Ancient university governance in Scotland facts for kids

The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the way that older universities in Scotland are managed. This system was set up by a series of laws called the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858 to 1966. These laws applied to the 'older universities': the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh. These four are often called the ancient universities of Scotland.

Even though the laws don't directly apply to the University of Dundee, it uses the same management system. This was decided when the University of Dundee got its own special document, called a royal charter, to become independent from the University of St Andrews.

How Scottish Universities are Run

The old system for running these universities involves three main groups that share power. These groups are the university court, the general council, and the senatus academicus (which means the academic senate in English).

The Senatus Academicus

The senatus academicus is the most important group for academic matters at a university. It is led by the Principal.

This group usually includes the Principal, any Vice-Principals, all professors, deans (heads of departments), heads of schools and colleges, elected staff members who are not professors, elected student representatives, the university's main librarian, and other important people listed in the university's rules.

The main power of the senatus academicus is to choose people to serve on the university court. In theory, this group is in charge of teaching and discipline. It also manages the university's money and property, but the university court can check and change its decisions.

Often, the full senatus doesn't meet very often. It can make decisions even if only one-third of its members are present. The senatus often gives some of its power to a smaller academic group.

The University Court

The university courts were first created for the ancient universities by a law in 1858. They are in charge of the university's finances (money) and how it is run day-to-day. Each university decides how its court is set up, with members from the university itself, the local community, and other places. This setup needs to be approved by the Privy Council.

Changes to the rules that guide these ancient universities are looked at by a special committee of the Privy Council. This committee includes important people like the First Minister of Scotland and top legal officials.

At the ancient universities (but not at Dundee), the university court is led by the rector. Members are also chosen by the general council and the senatus academicus. Some members are also from the local authority. There are also members from outside the university and representatives from the students' council.

The General Council

The general council is a group made up of all senior academics and graduates (people who have finished their degrees). It is led by the university's chancellor, who is chosen for life by the general council itself. Members who are not part of the senatus academicus can choose people to serve on the university court.

Mostly, the general council gives advice. It helps keep former students connected to their university. These councils also used to be linked to Scottish university voting areas in the UK Parliament until 1950.

University Leaders

The leaders of the ancient universities have been around for many centuries, even before the laws that officially gave them power.

The Chancellor

The Chancellor is the official head of the university. They are chosen for life by the General Council. The Chancellor's job is to award degrees, but they can let a Vice-Chancellor do this. It's now common for the Chancellor to name the Principal as the Vice-Chancellor. Being Vice-Chancellor doesn't give the Principal any other powers.

How much Chancellors are involved varies. Some always attend graduation ceremonies, while others almost never do. The Chancellor is often a member of the Royal Family, a local important person, or a well-known academic with a connection to the university or area. Because of this, the Chancellor's main role is often to promote the university, not to manage it.

The Chancellor also leads the General Council once elected. They also choose someone to serve on the University Court. In the past, before bishops lost their power in Scotland, the Chancellor was usually the local bishop.

Current Chancellors

Principal and Vice Chancellor

The Principal is the main leader of the university. They are also the head of the Senatus Academicus and are chosen by the University Court. Other senior officials, who usually handle specific areas or departments, are often called Vice Principals.

Because the Principal is usually also named Vice-Chancellor, their full title is 'Principal and Vice Chancellor'. As Vice-Chancellor, the Principal can award degrees if the Chancellor is not there.

Current Principals

The Rector

The job of Rector is one of the oldest roles in university management. It goes back to the very first documents that created Scotland's earliest universities. Originally, the Rector was the actual head of the university, chosen from within the academic staff. However, their power was later reduced by the Chancellor, who represented the Church.

After the Protestant reformation, the Rector's role changed a lot over time. More recently, a law in 1889 gave the Rector the official job of leading the University Court. The Dundee rectorship is an exception, as their court chooses a different leader. Over time, the Rector also became a representative for students and someone who promotes the university outside. In the last century, Rectors have often been famous people, politicians, or activists, even if they had no prior link to the university.

Today, Rectors are chosen for three-year terms. This means that all students doing a typical four-year degree can vote at least once. All students now vote together, unlike in the past when Rectors were chosen by student 'nations' (groups divided by where students came from). This old system ended at the Glasgow rectorship in 1977. The Edinburgh Rector is unique because both staff and students vote for them.

Typically, a Scottish university Rector works closely with the Students' Association. The President of the Students' Association usually recommends the Rector to the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor for a special ceremony called an installation. This installation is a big event with many traditions, including a speech by the Rector to the students and public.

Current Rectors

The five current rectors are:

Other University Features

Students' Representative Councils

A students' representative council (SRC) is a group that represents student interests. They often work within a Students' Association. Their main job is to speak for students, especially regarding how the university is run. The laws for the ancient universities require them to have an SRC.

Red Undergraduate Gowns

Students studying for their first degree at all the ancient universities in Scotland are allowed to wear a special red undergraduate gown. Students at Saint Mary's College in the University of Saint Andrews wear a black gown with open sleeves and a purple cross design.

The Universities (Scotland) Acts

The Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom known as the Universities (Scotland) Acts created the modern system for how the ancient universities of Scotland are run. The University of Dundee also uses these principles, even though its own royal charter set up its governance. These laws can be referred to together as the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858 to 1966. Since 1999, rules about higher education are decided by the Scottish Parliament.

These laws did more than just set up university governance. The 1858 Act led to the merging of King's College, Aberdeen and Marischal College in Aberdeen to form the University of Aberdeen in 1860. The 1966 Act prepared the way for the University of Dundee to become independent from the University of St Andrews. The 1889 Act created a Scottish Universities Committee within the Privy Council and allowed for the growth of Scottish universities. The 1932 Act removed the rule that principals and professors had to declare themselves as Protestant.

Special Cases

There are a few differences in how some of these universities are run:

University of Aberdeen

• The University of Aberdeen's students' representative council calls itself the 'Students' Association Council'. This is to show its close connection with the Aberdeen University Students' Association, even though its official legal name hasn't changed.

University of Dundee

• The University of Dundee's rules come from its own Royal Charter, not directly from the Universities (Scotland) Acts. This is because Dundee became an independent university in 1967, after being part of the University of St Andrews. While it works similarly, it's legally different from the ancient universities.
• The Rector of the University of Dundee is just called 'Rector', not 'Lord Rector'. Also, the Rector at Dundee doesn't lead the University Court; instead, the court chooses a different member to be its chair.

University of Edinburgh

• The Rector of the University of Edinburgh is chosen by both staff and students. This is different from the other four Rectors, who are elected only by students.

University of Glasgow

• The Glasgow University students' representative council is not fully part of a Students' Association. This is because Glasgow has two separate student unions: the Glasgow University Union and the Queen Margaret Union.