What Committees do

Students are represented on more or less every decision making committee throughout the University.

To find out more about school-level representation take a look at the School Rep pages .

Below are the various central-level committees students are represented on and what they do. You can read reports from these committees here

Court

Court is officially the highest decision making body at UEA, but in practice acts more as a rubber stamping mechanism than anything else. Meetings are held once a year, and alongside all the important members of UEA staff, a number of important alumni and local dignitaries also attend. The meetings tend to consist of a presentation of all the fantastic things UEA has done over the past year.

University Council

Not to be confused with Union Council, University Council is the highest non-academic decision making body in the University. As well as all the important UEA people, a number of lay-members also attend, giving Council a slightly different angle on things than other University committees. Council discusses issues relating to student welfare, resources allocation and UEA's third-stream activity - money making ventures such as conferences. In reality, much of the discussion on most of the issues that come to Council are made outside of Council, either in committees, working groups or through other means, but Council always has the final say.

Senate

Senate is the highest academic decision making committee in the University. It is made up of all the Deans of the Schools, alongside representatives nominated from other university committees and bodies. Like University Council, many of the issues that come to Senate have already been discussed further down the committee structure or within working groups, but Senate is the body that has the final vote.

External Affairs and Recruitment Committee

As the name suggests, this committee discusses issues relating to recruitment and the outside world, including admissions days, widening participation and retention issues. It feeds on to University Council.

Admissions Sub-Committee

This committee discusses specific issues relating to admissions, including open days and induction activities. It feeds on to University Council.

International Sub-Committee

This committee discusses issues relating to non-EU International Students, including recruitment, support and international students fees. Feeds on to University Council.

Health and Safety Advisory Committee

Discusses the technical side of health and safety issues - the safe storing of chemicals in labs, fire evacuation procedures from University buildings, safety around UEA's many building sites, etc. Reports to University Council.

Bio Hazards and GM Sub-Committee

Meets occasionally to discuss issues relating to biological hazards and GM issues. Largely linked to the work of the science schools and the John Innes Centre. Reports to University Council.

Radiation Protection Sub-Committee

This committee exists just in case there is some sort of nuclear disaster or simular that UEA needs to be protected from. Hasn't met for a looooong time. Reports to University Council if and when it does meet.

Student Affairs Group (SAG)

Student Affairs Group is a fairly informal committee largely made up of staff from the Dean of Students Office, created to discuss the broad area of student affairs. Officially SAG reports to University Council, although it hasn't done in living memory. Union officers are currently working with the Dean of Students Office and the Learning Teaching Quality Office to look at ways we can make SAG more effective.

Travel and Expeditions Committee

One of the more fun committees to be a student rep on, this committee allocates money to students wanting to travel as part of their research. Reports to University Council.

Senate Disciplinary Committee

This committee is the highest level a student can be taken to under the University disciplinary procedures. As most disciplinary cases are resolved at a lower level, this committee rarely meets. It is a sub-committee of Senate.

Senate Appeals Committee

If a student wishes to appeal a disciplinary procedure made against them, this is the highest University committee they can appeal to. It is a sub-committee of Senate, but like the Senate Disciplinary Committee it rarely meets.

Learning and Teaching Quality Committee (LTQC)

This committee meets six times a year to discuss issues of learning and teaching quality. It reports to Senate. Whilst Senate is the most important academic decision making committee, a lot of discussion on academic issues takes place at LTQC or in working groups created by LTQC.

Undergraduate Studies Executive (UGSE)

As the name suggests, this committee meets to discuss undergraduate issues. It feeds on to LTQC. It has recently discussed issues such as coursework penalties across Schools, the credit system (common course structure) and the use of dictionaries in exams.

Graduate Studies Executive (GSE)

Simular to the Undergraduate Studies Executive, but discusses issues effecting postgraduates.

Careers Centre Steering Group

This committee meets twice a year to determine the direction and policy of the UEA Careers Centre. Along with UEA staff, the committee also contains members from local business and other careers centres.

Assembly

Assembly meets once a year, and exists to give all UEA staff an input in to the UEA decision making structures. Any member of staff can attend, although turnout is generally low. Any member of staff can submit motions to the Assembly. Although Assembly has no official decsion making powers, it reports to Senate, which then usually ignores it.

Library and Learning Resources Committee (LLRC)

Discusses issues relating to the UEA library and the various resources and services it provides.

Information Technology and Computing Committee (ITCC)

Discusses issues relating to IT and Computers at UEA.