The Council (in law the Council of the Senate) of the University of Cambridge is, by statute, the principal executive and policy-making body of the University, having responsibility for the administration of the University, for the planning of its work and for the management of its resources.Statute A, IV: Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge The main constitutional responsibility of the Council is the preparation of Graces (resolutions that, if approved, make University legislation or authorise executive action) for submission to the Regent House, the governing body of the University. The Council is accountable to the Regent House through a variety of statutory 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.
Membership Membership of the council consists of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (the chancellor, primarily a ceremonial post, is appointed for ten years, while the vice-chancellor is de facto the Chair of the University), nineteen elected members, and four appointed members, divided into classes as follows:
Present membership Position Name Term Ending Chancellor* Lord Smith of Finsbury22 July 2035 Vice-Chancellor Dr Deborah Prentice, CHR30 September 2029 Heads of CollegesMaster of Christ'sLord McDonald of Salford, CHR 31 December 2028 Master of St John's Ms Heather Hancock, JN 31 December 2026 Master of Fitzwilliam Baroness Morgan of Huyton, F 31 December 2028 Master of Clare Hall Mr C. Alan Short, CLH 31 December 2026 Professors, Clinical Professors, Readers and Professors (Grade 11) Professor of Statistical Science for Health Dr Daniela De Angelis 31 December 2028 Professor of Computing and Human Data Interaction Dr Richard Mortier, CHR 31 December 2026 Hibbitt Professor of Solid Mechanics Dr Garth Wells, JE 31 December 2028 Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture Dr Jason Scott-Warren, CAI 31 December 2026 Other members of the Regent House University Senior Lecturer, MRC Biostatistics Unit Dr William Astle 31 December 2028 Deputy Director of Research Services, Research Office Dr Joanna Dekkers 31 December 2026 Bursar of Darwin Mr John Dix, DAR 31 December 2026 Associate Professor (Grade 10), Department of Politics and International Studies Dr Pieter van Houten, CHU 31 December 2028 Perne Librarian, Peterhouse Mr Scott Mandelbrote, PET 31 December 2026 Associate Professor (Grade 10), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Dr Ewa Marek, JE 31 December 2028 Professor (Grade 11) of the Sociology of Media and Technology Professor Ella McPherson, Q 31 December 2028 Margaret Anstee Fellow, Newnham College Dr Mezna Qato, N 31 December 2026 Student members President (Undergraduate), Cambridge Students' Union Mr Matthew Copeman, F President (Postgraduate), Cambridge Students' Union Mr Augustin Dennis, W University Councillor Mr Darragh O'Reilly, Q External members Ms Gaenor Bagley Professor Sir Alex Halliday Professor Andrew Wathey Mr Stephen Wilson * The Chancellor is not expected to attend meetings
By statute the Chair (in law the President) of the Council is the Vice-Chancellor in the absence of the Chancellor, who by convention does not attend meetings of the Council.
The Secretary of the Council is the Registrary, the principal administrative officer of the University, who has a statutory duty to keep a record of the proceedings of the University.
External members From January 2005, the membership of the council included two external members.Reporter 15/12/04: Annual Report of the Council for 2003-04 The Regent House voted to increase the number of external members from two to four in March 2008,Grace 2 of 5 December 2008Acta in the Reporter, No 6107, publishing Results of Ballot being approved by The Queen in July 2008.Reporter 23/07/08, Statutes approved: Notice
Meetings The council normally meets twice per term and twice in the Long Vacation. It now rarely meets in the Council Room at the Old Schools, instead meeting at the offices of Cambridge University Press and Assessment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused meetings to be held via Zoom. References
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