What is the General Council?
The General Council is part of the governance of the University, alongside Court and Senate. The Standing Orders can be found here.
Who are the members of the General Council?
According to Ordinance No 110 of the University's Court, the membership of the General Council of the University of Aberdeen shall consist of:
- all persons on whom the University has conferred an academic degree and whose names have been duly recorded;
- during their tenure of office:
- the Chancellor of the University;
- the members of the University Court;
- the Professors of the University;
- all Readers and Lecturers in the University, who have held any such office in the University for a period of one year;
- former Professors and former members of the University Court;
- former Readers and Lecturers who were members during their tenure of office as such, and who remained on the staff of the University, as Readers or Lecturers, until retirement.
When does the General Council meet?
There are two statutory meetings of the General Council each year, in summer and in winter.
How can I get involved?
If you would like to take a more active role in the General Council, you can stand for election to the Business Committee.
What does the Business Committee do?
The Business Committee meets four times a year and considers any matter of importance to the members of the General Council. The Committee has a duty of dialogue with the University Court on all matters relating to the well-being of the University.
If you would like to become a member of the Business Committee, email gest@abdn.ac.uk.
Who is on the Business Committee?
The Committee comprises 21 elected General Council members, four Independent Members of Court and four ex-officio members. A list of current members is available here.
How do I get elected to the Business Committee?
Members of General Council can stand for nomination and election to the Committee as and when vacancies arise. Notices of vacancies are given in at the Statutory Meeting of the General Council, in the E-Zine and on these pages. Nomination forms are available by contacting gest@abdn.ac.uk.
What is the University Court?
The main functions of the Court can be broadly summarised as follows:
- to administer the whole property and revenues of the University
- to make appointments
- to fix fees charged by the University
- to receive representations and reports from the Senate and the General Council
- on the recommendation of the Senate, to prescribe regulations for degree courses
- to review on appeal any decision of the Senate
Further information on the University Court is available here.
