General Board's Education Committee: Terms of Reference

1. The Education Committee is a standing committee of the General Board. The Committee shall exercise general oversight of all educational policies, practices and standards of the University and the institutions placed under the General Board's supervision.

2. The Committee shall consist of:

  • (a) the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), as Chair
  • (b) a person nominated by each School
  • (c) two persons appointed by the Senior Tutors' Committee, one of whom shall normally be the Chair of its Standing Committee on Education
  • (d) one member of the Postgraduate Committee
  • (e) one member of the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee
  • (f) one member of the Joint Wellbeing Committee
  • (g) two student representatives from Cambridge Students’ Union
  • (h) up to two additional co-opted members

3. At the discretion of the Chair, individual members may serve under more than one class. Members in classes (b), (d), (e) and (f) shall be appointed by the General Board to serve for three years, and may be reappointed for further terms. 

4. At the discretion of the Chair, a Deputy Chair may be appointed from among the membership.

5. The Secretary of the Committee shall be an officer of the Academic Division appointed by the Head of Education Services.

6. The Committee shall meet at least twice in each term. The Chair may call special meetings of the Committee. Agenda and papers shall be circulated one week in advance of the meetings, with an allowance for the circulation of supplementary agenda and papers; unless unavoidable, substantive business will be circulated not later than two days before the meeting. A meeting of the Committee shall be quorate if at least six members are present. Business may at the discretion of the Chair, be conducted by circulation.

7. Members of the Committee are requested to declare any items of business in which they have a personal interest.

8. It shall be the duty of the Committee, on behalf of the General Board, to:

a. advise the General Board on general matters of educational strategy and maintain oversight of the student experience, in particular in relation to

  • the quality and standards of teaching and provision of appropriate courses of study and instruction; 
  • matters of student health and wellbeing;
  • equality and diversity matters in education; 
  • student employment and careers provision; 
  • the Student Complaints Procedure; and 
  • student disciplinary procedures and structures.

b. keep under review, and as appropriate approve changes to the regulations for University examinations, degrees, diplomas and other qualifications which are the responsibility of the General Board and ensure that they are properly observed;

c. advise the General Board on Reports to the University by institutions under the supervision of the Board and, where appropriate, to draft Reports of the General Board and draft joint Reports with Council;

d. recommend to the General Board changes to Ordinances relating to those institutions under the supervision of the General Board;

e. advise the General Board on the outcomes of periodic reviews of institutions under their supervision, and on reviews from within or outwith the University relating to the educational provision of the University;

f. implement such quality assurance policies as the General Board decide;

g. act as a forum for the discussion of educational provision at the University-College interface;

h. exercise strategic oversight of any institutional-level audit by a regulatory body on matters relating to learning, teaching and the student experience;

i. exercise oversight of the University's compliance with Office for Students regulatory requirements, and those of other education regulators, in so far as they relate to responsibilities of the General Board for student matters;

j. set and oversee admissions criteria for postgraduate courses

k. maintain oversight of and responsibility for matters relating to the provision of information to applicants, students, alumni and the general public;

l. advise the General Board on any other matters about which it considers the Board ought to be informed;

m. consider any relevant business referred to it by the General Board or any other body.

9. The Committee shall have the power to establish such sub-committees as it deems appropriate, and to delegate tasks to these sub-committees. Responsibility shall, however, remain with the Education Committee on behalf of the General Board.

The sub-committees are:

  • Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee
  • Access and Participation Plan Steering Group
  • Doctoral Training Programmes Committee
  • Examination Access and Mitigation Committee
  • Postgraduate Committee
  • Postgraduate Admissions Committee

10. The Committee shall receive Minutes of the Careers Service Committee, the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and the Joint Wellbeing Committee. By custom it shall exchange minutes with the Senior Tutors' Committee. The Committee shall report to the General Board, either through the minutes of its meetings or by such other means as the Board shall determine.

11. The Committee shall receive regular reports from the sub committees on delegated matters.

12. The Secretary shall be supported by officers of the Educational Quality and Policy Office, who may attend the meetings of the Committee. The Secretary and the officers may act on the Committee's behalf under such terms as the Committee shall decide, in the interests of expediting straightforward business of the Committee. Any actions taken by the Secretary or the other officers shall be reported at the next meeting of the Committee.

Last reviewed

October 2025