Academic Council (1970-present)

c1970 Terms of reference:
Planning co-ordination, development and oversight of all the academic work of the Polytechnic; making of recommendations to the Court relating to the academic structure and organisation of the Polytechnic; regulation and control of all the teaching and schemes of study of the Polytechnic; regulation of examinations; appointment of external examiners; award of academic qualifications; making of recommendations on the award of all academic qualifications other than those referred to above and all scholarships and other distinctions; regulation and control of research and development, information and advisory services and the publication of such material relating thereto as the council may determine; recommendations on the most suitable machinery for the appointment and promotion of academic staff; appointment of the Court of 4 Governors; nomination of academic representatives to external bodies; presentation to the court of reports and recommendations; making recommendations to the Court on the financial establishment and physical aspects of academic policy; recommendations to the cort on the establishment of subject Advisory Committees; setting up and regulation of such Board of Studies committees and sub-committees as the council deem necessary; forging and maintenance of such links with universities, other educational establishments and research as the council may deem desirable; recommendation to the court of the publication of material; the exercise of such other functions as may be delegated to the council by the court.

c1981 it was responsible for: Academic Validation Committee, Research Committee, Computing Committee, Staff Development Committee, Polytechnic Internal Institute of Continuing Education Policy Board, School Boards (School Sub-Committees, Course Committees, Management Committees), Planning and Resources Committee (Committee of Deans, Major Resources Planning Group, Academic Budgets Monitoring Group), Standing Committee.

c1992 Terms of Reference: Responsible for
General issues relating to: the research, scholarship, teaching and courses at the University, including criteria for the admission of students; the appointment and removal of internal and external examiners; policies and procedures for assessment and examination of the academic performance of students; the content of the curriculum; academic standards and the validation and review of courses; the procedures for the award of qualifications and honorary academic titles; the procedures for the exclusion of students for academic reasons.
Consideration of the development of the academic activities of the University and the resources needed to support them and the provision of advice thereon to the [Vice-Chancellor and] Rector and to the Court of Governors.
Provision of advice on such other matters as the Court of Governors or the [Vice-Chancellor and] Rector may refer to Academic Council.

Current terms of reference: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/about-us/our-university/corporate-information/governance-and-structure/academic-council

c1970
Members: the Director, the deputy directors (pro-directors), the secretary, the assistant directors, all head of departments (deans), the librarian, one member of academic staff of the Polytechnic as a whole. c.45 members

c1992
Members:
Ex-Officio: Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Provosts, President of Students' Union, Heads of Schools, Head of Educational Initiative Centre, Director of Information Systems
Elected: two members of staff elected by and from the teaching staff on each campus; one member of non-teaching staff elected by and from the non-teaching staff of the University; two students nominated by the Students' Union; one representative elected by and from the staff of Services for Students.
Co-opted: Director of International Strategy and Development, Deputy Rector (Academic) Westminster International University in Tashkent; two members of the Professoriate not in management posts elected by and from the Professoriate.
Academic Council Secretary.

c.2020
Ex-Officio: Vice-Chancellor (Chair), Deputy Vice-Chancellor x2; Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of College x3; Director (Graduate School), Director (Global Recruitment and Admissions), Director (Student and Academic Services), Head of Centre for Teaching Innovation, President of University of Westminster Students' Union (UWSU), University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer
Elected/Nominated (max 3 year term of office): members of academic staff from each college, elected by the academic staff of that college x2; Head of School, elected by the Heads of School x1; currently registered students nominated by the Students' Union x2.
Co-opted: Academic Registrar, Deputy Registrar (Quality and Standards)