The Council Overview

The Council

The Council is the executive governing body of the University. It exercises all powers conferred on the University by the Charter, subject to the powers, duties and functions conferred upon it by the Statutes. It has general control over the conduct of the affairs of the University. It has the custody of the Common Seal and is responsible for the management and administration of the revenue and property of the University.

It is the duty of the Council to refer to the Senate any matter which it considers to have academic implications and which has not been previously considered by the Senate, or which, in the opinion of the Council, ought to be dealt with by the Senate. The Council asks the Senate for a recommendation or report on such matters and takes in account such recommendation or report.

The Council can add to, amend or repeal the provisions of the Charter and the Statutes by a Special Resolution. Such addition, amendment or repeal comes into effect when given Royal Assent in the case of the Charter, or approved by the Privy Council in the case of the Statutes.

The Council makes, Ordinances to direct and to regulate the University and its authorities and members.

The Council meets twice a year normally in May and October.

The following are the Committees of the Council:

  • Executive Committee
  • Audit & Risk Committee
  • Finance & Resources Committee
    • Tender Board
  • Remuneration & Peoples Committee
  • Governance & Nominations Committee
  • Search Committee
  • Joint Committee of Council and Senate [VCP, DVC, COO Appointments]
  • Honorary Degrees Committee
  • University Trust Fund Committee
  • Student Discipline Appeals Committee (SDAC)
  • Sub-Committee of the Review of the Annual Performance of the VCP

Membership

Statutes 12. Council Membership

(1) The Council has the following members:

(a) The Pro-Chancellor;

(b) The Vice-Chancellor;

(c) One member appointed by each of the governments of the following regional members each of which was a named country under the Charter (as the name may have been amended) or which has been subsequently admitted to the University as a Member country-

(i) Cook Islands

(ii) Republic of Kiribati

(iii) Republic of the Marshall Islands

(iv) Republic of Nauru

(v) Niue

(vi) Solomon Islands

(vii) Tokelau

(viii) Tuvalu

(ix) Kingdom of Tonga

(x) Republic of Vanuatu;

(d) Two members appointed by the Government of Samoa;

(e) Five members appointed by the Government of the Republic of Fiji;

(f) One member appointed by each of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand;

(g) The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat or a nominee of the Secretary-General;

(h) Two professors of the University appointed by the University Senate in accordance with Statute 29(s);

(i) Two members of the University staff, one of whom is a member of the professional staff and the other is a member of the non-professional/non-academic staff, to be elected or appointed in accordance with the relevant Ordinance;

(j) Two registered students of the University to represent the student body, one to represent the students based at the Laucala campus, and one to represent students at other University campuses in the region, both students to be elected or appointed in accordance with the relevant Ordinance;

(k) Up to seven persons co-opted by the Council, at least one of whom must be a graduate of the University and at least one of whom must be a person from the Solomon Islands, each appointment to be made in accordance with the criteria set out in Statute 14 and in accordance with the relevant Ordinance.

(2) The following people attend the Council as non-voting participants:

(a) The Executive Director of Finance;

(b) Official observer(s) of the University Council;

(c) Any person(s) attending the Council at the request of the Pro-Chancellor;

(d) Other staff member(s) attending the Council at the request of the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) Person(s) in attendance to Government representatives.

13. Alternate Members

(1) Each of the Member countries and both Australia and New Zealand shall appoint alternate members of the Council to attend Council meetings in the absence of the member appointed under Statute 12(1)(c), (d), (e) and (f);

(2) Alternate members shall be appointed at the same time as members under Statute 12(1) and shall be renewed whenever a vacancy in the position of alternate member arises.

Statutes 21. Powers, Duties and Functions of the Council

(1) Subject to the Charter and these Statutes, the Council shall, in addition to all other powers vested in it, have the following powers, duties and functions:

(a) To appoint the following:

(i) Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor and the Deputy Chair of the Council;

(ii) On the recommendation of a Joint Committee of the Council and the Senate, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s) and the Vice-President(s);

(iii) The University Visitor;

(iv) The Auditor.

(b) To co-opt members of the Council under Statute 12(1)(k);

(c) To make Statutes in accordance with Article 26 of the Charter;

(d) To determine all University fees, including any fees and allowances for members of the Council and any committees of the Council;

(e) After considering the views of Senate:

(i) to establish or discontinue any academic unit of the University;

(ii) to revoke, for what the Council shall consider to be good cause, any degree, diploma, certificate or other distinction or award conferred by the University.

(f) On the recommendation of the Senate, to institute degrees, diplomas, certificates

(i) and other academic distinctions or awards;

(g) On the recommendation of a Joint Committee of the Senate and the Council, to grant any special academic distinctions, including honorary degrees;

(h) To comment or make recommendations on any Regulations relating to any programme or course of study submitted by the Senate to the Council;

(i) To approve procedures for the appointment of members of the staff of the University;

(j) To determine the salary structures applicable to the staff of the University and their other conditions of service and to provide for their discipline;

(k) To provide, as the Council thinks fit, a supportive and safe environment for all persons in the employment of the University;

(l) To make such provision as the Council thinks fit for schemes of insurance, superannuation, pensions or retirement benefits for any persons in the employment of the University;

(m) To foster close associations with alumni of the University, educational, commercial, professional, research and other appropriate organisations;

(n) After considering the views of Senate, to determine the terms and conditions under which any institution or body may affiliate to the University or the terms and conditions of any association or cooperation between the University and any institution or body.

(o) To require the preparation and periodic revision of plans for the academic and physical development of the University to enable it to meet the objectives for which it is established;

(p) To make provision for the buildings, premises, furniture, apparatus, services and other means needed for carrying on the work of the University, and to provide for their maintenance;

(q) To regularly assess the performance of the Council itself and the Pro-Chancellor, Vice- Chancellor, Deputy Chair and chairs of Council committees;

(r) To govern, manage and regulate the finances, accounts, investments, property, business and all affairs whatsoever of the University.

(s) For the purposes under paragraph (r), the Council shall have the powers to:

(i)  invest any moneys belonging to the University in such stocks, funds,

(ii) fully paid shares or securities as the Council shall from time to time think fit or in the purchase of freehold or leasehold property;

(iii) on behalf of the University, acquire, buy, sell and exchange real and personal property, and to lease and accept leases thereof;

(iv) give guarantees for the payment of any sum or sums of money or the performance of any contract or obligation by any company, body, society or person as the Council shall think fit;

(v) borrow money on behalf of the University and for that purpose, if the Council thinks fit, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the property of the University, whether real or personal, and to give such other security as the Council shall think fit;

(vi) enter into, vary, carry out or cancel contracts on behalf of the University;

(t) Where money is held by the University as trustee, the powers conferred by paragraph (s) shall be exercised subject to the provisions of the deed of trust and any law that may apply relating to investment by trustees;

(u) To ensure that the University has in place appropriate risk management strategies and mechanisms for their implementation and reporting.

(v) To select a seal, arms and insignia for the University and to have the custody and use of the seal and to control the use of the arms and insignia of the University;

(w) To prescribe forms of official and academic dress;

(x) To review the work of the University, and, subject to the powers, duties and functions of the Senate, to take such steps as it considers appropriate for promoting the objects of the University and maintaining its efficiency;

(y) Generally to exercise all such powers, duties and functions as are or may be conferred on the Council by the Charter and these Statutes, including the power to make Ordinances in the exercise of the powers, duties and functions expressly set out in these Statutes and of all other powers, duties and functions vested in the Council.

(2) Before determining any question which the Council considers bear directly on the academic responsibilities of the Senate, and which has not been previously considered by the Senate, the Council shall ask the Senate for recommendations or report thereon and shall take into account any such recommendation or report.

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