University of Gloucestershire

University of Gloucestershire
Motto	In animo et veritate (Latin)
Motto in English	In Spirit and Truth
Established	2001 - gained University Status 1834 - Mechanics' Institute
Type	Public
Endowment	£1.77m[1]
Chancellor	Dame Rennie Fritchie[2]
Vice-Chancellor	Stephen Marston
Students	9,940[3]
Undergraduates	7,065[3]
Postgraduates	2,655[3]
Other students	220 FE[3]
Location	Cheltenham and Gloucester, England, UK 51°53′16″N 2°05′20″W / 51.887909°N 2.088797°W / 51.887909; -2.088797Coordinates: 51°53′16″N 2°05′20″W / 51.887909°N 2.088797°W / 51.887909; -2.088797
Campus	semi-urban
Website	www.glos.ac.uk

The University of Gloucestershire is a university primarily based in Gloucestershire, England, on four campuses, three in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester.^[4] In February 2012 Baroness Rennie Fritchie DBE was announced as the new Chancellor. Sir Henry Elwes was announced as the new Pro-Chancellor in addition to the Bishop of Gloucester Michael Perham, who is the university’s current Pro-Chancellor.^[2]

History

Early roots, mergers and agreements

• 1834 – Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute
• 1840 – Gloucester Mechanics' Institute
• 1847 – Cheltenham Training College (Church Foundation)
• 1852 – Cheltenham School of Art
• 1920 – St Paul's College of Education
• 1920 – St Mary's College of Education
• 1967 – Gloucestershire College of Education
• 1979 – College of St Paul and St Mary
• 1980 – The Higher Education part of Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology
• 1990 – Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education
• 2001 – University of Gloucestershire

The university is the recent successor of a large number of merged and name-changed institutions of further and higher education.^[5] Its history began with the Mechanics' Institute founded in 1834.^[6] From 1992, Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education (CGCHE) was permitted to award first and postgraduate degrees and 1998 it achieved Research degree awarding powers. However, it was only in 2001 that the University of Gloucestershire was awarded university status. Its history spans nearly two centuries.^[7]

The University of Gloucestershire's Strategic Plan 2012-2017 outlines its mission statement, values and goals.^[8]

A 10-year Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the University Vice Chancellor and the Principals of Gloucestershire College and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to support access to higher education locally in Gloucestershire.^[9]

Environmental sustainability

The University of Gloucestershire has pursued an environmental sustainability strategy since 1993, and was the first UK university to meet the ISO 14001 environmental management standard.^[10] In the People & Planet Green League 2008 published by the Times Higher Education (THE), it was ranked as the greenest university in the UK.^[11] The University of Gloucestershire is the only UK university to be consistently ranked in the top five in the People and Planet Green League since its inception in 2007.^[10] The University is also a regular winner at the EUAC Green Gown Awards, winning the award for Continuous Improvement in 2008 and 2012.^[10] RCE Severn is a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in Sustainability Education based at the University. It is endorsed by the United Nations University and one of 85 similar centres throughout the world.^[12]

ERASMUS and BCA

The University of Gloucestershire is also an active participant of the ERASMUS programme and the only UK university to be part of the BCA Programme offering semesters abroad, most notably with the USA.^{[citation needed]}

Vice Chancellors

• Dame Janet Trotter was the Vice-chancellor and Principal from 2001, retiring in 2006.
• Patricia Broadfoot, resigned in March 2010.
• Paul Hartley, until July 2011^[13][14]

The University Council^[15] appointed Stephen Marston as Vice-Chancellor from August 2011.^[16][17]

2009 - 2012 resignations

In 2009/2010 several formerly senior figures in the university resigned. In November 2009, Paul Bowler, the deputy vice-chancellor of the University resigned shortly after being suspended from his post only seven months after joining the institution. Paul Bowler, a former investment banker who joined Gloucestershire in May 2009, was on a week's leave when he was told not return to work. On 7 December, a university spokesperson said, "The deputy vice-chancellor Paul Bowler, has resigned. Financial benefits have not been sought by Mr Bowler, who is leaving of his own accord to pursue other interests".^[18]

In December 2009 Dr Sharp, Dean and Associate Pro Vice-chancellor, following his resignation, took up a post in the new UK Higher Education International Unit.^[19]

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Broadfoot, resigned in March 2010,^[20] during conflicting views on the financial health of the institution.^[21] The precise circumstances of this resignation and the salary paid to her as recorded in the public accounts^[22] have attracted various media attention being the reported highest of all UK Vice-chancellors for the year.^[23]

In May 2010, the Chancellor, Lord Carey, resigned.^[24]

In September 2010, Paul Bowler was a witness in an employment tribunal case brought by a member of staff of the University under the ‘whistleblowing’ legislation - the Public Interest Disclosure Act.^[25] The tribunal found for the complainant^[26] and outcome was reported in the higher education press.^[27]

In March 2011, Dr. Paul Hartley resigned.^[28]

Mr. Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor, has committed himself to listening to staff concerns.^[29] He states 'new culture' being addressed and reports a new senior management Human Resources appointment.^[30]

Campuses, faculties and courses

The university currently has over 11,000 full and part-time students.^{[citation needed]}

It has four campuses located in Cheltenham and Gloucester. A campus in London was sold in April 2010. Each campus is equipped with IT^[31] and library resources.^[32]

The four faculties in the university were restructured to three from September 2010 being renamed as: Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology, which includes the School of Art and Design, School of Computing and Technology, School of Humanities and the School of Media. The Faculty of Business, Education and Professional Studies includes the School of Accounting and Law, School of Business and Management, and the Institute of Education and Public Services. The Faculty of Applied Sciences which includes the School of Sport and Exercise, the School of Natural and Social Sciences, and the School of Leisure.^[33][34]

The university's undergraduate courses include Accounting and Law,^[35] Business Management,^[36] Computing,^[37] Geography,^[38] Biology,^[39] Social Science, Education and Sports.^[40]

Decisions taken by the University to close the Pittville Campus and the London Campus (see below) have been condemned by the University and College Union (UCU) as resulting from bad management.^[41]

Pittville Studios

Pittville Studios is located on Albert Road, Cheltenham, and was the home of the Faculty of Media, Art and Communications. It was founded as Cheltenham School of Art over 150 years ago.^[5][42] However, in October 2009, the University announced that the campus was to be closed by 2011 due to 'financial difficulties' of the University. All courses held here are to be moved to other campuses.^[43]

The University is reported as selling half the campus site.^[44]

The Faculty of Media, Arts and Technology^[45] is now distributed over other Cheltenham campuses.

Student accommodation is available in Regency Halls, located near the town centre, and Pittville Halls, located in campus, all with en-suite single study bedrooms.^[46]

Francis Close Hall (FCH)

FCH is based in the restored historic buildings at Francis Close Hall, nearest to Cheltenham's town centre. The campus can trace its history back to the college founded by the Revd. Francis Close in 1847.^[47]

The campus is also home to the University’s Archives and Special Collections Department, the official repository for the historic records of the University.^[48] It also contacts several special collections relating to Gloucestershire and beyond. The department is custodian of the Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library, and curates and maintains the Gloucestershire Poets, Writers and Artists Collections, which includes works and artefacts relating to the Dymock Poets, Whittington Press, U A Fanthorpe and James Elroy Flecker. It is also custodian of the Paul Oliver Collection of African American Music and Related Traditions (Blues Collection), the Triggs Reser (Banjo) Collection and the Local Heritage Initiative Archive. The department is open to staff, students and the public.

The campus has a mix of Humanities, Education, Natural & Social Science and creative subjects.

Student accommodation is available in Shaftsbury hall (on campus), Hardwick Halls and Regency Halls. Further accommodation includes St Georges, St Mary's, Maidenhorn and Whitehart.

Hardwick

The Hardwick Centre for Art and Photography opened in 2011 and is in close proximity to FCH. The purpose built studios cater for students studying a mixture of creative subjects including its Fine Art (undergraduate and postgraduate) and Photography degrees.

The Park

The Media School,^[49] was relocated to the Park Campus in 2011 from Pittville Studios. The state of the art facilities include an open newsroom, studios, editing suites and teaching facilities. The School supports a range of courses including Journalism, Digital Film Production and TV and Radio Production. It has been awarded Skillset Media Academy status^[50] and is part of the North by Southwest - The Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Skillset Media Academy Partnership.^[51]

The Faculty of Business, Education and Professional Studies^[52] is located on this campus providing education for business, management, law, marketing, computing, leisure, tourism and hospitality and media subjects.

The Park, Cheltenham, is the largest of the campuses and holds the most events.

Student accommodation is available in the Park villas, Challinor, Eldon & Merrowdown and Eldon & Merrowdown Annexe located on and next to the campus as well as Spa Court and Regency Halls across the town of Cheltenham.

A partnership with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was launched in May 2009,^[53] and the Park Campus grounds became designated as a Community green space.^[54] The garden includes over 900 trees, both native and ornamental, a shallow lake, and a meadow with native species.

Oxstalls

The Faculty of Applied Sciences^[55] is located at Oxstalls campus. The purpose built Oxstalls campus is located in Gloucester. The campus opened in 2002 (the site having been previously used for Computing and Business courses in the late 1980s/early 90s)^{[citation needed]}. It offers a range of sports facilities inlcluding a floodlit all-weather pitch, a fitness suite, and laboratory facilities for a range of disciplines including bioassessement and a drumming laboratory, which has developed from the groundbreaking Clem Burke Drumming Project, exploring the physical and psychological effects of drumming.^[56]

The London Campus

The London Campus was established in 1973 as the Urban Learning Foundation (ULF) with the aim of enhancing the quality of initial teacher training. In September 2003, the ULF became part of the University of Gloucestershire. The London Campus offered a one year Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education and was the base for the North East London Graduate Teacher Programme (Primary). The university arranged and supervised Teaching Placements in urban schools for students from other colleges around the country.

£8.3 million was spent refurbishing the London campus. Following the refurbishment, it reopened in February 2009. The university announced the closure of the London Campus in September 2009.^[57] Times Higher Education quoted a spokeswoman as saying "We have decided to consolidate our business in Gloucestershire, reducing operational costs." This, as with Pittville Studios was another casualty of issues related to the funding cap on recruitment by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the 'financial difficulties' of the University of Gloucestershire.^{[citation needed]}

The London Campus was sold for £9.7 million to LHA London Limited in April 2010.^[58] The LHA^[59] was founded in 1940 to help people made homeless by the Blitz. Today with 12 sites across the city they provide affordable accommodation for more than 1450 students, young professionals and those new to London, providing quality accommodation.

Student Life

Students' Union

The University of Gloucestershire's Students' Union has four full-time officers^[60] and 11 part-time officers.^[61] The officers are voted for by students,^[62] and the current president (2013–14) is Rickesh Patel.^[60]

The Students' Union provides a number of opportunities for students including volunteering and part-time work.^[63] The Students' Union runs an annual Summer Ball.^[64][65] Previous acts^[64] have included Toploader,^[66] Rizzle Kicks,^[67] Girls Aloud^[68] and Wretch 32.^[69] Tone Radio^[70] is the official student radio station^[71] and SPACE is the Students' Union newspaper, produced by students for students.^[72]

Sport

The University of Gloucestershire has a long sporting tradition^[73] and, in particular, invests expertise into seven focus sports, Rugby League, Rugby Union, hockey, football, tennis, netball and volleyball.^[74]

The University has been at the forefront of developing rugby league at student level for nearly a decade. It has now moved into the professional ranks, with the Gloucestershire All Golds rugby league team^[75] entering Championship 1 in March 2013.^[76]

Sport Malawi

In 2012 the University’s Sport Malawi^[77] initiative won gold at the London 2012 Games-inspired Podium Awards. The Malawi National Olympic team was hosted by the University, which worked in partnership with Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Sandford Parks Lido, and Aspire Sports and Cultural Trust to create a Gloucestershire Consortium which provided facilities for the team during their preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.^{[citation needed]} Student accommodation was made available in Oxstalls Halls (on campus), Ermin Hall and Upper Quay.^{[citation needed]}

Degreeplus

The University of Gloucestershire launched the Degreeplus initiative in 2012^[78] designed to give students the chance to increase their employability through volunteering, entrepreneurialism and internships.^[79]

Student Surveys

Student feedback is collected in a variety of ways.^[80] These include the National Student Survey (NSS).^[81] The university's response rate in the 2012 National Student Survey was 70%, higher than the sector rate of 67%.^[82][83] Surveys also include the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES).^[84]

Initiation rites and student behaviour

In October 2008, the university was subject to an investigation by journalists on student initiation rites, after the BBC obtained a copy of a secretly-filmed video featuring students with bags over their heads drinking and vomiting,^[85] overlooked by another student dressed in what the press described as a "Nazi officer uniform".^[86]

A further incident in December 2008 resulted in a Rugby club member vomiting on board a bus, following what a local newspaper called a "booze-fuelled initiation ceremony".^[87]

Alumni

The university’s Alumni Association has a global network of more than 39,000 former students and staff from the University and its constituent colleges. The Association produces a monthly newsletter, arranges events and can help to reunite old colleagues and friends.^[88]

Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships have been awarded to a wide range of people, including musician and philanthropist Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), actor and director Simon Pegg, poet U A Fanthorpe, entrepreneur and founder of Superdry firm SuperGroup Julian Dunkerton, soprano Dame Felicity Lott and the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr George Carey. Honorable Fellowships have been awarded to people including broadcaster, physicist and broadcaster Professor Kathy Sykes, international cricketer R C ‘Jack’ Russell, garden designer and television presenter Chris Beardshaw and sculptor Lynn Chadwick.^[89]

Notable alumni

See also

References

Further reading

• 'University of Gloucestershire - Thanksgiving', 30 April 2002, Gloucester Cathedral
• '150 years of Art Education', 2002, University of Gloucestershire
• 'Celebrating 150 years of the Church Foundation', 1997, Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Gloucestershire.

• University of Gloucestershire website
• University of Gloucestershire Students Union website

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