Principles

Principles for the Operation of Committees

While the committee structures provide a suitable framework, it is the members of the committees who determine whether good governance and better practice standards are actually achieved and ensure that the committee is adding value.

General:

1. Collegiality: The Committee system is transparent and consultative, and all staff have the opportunity to provide meaningful input into decisions that significantly affect them.

2. Working Smart: Committee time is used in ways which make the most efficient and effective use of staff time to deliberate on significant issues and policies.

3. Good Conduct: Committee members abide by a Code of Conduct that requires them to be appropriately informed and prepared before the meeting so that they can contribute to the decisions of the committee.

4. Review: All committees are regularly reviewed in relation to both the performance of committee business and committee members.

Functional:

5. Policy Decisions: Committees are, wherever possible, engaged in establishing policies and rules within which individual staff can manage and administer University business.

6. Management Decisions: Committees are involved in management and administrative decisions as close to the activity as is compatible with legislative requirements.

7. Communication: Committees are used to provide a contextual framework within which University policies are developed and decisions are made.

8. Membership: Committee membership ensures the broad University community, in all its diversity, is reasonably represented. However, individual committees are not constituted to represent every possible interest group and the number of members should be kept as low as practicable.

Revised on 16/02/2006