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How to... stand for election to Council

Why stand for election?

The Council of the University of Cambridge is one of the few principal bodies in the higher education sector with a majority of members elected from internal constituencies; most equivalent bodies are made up predominantly of external members. The Council draws its strength from the expertise, engagement, and scrutiny of its members – those elected in the classes for members of the University and the Colleges as well as its external and student members. It is key to the continuing success of the University that elections to the Council attract strong candidates who are willing to share their knowledge and commit their time for the benefit of the University as a whole.

CouncilNominationFormMT2024.pdf​

The arrangements for election or appointment to the Council vary depending upon the class of membership.

Members in classes (a) to (c) –​ sixteen non-student members

Members in these classes are elected by the Regent House and are elected to serve for four years; in accordance with Special Ordinance A (ii) 1, an election of half the members in each class is held during Full Michaelmas Term in each alternate year. This ensures that members within a particular category do not all finish their term of membership at the same time, and enables newly elected members to work alongside more experienced members.

For category (a), any Heads of Colleges are eligible to stand; for category (b), any University Professors, Clinical Professors, Readers or Professors (Grade 11) are eligible; and for category (c), any other member of the Regent House may stand for election; in all classes, that is, so long as they comply with the nomination procedure (outlined in Regulations 1 to 7 for election to the Council).

 

The election procedure

A notice regarding the election is published in the Reporter, usually around the beginning of October for the Michaelmas Term elections, or whenever a vacancy arises for bye-elections. The notice outlines the procedure for nominations, the election timetable, and who to contact for further information. Candidates are required to send to the Vice-Chancellor a statement signed by two members of the Regent House nominating the candidate for election, along with a statement signed by the candidate certifying that he or she consents to be nominated. A curriculum vitae or personal statement should also be submitted on the same date; if more nominations are received than there are vacancies, and an election is called, this statement is then circulated to the Regent House along with the voting papers. If at any election, the total number of vacancies isn’t filled, the Vice-Chancellor arranges a further election.
 

Example notices: 

Notice announcing the ballot results (dated 4 December 2012)
 

Members in class (d) – three student members

Members in this category are elected by the students in the University, to serve for one year as from 1 July next following the election. 

Since 2013, elections to the Council have been combined with the election of the Union Presidents, meaning (provided the student is eligible) those elected as the President (Undergraduates) and President (Postgraduates) of Cambridge Students' Union are also elected to the Council. One other student is also elected by the student body to the Council.

The election procedure

The election procedure for student members of the Council is handled in its entirety by Cambridge Students' Union. Students interested in standing for election should find information on the Cambridge SU website or contact the UG or PG Cambridge SU President. 

 

Members in class (e) – four external members

Members in this class are appointed by Grace of the Regent House, on the nomination of the Council. They are appointed to serve for four years from 1 January in a year when the calendar year is odd; the appointment of half the members in this class takes place in each alternate odd year, to ensure a smooth transition between members.

The appointment procedure

By Ordinance, the Council has discharged its duty of making nominations to a Nominating Committee. The composition of and regulations for this Nominating Committee are also prescribed by Ordinance. The Nominating Committee publicly advertises its intention to make a nomination (in the Reporter). Once nominations have been received and considered by the Nominating Committee, it then submits a recommended name to the Council for each vacancy, along with a statement by that person that s/he consents to be nominated and to serve (if appointed by Grace).

Once the Council receives and considers the nominations, a Grace promoting the nominations is then published in the Reporter. The Grace is then approved or rejected in the usual way.

Example notices: 

Notice calling for expressions of interest and suggestions of suitable candidates by members of the University, and listing members of the Nominating Committee (dated 16 July 2012)

Grace promoting the appointment of nominated external members (dated 24 October 2012)

 
 
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