University of Exeter

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University of Exeter
Latin: Exoniensem (Exon.)
Motto	Lucem sequimur (We follow the light)
Established	1855 (became university college 1922, became university 1955)
Type	Public
Chancellor	Floella Benjamin OBE
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Steve Smith
Visitor	HM Queen Elizabeth II ex officio
Students	14570 [1]
Undergraduates	10020 [1]
Postgraduates	4550 [1]
Location	Exeter, Devon, England
Campus	Streatham - 350 acres[2] Tremough - 70 acres[3] St. Luke's - 16 acres
Colours	green and white
Affiliations	1994 Group, Association of Commonwealth Universities
Website	http://www.exeter.ac.uk

The University of Exeter is a leading red brick university. Most of its activities are located in the city of Exeter, in Devon in the South West of England, where it is the principal higher education institution. It is a member of the 1994 Group, a network of smaller research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom. British newspapers currently tend to rank Exeter among the top twenty higher education institutions in the UK (see "Academic reputation", below).

Exeter has three campuses: Streatham, St Luke's (both of which are in Exeter) and Tremough in Cornwall. The Tremough campus is maintained in conjunction with the University College Falmouth under the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Chronological timeline 1.2 Chancellors 1.3 Vice Chancellors 1.4 Coat of Arms 2 Academic reputation 3 Campus life 3.1 Streatham campus 3.2 St Luke's campus 3.3 Tremough campus (University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus) 3.4 Students' Guild 3.4.1 Evangelical Christian Union disputes 4 New developments 4.1 Department closures 5 Notable current and former staff members 6 Notable alumni 6.1 Writers and Artists 6.2 Politicians 6.3 Military 6.4 Royalty 6.5 Media and journalism 6.6 Actors/Directors 6.7 Musicians 6.8 Entrepreneurs 6.9 Law and order 6.10 Sport 6.11 Academia 6.12 Others 6.13 Fictional alumni 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

After earlier beginnings, university education in Exeter began with the conversion in 1922 of the previous Royal Albert Memorial College into the University College of the South West of England, and the college's inclusion onto the list of institutions eligible to receive funds from the then University Grants Committee. At that time the college was conceived as a territorial institution, making university education available relatively locally for students from the four counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset. As was customary for new university institutions in southern England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the college prepared students for external degrees of the University of London. With increasing growth in the 1920s and 1930s, it was granted increasing autonomy, but full independence was delayed by the Second World War. The university college received its Royal Charter and became the free-standing University of Exeter in December 1955. In the post-war period, Exeter like other UK universities became much more of a national institution, with students coming from all over the southern United Kingdom; as a research-intensive institution, it now attracts significant numbers of students from overseas. However regional activity continued, for example through extra-mural teaching throughout Devon and Cornwall, and the establishment of an Institute of Cornish Studies in Truro.

[edit] Chronological timeline

1225 The earliest evidence of university education in the city dates back to Gilbert le Bond’s grant to St John's Hospital School the sum of 2s per annum for the formation of a centre of ecclesiastical learning. It seems that the fledgling university failed to flourish though.

1829 John Taylor publishes his Prospectus for a School of Mines in Cornwall

1840 Foundation of Exeter Diocesan Training College

1855 Foundation of Exeter School of Art

1863 Foundation of Exeter School of Science

1868 Schools of Art and Science relocate to Albert Memorial Museum

1876 Foundation of Camborne Miners' Association laboratory

1888 Camborne laboratory established as Camborne Mining School

1893 Schools of Art and Science renamed to the Exeter Technical and University Extension College

1900 Exeter Technical and University Extension College renamed to Royal Albert Memorial College, Gandy Street

1922 Royal Albert Memorial College renamed as The University College of the South-West of England;
Streatham Hall (now Reed Hall) gifted to the University College

1930 Exeter Diocesan Training College renamed to St Luke's College, Exeter

1955 The University College received its Charter and became the University of Exeter

1962 Post-graduate Medical School founded

1966 St Luke's College became co-educational

1978 Merger of the University's School of Education and St Luke's College of Education into the University's new Department of Education

1991 Affiliation of the College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth

1993 Incorporation of Camborne School of Mines

1995 Affiliation of St Loyes School of Health Studies

2000 The Peninsula Medical School was established in conjunction with the University of Plymouth and the National Health Service. This is based at St. Lukes and local hospitals.

2004 The University's new Cornwall Campus opens, moving all of its interests in Cornwall to a single campus. Closure of Chemistry and Music departments announced. Closure of Italian department considered but plans were eventually dropped. Closure of the Cognitive Science BSc. (Hons) degree programme and the re-structuring of the Biology department, now called the Biosciences department.

[edit] Chancellors

• Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (1955–1972)
• Viscount Amory of Tiverton (1972–1981)
• Sir Rex Richards MA, DPhil, DSc, FRS, FRSC (Hon DSc) (1982–1998)
• Lord Alexander of Weedon (1998–2005)
• Floella Benjamin (2006–)

[edit] Vice Chancellors

• Sir James Cook (1954–1966)
• Sir John Llewellyn (1966–1972)
• Professor Harry Kay (1973–1984)
• Sir David Harrison (1984–1994)
• Sir Geoffrey Holland (1994–2002)
• Professor Steve Smith (2002–)

[edit] Coat of Arms

The University coat of arms symbolises the historical associations of the University with the locality. The triangular gold castle with three towers comes from Exeter's coat of arms and is thought to represent the Rougemont Castle as alluded to by the red background. The 15 gold Besants round the edge of the shield are from Cornwall's coat of arms whilst the green cross on the white background is from the Devon County Council's coat of arms. The theme of learning is symbolised by the book with gold edges and a Latin motto "lucem sequimur" translating roughly as "we follow the light".

[edit] Academic reputation

Ninety-eight per cent of subject areas at Exeter were rated 4, 5 or 5* (of national or international standing) in the 2001 UK Research Assessment Exercise.

Also according to The Sunday Times University Guide 2005, the University of Exeter was rated Excellent for 20 subjects, including Archeology; Business and Management; Classics and Ancient History; Computer Science; Drama, Dance and Cinematics; Economics; Education (continuing professional development); English; French; Geography; German; Italian; Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research; Molecular Biosciences; Physics and Astronomy; Politics; Psychology; Teacher Training; Theology and Religious Studies.

The Sunday Times' university league table for 2006 placed Exeter 18th in the UK, up seven places from 2005. Exeter was ranked 20th in the UK in 2003.

Exeter was also runner-up for University of the Year for the third consecutive year. " Exeter's excellent record merits special recognition as runner-up this year. Students here are some of the most satisfied in the country, ranking it on the fringes of the top 10. High entry standards and low dropout rates further entrench its standing." Sunday Times, 10 September 2006

The Guardian's 2006 university rankings placed Exeter at 28th in the UK (after erroneously reporting the university at 48th place). The Times' league table also placed Exeter 18th in 2006, up 6 places from the previous year.

In the National Student Survey 2005, Exeter was ranked joint 10th nationally for overall satisfaction. The results put Exeter in the top 25 per cent of UK universities for learning resources (such as IT resources) and for course management and organisation.

In the 2006 National Student Survey, Exeter was ranked joint 11th, and the School of Business & Economics was ranked 1st in the country for Business, Accounting & Finance and Management.

For the coming academic year The University of Exeter has seen a rise of 23.8% in applications for places – one of the highest rises among universities in the country.

[edit] Campus life

[edit] Streatham campus

Main article: Streatham Campus

Most students work on the main campus, Streatham, which includes the Northcott Theatre. Sitting on a hillside one side of which looks down across Exeter city centre, the campus is renowned for its beautiful landscaping and excellent views. The Independent has described the campus environment as ‘sublime’. The campus also has several galleries, including The Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema and Popular Culture. There is also a Sculpture Walk, including pieces by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and a statue to commemorate the events at Tiananmen Square. There is a pub type bar called the Ram and a Bar/Nightclub Called the Lemon Grove (or Lemmy), both run by the Students' Guild. The campus boasts a medical centre, a counselling service, a children’s day-care centre, and numerous catering outlets. Many halls of residence and some self-catering accommodation are located on this campus or in the near vicinity. In 2005 Streatham Campus's newest building, the Xfi centre, was completed to provide facilities mainly but not exclusively for postgraduate study into finance and investment.

[edit] St Luke's campus

Main article: St. Luke's Campus

The St Luke’s campus is home to the largest academic school of the University, the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. It shares the campus with the Peninsula Medical School (a joint venture with the University of Plymouth) and the School of Sport and Health Sciences. The campus is just over a mile from the larger Streatham campus and 10 minutes’ walk from the city centre.

The St Luke’s campus also has its own restaurant, cafeteria, bar, bookshop, bank, indoor swimming pool, two gymnasia including an advanced conditioning studio and grass tennis courts for summer use.

The future of St Lukes is currently under review.

[edit] Tremough campus (University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus)

Main article: University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus

The University of Exeter's Cornwall campus, Tremough now houses all the university's activity in Cornwall, previously scattered across the county. It is part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall project, and is shared with University College Falmouth. University of Exeter departments on the site include the internationally renowned CSM (Camborne School of Mines), whose graduates who are sought after by earth-based industries ranging from mining to electricity. CSM merged with the university in 1993 and is now part of the School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources. Other departments at Tremough include Conservation Biology, English, Geography and the Institute of Cornish Studies, and additional departments are being added.

[edit] Students' Guild

Students at Exeter are represented by a Guild of Students,^[4] which has an active role in campaigning at local and national levels.

Exeter's Guild is home to award winning media: a student radio station Xpression FM,^[5] a newspaper Exeposé,^[6] a website X-Net^[7] and television station XTV.^[8] There is also a volunteering agency within the Students' Guild called Community Action,^[9] which runs its own projects with members of the local community that are run by volunteers and provides further volunteering opportunities through links with external partner organisations. There is a RAG (Raising and Giving) group^[10] which exists to raise money for five nominated charities, and collects in town centres around Britain every weekend. RAG events are run by students, under the co-ordination of a full-time member of staff. The main aim of these societies and activities groups is to provide opportunities for student development. The Guild of Students was renamed the Students' Guild in 2005.

There are over 100 affiliated student societies, ranging from the Theatre Company and Creative Writing to the LDYS, Conservative Future, and Socialist Students societies. There are a large number of sports clubs, although the Athletic Union (AU) is now a separate body from the Students' Guild but strong links remain. The Debating Society which predates establishment of the university, started life in 1927 as The Exeter Debating Society, with the inaugural speaker being Anthony Eden.

Students are represented by a sabbatical team consisting of a President, Deputy President (based at the St. Luke's Campus), Finance, Activities and Trading Officer (FATO, Formerly General Secretary), Education Officer, Welfare and Equal Opportunities Officer and the Athletic Union President. There are also other non sabbatical officers representing areas of the student population and student activities areas. These are elected by students in a series of elections throughout the academic year.

[edit] Evangelical Christian Union disputes

Since late 2006, the Exeter Students' Guild has been in dispute^[11][12][13] with the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU), over the ECU's requirement that members sign a declaration saying they agree to a statement of beliefs, and the requirement that speakers and committee members agree to a doctrinal basis.^[14] The ECU's umbrella organisation, the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, promote the idea of the doctrinal basis for committee members.^[15]

On 24 October 2006, the existing Christian Union was instructed by the Guild to change its name to the Evangelical Christian Union, following a referendum vote by all students at Exeter University. The name change was intended to clarify that the society's position was that of Evangelical Christianity, rather than of all forms of Christianity.

On 12 November 2006, the Guild passed a motion to temporarily suspended the ECU from the Guild until an audit was carried out to see if the ECU had broken the Guild's equal opportunity requirements. This suspended the ECU from access to the Guild subsidy of £250, which excludes money from membership and other sources; and also suspended them from the use of the Guild services, such as free use of meeting rooms. The audit found that the ECU were in breach of the Guild's Equal Opportunity Policy because the statement of beliefs and doctrinal basis were compulsory.

On 12 December 2006, the Guild lifted the suspension,^[16] but failed to notify the ECU until after the Christmas break, as the students had gone home. On 4 January Guild president Jemma Percy telephoned the ECU, and notification was given in writing on 6 January, just before the start of spring term.

In response to the suspension of privileges, Evangelical Christian Union committee member Ben Martin filed papers at the High Court on 5 January 2007. Martin filed for a judicial review, claiming that the suspension was unlawful in breach of the Education Act 1994, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 and general principles of public law.^[17][18]

Ben Martin was seeking "a mandatory order for the readmission of the [Christian Union] to the Guild of Students."^[19] Martin previously claimed that the lawsuit would be necessary, as the ECU "haven't got any insurances that [suspension of privileges] won't happen again,"^[19] and at the time the legal papers were filed, the Guild had only given notification that the ECU was reinstated by phone and not in writing.

On 26 February 2007, the Guild issued a statement saying that Ben Martin is now willing to follow the Internal Complaints Procedure.^[20]

[edit] New developments

The University has undergone an investment programme worth more than £140 million in recent years. £38 million has been invested in new student accommodation, including the new Holland Hall, named after the former vice-chancellor of the same name. £8m has been invested in sports facilities, including a professional-standard tennis centre. A £1m upgrade has been carried out to the students’ union building and nightclub and £1.5m has been spent improving access for people with disabilities. In October 2002, The Peninsula Medical School, a partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, admitted its first students of medicine. In 2005, the new Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment opened, the result of a multi-million pound gift from a anonymous donor. Thanks to a donation of £650,000 from the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, an extension has been added to the also recently constructed Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies Building. In 2006, the Department of Drama completed a major renovation. The Department of Drama's state-of-the-art £3 million Alexander Building was named after the former University Chancellor Lord Alexander. A new £28 million Peninsula Dental School, a partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, will open its doors in October 2007. The dental school will have places for 62 graduate entry students each year. The South West of England Regional Development Agency is investing £9.7m in phase II of the University of Exeter Innovation Centre. The project is currently under construction and will create a 38,000 square ft building for use by new and growing businesses within the development and research sectors at the university's Streatham campus. Phase I of the Innovation Centre was finished in 2000 and houses high-tech businesses from the software, biomedical sectors to advanced manufacturing and internet firms.

[edit] Department closures

Since 2000, the University has undergone a process of restructuring in order to focus on areas of strength. In common with a number of similar universities, it closed its chemistry department in 2004. At the same time, the University also closed its music department, and stopped offering single honours degrees for Italian.

The University said that it must close the chemistry department due to falling student demand for the discipline, and that the department was losing money.^{[citation needed]}

Although similar moves elsewhere had attracted little attention, a media storm blew up around this issue, perhaps because of the high profile that Exeter's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Smith, was taking in UK university politics at the time.^{[citation needed]} While the University claimed cost-cutting as a major reason, losing 130 jobs from the closures, the AUT questioned the University's figures.^[21]

On Thursday, 25 November 2004, about 2,000 students marched in protest over the decision,^[22], making the local television news. Some even attempted to sell the University on eBay in protest.^[23]

Sir Harold Kroto, a nobel laureate, returned his honorary degree from this institution in protest against this move.^[24] Shortly afterwards, his own institution, the University of Sussex, made a similar proposal, though this is currently stalled.

In 2006, the University commissioned a feasibility study into potential sale of St Luke's site, moving the three schools there into Streatham campus.^[25] According to emails from the Vice-Chancellor, the "problem is one of success, that is if these three Schools achieve their planned expansion ... then we will simply run out of space at St Luke's."^[26]

[edit] Notable current and former staff members

See also: Category:Academics of the University of Exeter

NB Vice-chancellors are listed above and are not repeated here

• John Adair, Mangement (Leadership)
• Barry Barnes, Sociology
• Jeremy Black, History
• Adam Curle, Psychology and Education
• Edzard Ernst, Complementary Medicine
• Timothy Gorringe, Theology
• Alex Haslam, Psychology
• Philip Hensher, Creative Writing
• Paul Kline, Psychology
• Alastair Logan, Theology
• Linda Long, Biochemistry
• Richard Lynn, Psychology
• Colin MacCabe, Film Studies
• Moelwyn Merchant, English
• Richard Overy, History
• Philip Payton, Cornish Studies
• Nicholas Rodger, History
• Roy Sambles, Physics
• Richard Seaford, Classics
• Andrew Thorpe, History
• Malcolm Todd, History
• Sir John Tooke, Medicine
• Paul Webley, Psychology
• Ted Wragg, Education

[edit] Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter

[edit] Writers and Artists

• Marcus D. Gregio - Shakespeare scholar
• Stanley Donwood - artist and writer
• John O'Farrell - author
• J. K. Rowling - author of Harry Potter books
• Robert Shearman - writer for Doctor Who
• Carol Shields - author and Pulitzer Prize winner
• Kate Lock - author

[edit] Politicians

• James Brokenshire - Conservative MP
• Martin Cauchon - Former Minister of Justice (Canada)
• Michael Frendo - Foreign Minister of Malta
• Vilmundur Gylfason - Former Icelandic politician, historian and poet
• Philip Ian Hope - Labour MP and vocational education minister
• Mark Lancaster - Conservative MP
• Andrew Lansley - Conservative MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Health
• Caroline Lucas - Green Party MEP
• Roy Perry - Conservative Politician and former MEP
• Andrew Slaughter - Labour MP
• Lau Kong Wah - Member of Legislative Council of Hong Kong
• Jeremy Wright - Conservative MP
• Derek Wyatt - Labour MP

[edit] Military

• Jonathon Band - First Sea Lord and chief of the Naval Staff (head of the Royal Navy)

[edit] Royalty

• His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi - Ruler of Sharjah.
• Peter Phillips - eldest grandson and first grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.
• Zara Phillips - eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
• Infanta Elena of Spain - eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía.

[edit] Media and journalism

• Emma B - Heart 106.2 drivetime presenter
• Nick Baker - Wildlife TV expert
• William Bemister - Emmy award winning documentary film maker and journalist
• Lesley Collier - Television presenter, producer and author
• Frank Gardner - BBC Security Correspondent
• Paul Jackson- Television Producer
• Ted Kravitz - Formula 1 Commentator
• Isobel Lang - BBC Weather presenter
• Henry Staunton - media mogul
• Toby Amies - T.V presenter
• Tim Montgomerie - Editor of ConservativeHome

[edit] Actors/Directors

• Andre Bonifay - Welsh Scriptwriter/Director
• Adam Campbell Jones - actor
• Stephen Dillane - actor
• Nicholas Pegg - actor/director
• Julian Richings - actor
• Christopher Smith - American actor and improviser

[edit] Musicians

• Martin Fielding - Musician and record producer/label
• Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx
• Thom Yorke - singer Radiohead
• Will Young - singer and actor
• Simon "sHack" Shackleton - half of Lunatic Calm

[edit] Entrepreneurs

• Sam E. Jonah (KBE) (ACSM), President of AngloGold Ashanti

[edit] Law and order

• Mr Justice Goldring - Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission
• Keith Weston - Former head of Anti Terrorist Branch of Met Police

[edit] Sport

• Andy Beattie - England rugby player
• Richard Dawson - Yorkshire and England cricketer
• Richard Hill -- Former England Rugby Captain
• Samantha Smith - tennis player and commentator
• David Sole -- Former Scottish Rugby Captain
• Paul Downton - Former England cricketer

[edit] Academia

• William Wakeham -- vice-chancellor of Southampton University
• Ted Wragg - educationalist; was Professor of Education at Exeter from 1978 to 2003

[edit] Others

• Stewart Holden- British Scrabble player
• Dame Suzi Leather- chair of the Charity Commisssion

[edit] Fictional alumni

• Debbie Aldridge - Character in radio soap opera The Archers, played by Tamsin Greig.
• The Banker - Character in popular TV Show Deal or No Deal, as revealed by Noel Edmonds when turning on the Christmas lights in Exeter, 2006.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2004/05. Higher Education Statistics Agency online statistics. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
2. ^ The University of Exeter - Hospitality Services - Visitors - Events. Retrieved on 31-01-2007.
3. ^ About the University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus. Retrieved on 31-01-2007.
4. ^ Students' Guild.
5. ^ Xpression FM.
6. ^ Exeposé.
7. ^ X-Net.
8. ^ XTV.
9. ^ Community Action.
10. ^ RAG.
11. ^ Exeter Guild of Students. Situation regarding the ECU.
12. ^ X-Net. Special Report: ECU vs. Students' Guild.
13. ^ BBC News website. Christians threaten legal action.
14. ^ Evangelical Christian Union. Doctrinal Basis.
15. ^ Adrian Warnock. Adrian Interviews Richard Cunningham, director of the UCCF.
16. ^ The Times. "Christians sue over ban that's been lifted", 6 January 2007.
17. ^ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified.
18. ^ Exeposé. "ECU Will take Guild to High Court" (pdf), 22 January 2007.
19. ^ ^{a b} Exeposé. "Interview with Ben Martin and Jemma Perry" (pdf), 22 January 2007.
20. ^ ECU Taking Internal Measures.
21. ^ AUT (2004-11-26). AUT questions 130 Exeter redundancies.
22. ^ "Save Our Departments", Exeposé, 2004-11-29.
23. ^ "Students put university on eBay", BBC News, 2004-11-25.
24. ^ "Nobel winner in degree protest", BBC News, 2004-11-29.
25. ^ "Is this the end for St Lukes?", Exeposé, 2006-10-09.
26. ^ Email from the Vice-Chancellor to all students, 2006-10-04

[edit] External links

• University of Exeter
• University of Exeter in Cornwall
• University of Exeter Students' Guild