Constitution and Management: a brief introduction

row of books1. Charter, Statutes and Ordinances

The University of Kent at Canterbury received its Royal Charter in 1965. The University’s Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations form the University’s constitutional framework.

The Charter contains a statement of the University’s fundamental objectives ("to advance science and learning by teaching and research and by the example and influence of its corporate life"*) and powers. It also makes provision for the University’s major statutory bodies (a) and principal officers (b):

(a) the Court, the Council, the Senate, Faculties and academic schools.

(b) including the Visitor (Archbishop of Canterbury, ex officio), the Chancellor, the Chair of the Council, the Vice-Chancellor and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s), the Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors and the Deans of each of the Faculties.

*Extract from Section 2 of the Charter.

The Statutes define, amongst other things the membership and powers of the University’s statutory bodies and the duties of the principal officers.

The Ordinances define, amongst other things: the Faculties and their constituent schools and the membership of Faculty Boards; the procedure for elections of members of staff to the Court, the Council and the Senate; first and higher degrees; the appointment of the lay officers and members of the Council, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s) and Pro-Vice-Chancellors and the Deans of Faculties; the role of the Colleges and matters relating to the Students’ Union (Kent Union).

2. The Court

The Court includes representatives from many sections of the local and national community as well as the University’s principal officers, ex officio, and elected representatives of staff and students and graduates of the University (currently over 400 members). The Court is chaired by the Chancellor and it meets at least once per year to receive "an Annual Report on the working of the University and the audited Annual Statement of the Accounts"* and, as appropriate, to make appointment as Chancellor of the University.

* Extract from Statute XVI Of the Court, 4(ii).

3. The Council

The Council is "the executive governing body of the University" and its responsibilities include "the management and administration of the revenue and property" of the University and "the conduct of ... (its) affairs"*. The Council is also responsible for the appointment of lay officers, including its Chair, and lay members of the Council and external auditors and for the making and amending of the University’s Statutes (subject to the Privy Council’s approval) and Ordinances. The Council’s principal committees include the Finance and Resources Committee, Audit Committee, Lay Nominations Committee, Remuneration Committee and the Staff Policy Committee. Council comprises 25 members. The majority of its membership is of lay members (17); other members include staff and student representatives. The Council holds five meetings per year.

* Extract from Section 13 of the University’s Charter.

4. The Senate

The Senate is the supreme academic authority of the University with responsibility for teaching and research and "for the superintendence of the education and discipline of the Students of the University"*. Its principal committees include the Learning and Teaching Board, the Board for Research and Enterprise, the Student Experience Committee and the Information Services Committee. Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and comprises 45 members plus provision for up to 4 co-opted members. Members include the Deans of the Faculties and Heads of academic schools ex officio and student representatives. Senate holds three or four meetings per year.

* Extract from Section 14 of the University’s Charter.

5. The Faculties

The University has three Faculties (Humanities; Sciences; Social Sciences) each headed by a Dean. The Faculties each have a Faculty Board, the duties of which are to direct, subject to the control of Senate, the work of the Faculty. Within each Faculty academic staff are organised in schools, each with a head appointed by the Council with designated responsibilities for the day-to-day management of resources and the work of the subjects concerned. The Schools are defined in Ordinance XVII as follows:

  • Faculty of Humanities: School of Architecture, School of Arts; School of European Culture and Languages; School of English; School of History.

  • Faculty of Sciences: School of Bisosciences; School of Computing; School of Engineering and Digital Arts; School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science; Medway School of Pharmacy; School of Physical Sciences.

  • Faculty of Social Sciences: Kent Business School; School of Economics; Kent Law School; School of Politics and International Relations; School of Psychology; School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research; School of Anthropology and Conservation.

6. University Principal Officers and Management

The Vice-Chancellor is the principal academic and administrative officer of the University. The Vice-Chancellor is assisted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s) and Pro-Vice-Chancellors and other administrative officers and their staff in the day-to-day management of the University.

Members of the Executive Group (EG) (the Deputies and Pro-Vice-Chancellors) have both policy and management responsibilities in the University. Administrative and other officers reporting to EG members are as follows: Academic Registrar; Director of Student Services; Deans of the Faculties; Director of Human Resources; Director of Estates; Director of Research Services; Director of Innovation and Enterprise; Director of Information Services; Director of the International Office; Director of Communications and Development; Director of Music; Dean for Brussels; Director of Commercial Services; Secretary of the Council.

The Secretary of the Council is appointed by the Council.

7. Academic and other budgets

Budgets are devolved direct to academic and other departments.

KRG/JRH
27.10.2008 (amended 09.02.2010)

Queries concerning this Paper should be addressed to: Karen Goffin, Secretary of the Council, Central Secretariat, Registry (Tel: 01227 823397, 823903 or 3906).
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