General Purposes Committee

The General Purposes Committee (GPC) advises Council on policy in respect of issues or activities which are university-wide and transcend the remit of the other main committees of Council or other specialist committees as appropriate. Its remit includes responsibility for strategic issues relating to risk management.

Due to its responsibilities around matters of a reputational or ethical nature, GPC considers requests from the Development Office to name posts, scholarships, buildings etc in recognition of donors.  It also considers requests to name buildings for a person (whether living or deceased) that are not related to a donation by the person to be honoured by the naming, or where a building is high-profile (eg the naming/re-naming might attract media interest, locally and/or nationally). In such cases, please contact the secretary for advice.

If you wish to request an amendment or addition to legislation, please contact the secretary for advice.  Information on legislation, including  process and timescales for changes is published on the legislation web page.

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Membership as at MT 2025 will be as follows:

  Name Conditions of appointment Until beginning of
[1] Professor Irene Tracey (Chair) The Vice-Chancellor ex officio
[2] Professor Nicholas Barber, Trinity The Senior Proctor ex officio
[3] Dr Grant Tapsell, Lady Margaret Hall The Junior Proctor ex officio
[4] Professor Raphael Hauser, Pembroke The Assessor ex officio
[5] Dr Sir Michael Jacobs, Keble Deputy Chair of the Conference of Colleges ex officio
[6] Professor Dan Grimley, Merton  The Head of the Division of Humanities ex officio
[7] Professor James Naismith, Jesus  The Head of the Division of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences ex officio
 [8] Professor Gavin Screaton, University College The Head of the Division of Medical Sciences ex officio
[9] Professor Timothy Power, St Antony’s The Head of the Division of Social Sciences ex officio
[10] Richard Ovenden, Balliol The Head of Gardens, Libraries and Museums ex officio
[11] Professor Nandini Gooptu, St Antony's One of three persons appointed by Council from among the members of Council specified in section 4 (15)-(25) of Statute VI [i.e. those members elected by Congregation] MT 2026
[12] Lukasz Bohdan, St Antony's As above  MT 2028
[13] Professor Geraldine Johnson, Christ Church As above MT 2028
[14] Wantoe Teah Wantoe  President for Postgraduates ex officio
Secretary: Planning and Council Secretariat (Ms Louise Hasler)

These meetings begin at 11.00am unless notified otherwise.

Please contact gpc@admin.ox.ac.uk if you wish to receive regular reminders of paper deadlines.

 

 WEEK/TERM

DATE OF GPC MEETING

DEADLINE FOR PAPERS

(9am)

Michaelmas Term 2025

 

 

Week 2

20 October 2025
(by correspondence)

3 October 2025

Week 6

17 November 2025
(in person)

31 October 2025

Week 10

15 December 2025
(by correspondence)

28 November 2025

Hilary Term 2026

 

 

Week 2

26 January 2026
(by correspondence)

9 January 2026

Week 6

23 February 2026

(in person)

6 February 2026

Week 10

23 March 2026
(by correspondence)

6 March 2026

Trinity Term 2026

 

 

Week 2

5 May 2026*
(by correspondence)

17 April 2026

Week 6

1 June 2026
(in person)

15 May 2026

Week 10

29 June 2026
(in person)

12 June 2026

 

* Tuesday to avoid Bank Holiday.

Regulations

For the regulations of the General Purposes Committee please click here:

Regulations

Contact us

Louise Hasler - Secretary

Charlie Knight - Assistant Secretary

Planning and Council Secretariat

gpc@admin.ox.ac.uk

 

Report templates

If you are creating a report for GPC, please contact the secretariat for the correct versions.  We are happy to advise on completion.

 

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