General council (Scottish university) facts for kids
The general council of an ancient university in Scotland is a special group made up of all the graduates (people who finished their studies there) and senior teachers from that university. These councils were first created by a law called the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. Over time, their rules and how they work have changed quite a bit due to new laws.
The 1858 law set up three main parts for universities: the general council (which gives advice), the university court (which handles money and daily running), and the academic senate (which deals with teaching and learning).
The chancellor of each university is chosen by the general council. The chancellor is also the leader of the council.
What the General Council Does
The main job of each general council is to think about anything that helps the university do well. They can share their ideas and concerns with the university court. The court then has to listen to these ideas and tell the council what they decided.
Each council also chooses people called assessors to join the university court. These assessors help represent the general council's views on the court. Teachers from the university (the senatus academicus) cannot vote for these assessors; they choose their own.
Under a later law, the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966, any new rules or decisions for the university are first shown to the general council. The council's thoughts on these new rules are then considered before they are made final.
The most important things the general council does are:
- Choosing at least four people to serve on the university court, which is the main governing body of the university.
- Electing the chancellor. The chancellor is like the ceremonial head of the university and holds this position for life.
The council also has a duty to "consider all questions affecting the well-being and success of the University." They can share their thoughts with the University Court. These activities happen at meetings twice a year. A special Business Committee helps prepare the topics for these meetings.
A Look at History
The idea for general councils came about in the 1800s. At that time, Scottish universities faced different challenges. For example, the University of St Andrews was recovering from tough times, and its buildings needed repair. A big disagreement at the University of Edinburgh between teachers and the city council led to a special group being formed in 1826. This group, called the Royal Commission on the Universities and Colleges of Scotland, suggested that university courts should handle money and administration, while the academic senate should manage teaching.
It took a while for these suggestions to become law. During this time, former students (alumni) of the universities, led by James Lorimer, pushed for even more changes. They wanted graduates to have a say in how the universities were run. They believed that giving graduates a voice would make their degrees more valuable and bring fresh ideas to the university's management. Lorimer also hoped it would encourage wealthy graduates to donate money to their old universities.
Some people connected to Lorimer's group also saw a chance for graduates to vote in parliamentary elections. This actually happened! Scottish universities elected three members of Parliament until this system ended in 1948.
In 1857, James Lorimer helped write the law that became the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. This law created the structure we see today: the court, the senate, and the general council.
Today, general councils mostly focus on the long-term future of each university. They also help promote the university's history and culture. While attendance at meetings can sometimes be small, universities like St Andrews try new ways to get more people involved, such as holding meetings in different places. They are also looking into using digital communication to help members from all over the world contribute.
See also
- General Council of the University of St Andrews
