The General Board of the Faculties

The General Board of the Faculties is responsible for the academic and educational policy of the University.

Its responsibilities cover:

  • education
  • research
  • academic planning
  • academic services
  • HR policy and strategic planning relating to academic staff

The General Board also has responsibility for the academic activities of Faculties, Departments, Schools, and the University’s Museums and Libraries.

Membership

The Vice-Chancellor

  • Professor Deborah Prentice (Chair)

School representatives

  • Professor Manali Desai
  • Professor Patrick Maxwell
  • Professor Ella McPherson
  • Professor Nigel Peake
  • Professor Richard Penty
  • Professor Jon Simons
  • Professor Marcus Waithe
  • Professor Jocelyn Wyburd

Appointed by the Council

  • Dr Pieter van Houten
  • Professor Richard Mortier
  • Professor Alan Short
  • Professor Bhaskar Vira

Student members

  • Augustin Denis
  • Jessica Asiedu-Kwatchey

Meeting dates

  • 22 September (Council, General Board and Senior Leadership Team away day)
  • 5 November 2025
  • 3 December 2025
  • 3 February 2026 (changed from 28 January to 3 February)
  • 4 March 2026
  • 27 April 2026 (Council, General Board and Senior Leadership Team away day)
  • 6 May 2026
  • 3 June 2026
  • 1 July 2026

You can add the General Board’s meeting dates to your calendar app using Google or iCal.

Contact the Secretary

generalboard@admin.cam.ac.uk

Minutes

If you have a University of Cambridge account, you can view General Board minutes on the Committees Hub.

Terms of Reference

The General Board’s responsibilities, membership and procedures are set out in the University’s Statutes and Ordinances:

Annual report

The General Board's annual report is published each year in the Cambridge University Reporter.

Find links to the General Board's current and previous annual reports

Committees Hub

General Board members and attendees can access the General Board site through the Committees Hub.

Submitting papers

If you have business for the General Board, contact generalboard@admin.cam.ac.uk for guidance on when and how to present it.

If you agree to submit a paper, you must use the correct template:

You must submit your paper by the deadline before a meeting. The deadlines for 2025/26 are:

  • 20 October 2025
  • 17 November 2025
  • 12 January 2026
  • 16 February 2026
  • 20 April 2026
  • 18 May 2026
  • 15 June 2026

Committees

The General Board is supported and advised by other committees.

There are:

  • committees that report only to the General Board 
  • joint committees that report to both the Council and the General Board

Committees of the General Board

Joint committees of the Council and General Board