Difference between revisions of "General Council"

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The University was governed by the town council until the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1858]], when it received self governing status. The archaic teaching and management system of Regents was abolished in 1708. The 1858 act dramatically changed the constitution of the University. A [[University Court]] and [[General Council]] were introduced which decided on matters and management pertaining to the whole University. The [[Senatus Academicus]] was already in place before 1858 and this managed academic matters, but, from 1889, answered to Court. This system is still used.
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The General Council of Edinburgh University consists of graduates, academic staff, and members of the [[University Court]]. It was established to ensure that graduates have a continuing voice in the management of the University.
  
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In the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858 the governance of Edinburgh University passed from Edinburgh Town Council to the Senatus Academicus, the University Court in connection with a General Council.
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== Establishment ==
  
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The creation of Curators of Patronage to assume responsibility for university appointments (including the Principalship). There were to be seven curators, four appointed by the Town Council and three by the the General Council.
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Edinburgh University was governed by the [[Town Council]] of Edinburgh until the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1858]], when it received self governing status. The 1858 act dramatically changed the constitution of the University. A University Court and General Council were introduced which decided on matters and management pertaining to the whole University. The [[Senatus Academicus]] was already in place before 1858 and this managed academic matters, but, from 1889 onwards, it too has answered to Court. The 1858 Act also passed responsibility for academic appointments (hitherto the exclusive province of the Town Council) to seven [[Curators of Patronage]], four to be elected by the Town Council and three by the new General Council.
  
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The first Meeting of the [[General Council]] of Edinburgh University took place on 28 October 1859.
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When the Act came into force on 15 October 1859, it was evident that instituting a General Council was the first step that Edinburgh University had to take to conform. Under the Act, ultimate authority was to lie with the University Court, but membership of the Court was to include [[Assessors]] appointed by the General Council and by the [[Chancellor]], a new office which was to be elected by the General Council. The University Court could not, then, be constituted until the General Council had met.
  
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One of the principal measures of the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1858]] was the setting up of General Councils, designed to involve graduates in the governance of their ''alma mater''. After the Act became law on 2 August 1858, an Executive Commission was set up to implement it and to frame ordinances for regulating the revenues, curricula, degree-systems, election of officers, and all other important features of the life of the four Scottish universities. The Commissioners ordained that the Act should come into force from 15 October 1859. It was immediately evident that instituting a General Council was the first step that Edinburgh University had to take to conform to the Act. Under the Act, ultimate authority was to lie with a [[University Court]], but membership of the Court was to include [[Assessors]] appointed by the General Council and by the [[Chancellor]], a new office which was to be elected by the General Council. The University Court could not, then, be constituted until the General Council had met.
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A problem facing the Executive Commission charged with implementing the 1858 Act was that Arts graduation had fallen out of use throughout Scotland while graduation in Law and Divinity had not yet been introduced. So, if the new General Councils were to consist entirely of graduates, almost all would be Doctors of Medicine. To enable wider representations, the Commissioners therefore opened admission to all alumni who had regularly attended university classes as matriculated students for four full sessions. A total of 1964 former students applied to be made Members of the General Council of Edinburgh University, of whom the Commission admitted 1862.
  
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A problem facing the Executive Commission was the Arts graduation had fallen out of use and that graduation in Law and Divinity had not yet been introduced. So, if the new General Councils were to consist entirely all of graduates, almost all would be Doctors of Medicine. To enable wider representations, the Commissioners therefore opened admission to all alumni who had regularly attended university classes as matriculated students for four full sessions. A total of 1964 former students applied to be made Members of the General Council of Edinburgh University, of whom the Commission admitted 1862.
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The first Meeting of the General Council took place on 28 October 1859 with the chief purpose of electing a Chancellor. It was presided over by [[Sir David Brewster (1781-1868)]], the newly appointed [[Principal]], and resulted in the election of [[Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)]], co-founder of the ''Edinburgh Review'' and former Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.  
  
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The first Meeting of the General Council was held in a hired-concert room as no academical assembly hall then existed. It was presided over by [[Sir David Brewster (1781-1868)]], the newly appointed [[Principal]]. The main purpose of the first meeting was the election of a Chancellor. Two candidates were proposed, representing different party political interests. The Whig members of the council proposed [[Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)]], co-founder of the ''Edinburgh Review'' and former Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. The Tories put up [[Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch (1806-1884)]]. There was probably a Whig majority on the council but Lord Brougham's scientific interests also drew cross party support, and he was duly elected as the University's first Chancellor.
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== Rights and Responsibilities ==
  
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== Other University Events in 1859 ==
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According to the 1858 Act, 'it shall be competent' to the Council 'to take into their consideration all questions affecting the well-being and prosperity of the University and to make representations from time to time on such questions to the University Court, who shall consider the same, and return to the council their deliverance thereon'. Subsequently, the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 gave the General Council the power to consider draft Ordinances and Resolutions, to be presented with an Annual Report of the work and activities of the University from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and to receive an audited financial statement.
  
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*[[Appointment of Sir David Brewster as Principal of Edinburgh University, 1859|Appointment of Sir David Brewster as Principal of Edinburgh University]]
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It also has the responsibility of maintaining a register of all University of Edinburgh graduates.
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*[[First Election of Rector by Student Body, 1859|First Election of Rector by Student Body]]
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*[[First Meeting of University Court, 1859|First Meeting of University Court]]
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== Membership ==
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*[[Appointment of Curators of Patronage, 1859|Appointment of Curators of Patronage]]
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*[[Building of Reid Concert Hall, 1859|Building of Reid Concert Hall]]
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The General Council is currently comprised of:
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*The graduates of the University  
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*The members of the University Court
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*The Professors of the University
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*Readers and Lecturers of at least one year's standing
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*All former members of the Court, and the former Professors and retired Readers and Lecturers (who have held office for at least three years) who wish to remain members of the General Council
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Two Statutory Half-Yearly Meetings of the General Council are held annually. The General Council's Business Committee deals with any matters arising in the interim.
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== External Sites ==
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*[The General Council http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/about-us]
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== Sources ==
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*[[Sir Alexander Grant]], ''The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years'', 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)
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'History of the General Councils [[http://www.general-council.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/History.pdf], accessed 24 February 2015]
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*''University of Edinburgh: Charters, Statutes, and Acts of the Town Council and the Senatus 1583-1858'' (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1937)
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[[Category:Governance]]

Revision as of 14:26, 24 February 2015

The General Council of Edinburgh University consists of graduates, academic staff, and members of the University Court. It was established to ensure that graduates have a continuing voice in the management of the University.

Establishment

Edinburgh University was governed by the Town Council of Edinburgh until the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, when it received self governing status. The 1858 act dramatically changed the constitution of the University. A University Court and General Council were introduced which decided on matters and management pertaining to the whole University. The Senatus Academicus was already in place before 1858 and this managed academic matters, but, from 1889 onwards, it too has answered to Court. The 1858 Act also passed responsibility for academic appointments (hitherto the exclusive province of the Town Council) to seven Curators of Patronage, four to be elected by the Town Council and three by the new General Council.

When the Act came into force on 15 October 1859, it was evident that instituting a General Council was the first step that Edinburgh University had to take to conform. Under the Act, ultimate authority was to lie with the University Court, but membership of the Court was to include Assessors appointed by the General Council and by the Chancellor, a new office which was to be elected by the General Council. The University Court could not, then, be constituted until the General Council had met.

A problem facing the Executive Commission charged with implementing the 1858 Act was that Arts graduation had fallen out of use throughout Scotland while graduation in Law and Divinity had not yet been introduced. So, if the new General Councils were to consist entirely of graduates, almost all would be Doctors of Medicine. To enable wider representations, the Commissioners therefore opened admission to all alumni who had regularly attended university classes as matriculated students for four full sessions. A total of 1964 former students applied to be made Members of the General Council of Edinburgh University, of whom the Commission admitted 1862.

The first Meeting of the General Council took place on 28 October 1859 with the chief purpose of electing a Chancellor. It was presided over by Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), the newly appointed Principal, and resulted in the election of Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868), co-founder of the Edinburgh Review and former Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.

Rights and Responsibilities

According to the 1858 Act, 'it shall be competent' to the Council 'to take into their consideration all questions affecting the well-being and prosperity of the University and to make representations from time to time on such questions to the University Court, who shall consider the same, and return to the council their deliverance thereon'. Subsequently, the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 gave the General Council the power to consider draft Ordinances and Resolutions, to be presented with an Annual Report of the work and activities of the University from the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and to receive an audited financial statement.

It also has the responsibility of maintaining a register of all University of Edinburgh graduates.

Membership

The General Council is currently comprised of:

  • The graduates of the University
  • The members of the University Court
  • The Professors of the University
  • Readers and Lecturers of at least one year's standing
  • All former members of the Court, and the former Professors and retired Readers and Lecturers (who have held office for at least three years) who wish to remain members of the General Council

Two Statutory Half-Yearly Meetings of the General Council are held annually. The General Council's Business Committee deals with any matters arising in the interim.


External Sites

Sources

  • Sir Alexander Grant, The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years, 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)

'History of the General Councils [[1], accessed 24 February 2015]

  • University of Edinburgh: Charters, Statutes, and Acts of the Town Council and the Senatus 1583-1858 (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1937)
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