The Senate approves all academic programmes and academic-related work, including teaching-learning, research and innovation and implementation of expertise (incorporating community engagement programmes). Senate, being accountable to Council, also performs any other function assigned to it by Council.

The NWU Senate was constituted on 23 August 2017 in terms of the NWU Statute as gazetted on 24 March 2017.

For purposes of participating in this election process, an eligible employee is a permanent employee (has no service end date other than retirement) and any other employee who has a contract of employment with the University for more than three months.  To be eligible for nomination in this election process, an employee must still have a contract of employment for 3 years or more, as the nominee must be able to serve a full term on Senate (this is linked to the terms on Senate that is three years).

Rules for the nomination, election, designation and appointment of senate members