Charming university dons watch the pennies (5)
I believe the answer is:
suave
'charming' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for suave that I've seen before include "Smoothly affable" , "Superficially polite" , "Charming and sophisticated though insincere" , "Urbane and sophisticated" , "Charming, elegant" .)