The University of Paisley (Scotland) Order of Council 1993

PART III THE COURT

Name

4.  The governing body, previously called “The Governors of the Paisley College of Technology”, shall be known as the “Court of the University of Paisley”.

Functions

5.—(1) The general functions of the Court are to manage, administer and conduct the University for the objects of providing education, undertaking and carrying out research, promoting teaching, scholarship and research, and in furtherance of the foregoing functions:

(a) to provide research, design, development, testing, laboratory, consultancy and other services by way of extension of or in connection with any of the objects of the University; and

(b) to carry on any trade or business whatsoever calculated to carry out the objects of or to be for the well-being of the University,

in each case, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as it may determine.

(2) The Court shall carry out these functions without prejudice to any person on grounds of gender, race, religion or other belief and in a manner that promotes academic freedom.

Membership

6.—(1) Subject to article 15(2), the Court shall consist of the following:

(a) Ex Officiis governors

(i) the principal and vice-chancellor;

(ii) the vice-principal; and

(iii) the president of the Students' Association.

(b) Appointed governors

(i) Two governors appointed by the Senate from among the members of the full-time academic staff of the University who are members of the Senate;

(ii) one governor appointed by the Students' Association from among the matriculated students who are office-bearers of the Association;

(iii) not less than two and not more than four governors appointed by the Court including at least one person having experience of local government and at least one person having experience in the provision of education; and

(iv) such other governors being not less than eleven and not more than thirteen, as determined in accordance with paragraph (2), appointed by the Court from among persons appearing to them to have experience of, and to have shown capacity in, industrial, commercial or employment matters or the practice of any profession.

• But no member of staff or matriculated student of the University shall be eligible to be appointed under paragraphs b(iii) and b(iv).

(c) Elected governors

(i) One governor who shall be elected by the full-time academic staff of the University from among such staff; and

(ii) one governor who shall be elected by the full-time non-academic staff of the University from among such staff.

(2) The Court shall from time to time by resolution determine, subject to the limits stated in paragraph (1)(b)(iv), and to their remaining in an overall majority in the Court, the number of governors to be appointed under that paragraph. No such determination shall be effective unless made by a two-thirds majority of the whole Court.

(3) A resolution under paragraph (2) shall not have effect so as to terminate the appointment of any person who is a governor at the time when it takes effect.

(4) The Court shall make rules for the election of governors under paragraph (1)(c) which may be revoked and replaced or varied by further rules made by the Court.

(5) The Court shall appoint a chairman and a vice-chairman from among the governors appointed under paragraphs (b)(iii) and (b)(iv) only and for such times as it shall determine and for such duties as it shall prescribe.

(6) No failure or defect in the appointment of any governor and no vacancy in the office of governor shall prevent the Court from acting in the execution of its functions, nor shall any act or proceeding of the Court or of any committee appointed by it be invalidated or be illegal by reason of or in consequence of any such vacancy or of any such defect in the appointment of any one or more governors.

Period of office

7.—(1) No person other than an ex officio governor shall be appointed to the Court for a term of office of more than 4 years; and no person other than an ex officio governor shall be appointed to the Court where his term of office, if aggregated with any previous terms of office, whether served before or after the coming into force of this Order, would cause him to serve for more than 12 years in the Court.

(2) A person who has attained the age of 70 years shall not thereafter be eligible to take office, whether for a first or subsequent term, as a governor; provided that nothing in this article shall prohibit a person who attains the said age during a term of office as a governor from continuing as a governor until the expiry of that term.

(3) A governor shall be deemed to have vacated his office as governor, and the Court of which he was a member shall declare his place vacant, where he intimates in writing to the Court his resignation as a governor, or where the Court deems that his continuation would bring discredit upon the name of the University or in such other circumstances as the Court may determine and record in a standing order.

Powers

8.  The powers of the Court shall be as set out in Schedule 1.

Reserved areas of Business

9.  Where any meeting of the Court or of any committee of the Court is to consider the salary, conditions of service, appointment, promotion, suspension or dismissal of any member of staff of the University, any governors appointed under article 6(1)(a)(iii) and 6(1)(b)(ii) shall withdraw from the meeting or that part of the meeting, as the case may be, at which any such matters are to be considered unless invited to remain by virtue of a resolution of the other members of the Court or committee present at the meeting.