Editing University of Southampton (section)

=== Governance ===
[[File:George Thomas Student Services Building, University of Southampton.jpg|thumb|right|The George Thomas Student Services Building on Highfield Campus where the university management is located.]]

Responsibility for running the university is held formally by the Chancellor and led at the executive level by the Vice-Chancellor, currently Prof Mark E. Smith. The key bodies in the university governance structure are the Council and Senate.

The Council is the governing body of the university.<ref name="council">{{cite web|url=http://www.soton.ac.uk/about/councilmembers/index.html|title=The University Council|publisher=University of Southampton|access-date=18 April 2009}}</ref> It is ultimately responsible for the overall planning and management of the university.<ref name="council" /> The council is also responsible for ensuring that the funding made available to the university by the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] is used as prescribed.<ref name="council" /> The council is composed of members from 5 different classes, namely (1) officers; (2) eight lay members appointed by the council; (3) four members appointed by the Senate; (4) one member of the non-teaching staff; (5) the President of the Students' Union.<ref name="council" />

The Senate is the university's primary academic authority, with responsibilities which include the direction and regulation of education and examinations, the award of degrees, and the promotion of research.<ref name="senate">{{cite web|url=http://www.soton.ac.uk/about/councilmembers/council_operations/senate.html|title=The Senate|access-date=18 April 2009}}</ref> The Senate has approximately 65 members, including the Vice-Presidents, the Deans and representatives from the academic staff in each faculty and those administrative groups most closely associated with educational activities, and representatives of the Students' Union. The Senate is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.<ref name="senate" />