governors

Agreeing the strategic policy and overall direction at Petroc.

The role, powers and responsibilities of the Governing Body derive from the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and the Instrument and Articles of Government. It is the role of the Governing Body to agree the strategic policy and overall direction and to hold the Management to account for performance. It is the role of the Principal to implement the agreed strategy and to manage the college's affairs.

The Governing Body is responsible for:

determining the educational character and mission of the College and for oversite of its activities;
setting targets for student retention and achievement (Success Rate targets);
monitoring and evaluating all aspects of the College's performance;
ensuring the solvency of the College and the safeguarding of the College's assets. In particular, the Governing Body must receive, at least termly, a report that reviews the College's financial position. At Petroc, there are monthly reports from October to July each year;
appointing, grading, suspending, dismissing and determining the pay and conditions of service of the Principal, the holders of Senior Posts (Deputy Principal and Director of Finance) and the Clerk to the Corporation;
setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff (including approving the annual pay settlement, the rules and procedures relating to staff grievances, conduct, suspension, dismissal and appeals and, in certain cases, acting as the final court of appeal);
ensuring that the financial, planning and other management controls, including controls against fraud and theft, are appropriate and sufficient to safeguard public funds;
approving the appointment of external auditors and an internal audit service;
securing the efficient, economical and effective management of all the College's resources and expenditure, capital assets and equipment and staff, so that the investment of public funds in the College is not put at risk;
ensuring that appropriate financial considerations are taken into account at all stages in reaching decisions and in their execution;
planning and conducting the College's financial and academic affairs so that its total income is not less than sufficient, taking one year with another, to meet its total expenditure;
approving an annual budget at the start of each financial year;
determining tuition fees;
approving the student union's constitution and rules relating to the conduct of students;
monitoring and evaluating its own performance.