University Calendar 2015/16
Section III : The Ordinances of the University
Part 2 : Organisation and Government


PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
 
ARCHIVE 2009/10
ARCHIVE 2010/11
ARCHIVE 2011/12
ARCHIVE 2012/13
ARCHIVE 2013/14
ARCHIVE 2014/15
2.1 The Faculties
  1. The number and titles of the Faculties in the University shall be determined from time to time by the Council on the recommendation of the Senate.
  2. The Dean of each Faculty is responsible to the Senate and the Council through the President and Vice-Chancellor for the leadership and management of the Faculty.
  3. The Faculties within the University shall be the Faculties of:

Business, Law and Art
Engineering and the Environment
Health Sciences
Humanities
Medicine
Natural and Environmental Sciences
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences
2.2 The Faculty of Business, Law and Art
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Business, Law and Art:
Law School
Southampton Business School
Winchester School of Art
2.3 The Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment:
Aeronautics, Astronautics and Computational Engineering
Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering and Science
Engineering Sciences
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute
2.4 The Faculty of Health Sciences
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Health Sciences:
Centre for Innovation and Leadership in Health Sciences
Professional Practice in Health Sciences
2.5 The Faculty of Humanities
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Humanities:
Humanities
2.6 The Faculty of Medicine
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Medicine:
Cancer Sciences
Clinical and Experimental Sciences
Human Development and Health
Medical Education
Primary Care and Population Sciences
2.7 The Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences:
Centre for Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Institute for Life Sciences
Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton
2.8 The Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Physical and Applied Science:
Electronics and Computer Science
Optoelectronics Research Centre
Physics and Astronomy
Zepler Institute
2.9 The Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences
  The following Schools Research Centres and academic groups shall be assigned to the Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences:
Geography and Environment
Mathematical Sciences
Psychology
Social Sciences
Southampton Education School
Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute
2.10 The Powers of the Faculties
  Each Faculty shall have the following powers which shall be exercised through the Dean or such boards committees or advisory groups as may be required for the effective conduct of the business of the Faculty:
  1. To regulate subject to review by the Senate the teaching, study and examining of the subjects assigned to the Faculty.
  2. To keep under review the welfare and academic progress of the students enrolled in the Faculty.
  3. To recommend to the Senate the Examiners for appointment.
  4. To report to the Senate on Ordinances and Regulations dealing with programmes of study for the Degrees and other distinctions for which the Faculty is responsible.
  5. To make recommendations for the Award of Degrees (other than Honorary Degrees) Diplomas Certificates Fellowships Studentships Scholarships and Prizes within the Faculty.
  6. To consider and advise the Dean of the Faculty with regard to the management, planning and development of the Faculty and with regard to the resources made available to it.
  7. To consider any matters relating to the Faculty or referred to the Faculty and to report its views to the appropriate Body within the University.
2.11 University Research Centres
  1. The Director of each University Research Centre is responsible to the Senate and the Council through the Dean of the Faculty concerned for the leadership and management of the Centre.
  2. The Senate may authorise University Research Centres to act in a capacity analogous to that of the Faculty with regard to the enrolment and supervision of students. In such instances, the Director of the Research Centre shall ensure mutatis mutandis that all the relevant requirements of Statutes and Ordinances (in particular Ordinances 7.3 and 7.4) are complied with.
2.12 Committees
  2.12.1 General
    1. The Council, Senate and Faculties may from time to time appoint subject to the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Section such and so many standing special and advisory Committees as may seem to them fit and may if they think fit place on them persons who are not members of the appointing Bodies. Such Committees may deal with any matters delegated to them subject to subsequent report to the appointing Bodies. Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall enable the Council to delegate its power to reach a decision under paragraph 7(1) (ii) of Statute 7.
    2. The appointing Body may make rules of procedure for each Committee but subject thereto every Committee may regulate its own procedure times and places of meeting.
    3. The Chair of the Council and the President and Vice-Chancellor shall be ex-officio members of every Committee of the Council and of every advisory Committee and other Committee of the University established by the Council.
    4. The President and Vice-Chancellor shall be ex officio a member of all Committees of the Senate. The President and Vice-Chancellor may delegate this position to one of the Vice-Presidents. One of the Vice-Presidents, as nominated by the President and Vice-Chancellor, will also be a member ex officio of each committee of the Senate.
  2.12.2 Joint Committees of the Council and the Senate
    Joint Committees of the Council and the Senate may be set up by the Council and the Senate and shall have such membership as may be mutually agreed between the two bodies.
       
  2.12.3 Student Membership of Committees and Boards
    The student members of University Committees and Boards shall neither participate in nor receive papers for any business affecting the appointment, promotion or personal affairs of individual members of the staff of the University or affecting the admission, academic assessment or personal affairs of individual students with the exception in both cases of appointments to University committees.
  2.12.4 The Senate
    The Senate shall consist of the following:
  1. The President and Vice Chancellor.

  2. The Vice-Presidents and the Pro Vice-Chancellors.

  3. The Deans of the Faculties and the Associate Deans of the Faculties.

  4. The Chief Operating Officer, the Director of iSolutions, the University Librarian, the Academic Registrar and the Director of Student Services.

  5. Representatives of the Academic Staff from each School and academic unit to be elected from among their own number according to such number procedures and conditions of tenure of office as shall be prescribed by Ordinance.

  6. Representatives of the research staff of the University, not exceeding 16 in number on the basis of two representatives per Faculty, to be elected from among their own number according to such procedures and conditions of tenure of office as shall be prescribed by Ordinance.

  7. One representative of the Management Specialist and Administrative (MSA) staff from each of iSolutions the Library Student and Academic Administration and Student Services to be elected from among their own number according to such procedures and conditions of tenure of office as shall be prescribed by Ordinance.

  8. The Chairs of such of the Senate's Committees as the Senate may from time to time determine who are not already members of the Senate by virtue of any of the other provisions of this Section.

  9. The Principals of such of the institutions affiliated to the University as Senate shall designate from time to time.

  10. Five registered full-time students of the University of whom:

    1. one shall be the President of the Union of Students;

    2. one shall be the holder for the time being of such elected office in the Union of Students as the Senate may from time to time determine on the recommendation of the Union;

    3. three shall be elected annually by the Union of Students.
  2.12.5 The Powers of the Senate
    Subject to the Statutes and Ordinances the Senate shall have the following powers:
    1. To direct and regulate the instruction and teaching within the University and the examinations held by the University subject to the powers of the Council as previously defined.
    2. To promote research within the University and to require reports from time to time on such research.
    3. To accredit institutions affiliated to the University.
    4. To appoint four members of the Senate to be members of the Council.
    5. To make after report from the Faculty concerned Regulations giving effect to the Ordinances of the University relating to programmes of study and examinations.
    6. To appoint External and other Examiners after report from the Faculty  or other Board concerned.
    7. To report to the Council on all Statutes or Ordinances or proposed changes of Statutes or Ordinances.
    8. To report to the Council on any academic matter.
    9. To discuss any matter relating to the University including any matters referred or delegated to the Senate by the Council, and to report its views on such matters to the Council.
    10. To make recommendations to the Council to institute, combine or discontinue Faculties, Schools, Research Institutes and Centres, or other academic sections of the University.
    11. To allow, disallow, review, amend, refer back or recommend to the Council any recommendation from the Faculty which by virtue of these Statutes is to be reported to the Senate, and to give directions accordingly.
    12. To award Degrees (other than Honorary Degrees) Diplomas and Certificates including those awarded jointly with other institutions recognised for this purpose.
    13. To fix subject to any conditions made by the Founders which are accepted by the Council the times and mode and conditions of competition for Fellowships Studentships Scholarships Exhibitions and Prizes and to award the same.
    14. To regulate the admission of persons to programmes of study in the University and their continuance in such programmes.
    15. To make Regulations for the discipline of the Students of the University.
    16. To expel any Student deemed to have been guilty of grave misconduct.
    17. To suspend or remove Examiners for negligence or misconduct during their term of office and in the case of the death, illness or resignation of an Examiner, or in the event of suspension or removal, to appoint a substitute who shall have authority to act during the Examination then in progress or next ensuing.
    18. To propose to the Council the names of recipients of Honorary Degrees.
    19. To exercise all such powers as are or may be conferred on the Senate by the Charter Statutes Ordinances and Regulations and to do such other acts and things as the Council shall authorise.
  2.12.6 Elections to membership of the Senate
    1. For the purposes of the elections provided for in this Ordinance, and subject to paragraph 2 below:

"Academic Staff" means all Professors and those who hold posts of professorial equivalence, Associate Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, Teaching Fellows and Enterprise Fellows in the Schools or academic units, and in the case of the Faculty of Medicine any person with such title who holds contracts of employment with both the University and the appropriate National Health Service Authority which contracts taken together are specified by the University as constituting full-time employment.

"Research Staff" means all those members of the Research and Analogous Staff of the University holding posts of professorial equivalence or the title of Research Director, Principal Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow or Research Fellow.

"Management Specialist and Administrative (MSA) Staff" means those staff responsible to the Director of iSolutions, the Librarian, the Academic Registrar and the Director of Student Services who are not members of the Senate by virtue of any other provision of Ordinance.
    2. The members of staff entitled to vote and be elected in the elections are those who have taken up their appointments in the University on or before the 1 January immediately preceding the relevant election. The Chief Operating Officer shall arrange for electoral rolls to be maintained of each grouping of staff in paragraph 1 above.
    3. The Chief Operating Officer shall arrange for elections to be held during the Spring Term each session. The number of Academic Staff to be elected from each Faculty shall be as follows:

Faculties classified as larger Faculties on the basis of FTE academic staff numbers (Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering and Faculty of Engineering and the Environment)
From among the Academic Staff at Level 6 and above on the Education, Research and Enterprise Pathway: 6 representatives
From among the Academic Staff at levels 4 and 5 on the Education, Research and Enterprise Pathway: 6 representatives
Faculties classified as smaller Faculties on the basis of FTE academic staff numbers (Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Business, Law and Art)
From among the Academic Staff at Level 6 and above on the Education, Research and Enterprise Pathway: 4 representatives
From among the Academic Staff at levels 4 and 5 on the Education, Research and Enterprise Pathway: 4 representatives
    4. Persons elected as members of the Senate in conformity with paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Ordinance shall hold office for a period of three years from the 1 August immediately following their election, and shall be eligible for re-election.  The periods of office of the persons elected shall be so arranged that as far as possible one-third of the members retire each year.
    5. Two representatives of the Research Staff shall be elected from each Faculty.  The periods of office of those so elected shall be for three years from 1 August following their election, and they shall be eligible for re-election.  Shorter periods of office may be agreed by the Faculty in instances where a representative has a contract with the University which is of shorter than three years’ duration.
2.13 Removal of Officers and Vacation of Membership of the Council
  1. The Chancellor, a Pro-Chancellor, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council and the Treasurer or any member of the Council (other than ex-officio members or members of the Academic Staff to whom Statute 7 applies) may be removed from office for good cause by the body responsible for appointing to that office.
  2. No person shall be removed from office under this Section unless he or she shall have been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard by the body in whom the power of removal from office is vested.
  3. "Good cause" in this Section means:
  1. conviction for an offence which may be deemed by the Council to be such as to render the person convicted unfit for the execution of the duties of the office; or

  2. conduct of an immoral, scandalous or disgraceful nature incompatible with the duties of the office; or

  3. conduct constituting failure or persistent refusal or neglect or inability to perform the duties or comply with the conditions of office whether such failure results from physical or mental incapacity or otherwise.
2.14 Acts during Vacancies
  No act or resolution of the Council or the Senate shall be invalid by reason only of any vacancy in the body doing or passing it or by reason of any want of qualification by or invalidity in the election or appointment of any de facto member of the body whether present or absent.
2.15 Contracts
  Contracts made by or on behalf of the University shall be validly made and binding on the University if made as follows:
  1. Any contract which if made between private persons would be by law required to be in writing and if made according to English law to be under Seal may be made on behalf of the University in writing under its Common Seal and such contract may be in the same manner varied or discharged.

  2. Any contract which if made between private persons would be by law required to be in writing and signed by the parties to be charged therewith may be made on behalf of the University in writing signed by any person acting under the express or implied authority of the Council and such contract may in the same manner be varied or discharged.

  3. Any contract which if made between private persons would by law be valid although made orally only and not reduced into writing may be made either in writing or orally on behalf of the University by any persons acting under the express or implied authority of the Council and such contract may be in the same way varied or discharged.



Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 22-Feb-2016
© University of Southampton