Anglia Ruskin University terms of reference/statement of primary responsibilities

The principal responsibilities of the Governing Body of Anglia Ruskin University are:

1. To approve the mission and strategic vision of the Anglia Ruskin University, long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators, and to ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders.
2. To promote high standards of teaching, learning and research and monitor outcomes.
3. To delegate authority to the Vice Chancellor, as Chief Executive, for the academic, corporate, financial, estates and Human Resources management of the university. And to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the Vice Chancellor.
4. To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls and risk assessment, and procedures for handling internal grievances, whistleblowing, and for managing conflicts of interest.
5. To ensure that processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the Anglia Ruskin University against the plans and approved key performance indicators, which should – where possible and appropriate – be benchmarked against other comparable institutions.
6. To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the Governing Body itself and its sub-committees.
7. To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in higher education corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
8. To safeguard the good name and values of Anglia Ruskin University.
9. To appoint the Vice Chancellor as chief executive, and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring his/her performance.
10. To appoint a Secretary & Clerk to the governing body and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability.
11. To be the employing authority for all staff and to be responsible for establishing a human resources strategy.
12. To be the principal financial and business authority of Anglia Ruskin University to ensure that proper accounting records are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall responsibility for assets, property and estate.
13. To be the legal authority and, as such, to ensure that systems are in place for meeting all legal obligations, including those relating to equality and diversity and those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the Anglia Ruskin University’s name.
14. To make such provision as it thinks fit for the general welfare of students, in consultation with the senate or academic board.
15. To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of Anglia Ruskin University.
16. To ensure that the Anglia Ruskin University’s constitution is followed at all times and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen.

NB This statement, in part, is a paraphrase of the Articles of Government of Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation. Where any inconsistency exists between this Statement and the Articles, the Articles shall prevail.