Commentary on Sections Part 1: Governance Arrangements Chapter 2: Academic boards Section 15: Composition of academic board
29.Section 15(1) sets out the composition of the membership of an academic board of an HEI. Each academic board must include the following members:
	the principal of the HEI (section (15)(1)(a));
	heads of school, who are the individuals who are the most senior academics in a particular department within an HEI (section 15(1)(b));
	academic staff elected from among their own number (section 15(1)(c));
	students elected from among their own number (section 15(1)(d)) which, by virtue of section 22, includes sabbatical officers whether or not they remain as students during their period in office; and
	other persons appointed by virtue of an enactment (section 15(1)(e)(i)) or in accordance with the governing instruments of the HEI (section 15(1)(e)(ii)) or in accordance with a decision made by the governing body of the HEI (section 15(1)(e)(iii)).
30.Section 15(2)(a) provides that more than 50% of the membership of the academic board members must be persons elected by staff or students. Section 15(2)(b) provides that at least 10% of the membership of the academic board members must be persons elected by students.
31.Section 15(3) provides that, despite section 15(2)(b), HEIs are not obliged to elect more than 30 student members. The proportions that will be required (just over 50%, and 10%, respectively) are generally reflected in the composition of the majority of existing academic boards. Election, rather than nomination, of student members to academic boards will be new to the majority of HEIs.