Charitable status
The University Board is the governing body of the University of Central Lancashire and its business is conducted in accordance with the Instrument and Articles of Government detailed below. It delegates certain parts of its responsibilities to committees which are serviced and supported by the Clerk to the Board.
Governance, charity and constitutional documents
Charitable status
The university is an exempt charity as defined in the Charities Act 2011. It is therefore subject to charity law but is not required to register with the Charity Commission and is not regulated by it. As an exempt charity, the University does not have a registered charity number. The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator of higher education institutions that are exempt charities.
In addition to governors' responsibilities under the Instrument and Articles of Government and to the OfS, members of the Governing Body are also charity trustees. The names of our trustees can be viewed on the University Board of Governors’ page.
The charitable purpose of the university is the advancement of education for the public benefit. The statement on public benefit can be viewed within the financial statements on our Financial Information page.
Legal name and correspondence address
The University’s legal name is University of Central Lancashire.
Its principal place of business and address for correspondence is University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE.
The Committee believes that 'Seven Principles of Public Life' should apply to all in the public service.
These are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
- To set and agree the mission, strategic vision and values of the institution with the Executive.
- To agree long-term academic and business plans and key performance indicators and ensure that these meet the interests of stakeholders, especially staff, students and alumni.
- To ensure that processes are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the institution against the strategy, plans and approved key performance indicators, which should be, where possible and appropriate, benchmarked against other comparable institutions.
- To delegate authority to the Vice-Chancellor for the academic, corporate, financial, estate and human resource management of the institution, and to establish and keep under regular review the policies, procedures and limits within such management functions as shall be undertaken by and under the authority of the Vice-Chancellor.
- To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability, including financial and operational controls, risk assessment, value for money arrangements and procedures for handling internal grievances and managing conflicts of interest.
- To establish processes to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the governing body itself.
- To conduct its business in accordance with best practice in HE corporate governance and with the principles of public life drawn up by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
- To safeguard the good name and values of the institution.
- To appoint the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Executive and to put in place suitable arrangements for monitoring their performance.
- To appoint a Clerk to the governing body and to ensure that, if the person appointed has managerial responsibilities in the institution, there is an appropriate separation in the lines of accountability.
- To oversee the University’s role as an employer and to be accountable for ensuring that an appropriate People Strategy is established.
- To be the principal body overseeing financial and business arrangements of the institution, to ensure that proper books of account are kept, to approve the annual budget and financial statements, and to have overall accountability for the institution’s assets, property and estates.
- To be the institution’s chief legal authority and, as such, to ensure systems are in place for meeting all the institution’s legal obligations, including those arising from contracts and other legal commitments made in the institution’s name. This includes compliance with all applicable legislation.
- To receive assurance that adequate provision has been made for the general welfare of students.
- To act as trustee for any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift in support of the work and welfare of the institution.
- To ensure that the University complies with its constitution and applicable regulatory framework and conditions, and that appropriate advice is available to enable this to happen.
- To promote a culture which supports inclusivity and diversity across the institution.
- To maintain and protect the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech legislation.
- To ensure that all students and staff have opportunities to engage with the governance and management of the institution.
University Board unreserved minutes
If you require further information about the work of the Board, please email Ian Fisher or telephone +44 (0)1772 894003 or Deputy Clerk to the Board, Fiona Winters on +44 (0)1772 894002.