Doctoral College Committee

Origin

Senate is the ultimate academic authority within the University, but it cannot be directly involved in decision making on all matters for which it is formally responsible; the range of business undertaken inevitably means that delegation of powers and responsibility to individuals and to committees is necessary. The Doctoral College Committee is a committee of Senate and has delegated responsibility from Senate for leading and directing the development of the doctoral research experience and environment at the University of Southampton and the development, implementation and evaluation of the University strategy as it applies to doctoral research and the doctoral researcher student experience and environment, including professional training and development. 

Purpose

• To report to Senate on the provision of all doctoral research delivered under the name of the University of Southampton, and on matters of the doctoral researcher environment and experience, including professional training and development.
• The Chair is responsible for ensuring that any equality impacts against each project/policy/process/procedure have been considered as part of the decision-making process.

Responsibilities and activity

• To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of the University’s strategy as it applies to doctoral research and the doctoral researcher environment and experience, including developing policy and guidelines, subject to the approval of the Senate where applicable, relevant to the successful delivery of the aims and objectives of the strategy.
• To transition projects relating to the doctoral researcher experience and environment into business as usual.
• To consider quality monitoring and enhancement for all postgraduate research programmes and to route these through the University’s regulatory framework for taught and research degree programmes.
• To oversee the progression of students on doctoral programmes and to liaise with Faculty Education and Student Experience Subcommittees where required.
• To have responsibility for strategic matters concerning education, quality enhancement and the student experience, ensuring alignment of Faculty direction and priorities with the University Education and Student Experience strategic plans. 
• To provide a forum for sharing best practice across Faculties, Schools and Professional Services.
• To consider and promote the contribution of doctoral researchers to decision-making.
• To steer and contribute to the University’s preparation for and participation in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) and other external accountability and assessments, as relates to the contribution of doctoral researchers.
• To steer and lead the University’s responses to doctoral research and the doctoral researcher environment related to national consultations and input into UUK and Russell Group responses on behalf of the University.
• To consider data relevant to all aspects of doctoral research, the doctoral researcher environment and experience.
• To receive, consider and respond to recommendations and reports from Doctoral College Committee subcommittees, working and advisory groups including:  
  • the Doctoral College Professional Development Subcommittee
  • the Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee
  • the Faculty Graduate School Subcommittees
  • the Recruitment, Selection and Admissions Advisory Group
• To receive and respond to regular reports from committees, subcommittees, and other groups on matters relevant to the Doctoral College Committee including:
  • Widening Participation
  • Careers, employability and student enterprise
  • Matters related to the doctoral researcher experience 
  • Student wellbeing including special considerations
  • Actions taken by the Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee
  • Education partnerships
  • Consumer protection law
  • Learning spaces
• To reflect on, and where necessary respond to, external bodies concerned with the delivery of doctoral research, or as part of the Office for Students (OfS) ongoing conditions of registration.
• To report issues, as and when required, to the University Executive Board.
• To receive minutes from Doctoral College Committee Subcommittees.

Reporting arrangements

• The Doctoral College Committee reports to Senate.  Matters of doctoral researcher quality monitoring and enhancement are routed to Senate via the Education and Student Experience Committee/Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee.
• Between ordinary meetings of the Doctoral College Committee, the Doctoral College Committee Chair shall have power to act on behalf of the Doctoral College Committee on any matter requiring an immediate or early decision. Any decisions taken by the Chair under these delegated powers shall be reported to the next meeting of the committee. Matters requiring an immediate or early decision include such items as:
  • routine business that would not normally merit discussion at a meeting of the Doctoral College Committee;
  • matters relating to the implementation of policies that have already been approved by the Doctoral College Committee;
  • where permission is given by the Doctoral College Committee to finalise approval on completion of specified actions related to an item previously scrutinised at a meeting;
  • matters where delaying a decision would disadvantage the University or put it at risk;
  • in an emergency, or unforeseen circumstances, provided that such action is taken only in exceptional circumstances and, where practicable, in consultation with selected Doctoral College Committee members with expertise relevant to the issue.
• The Doctoral College Committee appoints subcommittees, working and advisory groups to undertake some aspects of its work.   These include:
  • Faculty Graduate School Subcommittee
  • Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Subcommittee
  • Professional Training and Development Subcommittee
  • Recruitment, Selection and Admissions Advisory Group

Constitution

The Terms of Reference and Constitution are reviewed annually to ensure that the composition of the Doctoral College Committee reflects those Faculties and Professional Services that have responsibilities for postgraduate research programmes.

• Chair (Director of the Doctoral College)
• Lead for Doctoral Training Partnerships and Deputy Director of the Doctoral College 
• Chair of the Doctoral College Professional Development Subcommittee
• Chair of the Postgraduate Research Quality Monitoring & Enhancement Subcommittee
• Faculty Directors of the Graduate Schools/Chairs of Faculty Graduate School Subcommittee
• Directors of Doctoral Focal and Landscape awards representative(s)
• SUSU Vice President Education
• Elected SUSU PGR Faculty Officer (or Nominee)
• Associate Director, Doctoral College
• Quality Standards and Accreditation Adviser
• Centre for Higher Education Practice for supervisor training representative
• Deputy Director, Library
• Research and Innovation Services representative
• Associate Director, Student Support
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion representative

In attendance: other relevant officers from Professional Services and colleagues from Faculties may be in attendance as appropriate to the business, e.g.:

• Head of Doctoral College Administration
• Head of Doctoral College Research Culture 
• Head of Doctoral Training Centres and Partnerships
• Academic Registrar
• Associate Directors of Faculty Operating Service representative 
• Global Recruitment, Admissions and Marketing representative 
• Student Experience and Engagement representative
• Office of Development and Alumni Relations representative
• Widening Participation and Social Mobility representative
• University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) representative
• Public Engagement with Research Unit representative

Quorum and frequency

Quorum

The Doctoral College Committee will be quorate with one third of membership plus one in attendance.

Frequency of meetings

The Doctoral College Committee will meet at least five times per year.

Resources

No resources to note.

Terms of Reference review

Date of last review:....... November 2025

Date of next review:...... November 2026

Document reporting line

The Doctoral College Committee reports to Senate .

Document owner

Education and Student Experience Committee .