Divisional Boards
The White Paper, 2011-2015 set out the reform of SEG. The work of SEG was divided among various divisional boards, each reporting to SEG, and exercising its powers in relation to a particular group of faculties, or individual faculty. The precise terms of reference for each board and the principles of conduct for its business, including the nature of faculty representation on each, was negotiated between the relevant faculties in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The boards were responsible for the following:
- developing a strategic plan for the group as a whole, taking into account the strategic plan of the University and having regard to the financial and academic sustainability of the education and research activities of the constituent faculties. In doing so, the boards must maintain an appropriate balance between local, national and international perspectives and take into account the needs of industry, business and the community.
- developing a risk register for the group as a whole within the overall context of the University's Risk framework, building on the risk registers of individual faculties.
- encouraging curriculum development within and between the constituent faculties.
- promoting cross discipline research and teaching both between the constituent faculties and with other parts of the University.
- agreeing research and teaching 'compacts' with SEG.
- proposing new courses on behalf of constituent faculties to SEG and the Academic Board.
- approving, through the Chair of the divisional board, the filling of existing posts and creation of new posts, and accepting responsibility for ensuring that faculties seek to recruit the 'brightest researchers'.
- exercising budgetary responsibility for its constituent faculties according to the principles of the University Economic Model.
- accounting to the broader University, through SEG, for the academic and financial health of its constituent faculties, and participating in reviews of those faculties with SEG and the Academic Board.
Each of the boards will be chaired by one of their members. The chair will be appointed by the VC for a term of three years, and the faculty from which they are appointed will have additional representation on the board to allow them to act as an impartial convenor. The Provost will be ex officio a member of each Board.
Decisions would be reached through discussion and deliberation, with a view to arriving at consensus. In the event consensus cannot be reached, decisions may be arrived at on the basis of a form of voting (to be agreed by each board). The chair of the board would not normally vote except in the event of a deadlock, in which case the chair would have the deciding vote.
The divisional boards were:
Architecture and Creative Arts
Business
Engineering and Information Technology
Health Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences
Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
Natural Sciences
With the implementation of the new faculty structure and three standalone professional schools in 2017, the divisional boards were abolished by SEG 4 February 2016.