Membership and Terms of Reference


Membership


The formation of the Advisory Board is based on:

  • No less than 8 members
  • Independent Chair (independent of Centre staff)
  • Representation from different constituencies in the subjects covered by the Subject Centre, including subject associations and professional bodies
  • Heads of Department representation
  • Student representation
  • Host site representation
  • Cognate Subject Centre representation.


The formation of the Advisory Board should take into account:

  • Gender balance
  • Diversity of HEIs in subject constituency
  • UK wide coverage
  • Extent of HE in FE colleges
  • Possible international dimension.


The terms of office for members should enable continuity and suitable rotation over a 2-3 year period.

The Higher Education Academy Director of Networks could be an ex-officio member.

The frequency of meetings should be a minimum of two per year, but not necessarily linked to any formal schedule.

The Chairs of each Subject Centre will meet with Academy officers once per year. There may also be cluster meetings of the Chairs of cognate Centres once per year.

 

Terms of reference


The Advisory Board:

  • Advises and supports the Subject Centre's Director and team
  • Acts as the first point of subject accountability for the Subject Centre
  • Has an Audit function - reviewing budgets and spending
  • Advises on the Subject Centre's development of its strategic and operational plan and progress
  • Receives reports on current activity and annual reports, and monitors information
  • Champions the work of the Centre with subject associations and constituencies and brings feedback to the Centre from these
  • When necessary and jointly with the host institution and the Higher Education Academy's Director of Networks, appoints the Centre Director
  • Liaises with the Higher Education Academy Programmes Directorate and advises the Academy on subject related matters
  • Makes an annual evaluation of the Subject Centre's work, and receives the report from the external evaluator.