How do I...?

The names and contact details of the members of Council, including its Chair, are provided on the Members of Council page.

There are three student representatives on Council: the President of Oxford SU, the Vice-President (Graduates) and the Vice-President (Access and Academic Affairs).

• Names and contact details of the student representatives

In addition to the members of Council and the student representatives, Council is attended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellors with portfolio and senior officers.

Their names and contact details may be found in the links below.

• Pro-Vice-Chancellors with portfolio
• Officers in attendance

Please contact:

Lara McCarthy (Head of Governance Secretariat).

Address: Planning and Council Secretariat, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD. Tel. (01865 2)80107

The following is a step-by-step guide for how to raise issues of concern. Nothing suggested here over-rides the procedures set out in Statutes and Regulations, or formal University or other policies or procedures. Nor does the step-by-step nature suggest that all (or any) of the steps have to be followed before contacting members of Council, the Registrar or Vice-Chancellor, or raising something in Congregation. It is often the case, however, that problems are most effectively resolved through contacting the officer or department responsible for the matter.

• If the issue is within a department, academic division, service, administrative section or college, contact those responsible in that unit in the first instance.
• If it is a matter concerning colleges in general, contact the Conference of Colleges secretariat.
• If it concerns a formal University policy or procedure, find the policy or procedure on the University's website (Legal Services maintains a list of policies and procedures) as the policies or procedures themselves often set out the procedures for raising matters of concern. Or further information may already be available through the Staff Gateway or Student Gateway.
• If the issue concerns decisions being made by Council or one of its committees, or is something that you think those bodies should be considering, contact the relevant committee chair or secretary in the first instance. Their names may be found here under the relevant committee.
• If you remain concerned, contact a member of Council, or a student representative on Council, or the Registrar, the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellor with portfolio, or the Vice-Chancellor to discuss the matter.
• Finally, members of Congregation may wish to raise an issue at Congregation. The procedures for doing so are set out on Congregation's website.

There are eleven elected members of Congregation on Council.

Vacancies on Council for elected members of Congregation are advertised on the Elections website and in the University Gazette as and when they arise. Election procedures are set out in the relevant Congregation Regulations. To nominate someone for election to Council you must be a member of Congregation. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Elections website, must be signed by a minimum of four, and a maximum of ten, nominators and by the candidate wishing to stand for election. Further information is available on the Elections website and from the Elections Office.

There are eleven elected members of Congregation on Council. The period of office of an elected member is four years. However, it may be shorter if the person is elected to fill a position left vacant part-way through the four year period, in which case the person elected is a member of Council for the remainder the period.

There are currently two vacancies for elected members of Congregation on Council. One is for a member of Congregation elected by Congregation from members of the faculties in the Divisions of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences and of Medical Sciences and the other is for a member of Congregation elected by Congregation from members of the faculties in the Divisions of Humanities and of Social Sciences.

Vacancies on Council for elected members of Congregation are advertised on the Elections website and in the University Gazette as and when they arise. Election procedures are set out in the relevant Congregation Regulations. To stand for election to Council you must be a member of Congregation and be nominated by a minimum of four, and a maximum of ten, members of Congregation. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Elections website. In the event that more than one candidate is nominated for a vacancy, an electronicl ballot is held. Each candidate is invited to submit a written statement, setting out his or her reasons for standing and qualifications for the office being sought. In the event of a contested election, these statements are published both on-line and in the Gazette. Further information is available on the Elections website and from the Elections Office.