University of St Andrews

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University of St Andrews

Image:University of St Andrews coat of arms.PNG
Latin name Universitas Sancti Andreae
Motto AIEN ARISTEUEIN (Greek: Ever To Be The Best)
Established 1413
Chancellor Sir Kenneth Dover
Vice-Chancellor Dr Brian Lang
Lord Rector Sir Clement Freud (outgoing)
Location St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Students c. 7,000 total (1,000 postgraduate)
Teaching staff 649
Member of 1994 Group
Homepage http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk

The University of St Andrews was founded between 1410 and 1413 and is the oldest university in Scotland. The university is situated in the Royal Burgh of St Andrews, on the east coast of Scotland. The university attracts students from over 75 countries. Independent school intake is high but the university has an active widening participation policy. The modern library and many departments are in the town centre. The town's population of 16,000 is increased considerably during the university academic year by the influx of 7,000 students. The University of St Andrews is also the institution where Prince William recently graduated from.

Contents

History

Main article: History of St Andrews University

The University was founded in 1410 when a charter of incorporation was bestowed upon the Augustinian priory of St Andrews Cathedral. A Papal Bull was issued in 1413 by the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII. The University grew in size quite rapidly; St Salvator's College was established in 1450, St Leonard's College in 1511 and St Mary's College in 1537. Some of the college buildings in use today date from this period as does St Salvator's Chapel. At this time much of the teaching was of a religious nature and was conducted by clerics associated with the cathedral.

During the 17th to 19th centuries the university underwent many changes. The distinctive red gowns which are still in use today were adopted in 1672 and towards the end of the seventeenth century a move to Perth was considered and eventually rejected. In 1747 St Salvator's and St Leonards's were merged to form the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard.

During the 19th century student numbers were very low and the university having to close was a very real possibility. In the 1870s there were fewer than 150 students, and perhaps partly in response to this the university was, in 1897, strengthened by the foundation of University College in Dundee which became a centre of medical and scientific excellence. This affiliation ended in 1967 when the college, which had been renamed Queen's College, became a separate and independent institution as the University of Dundee - the loss of teaching facilities for clinical medicine caused the University's Bute Medical School to form a new attachment with the University of Manchester. Today the university is growing rapidly and in relatively sound financial health, perhaps helped by what some students have argued are one of the highest hall of residence rents in the UK outside of London, though the University argues that the residential system does not produce a surplus.

Governance and administration

Main article: Governance of St Andrews University

In common with the other Ancient universities of Scotland, governance is determined by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858. This Act created three bodies: the General Council, University Court and Academic Senate (Senatus Academicus).

General Council

Main article: General Council of St Andrews University

The General Council is a standing advisory body of all the graduates, academics and former academics of the University. It meets twice a year and appoints a Business Committee to transact business between those meetings. The most important jobs it performs is in appointing two Assessors to the University Court and electing the University Chancellor.

University Court

The University Court is the body responsible for administrative and financial matters, and is in effect the governing body of the University. It is chaired by the Rector who is elected by all the matriculated students of the University. Members are appointed by the General Council, Academic Senate and Fife Council. The President of the Students' Representative Council is co-opted onto the Court as are several lay members.

Academic Senate

The Academic Senate (in latin Senatus Academicus) is the supreme academic body for the University and its members are all the Professors of the University, along with certain senior Readers, and a number of Senior Lecturers and Lecturers, and two students. It is responsible for authorising degree programmes and issuing all degrees to graduates. Another function of the Senate is the discipline of students (both current and former). Under the Sponsio Academica the Senate has the power to strip a graduate of his or her degree should they bring the University into disrepute. The President of the Senate is the University Principal.

Faculties

The University is divided into 4 academic Faculties - Arts, Divinity, Medicine and Science. Each is governed by a Faculty Council and administered by a Dean. Students apply to become members of a particular faculty as opposed to any particular school or department.

Office of the Principal

The Principal is the chief executive of the University and is assisted in that role by several key officers.

The current make of the Office of the Principal is:

Alumni

Sciences

Politics

Arts and Media

Royalty

Miscellaneous

Links with the United States

The University has a strong link with the United States, with significant numbers of students from that country. (Approx. 10% of University in 2005). Benjamin Franklin, golfer Bobby Jones and (most recently) Bob Dylan have all been awarded honorary degrees. Also, three of the signatories of the 1776 American Declaration of Independence received degrees from St Andrews. Additonally, Emory University runs an exchange program with St Andrews called the Bobby Jones Scholars program which allows for recent graduates of both universities to study at the other school. It is also claimed that the dollar sign was invented at the University, and it is certain that the decimal point was.

Student organizations

Students' Association

Main Article: University of St Andrews Students' Association

The University of St Andrews Students' Association was formed by a merger of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) and the Students' Union. The Union was founded in 1864, making it the oldest in Scotland and the SRC is a statutory body established by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1896

Media

  • Newspapers

There are several student newspapers in publication; the Saint, a fortnightly tabloid, is the oldest (although it has published under a number of titles, of which The Saint is the most recent) and has the highest circulation but there is also the Mitre, the self-styled quality paper, and the Chihuahua, an occasional magazine in a tabloid newspaper format, known for its humour. The Mitre is aimed primarily at a right wing student readership and focuses particularly on their activities. The Saint was recently removed from its offices in the St Andrews Union Building, following alleged racist and homophobic comments. The Saint began to publish again in February 2005. Between 1995 and 1997, there was also an irregularly-published satirical magazine called the "Horn of Plenty".

  • Radio

On the 28th of February 2005 a number of St Andrews students launched the university's first FM station broadcasting over 3 km on the 87.7 MHz frequency. The station was granted a Restricted Service Licence which allows for six hours of broadcast a day. The station hopes to relaunch in November if it can secure another licence. The station also broadcasts live on the internet [1].

Societies

See also

External links

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