Previous page

Table of Contents

Next page

Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Professorship of English

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In their Report, dated 4 October 2000, on the establishment of a Centre for Research in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (p. 114), the Board stated their intention to appoint Professor C. I. E. Donaldson, Professor of English (Grace 1 of 1 December 1965), as the first Director of the Centre. (The recommendations of the Board's Report were approved by Grace 10 of 22 November 2000). Professor Donaldson has been granted leave from his duties as Professor (on a half-time basis from 1 January 2001 and full-time from 1 October 2001), in order to take up office as Director of the Centre from 1 January 2001.

2. The Professorship of English, held by Professor Donaldson, is one of four permanently established Professorships in the Faculty, in the field of English Literature. The Faculty Board of English have informed the General Board of the great importance they attach to maintaining full contribution to the work of the Faculty at professorial level. A proleptic appointment to the Professorship would provide continuity of leadership for the Faculty, for teaching at graduate and undergraduate level, and ensure the maintenance of the Faculty's outstanding research profile.

3. The General Board have accepted the case made by the Faculty Board of English. The cost of the proposed Professorship will be met from the savings that will accrue to the Faculty of English as a result of the grant of leave to Professor Donaldson. The Board have agreed to concur with the view of the Faculty Board that elections to the Professorship should be made by a standing Board of Electors and that candidature should be open, without limitation or preference, to all persons whose work falls within the scope of the title of the office.

4. The General Board recommend:

That a Professorship of English be established with effect from 1 October 2001, permanently replacing the Professorship of English (Grace 1 of 1 December 1965) that will become vacant on 1 October 2002 on the retirement of Professor C. I. E. Donaldson, and that the Professorship be placed in Schedule B of the Statutes and assigned to the Faculty of English.

29 November 2000

Previous page

Table of Contents

Next page

Cambridge University Reporter, 13 December 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.