Writtle College

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Writtle College
Motto: Time Tries the Truth in Everything
Established: 1893
Type: Public
Principal: Professor David Butcher
Patron: Alan Titchmarsh
Staff: 100+ academic/teaching
15 Research
50+ other academic
80+ other
Students: 8,825 [1]
Undergraduates: 1,175 [1]
Other students: 7,645 FE[1]
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK
Colours: Scarlet and Bronze Yellow
Website: http://www.writtle.ac.uk/

Writtle College (near Chelmsford, Essex) is one of the largest land-based university colleges in the UK; it is also one of the oldest.[citation needed] Writtle, previously known as Writtle Agricultural College, is a Partner Institution of the University of Essex and teaches FE, HE and postgraduate programmes.

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[edit] Writtle

The College has recently diversified to meet the changing demands of new students.[citation needed] Departments now include Business, Leisure Management, Design and Equine studies. There has been major investment in IT and science facilities, boasting free college network access to every student resident on campus. The college has recently built a new Lecture Theatre complex, numerous halls of residence and refurbished its Recreation Centre, including its student venue, The Baa and Chef.

The College continues to expand and attract significant student applications and is ever popular with the local population, staging community events and offering taster days.

The step down of long standing Principal Professor Michael Alder in August 2006 has seen the arrival of Professor David Butcher. A major restructure of the management team has taken place and the HE courses have been streamlined within four schools: Equine, Environmental & Rural Affairs, Design and Horticulture.


It has been voiced by the student community that ecology, geography and environmental studies are suggested extensions to the College's repertoire, although the College has made no official statement, it certainly has the facilities in place (and reputation) to tackle these new and exciting programmes.

[edit] Facilities

The College has extensive facilities considering its relatively small size: it has a new library, major fully equipped science building and is based on a very large and beautifully landscaped estate (although recent years have seen a marginal drop in the maintenance of the estate, this is presumably a cost measure). The College is based over a number of "campuses", albeit they are (arguably) all on the single vast estate, they are a considerable distance from one another.

[edit] Social and living

The College has an active students union, the union puts provides a varied social scene; major SU functions include the 'Freshers Ball' in September 'X-mas ball' in December and the 'Summer Ball' in June, the latter being particularly lavish, with a several marquees, fairground rides and semi formal meal. The price of the Summer Ball has came into question, it is believed by some of the student population that it is a money-spinner for the College and does not function as intended. There was also a serious issue at the 2007 ball, when a child went missing on the estate, he was later found in some of the college stables. The student union also organise the 'Writtle RAG' a long held tradition at the College, the students pick good causes to support, and then raise as much money as possible, this usually involves Themed party nights, a BBQ and Moulsham 11 (a pub crawl along Moulsham Street in Chelmsford). The student union has a number of sports teams including; Rugby (men's and women's), football (men’s and women's), clay pigeon shooting, hockey (men's, women's and mixed), netball, cricket and climbing. The collage owns a number of full size pitches, a recently re-furbished fitness centre, and a new climbing wall.

The Baa and Chef, is the on-campus student venue, it is of a modern design, and includes a selection of big-screen televisions, games and an entertainment system which was generously donated to the College by entrepreneurial Writtle graduate Robert Forster in 2005.[citation needed]. The College has thirteen halls of residence: all are small compared to many other universities. All halls are mixed sex accommodation, non-smoking and have either network connections or wireless networks installed. All halls have basic cooking facilities and common rooms. Catering at the college is provided by a number of small units and the main refectory The Writz, named by college veteran Geoff Owen following its extension in the early 1990s. The fee for students living on campus includes a catering allowance currently equivalent to 10 meals per week.

[edit] Future plans

The College hopes to become an independent University College and receive a Royal Charter within the next decade. Writtle College degrees are presently validated by the University of Essex.

[edit] References

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2007)
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  1. ^ a b c Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2005/06. Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.

[edit] External links