List of vice-chancellors and wardens of Durham University explained

The vice-chancellor and warden is the chief executive officer of Durham University. The vice-chancellor also holds the position of "Warden of the Durham Colleges" and is appointed by Council. Reporting to the vice-chancellor and warden (and also members of the university executive committee) are the deputy vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellors for research, education and each of the faculties (Arts and Humanities, Science, and Social Science and Health), the pro-vice-chancellor and deputy warden of the colleges, the registrar (chief operating officer) and the treasurer (chief financial officer).[1] [2] [3]

Under the original constitution of the university, the post of Warden combined the roles of chief executive and formal head of the university. Charles Thorp was appointed acting warden in December 1831 by Bishop William van Mildert, and in 1834 he was appointed to the position on a permanent basis by the dean and chapter of Durham Cathedral (who were then the governors of the university). After Thorp's death in 1862, the post of Warden was held ex officio by the Dean of Durham, with Sub-Warden (which had previously been rotated between the professors of the university) becoming a permanent post, presaging the vice-chancellorship. From 1909, with the creation of the federal university, and the handing over of the dean and chapter's responsibilities to the newly formed council, the executive and formal roles were officially separated into the vice-chancellor (executive head) and the chancellor (formal head), with the warden becoming the chancellor and the sub-warden becoming the vice-chancellor. The vice-chancellor was elected by the council to serve a two-year term. In 1937 the permanent posts of Warden of the Durham Colleges and Rector of King's College were created, with the vice-chancellorship being held by each for two years at a time.

With King's College becoming Newcastle University in 1963, the wardenship of the Durham Colleges was permanently united with the vice-chancellorship as the vice-chancellor and warden.[4] [5] [6] The university numbered Chris Higgins as its 23rd vice-chancellor and warden, implying a count starting with the university's reconstitution in 1909 and continuing through the further reconstitutions in 1937 and 1963 despite the changes of title over this period.[7] The official residence of the vice-chancellor and warden is Hollingside House, formerly home to John Bacchus Dykes.[8] [9]

In May 2021, the University Council announced that Professor Karen O’Brien would become the university's first female vice-chancellor and warden, taking her post in January 2022. Antony Long, the deputy vice-chancellor and provost, served as interim vice-chancellor from August 2021 until January 2022.[10]

Wardens of Durham University

Source: Durham University records.[4]

Sub-wardens

Source: Fowler (1904)[5] and Durham University records.[4]

Vice Wardens

Since 1967 the holders of the post of Vice Warden has been held in plurality with that of Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Vice-chancellors

Source: Durham University records.[4]

Vice-chancellors and wardens

Source: Durham University records[4] except where otherwise noted.

Pro-vice-chancellors

Source: Durham University records.

The post of pro-vice-chancellor (PVC) was created, along with those of chancellor and vice-chancellor, by the Durham University Act 1908. The number of PVCs has varied over the years, from three over 1910–1937, dropping to one from 1937–1967 (held over 1937–1963 in rotation with the office of vice-chancellor), and rising since then to reach the current five in 2021. From 2004 to 2016 one of the PVCs was 'pro-vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellor'; from 2016 this became the 'deputy vice-chancellor and provost'.[13] Since the mid 2010s, the PVCs have had responsibility for specific portfolios – these are: education; research; colleges and student experience; global; and equality, diversity and inclusion, but have previously also included PVCs for each of the university's faculties.[14] [15]

Pro-vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors

Deputy vice-chancellors and provosts

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How the University is run. 7 November 2015.
  2. Web site: Responsibilities of Council Members. 7 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302152056/https://www.dur.ac.uk/committees/council/membership/responsibilities/. 2 March 2016.
  3. Web site: University Executive Committee. 7 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Durham University Records: Central Administration and Officers. 7 November 2015.
  5. Book: Durham university; earlier foundations and present colleges. J. T. Fowler. F. E. Robinson & co., 1904. 7 November 2015.
  6. Book: The Durham Difference. Nigel Watson. 2007. James & James (Publishers) Ltd, London.
  7. Web site: Key dates. 2007 – Professor Chris Higgins becomes the 23rd Vice-Chancellor and Warden.. Durham University. 8 November 2015.
  8. Web site: Payne. Luke. £700,000 spent on Vice-Chancellor's residence refurbishment. Palatinate. Durham. 24 October 2020. 27 March 2021.
  9. Web site: HOLLINGSIDE HOUSE AND WALL, County Durham - 1310725 Historic England. 2021-03-27. historicengland.org.uk. en.
  10. Web site: Durham appoints new Vice-Chancellor and Warden. We are delighted to announce that Professor Karen O’Brien is to be our new Vice-Chancellor and Warden.. 2021-05-05.
  11. News: New leader takes up post at Durham University. Northern Echo. Tony Kearney. 1 September 2015. 7 November 2015.
  12. Web site: Durham University. New Vice-Chancellor takes up post. 2022-01-25. www.durham.ac.uk. en-gb.
  13. Web site: Catalogue of Durham University Records: Central Administration and Officers . 2023-01-13 . reed.dur.ac.uk.
  14. Web site: Senior Leadership Team. Durham University. 14 January 2023.
  15. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20170711173425/https://www.dur.ac.uk/about/governance/leadership/. 11 July 2017. Senior Leadership Team. Durham University. 14 January 2023.
  16. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120722032057/http://www.dur.ac.uk:80/about/governance/senior/. 22 July 2012. Senior Management Team. 14 January 2023. Durham University.
  17. Web site: Alan is ready to enjoy retired life . 2023-01-13 . dialogue.durham.ac.uk.
  18. Web site: McBride . Elizabeth . 2021-11-04 . Durham’s first Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion appointed . 2023-01-13 . Palatinate . en-GB.
  19. Web site: University . Durham . Fond farewell to Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Durham University . 2023-01-13 . www.durham.ac.uk . en-gb.
  20. Web site: University . Durham . Welcome to our new Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Durham University . 2023-03-06 . www.durham.ac.uk . en-gb.

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