Massey University
Like all universities, Massey is a complex organisation. We have:
- more than 25,000 students from over 120 countries
- 3,000+ academic and professional staff
- 5 colleges
- 23 academic schools
- 200+ qualifications
- 20 professional services departments.
To make sure the university operates smoothly we have management systems in place, undertaken by an extensive staff.
People and roles
We have a University Council and Senior Leadership Team, responsible for leading Massey strategically and operationally.
Academic teaching, research and professional staff work throughout the university and are crucial to our success and reputation.
Chancellor – University Council
The Council elects the Chair, known as the university Chancellor from among its members. The Chancellor provides leadership in developing an effective governance culture and makes sure there are strong communication flows between the Council and management.
The Chancellor role involves corporate chairmanship with some ceremonial requirements. The appointee is often chosen for their strong corporate governance and leadership experience.
Pro-Chancellor – University Council
The Pro-Chancellor acts as the deputy to the Chancellor, and takes on other specific roles as assigned by the Chancellor or the wider Council.
Vice-Chancellor – Senior Leadership Team
The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive of the University, who leads and directs its strategy and overall operations.
The Vice-Chancellor also:
- chairs the University Senior Leadership Team
- sits on the University Council
- is responsible for securing sufficient funding
- represents the University externally.
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellors – Senior Leadership Team
The Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVC) are the second most senior staff members of the university, who often act in place of the Vice-Chancellor. At Massey, the Provost and DVC roles are divided into four specific focuses.
Provost
Responsible for leading the research, teaching and learning priorities of the University, including relevant academic services. The Provost is a special type of Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who focuses on academic and research areas of leadership in the university and externally.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori is a key role that supports the university to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi is one of New Zealand’s founding documents), and in all areas of te ao Māori. This role oversees our relationships with local mana whenua, iwi and hapū, and has close links with Māori staff and students.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students and Global Engagement, and University Registrar
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students and Global Engagement, and University Registrar is responsible for a range of services that support all students, from answering questions for prospective and current students through past student alumni. They also have oversight of all teaching centres in New Zealand and overseas.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Services is responsible for all our corporate services, including finance, human resources, information technology, and estate management for all three campuses.
Pro Vice-Chancellors – Senior Leadership Team
The Pro Vice-Chancellor (PVC) leads each of our five academic colleges:
Colleges manage the day to day running with PVCs overseeing academic and research direction. PVCs often have a significant academic reputation on top of the responsibility of managing a substantial business unit of the university.
Governance and management
The university has a structure made up of a formal governance council, a deliberative board, and an executive team.
The University Council – governance
The University Council is charged with:
- determining the educational character and mission of the university
- overseeing its activities
- monitoring effective and efficient use of resources
- safeguarding the solvency and assets of the university
- approving annual estimates of income and expenditure.
The Council is also responsible for appointing the Vice-Chancellor.
University Council structure
The Academic Board – deliberative
The Education and Training Act 2020 requires Massey University Council (Council) to establish an academic committee consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, and members of the staff and students to:
(a) Advise the Council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards, and other academic matters
(b) Exercise powers delegated to it by the Council.
The academic committee of Massey University Council is known as the Academic Board and is a sub-committee of the Council.
More on University Board and committees
Academic Board structure
The Senior Leadership Team – executive
The Senior Leadership Team is the senior management group of the university, with a range of responsibilities relating to setting strategy and overseeing operations. It also advises the Vice-Chancellor and University Council on management and other matters, where appropriate.
The Senior Leadership Team or SLT is made up of the executive leads of the university, including the VC, the Provost, DVCs and PVCs.
Organisational structure
The university is made up of five academic colleges and 20 professional services.
Governance structure
How we are funded
Massey University receives funding from a variety of sources. In 2022, our main funding sources were as shown here.
| Funding source | Approximate percentage of funding |
|---|---|
| Government grants | 37.4% |
| Student fees | 29.1% |
| Charges for services | 26.4% |
| Trust funds | 1.7% |
| Interest | 0.3% |
| Other losses/gains | 5.1% |
The university then spent this funding on expenses as shown here.
| Expense | Approximate percentage of spending |
|---|---|
| Staffing | 55.1% |
| Other direct costs (including consumables, scholarships, repairs and maintenance, computing, contracted services, travel and accommodation) | 29.1% |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 13.9% |
| Trust funds | 1.9% |
The university is a public institution and so we are not permitted to make any profits. However, we are required by the Tertiary Education Commission to make a 3% surplus annually in order to maintain financial stability and invest in future activities. Without this surplus, we wouldn’t be able to do a lot of the things we are doing now.
Contacts
Governance Advisor
Governance and Assurance team
Contact the Governance and Assurance office for governance enquiries or more information about Council and Committee meetings.
Courtney Finlayson
Contact Courtney at the Office of the Provost for Senior Leadership Team and management enquiries.
Related content
Pūrehuroatanga
Collaborating to drive diversity, access, equity and excellence.
Strategy & charter
Read key te Tiriti o Waitangi elements in the Massey University Strategy and about our charter development.
Policies, procedures & guidelines
This page lists Massey's policies, procedures and guidelines.
Massey News
Stay up to date with the latest Massey University news and articles – from research findings to student activities.