The Senate and its Powers

The University Senate is the highest-ranking body in the university. Its duties include drafting, modifying and, where necessary, bringing the University Statutes into line with modern developments, overseeing the University’s governing bodies and making appointments to these bodies, defining the general lines of University policy and, in extraordinary circumstances, calling elections to appoint a new rector.

The Senate

The representatives sitting in the University Senate are:

• The rector, who takes the chair.
• The secretary general.
• The university manager.
• The vice-rectors.
• The faculty deans and directors of the university schools.
• Representatives drawn in proportional numbers from the teaching staff of all the faculties and university schools to a total of 180 members, including faculty deans, directors of the university schools and vice-rectors, 153 of whom should be full-tenured, PhD holders, and 27 teachers without tenure and not in possession of a PhD.
• Representatives drawn in proportional numbers from the student body of all the faculties and university school to a total of 90 members, including doctorate students.
• Representatives from the administrative and services staff to a total of 30 members.

Powers

The powers of the University Senate are:

• To pass its own governing regulations.
• To draft and modify the University Statutes.
• To elects its representatives on the Governing Council.
• To elect the University ombudsman,.
• To draft the regulations governing the election of the rector and to call, in extraordinary circumstances, elections to fill the rector’s post, in accordance with the procedures established in the Statutes.
• To be kept informed of all the University’s undertakings and to express its opinion as to how the University be run; the University Senate can request the necessary information from any university body in complying with these duties.
• To debate and, if this is the case, accept the rector’s annual report, which should include a description and evaluation of the University’s teaching and research activities, as well as a general outline of the budget, the long-term development plan and the financial report.
• To present a motion criticizing the governing of the rector and his or her team, which must receive the support of a quarter of Senate members.
• To put questions to the University’s Management Council.
• To act as the main consultative body within the University.
• To define the main criteria for applying the Statutes in the areas it governs.
• To be kept informed of the foundation of new university schools and courses, and alternatively of their elimination or suppression.
• To rule on the regulations governing student progress and attendance.
• To debate and vote on proposals concerning important social issues and university matters.
• To establish mechanisms for university participation on matters of importance and to propose strategic financial plans and budgets for the University of Barcelona.
• All other powers entrusted in it by the regulations and the current Statutes.