PROCEDURE FOR MAKING A STATUTE FOR A COLLEGE: NOTICE
The Council have made known (Reporter, 1952–53, p. 1258; 1970–71, p. 443; 1977–78, p. 310) their opinion that the procedure
required for making a Statute for a College is as follows:
- (1)The proposed Statute must first be passed by the Governing Body of the College as
defined in Section 2 of the Schedule to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Act
1923. The Council are advised that, if not strictly necessary, it is at least desirable
that at this stage, as well as subsequently, the proposed Statute should be passed
at a general meeting of the Governing Body of the College, specially summoned for
the purpose, by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the number of persons present
and voting.
- (2)The proposed Statute so passed must be communicated to the Vice-Chancellor and to
the Head of the College.
- (3)Within seven days after receipt of such communication the Vice-Chancellor will give
public notice thereof in the University. During term the Vice-Chancellor will usually
find it convenient to publish such notice in the Reporter; but at any time, and especially in vacation, it will suffice, in the Council's opinion,
if a description of the proposed Statute is posted outside the Senate-House, together
with a notice of the place where the text of it may be seen.
- (4)One month at least (exclusive of any University vacation) after the proposed Statute
has been communicated to the Vice-Chancellor and the Head of the College, it must
again be passed at a general meeting of the Governing Body of the College, specially
summoned for the purpose, by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the number of
persons present and voting.
- (5)Within one month after the second passing the Statute must be submitted to Her Majesty
in Council.
The Council desire to add that, when the Vice-Chancellor has given public notice of
a proposed Statute, they will consider it, and will then announce:
- either(a)that in their opinion the proposed Statute alters a Statute which affects the University,
and may not be made without the consent of the University; but that the interests
of the University are not prejudiced by it, and that they will bring before the Regent
House a Grace for the grant of the necessary consent;
- or(b)that in their opinion the proposed Statute alters a Statute which affects the University,
and may not be made without the consent of the University; that the interests of the
University are prejudiced by it and that they will bring before the Regent House a
Grace for the refusal of the necessary consent;
- or(c)that in their opinion the proposed Statute makes no alteration of any Statute which
affects the University, and does not require the consent of the University; that the
interests of the University are not prejudiced by it, and that they have resolved
to take no action upon it;
- or(d)that in their opinion the proposed Statute makes no alteration of any Statute which
affects the University, and does not require the consent of the University; but that
the interests of the University are prejudiced by it, and that they have accordingly
resolved to petition Her Majesty in Council for its disallowance, or for the disallowance
of part of it.
When the Vice-Chancellor makes an announcement under sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (c) above, the Grace seeking the consent of the Regent House or the resolve of the Council
to take no action, as the case may be, must be subject to a time limit, and the Council
have determined that this limit shall be one year. Any such Grace or announcement
will include a statement that it is subject to the proviso that the proposed Statute
be submitted to the Privy Council by a specified date (that is to say a date one year
later than the date of the announcement) after which date the Council will wish to
reconsider the proposed Statute.
If, after a proposed Statute has been submitted to the Privy Council, the Vice-Chancellor
is informed that the Governing Body of a College wish to make further alterations
of it, the procedure set out above should be followed afresh in its entirety, except
in the following case. After giving public notice in accordance with sub-paragraph
(3) above of receipt of the further alterations, the Vice-Chancellor will, if the alterations have been suggested by the Privy Council and if it is clear that they are of a minor character and will not render the Statute
substantially different from the Statute which was the subject of the earlier announcement
under sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (c), in due course give notice that no further statement on behalf of the University
is required.