Reporter 5/12/02: Office of Vice-Chancellor: Notice

Office of Vice-Chancellor: Notice

2 December 2002

In their Notice dated 27 March 2002 (Reporter, 2001-02, p. 634) the Council announced that they had commenced the process for the appointment of a successor to Sir Alec Broers as Vice-Chancellor. They now give notice that they are today submitting a Grace for the appointment of Professor Alison Fettes Richard, M.A., N, Ph.D., London, as Vice-Chancellor for seven years from 1 October 2003.

Professor Richard has been Provost of Yale University, USA, since 1994 and Franklin Muzzy Crosby Professor of the Human Environment, and Anthropology, at Yale since 1997. Prior to her appointment as Provost she was successively Assistant Professor (1972), Associate Professor (1977), Professor of Anthropology (1986), and Professor of Environmental Studies (1990) in Yale.

In submitting this Grace the Council wish to record how, with the advice of their Advisory Committee, they have undertaken the process. The Council appointed Heidrick and Struggles, consultants in executive search, to assist the Advisory Committee. Following a range of preliminary interviews and discussions, including an open meeting for members of the Regent House, the Council approved and published a statement about the role of the Vice-Chancellor (Reporter, 2001-02, p. 862). The office was advertised nationally and internationally and nominations and applications were invited. As a result the Advisory Committee considered 97 names (76M, 21F). The Advisory Committee held informal discussions, which also involved members of Council and senior University and College officers, with eight persons (6M, 2F) after which they put forward a list of two persons (1M, 1F) for consideration by the Council. The Council held formal meetings with those persons. The Council believe that as a result of the process that they and the Advisory Committee have followed, the University can have full confidence in the openness and inclusiveness with which their nomination to the University has been determined.

The Council have previously indicated their view that the office of Vice-Chancellor should be held for a single term of seven years rather than for a shorter initial period with the possibility of renewal. Accordingly they are recommending that the appointment of Professor Richard be made for seven years under the provisions of Statute D, III, 2.

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