The Senate is the ultimate authority for decision-taking on all academic matters, normally
acting on advice from the School Boards and its other Committees. Hence, the academic policy
and procedures of the University are determined by a complex structure in which many members
of the Academic Staff participate.
The Senate is responsible for all the academic affairs of the University, including the
provision of courses and the approval of their syllabuses, the admission and progress of
students through examinations and otherwise, the award of degrees and such other
qualifications as may be prescribed, the making of recommendations to the Council in respect
of candidates for the award of honorary degrees, the establishment, organization and control
of halls of residence in the University, and the granting of fellowships, scholarships,
prizes and similar awards that are within the control of the University provided that funds
are available.
The Senate shall consist of the following members:
- The Vice-Chancellor -Chairman
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor
- All Professors in the University;
- The Librarian of the University
- The Deans of Colleges including the Postgraduate School
- Dean of Student Affairs
- Directors of Academic Institutes/Centres
- All Heads of Academic Departments
- Two elected Academic Staff from each College/School
- The Registrar – Secretary.
- Bursar – In attendance
Essentially, the functions of the Senate are:
- The establishment, organization and control of Campuses, Colleges,
Institutes, Schools, Departments, other teaching units and research
units of the University, and the allocation of responsibility for
different branches of learning.
- The organization and control of courses of study at the University
and of the examinations held in conjunction with those courses,
including the appointment of examiners, both internal and external
- The award of degrees and such other qualifications as may be
prescribed, in connection with examinations held as aforesaid
- The making of recommendations to the Council with respect to the
award to any person of honorary fellowship or honorary degree or the
title of Professor Emeritus
- The selection of persons for admission as students of the University
- The establishment, organization and control of halls of residence
and similar institutions at the University
- The supervision of the welfare of students at the University and the
regulation of their conduct including mode of dressing
- The granting of Fellowships, Scholarships, Prizes and similar
awards, in so far as the awards are within the control of the
University
- Determining what description of dress shall be academic dress for
the purposes of the University, and regulating the use of academic
dress
In carrying out these functions, the Senate requires the concurrence of
Council to provide the necessary financial and other resources
Committees of Senate
Senate delegates much of its work to a series of sub-committees chaired by
the senior academic officers and to College Boards chaired by the College
Deans
The Senate shall have the following Committees to facilitate its work:
- Senate Business Committee
- Curriculum Development Committee
- Library and Publications Committee
- Ceremonial Committee
- Central Admissions Committee
- Students Welfare Committee
- University Sports Committee
- Students Disciplinary Committee
- Examinations Monitoring Committee
- Research Grants Committee
- ICT Development Committee
- Quality Assurance Committee
- Annual Report Committee
- University Inaugural Lecture Committee