University Council
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/organisation/council/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
Council is the governing body of the University, in accordance with our Charter and Statutes.
It has ultimate accountability for decision making, ensuring there is effective management in place and determining our future direction.
Council stewards the University’s reputation, resources and infrastructure.
It also ensures we remain financially sustainable and that we meet our legal obligations, so we can deliver academic excellence and our public good mission for many years to come.
Council appoints and advises the Vice-Chancellor, and ensures that the University is well led.
Council has 23 members, including student and staff representatives, but most members come from outside the University.
In order to provide independent oversight, the Chair and the majority of Council members are not members of University staff.
They volunteer their time and bring independent experiences and insights from a range of sectors and professions.
Council meets four times each year and also holds a strategic away day at the start of each new academic session.
Terms of reference
Council's Statement of Primary Responsibilities explains what it does, how it reviews its own effectiveness and how it delegates authority.
Questioning and curiosity
Chair of Council, Dr Alice Maynard, talks about the role of non-executive members in questioning and holding Council to account, and why we need different perspectives at the table.
Alice became Chair of Council in August 2023.
Find out more about our Council members
Information for committee secretaries
Subcommittees
Council delegates work to subcommittees (view organogram) chaired by independent Council members. Senate and University Executive Board (UEB) also report to Council.
Council's subcommittees are:
Audit and Risk Committee
Constitution and Nominations Committee
Finance Committee
People and Remuneration Committee
Urgent Decisions Group
What’s it really like being a staff governor?
Jonny Exon is Interim Head of College Life at the University and served as a staff member on Council from 2022 until 2024. In this blog for WonkHE, Jonny Exon explains how joining Council as an elected staff representative gave him a voice in university governance.
He gives the lowdown on what it's like to sit on Council and how staff membership helps ensure that decisions reflect the complex realities of university life.
What’s it really like being a staff governor?
Find out more
Other Subcommittees
Committee of University Chairs publications
Contact us
Chair of Council: Alice Maynard
Pro-Chancellor
For agendas and minutes: Adam Hewitt
University Secretary
Meeting administration: