Vacancies on Senate
There are five upcoming elections.
General Assembly
ONE VACANCY for a non-professorial member of the academic staff elected by the academic and academic-related staff members of the General Assembly, membership from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2029.
(vice Dr Kemefasu Ifie)
NOMINATIONS: open until Friday 20 February 2026, closing at 5pm.
School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
TWO VACANCIES for members of the academic staff in the School of AACME, at least one of whom should not be a professor, membership from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2029.
(vice Simon Hogg and Miguel Martinez Garcia)
NOMINATIONS: open until Friday 20 February 2026, closing at 5pm.
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
TWO VACANCIES for members of the academic staff (who can be a professor) in the School of SEHS, membership from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2029.
(One of these is vice Will Johnson; the other is an additional/third elected member of the School due to the number of Academic Staff within the School exceeding 15% of the Academic Staff of the University (under section 1(iii)(b) of Ordinance IX). Oonagh Markey’s term continues until 2027.)
NOMINATIONS: open until Friday 20 February 2026, closing at 5pm.
School of Social Sciences and Humanities
TWO VACANCIES for a member of the academic staff in the School of SSH, at least one of whom should not be a professor, membership from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2029.
(vice Sarah Parker and Giulia Piccolino)
NOMINATIONS: open until Friday 20 February 2026, closing at 5pm.
Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
TWO VACANCIES for members of the academic staff in the School of MEME, at least one of whom should not be a professor, membership from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2029.
(vice Vadim Silberschmidt and Darren Watts)
NOMINATIONS: Open until Friday 20 February 2026, closing at 5pm.
About Senate
The University is dedicated to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment – to create better futures, together. Valuing the inclusion of diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community is a great strength and is key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services.
Currently people from minoritised groups, protected characteristics and a diversity of backgrounds are underrepresented in our committees. To ensure greater voice is given to underrepresented groups in decision making we have committed to achieving a minimum of 15% committee members from racialised minorities and 40% female.
We welcome nominations from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritised groups and urge all colleagues to take positive action to help create a more inclusive environment by encouraging and supporting other colleagues to put themselves forwards.
The Senate is responsible for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, research and the academic aspects of enterprise. It is established within the University’s Royal Charter together with the University’s ultimate governing body, the Council. Its formal powers are set out in University Statute XIV and Ordinance IX. It has the right to comment to Council on the academic aspects of any matter of University business. As the senior academic body of the University, Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.
The membership of Senate is drawn from the academic staff (‘Research Teaching and Enterprise’, ‘Specialist and Supporting Academic’ and ‘Specialist and Supporting Academic Research’ job families) and students of the University together with the University Librarian. Each School is entitled to elect a number of its members of academic staff to serve for a term of up to 3 years on Senate. Although elected by the School, it is important to note that their role is not to represent the School on Senate but to act in the interests of the University as a whole. Members of the academic staff with probationary status, and those with a contract length of less than 3 years are eligible to be members of Senate.
Senate has approved a role description for its members.
Senate usually meets 4 times a year on a Wednesday morning and members are expected to attend an induction session and the majority of meetings.