About us

Academic and Governance Services (AGS) has responsibility for a number of areas within the University including the co-ordination and implementation of the University Strategy, the provision of high quality services to support academic activity, and ensuring that the institution remains compliant with relevant legislation and performs its statutory duties as a provider of higher education. AGS is comprised of the following parts of the University:

The Chief Strategy Officer and University Secretary, Dr Richard Messer, is responsible for the leadership of Academic and Governance Services. He is a member of the University Executive Board. In addition to his leadership of the Directorate, Dr Messer attends and Chairs a number of high-level Committees, and has a leading role in many of the planning aspects of the University.

A small team of staff support the Chief Strategy Officer and University Secretary within the Directorate Office. Their roles include providing secretarial support to University Committees and Working Groups, helping to manage the Directorate budget and providing PA support to the Chief Strategy Officer and University Secretary.

As the University Secretary Dr Messer is Secretary to the Council and to the Senate and to the principal and joint standing committees of both bodies. In addition, Dr Messer draws upon staff resource from across all service groups to lead and co-ordinate the provision of committee secretariat services to the University. In regard to student disciplinary and complaints procedures, he is the University's principal contact with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. The University Secretary is also the principal source of advice and guidance on constitutional and procedural matters.

The policies for which the Office has responsibility are given in the section policies and reference documents.