and ensuring the very best student experience.

To keep informed and in touch with the work of Senate:

• Make use of our Senate Digital Committee Portal that hosts all agendas, papers (that are not restricted to Senate members), and minutes.
• Sign-up to Top Lines, a regular briefing for all staff summarising the key issues, debates, and decisions of University Steering Group, Senate, Policy and Resources Committee, and Council.  Email comms@essex.ac.uk to subscribe.
• Through your departmental meetings.  Ordinance 27 sets out that the agenda for each Departmental Meeting shall have a standing item on Senate to provide the Head of Department with an opportunity to update staff on Senate decisions and related activity and to provide a forum for discussion.
• Through our summary of academic policy decisions.

If you have an item of business that is relevant to the remit of Senate and that you would like Senate Agenda Group to consider, please contact a member of the Senate Agenda Group, or its Secretary, Emma Hardy, Deputy Academic Registrar.