Court
Court serves as a bridge between the wider community and the University. It provides a source of ideas, influence and support from the wider community to assist the University in pursuit of its mission.
On this page
Responsibilities and terms of reference
Court is responsible for:
- appointing the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellors on the nomination of the Board of Trustees;
- appointing 2 members to serve on the Nominations Committee of the Board.
Court may also:
- pose questions to the Chair of the Board of Trustees on the activity of the Board in the preceding year and the plans for the year ahead;
- pose questions to the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Group on the execution of the strategy of the University;
- pose questions to the Board of Trustees on the financial statements;
- ask questions and offer comment to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Group on any aspect of the University's business.
See full details of Court’s responsibilities in statutes 6-8 of the University's Statutes.
Membership
Court membership is set out in statute 6 of the University's Statutes and is made up of:
Core Members
Elected
- 30 Alumni Association Representatives
- 5 Emeriti
Nominated
- 20 Members from civic, cultural and community organisations or bodies
- 20 Members from unions, professional organisations, business community and industry or other knowledge-intensive organisations
- 5 representatives from elected representatives of the City of Bristol and its surrounding areas
Ex Officio
- Chancellor
- Pro-Chancellors
- Honorary Fellows
Additional Members
The Chancellor may appoint up to 20 Additional Appointed Members as set out in Statute.
Current members of Court
To see a list of current members, download the Court membership 2021/22 (PDF, 131kB)
Diversity monitoring
View diversity monitoring information.
Attendees
Statute 6 sets out that the following people can attend Court:
- 20 university employees, who are elected by university employees
- The elected Sabbatical Officers of the Students' Union
- Board of Trustees
- Vice-Chancellor and President
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health and Life Sciences
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise
- Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience
- Registrar and University Secretary
- Chief Operating Officer
- Deans
- University Librarian
- Chief Property Officer (the Bursar)
- Clerk to Court
They do not have the authority to make committee decisions and are not eligible to vote in meetings.
Court Secretary
- Current post-holder: Hannah Quinn
- Email: hannah.quinn@bristol.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 42 83168
Vacancies
There are currently no vacancies for elected positions.
Meeting dates and paper submission deadlines
Court meets in accordance with its Standing orders (PDF, 145kB).
- Friday 3 December 2021
(Paper deadine 19 November 2021)
Papers
The Court convening notice (PDF, 183kB) was circulated to members on Friday 29th October 2021.
Download individual Court papers:
- Covering Letter (PDF, 110kB)
- Agenda (PDF, 123kB)
- CRT/21-22/001 Our University Strategy (PDF, 177kB)
- CRT/21-22/002 Breakout sessions (PDF, 214kB)
- CRT/21-22/003 Report of the Board of Trustees (PDF, 257kB)
- CRT/21-22/004 Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020/21 (PDF, 6,202kB)
- CRT/21-22/005 Previous minutes (PDF, 997kB)
Download the Combined paper pack (PDF, 6,866kB) for Court.
Read Responses to questions submitted in advance (PDF, 296kB).
You may also download presentations from the meeting:
Minutes
Download minutes from previous meetings of Court.
2021/22
Minutes from this year will be added as they become available.