Mandate of the Heritage Committee
Mandate
The CERN Heritage Committee was established to oversee all aspects of the use of such heritage in education, preservation communications and outreach. It is an advisory body reporting to the Director-General through its Chair, the Director for International Relations.
The Heritage Committee proposes strategies and policies, evaluates initiatives, and oversees and facilitates the implementation and coordination of projects relating to history and heritage.
Scope
The Heritage Committee identifies historical resources (including, but not limited to, documents, objects, oral testimonies, digital records and events) to be confided to the appropriate repository (e.g. Central Archive, Object Collection, Multimedia Collection).
The Heritage Committee provides advice on selection criteria to determine what should be preserved, defines priorities where necessary (e.g. for object loans, donations, oral histories, etc.), makes recommendations, and coordinates and oversees activities.
The Heritage Committee also identifies and reports risks to the preservation or communication of .
Budgetary matters
The Heritage Committee does not have an operational budget, but may make budget requests linked to its proposed activity.
Meetings
The Heritage Committee meets twice per year to consider all aspects relating to the Further meetings may be called if deemed necessary by the Chair.
The quorum for Heritage Committee meetings shall be a simple majority of members, participating remotely shall be included for the purpose of establishing quorum.
The Chair, with the support of the Secretary, shall prepare the meeting agenda, which shall be circulated in advance to all Members and the Director-General.
The Chair may invite observers or guests to attend all or part of any Heritage Committee meeting, where such invitees will be able to provide relevant expertise in relation to items on the agenda. In addition, the Director-General may attend HeritageCommittee meetings without express invitation.
No remuneration shall be provided to external Members of the Heritage Committee by CERN for their preparation for, attendance at and participation in Heritage Committee meetings. However, the cost of their attendance shall be met by CERN in accordance with the rates and conditions laid down in the CERN Staff Rules and Regulations.
The Heritage Committee shall strive to reach decisions by consensus. That failing, decisions shall be taken by a simple majority vote of all Members participating in the meeting and voting, with the Chair having a casting vote if necessary. Abstention shall not be considered as a vote.
Membership
Members of the Heritage Committee shall have the knowledge and experience required to fulfil its mandate.
Members shall be appointed to the Heritage Committee for a period of three years, renewable once. Members may be reappointed to the Heritage Committee after a break of at least four years.
The Director for International Relations shall serve as Chair of the Heritage Committee.
A member of the International Relations Sector shall act as Secretary to the Heritage Committee. Inter alia, in that capacity, they shall make all necessary organisational arrangements for Heritage Committee meetings, including preparing and circulating the minutes of each meeting.
One or more members shall be appointed per sector by the respective Director. The following shall serve as ex officio members:
- CERN Archivist
- CERN Object Collection Manager
- CERN Data Privacy Protection Officer
- CERN IT-CDA Group Leader
There shall be one external member, appointed by the Chair of the Heritage Committee.
Reporting
The CERN Heritage Committee reports to the Director-General through its Chair, the Director for International Relations.
Review of Terms of Reference
These terms of reference shall be reviewed periodically by CERN, at the initiative of the Chair, to ensure that they remain relevant and reflect best practice.
Adoption
These terms of reference are adopted by the Director-General.
11 July 2017