| Description | Minutes of a committee responsible for inviting, receiving and assessing nominations for vacancies for lay members of University Council and Council committees. The Membership Committee recommended nominations based on submissions received for appointments or re-appointments, and dealt with succession planning in connection with the retirement of members
Membership consisted of the Pro-Chancellor (chair); Deputy Pro-Chancellor; one lay members of Council who was not a lay officer, elected by Council; Vice-Chancellor and Principal; one academic member of Council, elected by Council; and a member of Court who was not also a member of Council or Senate, elected by the Court
The functions of the Membership Committee were reviewed annually, on behalf of the Council, and the Committee also looked at the establishment, terms of reference, constitution, composition and membership of other Council committees and made recommendations annually to Council for their continuation or amendment. The first meeting for which minutes have been transferred to the University Archives was held on 3 May 2000, and there is a reference in these minutes to the 'new' Membership Committee, so it is possible that this was the first meeting of the Committee and no earlier minutes exist.
Minutes provide evidence about the accepted requirements for lay members of University Committees, including constituency origin, background, skills, and expertise, particularly in relation to membership of high level committees such as the Strategy, Planning and Resources Committee which required lay members to have the ability, experience, and confidence to 'make cogent and incisive contributions at a macro level to recommendations concerning University strategy, business planning, resource commitments and the pursuit of effective management'. Information in the minutes suggest that lay members typically had an interest in Higher Education, and experience of public or voluntary work, and a business, education, or professional background. For some committees, members were also expected to have technical knowledge and expertise
The minute state that the University had an advertisement strategy to fill vacancies, and advertised in national and local newspapers and some professional journals
Minutes of the meeting held on 3 May 2000 include a copy of a briefing document for prospective lay members of Council explaining their duties and responsibilities,the role of the Vice-Chancellor, the role of the Registrar and Secretary, the context in which the Council and its members functioned, the University's mission, teaching, learning, and research, its staff, the University's Estste, Academic Services, its international, regional, and community links, its finance, executive management and organisation, and details about contributing to the University's work as lay member of Council. The minutes also contain a copy of an illustrated booklet 'An Introduction' to the University, and a copy of Review 2000, the University's annual report summarising recent academic research and awards, and providing a statement of University finances, and a list of members of Council
Terms of reference of Council and Council committees are regularly included with minutes of the Committee, as well as lists of members of each of those committees. New committees were added as they were established, and there is also information about changes to the committee structure and reviews of committees
The minutes contain personal information about prospective lay members of University Committees, consisting of biographical and career details, and record discussion of the Membership Committee in relation to the consideration of nominations and expressions of interest. Conflicts of interest and suitability are sometimes discussed. Evidence of the University's efforts to achieve balance in its selection of candidates can be seen from the inclusion of statistics for enquiries and eligible submissions for membership are frequently included, recording the sex and ethnicity of candidates, and the advertisement source seen. The minutes indicate that from 2009 onwards the University also used an executive search agency to identify and interview candidates
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2002 discuss the appointment of the new Chancellor and consider suggestions. A list of nominations is included. Minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2009 discuss the appointment of a new Pro-Chancellor. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2012 discuss the additional responsibility of making recommendations to Council on the membership of the Court of Governors, following the approval of a set of changes to the membership of University Court in November 2011. From this point onwards, minutes of the Membership Committee also include lists of names for approval and subsequent submission to Council for membership of Court |