Trinity College Senate

The Trinity College Senate was established in 1995 when revisions were made to the statutes that abolished the existing committee structure and put in place a bicameral system of governance by creating a Board of Trustees to manage and control the property, business, and affairs of the College and a Senate to establish the academic policy of the College. This change came into effect after a recommendation by the Steering Committee to improve College governance and administrative structures. In the fall of 1993 a working group was formed to rewrite the College’s statutes and certain regulations, a document which was then submitted for approval to Corporation on 4 May 1995 where it was unanimously approved.

The Senate consists of fellows of the College, members of Corporation, members of Convocation, Divinity Associates, a member of the St Hilda’s College Board of Trustees, divinity and non-divinity students, the Provost, the College Librarian, the Executive Secretary of Convocation, the Registrar, the Chaplain, the Dean of Arts, the Dean of Divinity, the Bursar, the Dean of Students and one don to be selected by agreement at the first meeting of each academic year of the Deans and the Dons.

The Senate took over the function of the College Council and is responsible for determining the academic policy of the College, including the establishment, alteration, or elimination of academic programmes, determining the requirements for degrees of Trinity College, recommending the appointment of associates and fellows, and determining standards for the admission of students. The Senate, together with the Board of Trustees, is also responsible for appointing committees and working groups to develop proposals for matters of shared interest and can appoint subcommittees and delegate powers to them.