How the University is run
Our governing body, with ultimate responsibility for the conduct of all the affairs of the institution, is the University Council. The Council is also the Trustee Board and its members are the trustees of the University. The Council has a number of committees, including Finance and Resources, Audit, Education, and Research and Impact. There are 21 members of Council with a lay majority. Elected and appointed members serve for renewable three-year terms. Council meets six times per year (four business meetings and two away days).
Senate, subject to the oversight of Council, is responsible for: promoting research; promoting and regulating learning and teaching; and maintaining the quality and standards of the University’s academic provision. It has 87 members. Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and normally meets four times per year.
Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is the University's key operational management committee. SLT takes decisions on major institutional operational matters and strategic issues were doing so is time critical.
Council, Senate, and SLT are supported in their work by a range of specialist committees within our committee structure (PDF).
Minutes from Council / Senate
Minutes of meetings are published online after they have been formally approved by the relevant Committee at its next meeting. You can find minutes of Council and Senate on the Governance area of our website.
Renumeration Committee is responsible, on behalf of the Council, for setting the policy for and agreeing remuneration and reward for members of the senior management team and consider and determine the emoluments of the Vice-Chancellor. We publish annual reports from Remuneration Committee.
A University Governance, Organisation and Management Structure Chart (PDF) is available. This may assist in understanding the board and committee structure.
Teaching and learning committee minutes
Senate has primary responsibility for the academic work of the University, both in teaching and in research. The Senate area of our website includes information on its membership and minutes.
Sub-committees of Senate relating to Teaching and Learning include:
- Education Committee terms of reference and membership.
- Academic Standards and Quality Committee terms of reference and membership.
Minutes and agendas may be available on request subject to FOI exemptions regarding commercial interests and confidentiality. Request this information from the Legal & Governance team by email foi@liverpool.ac.uk.
Minutes of staff / student consultation meetings
Guild Liaison Committee comprises representatives from the Student Union and senior University managers. The Terms of Reference of Guild Liaison Committee are publicly available. Meetings are held to share information, consult and discuss issues of mutual interest. Minutes or agendas may be available on request subject to FOI exemptions regarding commercial interests and confidentiality. Request this information from the Legal & Governance team by email foi@liverpool.ac.uk.
Appointment committees and procedures
Nominations Committee seek and consider nominations for, and to make recommendations to the Council for the appointment of potential lay members of Council, Council-appointed Senate and Professional Services representatives on Council and Council-appointed members of University committees and bodies. The Terms of Reference of Nominations Committee are publicly available. Minutes of Nominations Committee consist largely of personal data and are not routinely available. They may be available on request subject to FOI exemptions regarding confidentiality. Request this information from the Legal & Governance team by email foi@liverpool.ac.uk.
Other University committee minutes
Access to minutes from other University committees may be available on request subject to FOI exemptions regarding commercial interests and confidentiality. Request this information from the Legal & Governance team by email foi@liverpool.ac.uk.
Page reviewed: 14 February 2024
Back to: Legal & Governance