The Council of the University of Cambridge is the principal executive and policy making body, having responsibility for the administration of the university, for the planning of its work and for the management of its resources.[1] Since the Regent House is the governing body of the university, the council must report and be accountable to the Regents through a variety of checks and balances. It has the right of reporting to the university, and is obliged to advise the Regent House on matters of general concern to the university. It performs both functions by authorising notices to be published in the Cambridge University Reporter, its official journal.
Membership of the council consists of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (the chancellor, primarily a ceremonial post, is appointed ad vitam, while the vice-chancellor is de facto the principal academic and administrative officer), nineteen elected members, and four appointed members, divided into classes as follows:[3]
Three students: ex-officio the undergraduate and postgraduate presidents of the Cambridge Students' Union as well as an independently-elected current student
* The Chancellor (currently Lord Sainsbury of Turville) is not expected to attend meetings
† Professor Richard Penty currently serves as Master of Sidney Sussex College
‡ Mark Lewisohn also acts as Deputy Chairman of Council
External Members
From January 2005, the membership of the council included two external members.[4] The Regent House voted to increase the number of external members from two to four in March 2008,[5][6] being approved by The Queen in July 2008.[7]
Meetings
The council normally meets once per month, except August, in the Council Room at the Old Schools. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused meetings to be held via Zoom.[8]
References
^Statute A, IV: Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
