Adopted by the Departmental Board, September 25, 2006.

 

Head of Department

Heads of Department are appointed by the Principal, to be responsible to the appropriate Dean of Faculty for the proper conduct of the work of the Department. Heads are expected to provide academic leadership for the Department, in the light of:

- The College's mission;
- The need to promote excellence in teaching and research;
- The need to manage the Department's activities through appropriate delegation of duties, arranged fairly in the light of the experience, ability and workload of each member of the Department;
- The need to support the profession and general development of members of staff in appropriate ways;
- The need to be accessible, in confidence, to staff and students regarding matters affecting the work of the Department.

Specifically, the duties of Heads of Department are:

i. To provide academic leadership for staff in the Department;
ii. To manage all staff in the Department, including the promotion of research and career development;
iii. To manage properly and efficiently the physical and financial resources for which the Head of Department has responsibility;
iv. In consultation with the professoriate, to develop those research and scholarly activities which will enhance the academic reputation of the Department and contribute to the personal development of academic staff;
v. To develop teaching and learning in a manner consistent with the College's strategic plan; in particular to ensure quality assurance and enhancement practices and policies are applied.
vi. To seek to create an environment in which it is possible to develop new income streams for the Department, to be consistent with the College's mission and the Department's plans;
vii. To provide a focus for communication and for subject and staff development within the Department;
viii. To secure, monitor and manage the Department's operational compliance with College standards, policies and regulations;
ix. To ensure that the academic progress and pastoral care of students in the Department is regularly monitored and reported in accordance with College procedures;
x. To take responsibility, in co-operation with the appropriate College officers, for the Department's compliance with the College's codes of practice and relevant legislation, in particular health and safety, equal opportunities, data protection, freedom of information, the supervision of research students, and the security of staff, students and property;
xi. To contribute to the development and implementation of Faculty and College policies, consistent with the College's mission statement. To take part through the Faculty and in consultation with the College officers in the development of College strategy, policy and regulation;
xii. To create and foster relationships with appropriate external agencies to promote higher education services and to develop the College's international dimension.

 

Departmental Board

 

Membership:

Chair: Head of Department
Members: All academic teaching staff of the Department holding established College posts; the Departmental Administrator; other staff of the Department, by invitation.
Secretary: Departmental Administrator

 

Responsibilities:

The Departmental Board's functions are divided into standing committees (see below) but it has overall responsibility for:

a. Advising the Head of Department on all matters relating to the teaching and research activities and the general and financial management of the Department;
b. Considering and making recommendations to the Head of Department on the departmental budget;
c. Advising the Head of Department on the construction of the Departmental Plan;
d. Determining the membership of the Departmental Sub-Board of Examiners for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and defining their remits in accordance with College Regulations;
e. Making recommendations to the Head of Department on departmental sabbatical leave priorities, within agreed departmental procedures;
f. Considering initial proposals for new and revised degree programmes;
g. Considering initial proposals for new and revised course units;
h. Making recommendations to the Head of Department relating to safety policy and its implementation within the Department;
i. Approving amendments to its own constitution.
j. Establishing the following standing committees:
1) Management Committee
2) Research Committee
3) Teaching and Curriculum Development Committee
4) Recruitment, Admissions and Marketing Committee
5) Staff-student Committees (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

 

Frequency of Meetings:

The Departmental Board will meet around six times each year (twice each term), although it may be convened more or less frequently than this as business demands.

 

Calling of Meetings:

The Head of Department is responsible for calling Departmental Board meetings. In addition, a majority of the Department’s established academic staff may call a meeting if they consider this necessary.

 

Reporting:

The Departmental Board reports, on request, to the Faculty Board.

 

1) Management Committee

Membership: Appointed by Head of Department but will normally include: Head of Department, Director of Research, Director of Postgraduate Study, Director of European Studies and up to two other members without portfolio.

Responsibilities: to oversee and advise on the day-to-day running of the Department; to assist in Departmental planning and discussing financial matters; to prepare proposals for consideration by the Departmental Board; to discuss suggestions raised by members of staff and to develop these in collaboration with members of staff before taking them to Departmental Board for discussion. All staff may raise issues for discussion at the Management Committee.

Frequency of meetings: Fortnightly during term and as appropriate.

 

2) Research Committee

Membership: Appointed by the Head of Department and the Director of Research.

Responsibilities: To facilitate high-quality research and publication by members of the Department; to develop and maintain a research strategy for the Department; to encourage and oversee applications for external research funding; to consider applications for conference travel support and sabbatical leave; to consider any ethical issues arising from staff and student research projects; to oversee the work of research students; to develop and maintain activities that are conducive to a vibrant research culture, including staff-student seminars, visiting speakers, conferences and Departmental publications such as Working Papers; to develop and maintain the Department's research mentoring scheme; to plan for the Research Assessment Exercise.

Frequency of meetings: twice per term and as appropriate.

3) Teaching and Curriculum Development Committee

Membership: Appointed by Head of Department but will normally include: Academic Coordinator; Director of European Studies; Directors of the Master's programmes; Director of Postgraduate Research; student represenatives drawn from each Staff-Student Committee.

Responsibilities: To oversee the development of teaching in the Department and to maintain coherence, quality and standards, including: considering all new course and programme proposals and preparing for and responding to the College's and external organisations' review procedures. Staff preparing new courses will be expected to present their proposals in person to the Committee.

Frequency of meetings: twice per term and as appropriate.

4) Recruitment, Admissions and Marketing Committee

Membership: Appointed by Head of Department but will normally include: Head of Department; Undergraduate Admissions Tutor; Director of European Studies; Directors of the Master's programmes; Director of Postgraduate Research; JYA/Study Abroad Coordinator and other staff as appropriate.

Responsibilities: To plan and monitor admissions; to develop and maintain a marketing strategy and marketing materials; to plan and monitor alumni relations; to plan and monitor outreach links with other schools and colleges.

Frequency of meetings: twice per term and as appropriate.

5) Staff-student Committees (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

Membership (undergraduate committee): Student representatives from the undergraduate programme; Head of Department; Departmental Administrator; one other member of staff as appropriate.

Membership (postgraduate committee): Student representatives from the postgraduate programme; Head of Department; Departmental Administrator; one other member of staff as appropriate.

Responsibilities: To discuss matters raised by students concerning teaching and general aspects of the Department.

Frequency of meetings: once per term.

 

Other Departmental Committees

 

1) Promotions Committee (see College regulations )

Membership: Head of Department, Dean of Faculty and the Departmental Professoriate.

Responsibilities: from College regulations: "To consider all cases of promotion in the Department. This should be an annual review of all academic staff, whether or not staff are being considered for promotion. There is a requirement to consider all cases for discretionary awards, additional increments and all promotions. All members of the Committee are to be provided with a list of all academic staff and current grade at least three days prior to the meeting. Staff can submit a request for consideration directly to the Academic Staff Review Group, via the Director of Personnel, if the Department does not support their case, although the views of the Head of Department will be sought by the Academic Staff Review Group."