The university council was established in coincidence with the university itself. Based upon a Royal Decree No. 50 on 23/08/1394 H, corresponding to 09/10/1974 G - ensuing of the cabinet resolution No. 1100 - the foundation of the university and the organization structure were approved of.

Two decades prior to that very date, the university was in the cradle. The story began when late King Abdulaziz bin Abdul-Rahman al-Faisal al-Saud- May his soul rest in peace-  gave directives to establish a Sharia Institute in Riyadh in 1370 H; 1951 G, and a Sharia Faculty in Riyadh in 1373 H; 1954 G. Then, a series of Sharia institutes and faculties was open. Yet, there was a higher university council chaired by the by-then Minister of Education and Higher Education Minster. The two councils carried on their duties separately.

The university council took up duties after the Royal decree was issued. The first session was on 01/29/1395 H; 02/11/1974 G, under the by-then chairmanship of Sheikh Abdulaziz M. Al-Sheik.
It comprised the following members:
   
Name Position

• Dr. Ahmad M. Ali Undersecretary of Technical Affairs
• Dr. Abdullah A. Al-Turky Vice-rector
• Dr. Saleh A.  Al-Malik Secretary-general
• Sheikh Mana’ K. Al-Gatan Director general of Higher Institute of Jurisdiction
• Sheikh Abduaziz A. Al-Saeed Sharia College Dean
• Sheikh Mohammad A. Arafa Dean of Arabic Language and Social Sciences

 
The supreme council of universities discharged duties on 3\3\1395 H; corresponding to 03/16/1975G; after being approved of by the by-then king.  It was chaired by H.E. Sheikh Hasan Al-Shiekh, minister of education, and the supreme president of universities by then.

It had the following members:

       
Name Position

• Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh Rector of Imam Muhammad bin Saud
• Dr. Abdulaziz A. Al-Feda president of University of Riyadh
• Dr. Bakr A. Bakr Rector of Petroleum and Minerals University
• Dr. Abdullah A. Al-Turky Vice-rector of Imam University
• Dr. Saleh A.  Al-Malik Secretary-general
• Sheikh Mana’ K. Al-Gatan Director general of Higher Institute of Jurisdiction
• Sheikh Mohammad A. Arafa Dean of Arabic Language and Social Sciences
• Sheikh Abdulaziz A. As-Seaid  Sharia Faculty Dean
• H.E. Sheikh Saleh Al-Husain 
• H.E. Dr. Moahmmed A. Yamany King Abdulaziz University president
• Dr.  Abdur-Rahman A. Al-Sheikh 

On 06/04/1414 H; 11/13/1994 G, a royal decree was issued - No. 8 - on dissolving the Higher University Council, the duties of which were shared between the Higher Education Council and university council. Following the by-then new organization, the university got one council that held the first meeting on the very date. It was chaired by H.E. Professor Dr. Mohammed Al-Ajlan, by-then university rector.

Development:

The foundation of the current University Council was coincidence with the approval of the Statute of Saudi Council for Higher Education and Universities by the cabinet resolution No (60) of November 17, 1993 which ensuring by the Royal Decree No (M/8) dated November 19, 1993. Since the statute was approved and executed, it has received a due care from Saudi Higher Education Minister, H.E. Prof. Dr. Khalid Al-Angry, and by the follow-up of H.M. King the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques, Chairman of Saudi Cabinet Council and Saudi Higher Education Council, and his Crown Prince – May Allah Almighty Save them.

The said statute was stated in its 3rd article that (Universities and other institutions of higher education shall have a council, named the Council of Higher Education, and each university shall have its own council, named the University Council). It also provided in both Articles (13) and (19) that Saudi Higher Education Minister chairs each university’s council and its rector must be the deputy chairman of it.

Imam University Council comprises of the followings;

1- The Minister of Higher Education                        Chairman of the Council
2- Imam University Rector                                      Deputy Chairman
3- Imam University Vice-Rectors
4- Secretary-General of Higher Education Council
5- Secretary of Imam University Council
6- Deans of Imam Colleges and Institutes
7- Deans of Imam Supporting Deanships and Centers.

The first session of the by-then council of Imam University had held on November 19, 1993 under the chairmanship of H.E. Prof. Dr. Khalid Mohammad Al-Angry, Saudi Higher Education Minister, and H.E. Prof. Dr. Suliman Aba Al-Khail, Rector of Imam University, as the vice-president and Prof. Dr. Hamoud Mohammad An-Nejeadi as the secretary of the council.

Council’s Authorities:

Imam University Council is responsible for managing the university’s academic, administrative and financial affairs, and implementing the university’s general policy. Imam University Council is specifically vested with the authority to:

1. Approve plans for training and sponsored study programs.
2. Propose the establishment of colleges, institutes, departments, research centers, and support deanships, and propose amending their names, merging, or abolishing them.
3. Approve the university’s scientific and postgraduate degrees and programs.
4. Confer degrees on the university’s graduates.
5. Confer honorary doctorates.
6. Specify details of the academic calendar according to the general framework for the start and end of the university years, as well as specifying the vacations within the year.
7. Approve secondment of faculty members, their dispatch, send them on academic missions, grant sabbatical leaves, and terminate their services, all in accordance with regulations governing these matters.
8. Approve curricula, degree plans, textbooks, and references.
9. Propose the student stipend and other aid to students.
10. Approve the university proposed budget and forward it to the Minister of Higher Education.
11. Approve internal university codes.
12. Propose the bylaws that are unique to the university, or their amendment.
13. Discuss the university annual report before submittal to the Council of Higher Education.
14. Determine the amounts allocated for each college, institute, support deanship, and independent research center to spend in accordance with the financial codes.
15. Discuss the university closing accounts before submittal to the Prime Minister.
16. Approve the university’s plans for extra-curricular activities.
17. Make final decisions on the appointment of faculty members based on recommendations of the scientific council.
18. Accept donations, gifts, testaments, etc., provided that they do not conflict with the main purpose for which the university was established.
19. Establish regulations governing visiting students, or those transferring to and from the university.
20. Consider matters referred to it by the Minister of Higher Education, the rector of the university, or proposed by any of its members.
21. Form any standing or ad hoc committees from within or outside its membership, to study any matter assigned to them.