Earlier this month, the University announced that nominations are open for the University Senate. But what actually is the University Senate, and what does it do?
The University of Edinburgh Senate is the supreme academic body which oversees the discipline and teaching of the University and promotes its research. It is one of the three bodies of Governance at the University, alongside the University Court and the General Council.
Its responsibilities include approving the award of degrees and honorary titles, creating policy and strategy on learning and teaching, communicating with the University Court, receiving reports from University-wide committees, and regulating student conduct.
The Senate meets four times each year and communicates electronically via “e-Senate.”
Principal and Vice Chancellor Sir Peter Mathieson is the chair, and members include Heads of Schools, Heads of Colleges, the Provost, Vice-Principals, Assistant Principals, academic and research staff, and student representatives.
Senate positions are open to all members of staff, who can nominate themselves before Wednesday 26 March using the Senate nomination form. There are 93 academic staff positions available across all three Colleges.
The university says that they are committed to “improving the diversity” of University committees and providing an ‘inclusive environment’ for the academic staff community.
This election is particularly important as the University continues its Strategy 2030, which aims to put the University of Edinburgh at the forefront of innovation and expand its local and global community. Objectives include ensuring that Edinburgh becomes the Data Capital of Europe by 2030 and is on track to becoming a Carbon-Zero University by 2040.
“McEwan Hall, University of Edinburgh, 2” by LornaMCampbell is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.