PGR Funding and Recruitment Committee

The PGR Funding and Recruitment Committee (PFRC) is a subcommittee of, and reports to, York Graduate Research School Board (YGRSB).

YGRSB reports to Senate via University Research Committee.

Terms of reference

Purpose

On behalf of YGRSB, to ensure accountability, transparency and consistency with respect to the funding and recruitment of postgraduate researchers.

Contact us

Chair: Professor Kate Arnold
Dean of the York Graduate Research School

For agendas and minutes: PGR Quality and Governance

academic-quality-pgr@york.ac.uk

2a) Strategic development, planning, performance monitoring and resourcing: items for consideration and/or decision

To oversee the distribution of match funding for PGRs in accordance with agreed policy (normally undertaken by Chair’s action)
To monitor PGR-related income and expenditure within and between faculties
To develop, monitor and review the University’s recruitment and admissions strategy for home and international PGRs
To monitor data on PGR funding and recruitment and ensure that appropriate action is taken in response
To promote equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to all the above.

2b) Policy and regulatory matters

To develop, monitor the implementation of, and review policies and guidance on University funding for PGR studentships (including University scholarship schemes and the approval of University involvement in, and funding for, Doctoral Training Partnerships, Centres for Doctoral Training and other match funding arrangements) in the context of the University’s research strategy
To develop, monitor and review policy and guidance on discretionary University charges and funding for PGRs (including maternity and paternity provision, institutional conference fund, hardship funding).

Ex officio members

Professor Kate Arnold, Dean of the YGRS (Chair)
Professor Jonathan Finch, PGR Lead for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Professor Alison Laird, PGR Lead for the Faculty of Sciences
Megan McLoughlin, Associate Director (Development), RIKE
Dr Daryl Martin, PGR Lead for the Faculty of Social Sciences
Mardan Nasier, President of GSA
Helen Poyer, PGRA Student Services Manager (Secretary)
Tom Richens, Deputy Head of Student Administration

Appointed academic members

Faculty of Arts and Humanities: Dr Richard Johns, History of Art (until 31 July 2025)
Faculty of Social Sciences: Dr Alfred Moore, Politics (until 31 July 2025)
Faculty of Sciences: Professor Gavin Thomas, Biology (until 31 July 2025)

In attendance

Student Recruitment Manager
Head of International Recruitment
Postgraduate Deputy Head of Admissions
Jess Main, Minute Secretary
Management Accountant
Faculty Operations Managers

Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts team (RKEC) and the Research Grants Operations team can be invited as needed.

Quoracy

One third of ex officio and appointed members.

Membership review

Annually. Appointed academic members should be current or former Graduate Chairs (or similar, eg DTP/CDT leads) and/or have considerable experience of supervising PGRs, and ideally with some understanding of the national and institutional PGR funding and recruitment context.

For appointed members the standard term of office is three years and maximum term is six years.

Unless otherwise stated, the deadline for receiving papers is two weeks before the meeting.