Consul Video's

Hear from our current and former Consuls Play video

Role of College Consul (2020)

Hear from our current and former Consuls

Role of College Consul (2020)

Hear from our current and former Consuls about the role of Consul

For academic’s considering becoming a College Consul

Becoming a College Consul (2020)

For academic’s considering becoming a College Consul

Consul's form

Ordinances and Regulations are available on the University Governance structure webpage.

Who are Consuls

Consuls are existing professors who act as a conduit for academic opinion, complementing existing management structures.

The consuls for 2024-25 are:

The Proconsuls for 2024-25 are:

  • Professor Richard Jardine, Professor of Geomechanics in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
  • Professor Peter Openshaw, Professor of Experimental Medicine in the National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Dorian Haskard, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Rheumatology in the National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Liz Lightstone, Professor of Renal Medicine in the Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Martin McCall, Professor of Theoretical Optics in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences
  • Professor Ann Muggeridge, Chair in Subsurface Physics in the Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

 

What do consuls do?

 The consuls help to ensure integrity and honesty in all academic matters, and fairness in the treatment of both staff and students at Imperial. They work with (but not for) the senior management at Imperial and represent the values of the academic community. They are able to bring the concerns of the academic staff to the attention of the senior management at Imperial. They are also available to members of staff for confidential and independent advice.

Consuls report directly to the Provost. They have a non-executive role taking soundings of academic views, providing advice and in representing academic opinion. Consuls may be called upon to bring an independent balanced perspective from a senior member of academic staff to the discussion of a particular issue by leading or participating in reviews and investigations of complaints from members of Imperial College.

In addition, consuls have a number of specific responsibilities:

  • The consuls work with the Associate Provost (Academic Promotions) to assure parity of treatment and equivalence of standards in the promotions process across Imperial. 
  • Consuls play an important role in the recruitment of new academic staff at all levels. All appointment panels include a consul.
  • Consuls have a strong interest in the quality of the education and support offered to students. They are present on all committees that appoint staff at levels 5 or 6 of the teaching family, and on committees that oversee and enhance educational quality.
  • The consuls participate in or chair disciplinary and appeal panels. Clinical consuls chair General Medical Council (GMC) student Fitness to Practice hearings. 

How are consuls selected?

They are elected by senior academic staff who vote for candidates based on the candidate’s statements. Consuls are appointed for a period of three years. The senior consul (a current or former consul) is chosen annually by the six consuls, with a maximum term of 3 years.

Do consuls keep their academic roles?

Consuls are 50% FTE (Full-time equivalent) appointments, retaining 50% FTE positions in their own departments. Departments are compensated by provision of funds to support replacement of the departmental role.

Proconsuls - who they are and what they do?

Imperial has created the position of Proconsul to extend and support the work of the Consuls, in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Imperial Regulations. Proconsuls are Professors of Imperial College who, having served as Consuls, provide additional support for the full range work of the Consuls as delegated by the Senior Consul.

In respect to their work as Proconsuls, they report directly to the Provost and Senior Consul. There can be up to five Proconsuls at any one time.

The Consuls and Proconsuls work out of the Office of the Provost, but may be called upon by the President, the Provost, the Registrar and University Secretary, the Chief People Officer, Deputy Director (Employee Relations and Policy), Registry, or Faculty Deans to perform specific cross-University tasks.

Consuls have specific roles as recorded in Imperial College policy documents. These include serving on appointment and promotion committees across the University to facilitate alignment of standards. In addition, the Consuls and Proconsuls may serve as Chairs of disciplinary, grievance, appeals or other panels. Clinical Consuls serve as Chair of Fitness to Practice panels for medical students who face disciplinary procedures according to the rules and guidelines of the General Medical Council.

Proconsuls are expected to be available to contribute up to 20 working days per year to undertake specific work in addition to their full-time Departmental work.

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