First ever guide launched for staff governors

Each further education college is required to have at least one staff governor (and a maximum of three) on its governing board. Staff governors are on governing boards to ensure the college governance body gets the important perspective from members of staff.
 
The guide gives clear guidance on how staff governors can make a real input to the direction of the college. It also explains their role in full detail. Staff governors are full members of the governing body and allowed to speak and vote on most discussions and decision making. However, the guide identifies when and where their role is restricted.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, who will be launching the guide at the conference along with LSIS programme director Sue Lovell, said: 'I am delighted to be launching this very clear and valuable guide for further education staff governors, many of whom are UCU members. College staff governors play a vital role in college governance, putting forward the views of staff across a whole range of college policy making. The guide explains how they can undertake this.
 
'Over the next year, when colleges will be facing major changes with the abolition of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the creation of new systems for further education, the voice of staff, articulated through staff governors, will be an indispensable element in shaping how colleges meet these challenges.'
 
LSIS programme director, Sue Lovell, said: 'Staff governors can sometimes find the development of an identity for their role on the board difficult to separate from their day job. The guide will assist college staff governors in the understanding of these boundaries.'
 
UCU, and its predecessor union, NATHFE, has been organising the staff governors conference for 13 years - the only dedicated event for further education college staff governors.  Since the incorporation of further education colleges the role of the staff governors has gone through major changes.

In the early days of the incorporation of colleges the staff governors' role was severely restricted. Over the years the role has undergone major changes and this guide makes it clear that they are vital members of the governing body, allowed to speak and vote on all but a few items.

Download the guide from the LSIS website