Business Committee
The General Council has a Business Committee made up of elected and ex-officio members which meets three times each year. The Business Committee is tasked with organising the business within the remit of the General Council and framing the programme of business to be communicated to the General Council members under powers specifically conferred upon the Committee, or in circumstances of emergency.
Members of the General Council Business Committee receive regular reports on the activities of the University. All University decisions (in the form of draft ordinances and resolutions from University Court) are communicated to the General Council through the Business Committee. If any comments are made by the General Council, University Court is obliged to respond, and the General Council’s opinion is taken into consideration by University Court before decisions are formalised.
Membership of the Business Committee
The Business Committee consists of:
Elected members
There are currently 6 elected members on the Business Committee; they each hold office for four years. At the end of their term, they are eligible for re-election for another four years. After two consecutive terms, however, they cannot be elected or co-opted during the two years before the next round of elections.
Ex officio members
The following shall be members ex-officio:
- the Principal
- the Chancellor's Assessor on the University Court
- the Assessors of the General Council on the University Court
- the Conveners of all other committees (and standing sub-committees) of the General Council
- co-opted members of the University Court who are alumni.
Co-opted members
If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Committee, either because a member has demitted office before their term has expired or because an insufficient number of candidates have stood for election, the Committee may co-opt a new member to fill the vacancy, subject to their co-option being approved at the next General Council meeting. The combined number of elected and co-opted members must not exceed 12. A co-opted member shall serve until the next round of elections when they will be eligible to stand as a candidate.
Current members of the Business Committee
Convener
Ms Wendy Russell
Elected members (until 30 June of the year stated)
- 2025: Mr John Edward, Revd Matthew Lawson, Mr Callum MacLeod, Dr Ralitza Nikolaeva, Ms Wendy Russell, Ms Lauren Stewart
Ex officio members
- The Principal — Professor Sally Mapstone
- The Chancellor’s Assessor — Mr Adrian Greer (until 31 July 2024)
- General Council Assessor to the University Court - Mr Jonathan Hewitt (until 31 July 2026)
- General Council Assessor to the University Court - Mr Iain Anderson (until 31 July 2024)
Although not a member of the Business Committee, the Registrar and Clerk to the General Council, Mr Alastair Merrill, Vice-Principal (Governance) is the Committee’s main point of contact with the University and has a standing invitation to attend its meetings.
Contacting the General Council Business Committee
Members are encouraged to contact the General Council regarding any matter bearing upon the University. Please email the Business Committee of the General Council at generalcouncil@st-andrews.ac.uk.