The University's Committee Handbook [DOCX] provides a consistent approach to committee administration to improve the effectiveness of the University's decision-making processes. It contains information and guidance on the management of the University's committees and will be of particular use to:
It also provides some guidance to committee chairs, secretaries and members on the conduct of Committee meetings and provides an overview of key factors to take into consideration in the planning and operation of formal Committees in the University and other types of meetings.
It is intended for use by staff involved in running Board committees and committees which feed into Board-level committees, eg Academic Board. The Guide covers the role of the Committee Secretary, as well as the main stages of servicing committees from the confirmation of membership, to the circulation of the minutes and follow-up action. Guidance on and templates for the format of agendas and minutes is included in the appendices. In order to ensure consistency, after cross-University consultation, minutes and agendas for University-level committees should be produced in this style. This applies particularly to formal committees, but even with informal committees colleagues are encouraged to adopt the general approach and house style. Whatever your role, it is useful to read all sections to gain an appreciation of how the roles interact to contribute to the success of the committee.