Membership
To play an appropriate part in ensuring that the necessary business of the Council is carried out efficiently, effectively, and in a manner both consistent with the instruments of University governance and appropriate for the proper conduct of public business.
Governors are expected to make rational and constructive contributions to debate, to make their knowledge and expertise available to the Council as opportunity arises, and to accept collective responsibility for Council decisions once they have been reached.
Standards
To ensure that the Council conducts itself in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
It is central to the proper conduct of public business that Governors should act, and be perceived to act, impartially, and not be influenced in their Council role by social or business relationships. With this in mind, they are asked to make full and timely disclosure of personal interests, in accordance with procedures approved by the Council.
The business of the University
To ensure that the Council exercises control over the strategic direction of the University, through an effective planning process, that the performance of the University is adequately assessed against objectives approved by the Council, and that the University maintains its long-term financial viability, safeguards its assets and operates proper mechanisms to ensure financial control and the prevention of fraud.
Governors should endeavour to establish constructive and supportive but challenging working relationships with the University employees with whom they come into contact, but must recognise the proper separation between governance and executive management, and avoid involvement in the day-to-day executive management of the University. A Governor appointed in the Lay category may also be invited to chair, or to serve as a member of, a committee of the Council.
The external role
To represent the Council and the University, in liaison with Aston’s key external corporate and individual stakeholders.
Governors may be asked, from time to time, to undertake a specific ‘ambassadorial’ role in support of Aston. Such a role must be exercised in a carefully co-ordinated fashion with other senior officers and relevant staff of the University, and Governors will always be fully briefed by the University to enable them to carry it out effectively.
The practicalities of Council membership
Four ordinary meetings of the Council (normally on afternoons in October, December, March and June), together with a Strategy Away-day (in May), are held in each academic year. Dates of meetings are set during the preceding session (the academic year runs from September to August) to give Governors as much notice as possible.
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