Cambridge University Council

The Council of the University of Cambridge is the principal executive and policy making body, having responsibility for the administration of the university, for the planning of its work and for the management of its resources.[1] Since the Regent House is the governing body of the university, the council must report and be accountable to the Regents through a variety of checks and balances. It has the right of reporting to the university, and is obliged to advise the Regent House on matters of general concern to the university. It performs both functions by authorising notices to be published in the Cambridge University Reporter, its official journal.

Cambridge University is an exempt charity, under the Charities Act 2011 regulated by the Office for Students. Under charity law its trustees are members of the University Council.[2]

Membership

Membership of the council consists of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (the chancellor, primarily a ceremonial post, is appointed ad vitam, while the vice-chancellor is de facto the principal academic and administrative officer), nineteen elected members, and four appointed members, divided into classes as follows:[3]

  1. Four heads of colleges
  2. Four professors or readers
  3. Eight from the other members of the Regent House
  4. Three students: ex-officio the undergraduate and postgraduate presidents of the Cambridge Students' Union as well as an independently-elected current student
  5. Four external members

Current constitution

Position Name Term Ending
Chancellor* Lord Sainsbury of Turville, K LIFE
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deborah Prentice 30 September 2024
Heads of Colleges
President of Lucy Cavendish College Prof. Dame Madeleine Atkins, LC 31 December 2020
President of St John's Heather Hancock, JN 31 December 2024
Master of Fitzwilliam Baroness Morgan of Huyton, F 31 December 2022
Master of Clare Hall Prof. Alan Short, CLH 31 December 2022
Professors or Readers
Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology Prof. Anthony Davenport, CTH 31 December 2024
Professor of Portuguese Literature and Culture Prof. Maria Manuel Lisboa, JN 31 December 2024
Professor of Photonics Prof. Richard Penty, SID 31 December 2022
Professor in Modern Literature and Culture Prof. Jason Scott-Warren, CAI 31 December 2012
Other members of Regent House
Dr Zoe Adams 31 December 2024
Dr Ruth Lisa Chadwick Charles, N 31 December 2022
Dr Nicholas Holmes, T 31 December 2022
Dr Ann Kaminski 31 December 2024
Dr Philip Knox 31 December 2022
Dr Andrew Sanchez 31 December 2022
Dr Mike Sewell, SEL 31 December 2024
Dr Pieter van Houten, CHU 31 December 2024
Three student members [3]
CSU Undergraduate President Sarah Anderson, F 30 June 2025
CSU Postgraduate President Sumouli Bhattacharjee, F 30 June 2025
Student University Councilor Alex Myall, R 30 June 2025
Four external members
Gaenor Bagley 31 December 2024
Sharon Flood 31 December 2022
Prof. Sir David Greenaway 31 December 2024
Mark Lewisohn, CHR 31 December 2022

* The Chancellor (currently Lord Sainsbury of Turville) is not expected to attend meetings

† Professor Richard Penty currently serves as Master of Sidney Sussex College

‡ Mark Lewisohn also acts as Deputy Chairman of Council

External Members

From January 2005, the membership of the council included two external members.[4] The Regent House voted to increase the number of external members from two to four in March 2008,[5][6] being approved by The Queen in July 2008.[7]

Meetings

The council normally meets once per month, except August, in the Council Room at the Old Schools. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused meetings to be held via Zoom.[8]


References

  1. ^ Statute A, IV: Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
  2. ^ "The University as a charity". University of Cambridge. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Council membership".
  4. ^ Reporter 15/12/04: Annual Report of the Council for 2003-04
  5. ^ Grace 2 of 5 December 2008
  6. ^ Acta in the Reporter, No 6107, publishing Results of Ballot
  7. ^ Reporter 23/07/08, Statutes approved: Notice
  8. ^ "Meeting dates of the Council and Business Committee". www.governance.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

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