1. Half-Yearly meeting June 2016
Report of the Business Committee
John Marsh, Convener
University of Glasgow General Council

2. Report of the Business Committee
Business Committee membership Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act Committees General Councils of the Older Universities General Council and the University Looking Ahead
University of Glasgow General Council

3. Business Committee membership
University of Glasgow General Council

4. Business Committee membership
New member
Dr Cameron Marshall
Elected at General Council meeting in January 2016
BSc, Physiology, University of Glasgow
PhD, Neuroscience, Brown University, USA
MBA, European Business School, INSEAD, Fontainebleau
Senior commercial and management positions: Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline in Britain and Europe
Currently board member of operating company of PS Waverley
University of Glasgow General Council

5. Business Committee membership
Retiring members
David Ross
General Council Assessor on Court
Convener of Court,
Brian McBride
Reduces number of General Council Assessors to level allowed by Ordinance
no appointment of replacements
University of Glasgow General Council

6. Business Committee membership.
Next elections:
January 2017: four members retire
July 2018: two General Council Assessors retire
University of Glasgow General Council

7. Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act
University of Glasgow General Council

8. Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act
Passed by the Parliament on 8 March 2016 Royal Assent on 8 April 2016 Comes into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by regulations appoint
University of Glasgow General Council

9. Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act
Key features…
Elected position of Senior Lay Member of Governing Body (Chair of Court)
Requirement for two trade union members of GB
No entitlement for General Council to appoint to two members (Assessors)
Ability of Ministers to determine content and functions of Court and Senate by Regulation withdrawn
University of Glasgow General Council

10. Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act.
Senior Lay Member (Chair of Court)
Position must be advertised widely by committee of GB
Committee must interview applicants before they can stand for election
If number of candidates falls below two, they cannot simply be appointed
SLM elected by governing body, staff and students
University of Glasgow General Council

11. University of Glasgow General Council
Work of Committees
University of Glasgow General Council

12. University of Glasgow General Council
Work of Committees
General Affairs Standing Committee
Supports Convener in identifying matters of interest or concern
Recent dialogue with University:
Student non-completion rates
Widening access
Level of graduation fee
Proportion of Scottish students
University of Glasgow General Council

13. University of Glasgow General Council
Work of Committees .
Standing Orders Sub-Committee
Current Standing Orders were adequate for recent election to BC
Court reviewing election processes in light of HE Governance Act
Will have consequent effect on General Council processes
Sub-committee suspended until effect known
University of Glasgow General Council

14. University of Glasgow General Council
Work of Committees
Representation on external committees
Academic Standards Committee of Senate
One representative
Use of Graduate Teaching Assistants
Eliminating inconsistent treatment of certain Masters programmes
Perceived low numbers of Distinctions awarded in College of Arts
Glasgow University Trust
Two representatives
Young Alumnus of the Year selection committee
Convener is member
University of Glasgow General Council

15. General Councils of the Older Universities
University of Glasgow General Council

16. General Councils of the Older Universities.
6 June meeting held in St Andrews
impact of HE Governance Act
all General Councils made representations
effect of Scottish Government funding for Scottish Students
improving contribution made by General Councils
University of Glasgow General Council

17. General Council and the University
University of Glasgow General Council

18. General Council and the University
Constitution of General Council
Universities (Scotland) Acts
Ordinances of the University
Membership
all graduates of the University and
all academic members of staff
University of Glasgow General Council

19. General Council and the University.
Role of General Council
One element of tripartite relationship of bodies with authority over the University
Court
Senate
General Council
Function
to be consulted on changes to governance of University
to appoint two Assessors to Court
to enquire into any other matter which it considers relevant
Business Committee is executive committee of General Council
University of Glasgow General Council

20. University of Glasgow General Council
Looking ahead
University of Glasgow General Council

21. University of Glasgow General Council
Looking ahead
Business Committee’s role
The executive committee of General Council
through which General Council members can
communicate concerns to or about the University
assist the University in its aims
co-operate and collaborate with Court and the University
Represent the views of General Council
in respect of governance of University
not of the interest of General Council itself
Over (presumably) well-educated, intelligent, graduates with experience of world
University of Glasgow General Council

22. University of Glasgow General Council
Looking ahead
Business Committee strategy
As executive committee of General Council
Carry out its role as element of three-part governance structure by:
developing our relationship with Court
maintaining Court’s representation at Business Committee meetings
liaising and co-operating with
Senate
SRC
University management
University of Glasgow General Council

23. University of Glasgow General Council
Looking ahead .
Business Committee and General Council
encourage members of General Council to contact Business Committee
to draw attention to relevant matters
to offer assistance
encourage graduates and academic staff to join Business Committee
including those who were unsuccessful previously
University of Glasgow General Council

24. The voice of General Council
Looking ahead
The voice of General Council
tell us what you want us to do
let us know your concerns
join us and take part