By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith:
To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting!
- Elizabeth The Second
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Whereas a humble petition has been presented unto us by the members of the Executive Committee of the Promotion Committee of the University of East Anglia.
Praying that We should constitute and found a University within our city and county of the city of Norwich for the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, sciences and learning, the provision of liberal, professional and technological education and to grant a Charter with such provisions in that behalf as shall seem to Us right and suitable:
And whereas We have taken the said Petition into Our Royal Consideration and are minded to accede thereto:
- Now therefore know ye that We by virtue of Our Prerogative Royal and of Our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion have willed and ordained and by these Presents do for Us
1. Our heirs and successors will and ordain
1. The members for the time being of the Council, the Senate, the members of the academic staff, the members of the research staff, the Graduates of the University, the Graduate and Undergraduate students of the University, the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellors, the Vice-Chancellor, the Treasurer (if appointed) and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors of the University for the time being, and all others who may be declared by resolution of the Council to be Members of the University, are hereby constituted and from henceforth for ever shall be one Body Politic and Corporate with perpetual succession and a Common Seal by the name and style of `The University of East Anglia' (in this Our Charter called `the University').
2. Definitions and Interpretation
2.1 In the Charter, Statutes, the Ordinances and the Regulations words shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates or provides otherwise:
“Appointed Member” means a member other than a member appointed by reference to his or her office;
“Assembly” means the Assembly of the University;
“Charter” means the Charter of the University;
“Council” means the Council of the University;
“Court” means the Court of the University;
“Ordinances” means Ordinances made under the Charter or Statutes;
“Regulations” means Regulations made under the Charter, the Statutes or the
Ordinances
“Senate” means the Senate of the University;
“Special Resolution” means a resolution passed at a meeting of which not less than fourteen clear days’ notice is given and which notice sets out the motion in full, and the resolution passed is not different in substance from the motion set out;
“The University” means the
“Year” means a calendar year.
2.2 Words in the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.
2.3 The headings used in the Charter and in the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations are provided for reference only and are not intended to have legal effect.
3. Objects of the University
3.1 The object of the University is, for the public benefit, the advancement of education and research.
4. Powers of the University
4.1 Subject to the provisions of the Charter and Statutes, and in the furtherance of its objects, the University shall have all the powers of a natural person including, but not limited to, the power:
4.1.2 In relation to teaching and research:
4.1.2.1 to carry out research;
4.1.2.2 to provide programmes of study or instruction;
4.1.2.3 to admit people to programmes of study on the basis of their qualifications and experience;
4.1.2.4 to accept the examinations passed and periods of study spent by students at other universities or places of learning as equivalent to such examinations and periods of study in the university as the university may determine and to withdraw such acceptances at any time;
4.1.2.5 to set the level of fees in respect of programmes;
4.1.2.6 to prescribe and administer examinations and other forms of assessment;
4.1.2.7 to confer degrees and other education awards;
4.1.2.8 to withdraw awards conferred by the University.
4.1.3 In relation to Students:
4.1.3.1 to prescribe rules for the discipline of students;
4.1.3.2 to provide procedures for the hearing of complaints by Students.
4.1.4. In relation to Staff:
4.1.4.1 to employ Staff in such positions as may be required, and to prescribe their conditions of service.
4.1.5 In relation to other institutions:
4.1.5.1 to affiliate other institutions, or branches or departments of other institutions;
4.1.5.2 to join or collaborate with other institutions, companies, partnerships or organisations to promote any activity the same as, or similar or related or incidental to, any activity of the University and to delegate, upon such conditions as may be determined, or revoke delegation of, any of the University’s functions to individuals, boards, committees or other entities with a view to furthering any of the above collaborative purposes;
4.1.5.3 to award joint degrees and other education awards with other institutions;
4.1.5.4 to incorporate into the University any other institution and take over its rights, property and liabilities, for any purpose not inconsistent with the Charter.
4.1.6 in relation to the provision of services and goods:
4.1.6.1 to exploit for the University’s benefit a facility or resource of the University, including study, research or knowledge, or the practical application of study, research or knowledge, belonging to the University, whether alone or with someone else;
4.1.6.2 to sell books, and other learning resources, intellectual property and other goods and services consistent with the Charter;
4.1.6.3 to print, reproduce and publish research and other works initiated by the University, or to provide for their printing, reproduction and publication;
4.1.6.4 to provide facilities and resources for the wellbeing of the University’s Students and Staff.
4.1.7 In relation to the transaction of University business:
4.1.7.1 to demand and receive fees and payments including fees in respect of educational programmes;
4.1.7.2 to enter into contracts;
4.1.7.3 to acquire, hold, dispose of and deal with property;
4.1.7.4 to raise funds, including the power to borrow money and enter into any other arrangement for the funding of capital projects and the raising of working capital for the University and/or the management of the interest risk associated with any borrowing or financial arrangement;
4.1.7.5 to grant security of any kind over the whole or any part of the real and personal property of the University;
4.1.7.6 to provide financial support made to any wholly or partly owned subsidiary of the University, including guaranteeing loans made to such a subsidiary;
4.1.7.7 to act as trustee or manager of any property or funds given or bequeathed to the University for purposes of education or research or other objects of the University, and to invest any such funds.
4.1.8 In relation to other persons:
4.1.8.1 to confer Honorary Degrees and other distinctions on approved persons; and
4.1.9 to do anything else necessary or convenient, whether incidental to these powers or not, in order to further the objects of the University as a place of education, learning and research.
5. The Council
5.1 There shall be a Council of the University. The Council shall be the executive governing body of the University and shall act in a way that promotes the University’s interests.
6. Powers of the Council
6.1 Subject to the Charter, and in furtherance of its role as the executive governing body, the Council shall exercise all the powers of the University; and without limiting the above, the Council has the specific functions and powers set out in the Statutes.
7. The Senate
7.1 There shall be a Senate of the University which shall have the composition, powers and functions conferred on it in the Ordinances and which shall have, subject to any requirements of the Council, delegated authority from the Council for:
7.1.1 the oversight of the academic performance of the University (including responsibility for the assurance of academic standards) and;
7.1.2 the regulation and supervision of the education and discipline of students.
7.2 The Vice-Chancellor shall be the Chair of Senate.
8. Court
8.1 There shall be a Court of the University which is representative of business, public bodies and other stakeholders in the University which shall meet annually and have the composition and functions prescribed in the Ordinances.
9. Assembly
9.1 There shall be an Assembly of the University consisting of all those persons who hold a contract of employment with the University.
9.2 The functions and operation of the Assembly will be prescribed in the Ordinances.
10. Students’ Union
10.1 There shall be a Students’ Union of the University and such other bodies representative of students as may be determined by the Council, each having a constitution and powers and functions approved by the Council.
11. The Chancellor
11.1 The Council may appoint (and may remove) a Chancellor of the University, who shall have such functions as may be prescribed in the Ordinances including conferring awards on behalf of the University.
12. The Pro-Chancellor
12.1 The Council may appoint Pro-Chancellors of the University anyone of whom may act in the absence of the Chancellor or in the event of a vacancy in that post.
13. The Vice-Chancellor
13.1 There shall be a Vice-Chancellor of the University who shall be its principal academic and administrative officer and who shall be the Chair of Senate.
13.2 In the event of the Vice-Chancellor’s death or incapacity, or a vacancy in the office of Vice-Chancellor, the Council may appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor. In such an event, the term “the Vice-Chancellor” in this Charter, the Statutes and the Ordinances shall apply to the duly appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor.
13.3 The Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to confer awards on behalf of the University.
13.4 Unless an appointment has otherwise been made to an office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor may appoint a deputy to act during any period of absence of the Vice-Chancellor. The term “the Vice-Chancellor” in this Charter, the Statutes and the Ordinances, shall apply to any deputy acting during such period of absence.
14. The Charter
14.1 The Council may at any time add to, amend, or revoke the Charter by a Special Resolution. Such addition, amendment, or revocation shall only become effective when approved by Us, Our Heirs or Successors in Council. A certificate under the hand of the Clerk of the Privy Council shall be conclusive evidence of such approval. This Article shall apply to the Charter as added to, amended, or revoked in this manner.
15. The Statutes
15.1 Subject to the provisions of the Charter, Statutes shall prescribe or regulate:
15.1.1 the composition and functions of the Council;
15.1.2 the appointment and functions of Auditors;
15.1.3 such other matters as the Council may see fit in connection with the governance of the University, or for the promotion of the objects of the Charter.
15.1.4 that any of the matters prescribed or regulated by Statute as authorised or directed in the Charter shall be further prescribed or regulated by Ordinance, by Regulation, or by decision made by the Council.
15.2 The Council may, at any time, by Special Resolution, make Statutes for the University which may add to, amend or revoke the Statutes for the time being in force; provided that such Statutes shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter. Such addition, amendment or revocation shall only become effective when approved by the Privy Council. A Certificate under the hand of the Clerk of the Privy Council shall be conclusive evidence of such approval. The Statutes set out in the Schedule to this Our Charter shall remain in force until they have been added to amended or revoked in manner hereinbefore prescribed.
16. The Ordinances
16.1 Subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Statutes the Council may make, add to, amend or revoke such Ordinances as it considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the University, and shall stipulate when such Ordinances come into effect; provided that no Ordinances shall be inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter or Statutes.
17. The regulations
17.1 Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Statutes and Ordinances, the Senate may, within the responsibilities delegated to it by the Council, make, add to, amend or revoke Regulations relating to powers and functions conferred on it in the Ordinances.
18. Dividend, Gift, Division or Bonus in Money
18.1 The University shall not make any dividend, gift, division or bonus in money to or between any of its members except by way of prize, reward or special grant.
19. Visitor
19.1 We reserve unto Ourself, Our Heirs and Successors, on representation from the Council following a Resolution passed by a simple majority of the members of the Council present and voting, the right by Order in Council to appoint a Visitor of the University for such period and with such duties as We, Our Heirs and Successors shall see fit.
20. Our Royal Will and Pleasure is that this Our Charter shall ever be construed benevolently, and in every case most favourably to the University and the promotion of the objects of this Our Charter.
IN WITNESS whereof we have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
WITNESS Ourself at
By Warrant Under The Queen's Sign Manual