University Committee representation

OUSU has representation on a large number of University Committees and Conference of College Committees. Please get in touch with one of us if you have something you'd like to be said at a meeting or if you have a question you'd like raised. We're here to represent and convey your views.

University Council

The main decision-making body of the University, chaired by the Vice Chancellor. Attended by the Pro-Vice Chancellors, Heads of Divisions, the Registrar, the Academic Registrar, the Proctors & Assessor, the Chair of Conference of Colleges and other elected members. Council tends mainly to go over reports received from all the University Committees. The president, VP (Graduates) and VP(Access & Academic Affairs) are at Council for unreserved agenda items. See here for more information.

Education Committee

The main education committee of the University, chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education). Attended by Heads of Divisions, the Academic Registrar, the Head of Academic Policy, the Head of Student Administration, the Chair of Senior Tutors Committee, the Chair of Graduate Committee of Conference of Colleges, the Proctors & Assessor, the Chair of Admissions Committee as well as other heads of departments and academics. Education Committee is the top education policy decision-making body in the university. Over the course of the year it typically looks at student surveys, reviews examinations, approves new courses and looks at a whole host of other issues.  The VP (Graduates) and VP (Access & Academic Affairs) are full members of Education Committee. For more information see here.

General Purposes Committee

GPC is a main committee of University Council and looks at a range of issues including university governance, risk management and other issues which don't necessarily fit anywhere else. In recent years these have included university disciplinary procedures and a review of the Proctors' Office. The OUSU President attends. See here for more information.

Planning and Resource Allocation Committee

PRAC is a main committee of University Council and allocates money within the university. Every Division's Budget goes to PRAC as do those for student services, including the Careers Service, Counselling Service and OUSU. PRAC also has responsibility for long term planning including on capital projects. The VIce-President (Access & Academic Affairs) attends. See here for more information.

Development Committee

Development Committee is a committee of University Council and oversees the university's development strategy and relationships with alumni. It was only set up in Michaelmas 2009 and meets termly to coordinate fundraising and development priorities. The OUSU President attends. See here for more information.

Committee on Student Health and Welfare

The committee which looks at the provision of welfare to students (including the Counselling Service) and at issues surrounding student health and welfare in Oxford. The VP (Welfare & Equal Opportunities) sits on this Committee which from Michaelmas 2009 reports to Education Committee. See here for more information.

Curators of the University Libraries

The committee which deals with the Bodleian and University Libraries, chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Services and University Collections), with the Bodley's Librarian and Director of University Library Services as secretary. The VP (Graduates) and VP (Access & Academic Affairs) sit on Curators. See here for more information.

Joint Committee of Council with Student Members

A Joint Committee between senior members of the University, members of the OUSU Executive and students elected at OUSU Council. Any student in the university is eligible to run for a position on this committee, with one space being reserved for a postgraduate. This is a forum where we lobby the University according to our policy passed at OUSU Council - for instance, asking for a student advisor. The committee also oversees OUSU's finances and ensures that we comply with relevant legislation. For more information or to find out how to run for a spot on JCC e-mail president@ousu.org.

Graduate Committee of Conference of Colleges

The meeting of all Tutors for Graduates from Colleges, looking at colleges and graduate students. The VP (Graduates) attends.

Senior Tutors Committee of Conference of Colleges

The meeting of all Senior Tutors from Colleges, looking at colleges and undergraduate students. The VP (Access & Academic Affairs) attends.

Graduate Panel of Education Committee

A specific group from Education Committee looking at graduate educational issues, chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor Education. Attended by the Vice-President (Graduates).

Graduate Skills Advisory Group of Education Committee

A group looking at skills training for graduate students at Oxford, attended by members from Divisions, members of the Learning Institute, members of the Careers Service, and a representative from UK GRAD. The VP (Graduates) is a member.

Gender Panel

Undergraduate Panel of Education Committee

A specific group from Education Committee looking at undergraduate educational issues.  Attended by the VP (Access & Academic Affairs).

Clubs Committee

A committee chaired by the Assessor which looks at the registration of new clubs and societies. Attended by the Vice-President (Graduates) and Vice-President (Charities & Community). See here for more information.

Committee for the Careers Service

As it sounds, the committee which oversees the work which the Careers Service does. This committee also develops long term strategy for the Careers Service and is attended by the OUSU President or their nominee.

Committee for the Language Centre

The committee is chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), and is attended by the Director of the Language Centre and representatives from colleges and the Modern Languages Faculty. The VP (Graduates) and VP (Access & Academic Affairs) sit on this committee.

Graduate Admissions Committee

The University Committee which oversees the graduate admission process including graduate access work. The Vice-President (Graduates) attends.

Admissions Executive of Conference of Colleges

A joint committee of the University and the Conference of Colleges, this looks at university access and admissions policies. Recently it has reviewed information provided to undergraduate applicants, the use of contextual data in the admissions process and a host of other areas. The VP (Access & Academic Affairs) attends.

Childcare Steering Group

The University committee which monitors and seeks to improve childcare provision for staff and students. Recently it has led on successful proposals to build a 4th university nursery. The Vice-President (Women) attends.

Environment Panel

A committee looking at the University's environmental policies, attended by the VP (Charities & Community) and the Part-Time (Environment and Ethics Officer).

Consultative Committee for Health and Safety

Committee looking at health and safety, attended by VP (Welfare).

Rules Committee

A committee with the Proctors, students and college representatives, looking at the University rules. Sabs, part-time exec members and students elected in OUSU Council attend this committee.

PRAC ICT Sub-Committee

Overseeing IT development in the university the VP (Access & Academic Affairs) and VP (Graduates) sit on this committee. See here for more information.

MPLS Divisional Board
Medical Sciences Divisional Board
Humanities Divisional Board
Social Sciences Divisional Board

Each of these are attended by an undergraduate and graduate student, elected in OUSU Council.

Administrative Steering/Working Groups

Often the committees above or people involved in the committees above set up smaller working groups or steering groups. A representative from OUSU is usually on these.