Good question....

Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC)
Disciplinary Committee (DC)
Advisory Committee
Public Affairs Committee (PAC)
Education Policy & Specialisation Committee (EPSC)
Planning & Resources Committee (PRC)
RCVS Trust
VN Council

The first two committees are involved in dealing with complaints about MsRCVS. The PIC is probably the hardest working committee of the RCVS in terms of the numbers of cases it has to process, meeting dates and pressures. However the DC cases can take some days out of the members lives, with attendance in London being required.

Advisory probably has the closest impact on day to day life of most MsRCVS. It is Advisory that produces the Guide to Prof Conduct and the various Advice Notes etc.

PAC's role is to set the policy and communications agenda relating to the work of government, the devolved UK Assemblies and the EU. It works with the 'Communication Board' - basically the group that sets the PR objectives for RCVS.

EPSC ensures that the standards of training of students is to standard and also controls the post-graduate training (Certificates, Diplomas and Specialists).

PRC controls the purse strings and to coordinate the activities of the college. RCVS Trust is the charity arm - running the library and research grants etc. VN Council has some representatives from RCVS as nominees.

 

The perceived political wisdom is that the full Council Meeting is a rubber stamping exercise for the reports of the individual committees. I am pleased to say that over the last few years this is being challenged. "Motions from the Floor" basically a 'back-bench' council member setting RCVS policy were expected to fail, none had succeeded in anyone's memory that I have found. However in my 4 years on Council I have managed to get two separate motions passed by council.