MA Handbook 2011-12 (1) - Queen's University Belfast

How the School is run
You are always free to ask at the School Office if you are in doubt about which staff member to
consult on a particular issue that concerns you. But, in order to gain some preliminary impression of
the way the School is administered, you may find it useful to consult the list of staff below (with a
brief summary of their particular administrative responsibilities). These are all experienced staff
who are prepared to assist all students in making the most of their time in the School.
Key Administrators in the School you may need to consult
The Head of the School is Professor Ed Larrissy. He is responsible for all aspects of the School’s
activities. He is also the Chair of the School Board. Students who are having problems that cannot
be resolved by consultation with their tutors, MA convenors or PG DEs should make an appointment
to see the Head by contacting the School Office.
The Co-­‐Directors of Postgraduate Education (Dr Moyra Haslett and Dr Ramona Wray) also chair the
School Postgraduate Examining Board. They are responsible for developing and overseeing the
implementation of the School's teaching and learning strategy for Postgraduate Studies, in
conjunction with the Head of School and the School Management Board.
The School Manager (Ms Carmel Beaney) is responsible for contributing to the development and the
delivery of the School's strategic and operational academic objectives and managing its financial
resources, in conjunction with the Head of School and the School Management Board.
Key committees in the School
It may be helpful for you to know where major School issues are discussed and decisions made on
matters that directly affect you. The following is a list of the key committees in the School and the
types of work they do:
The School Management Board meets regularly, and is chaired by the Head of School. It is made up
of the Directors of Research, the Directors of Education, the Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre,
the Chair of Research Committee, the School Manager and an elected representative from the staff
of the School.
The School Board meets monthly and is also chaired by the Head of School. It comprises all
permanent members of the teaching staff, the School Manager and other support staff. The School
Board also includes SSCC student members (representing Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 and postgraduate
students) and circulates the unreserved minutes of its meetings to SSCC. Meetings of the School
Board will usually have a reserved section (for business such as examining and confidential staffing
matters) which is not attended by the student representatives. If you have business that you would
like the School Board to discuss, you should approach your Student representative or consult with
the Head of School at least one week in advance of the next stated Board meeting. The names of
your MA student representatives will be distributed to you by e-­‐mail at the beginning of each
academic year. Nominations for these representatives will be sought at the beginning of each
academic year.
The Education Committee is chaired by the Director of Education and meets at least twice per
semester in order to discuss curriculum provision, development and review.
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