Office remit

The Senate Office has five broadly-based primary functions which are:

1. To manage the activities of Senate and its committees, including the provision of advice on regulations and on student prizes.
2. To advise the University at all levels on the management of academic quality and standards and the enhancement of the student learning experience for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate provision.
3. To manage policy, development and application of the student codes operated by senate.
4. To develop and sustain academic links with other institutions of higher education.
5. To manage University ceremonial events.

1. To manage the activities of Senate and its committees, including the provision of advice on regulations and on student prizes.

This involves:

• support for the activities of Senate and its committees, particularly in the development of strategy and policy;
• guidance on degree and other regulations; 
• the administration of awards - bursaries, prizes, scholarships;
• producing University publications, including the University Calendar;
• determining dates of University semesters;
• co-ordinating the management of the University’s Student Representative system in partnership with the Students’ Representative Council.
  

2. To advise the University at all levels on the management of academic quality and standards and the enhancement of the student learning experience for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate provision.

This entails:

• advising Senate and the University community on appropriate procedures for the internal monitoring, review and enhancement of the quality of educational provision; 
• providing guidance to College and School Quality Officers and associated administrative staff:;
• management of the programme and course approval process, including maintenance of the University's programme and course approval system (PIP), and publishing course and programme information derived from PIP (Programme Specifications and the Online Course Catalogue);
• directing and organising reviews of academic subject areas;
• administration of the external examiner system; 
• preparing the University for the external monitoring processes of academic review institutional review, and organising the University's response to those processes; 
• managing the University’s annual participation in the National Student Survey in conjunction with the Planning Office, disseminating the outcomes and monitoring follow-up;
• disseminating and promoting identified good practice;
• production of the Guide to the University’s Academic Quality Framework;
• liaising with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, notably through annual reports and meetings on institutional progress;
• provision of annual reports to the Scottish Funding Council.

3. To manage the policy, development and application of the student-related codes approved by Senate.

This involves:

• management of the University’s codes relating to academic appeals by students, student conduct/discipline, student fitness to practise procedures and the University’s Complaints Procedure;
• administration of Senate level student appeals, student conduct cases, fitness to practise and formal complaints; 
• guidance and advice on the application of the student codes at College and School level.

4. To develop and sustain academic links with other institutions of higher education in which there is collaborative academic provision.

This involves:

• development of collaborative arrangements with other higher education institutions including the provision of advice and guidance to the University community;
• management of validation and accreditation arrangements;
• overview of links with colleges of Further Education.

5. To manage University ceremonial and related events.

This includes:

• the conferment of Honorary Degrees on Commemoration Day and at graduation ceremonies;
• management of the election of the University Rector;
• organising Senate Guest Night Dinners;
• overseeing the induction of new Professors;
• arranging the annual University Service at Glasgow Cathedral;
• managing the University’s links with Balliol College, Oxford.