2006 Annual Report

The Council of the University of the Witwatersrand governs the University in terms of the 1997 Higher Education Act which constitutes the principal legal framework for the operation of the Council and directs Councils to ‘govern all public higher education institutions’ subject to the Act, the law, and the institutional statute of the University.

Council governs the University in close consultation with other governing bodies including the Senate and the University Forum who advise the Council on issues affecting the University. The Senate is accountable to the Council for regulating all teaching, learning, research and academic functions of the University as well as other functions delegated to it by the Council. Council also consults with the student body through the student representative council. All major decisions regarding the operation of the University, present and future, its academic standing and direction, its financial well-being, its social and political positioning, must be considered by Council. In addition, Council is the employer of all personnel of the University and is therefore responsible for all academic, administrative, support staff and consultant appointments. Council also appoints the Vice-Chancellor and other senior management officers and takes responsibility for their performance and conduct.