The Senate

/The Senate

The Senate shall have the following powers and duties:-

  • To recommend to the Council the establishment, or abolition or harmonization of Faculties, Schools, Institutes, Units, Departments, and Centres as the Senate may from time to time deem necessary;
  • Subject to the Act,  to recommend to the Council the establishment or abolition/supervision, degree and other academic programmes and their titles in the University.
  • To set the dates of the academic year and to determine the schedule of academic programmes within the academic year;
  • To approve all syllabi of the University;
  • To make regulations governing methods of assessing and examining the academic performance of students;
  • To evaluate academic records of both undergraduate and postgraduate candidates for the purpose of admission into the University;
  • To regulate the conduct of examinations;
  •  To appoint internal/external examiners and recommend to the Council the terms and conditions for their appointment;
  •  To approve the examination results; 
  •  Subject to the Act,  approve the award of degrees including the award of honorary degrees and other academic distinctions;
  • To determine which qualifications or credits from other Universities or Institutions shall be acceptable as equivalent to particular qualifications of the Co-operative University College of Kenya;
  • To determine the procedure to be followed in the conferment of the degrees and other awards;
  • To determine the design of academic dress and prescribe its use;
  •  To evaluate research, teaching, staffing and general work of any body or section of the University and if it so wishes to report and make recommendations thereon to the Council;
  • To promote and administer the extra-mural, external and extension work of the University;
  • To promote research and innovation work in the University;
  • To promote co-operation and linkages with other institutions of higher learning and industry;
  • To make regulations governing the award of fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, prizes and other awards;
  • To develop, implement and promote quality assurance systems and structures in all University operations;
  • To promote the welfare of students and staff in the university; 
  • To propose regulations and procedures for the discipline of students and make recommendations thereof to the Council;
  • To discontinue a student from a programme of study on academic grounds;
  • To receive proposals from various Boards and  Faculties, Institutes, Schools, Centers and to consider their recommendations and make appropriate decision;
  • To recommend to the Council appropriate criteria for  appointment and promotion of all staff of the university;
  • To review the Statutes from time to time and to present recommendations thereon to the Council provided that all Statutes shall be reviewed at least once every five years;
  • To determine general policy matters relating to the library, laboratory facilities, teaching aids, workshops and such other academic services which are in its view necessary for the furtherance of the academic objectives of the University; 
  • Subject to the Act, may enter into association with other institutions of learning, whether within Kenya or otherwise, as the Council may deem necessary and appropriate;
  • The Senate shall exercise such other powers as may be conferred to the Senate by the Act, the Statutes or by the regulations and to do such other acts as the Council shall authorize.

Senate Membership

  1. Vice Chancellor,who shall be the Chairperson;
  2. Deputy Vice Chancellors;
  3. Principals of each college within the university;
  4. Registrars;
  5. Deans of Faculties and Schools,Directors of Institutes and Centers and other academic units;
  6. Associate Deans and Directors;
  7. Chairperson of Departments;
  8. Professors of the University;
  9. University Librarian;
  10. One representative of each of the college academic boards appointed by the respective boards from among st its members; 
  11. One representative of each of the school academic boards appointed by the respective boards from among st its members; 
  12. Dean of students
  13. subject to the statutes,two members elected by the students organization,who shall however not be entitled to attend the deliberations of the senate on matters which are considered by chairperson of the senate to be confidential or which relate to examinations,the general discipline of students,or other related matters;
  14. Director of Institute or Unit responsible in the University for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programmes; 
  15. Other members as the Council may determine in accordance with the statutes.