York Graduate Research School Board

York Graduate Research School Board reports to Senate via University Research Committee.

Terms of reference

The York Graduate Research School Board (YGRSB) oversees the work of York Graduate Research School which is responsible for postgraduate research provision at the University.

Contact us

Chair: Professor Kate Arnold
Dean of 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 develop, monitor the implementation of, and review the vision and strategy for YGRS.
To champion postgraduate researchers (PGRs) within the University, including the contribution that PGRs make to the University's research strategy, and to promote a research culture, at all levels within the institution, that is supportive of PGRs.
To identify national and international developments relating to postgraduate research (PGR) provision and ensure that appropriate action is taken so that York remains competitive with other research intensive institutions.
Through the work of its sub-committees, to:

develop, monitor and review regulations, policies and guidance on PGR matters, including Regulation 2 and the Policy on Research Degrees;
ensure accountability, transparency and consistency with respect to the funding and recruitment of PGRs;
assure the standards of PGR programmes, and to monitor and promote the enhancement of the quality of the academic experience of PGRs;
coordinate and oversee matters relating to the personal and professional development of PGRs and their wellbeing.

To monitor the development and delivery of strategic PGR initiatives including Doctoral Training Partnerships, Centres for Doctoral Training and similar, and international collaborations with a significant PGR component to ensure they meet their objectives.
To act as a Board of Studies for interdisciplinary PGR programmes (in accordance with the supplementary terms of reference).
To promote equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to all the above.

Ex officio members

Professor Kate Arnold, Dean of the YGRS (Chair)
Professor Andy Dougill, Dean for the Faculty of Sciences (Alternate: Associate Dean for Research, Jane Hill)
Professor Tracy Lightfoot, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students (Alternate: Associate PVC for Teaching, Learning and Students, Steve King)
Professor Duncan Petrie, Dean for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Alternate: Associate Dean for Research, Richard Ogden)
Professor Karen Rowlingson, Dean for the Faculty of Social Sciences (Alternate: Associate Dean for Research, Nina Caspersen)
Professor Matthias Ruth, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research (Alternate: Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Sarah Thompson)

Student representatives

Mardan Nasier, President of the GSA
Cytheria Shen, GSA Vice-President (Academic) or Aurora Zhang, GSA Vice-President (Welfare)

Appointed academic members

Professor Peter Smith, Faculty of Social Sciences, until 31 July 2024
Professor Sean Sweeney, Faculty of Sciences, until 31 July 2025
Dr Sethina Watson, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, until 31 July 2025

Members

Tom Banham, Interim Academic Registrar
Justine Daniels (from January 2024), Director of Research and Enterprise
Jonny Exon, CEO of GSA
Professor Jonathan Finch, Faculty PGR Lead for Arts and Humanities
Professor Alison Laird, Faculty PGR Lead for Sciences
Dr Daryl Martin, Faculty PGR Lead for Social Sciences
Tom Richens, Deputy Head of Student Administration (PGRs and Casework) (Secretary)

Observers

Jess Main, PGRA Student Services Officer (Minute Secretary)

Quoracy

One third of members including at least two at PVC, Dean or Associate Dean level.

Membership review

Elected members are elected by Faculty Executive Groups following a nomination process.

Elected members should be current or former Graduate Chairs (or similar, eg DTP/CDT leads) and/or have considerable experience of supervising PGRs.

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

Meeting dates 2023/2024

Date	Time
Monday 11 December	10am to 12 noon
Thursday 21 March	10am to 12 noon
Thursday 13 June	10am to 12 noon

Meeting frequency

Three times per academic year

Meeting modes

Meetings may be in person or via Zoom.

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

2020-21

YGRSB reports to Senate via University Research Committee.

YGRSB has three sub-committees:

PGR Policies and Programme Committee
PGR Funding and Recruitment Committee
PGR Experience Committee.

Meeting	Regular items of business	Source
Semester 1 ~ week 11	Update on YGRS vision and strategy Risk register Minutes of sub-committees Annual YGRS Report Board of Studies (BoS) business for any interdisciplinary PhD programmes where YGRS is serving as BoS (BMS) PGR Outcomes report, Supervision Compliance report and Annual Complaints Report all to be Category II papers.	Dean PPPC/PEC/PRFC Dean BoS(s)
Semester 2 ~ week 6	Summary PRES (biennial) and PGR annual review reports Minutes of sub-committees Interdisciplinary PhD BoS business Research Special Cases Report	PPPC PPPC/PEC/PRFC BoS(s) PGRA
Summer Vacation ~ July	Annual report on CITY College PhD Programme Minutes of sub-committees including PoRD changes Interdisciplinary PhD BoS business	JDEC PPPC/PEC/PRFC BoS(s)