Board of Governors

Role of Northumbria's Board of Governors

The Board of Governors oversees the activities of the University and determines its strategic direction. The powers of the Board are set out in the Instrument and Articles of Government and include:

the determination of the educational character and mission of the University and the oversight of its activities;
the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the institution and the safeguarding of its assets;
approving annual estimates of income and expenditure;
the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the Vice-Chancellor, and the Secretary to the Board of Governors;
the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of such other senior posts as the Board of Governors may determine;
setting a framework for the pay and conditions of staff other than the Vice-Chancellor, Secretary to the Board of Governors and holders of senior posts.

The Board has a formal function to hold the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive to account for the effective management of the University. However, the Board is a steering body and fundamentally serves to add value to the University’s affairs, by offering independent, expert input to and constructive challenge of the decisions of the Executive.

The Board has formal decision-making responsibility in a number of key areas, including the approval of the University Strategy and other major strategic policies which sit underneath this or for which it has a legal responsibility to oversee. Other major tasks crucial to the success and sustainability of the University are the appointment and performance management of the Vice-Chancellor and other senior post holders, adoption of its annual Financial Statements, budgets, financial forecasts and the appointment of the University’s internal and external auditors.

More detailed information on the wider responsibilities of the Board of Governors is outlined in the Statement of Primary Responsibilities.

The Governance Regulations were approved by the Board of Governors and in effect constitute the ‘standing orders’ of the Board of Governors and its Committees, below the Instrument and Articles.

Key decision making authorities and delegations from the Board to its key committees and to executive management role-holders are mapped out in the Scheme of Delegated Authority (SoDA)

Other related documents

Current Governors/Trustees and their Registered Interests