APPENDIX A

DEGREE-AWARDING POWERS

REPORT BY: The Vice-Chancellor

To consider a report by the Vice-Chancellor on the exercise by Colleges of degree-awarding powers and to approve its recommendations.

1.             The Council, at its meeting on 4 December 2002, noted that Imperial College had applied to the Privy Council for degree-awarding powers, and that the Heads of Colleges, at their next meeting, would consider whether they wished the University to review its present policy on the use of degree-awarding powers (CM 17 refers). Since the meeting of Council in December, King’s College London, University College London and the London School of Economics have all indicated their intention to apply for degree-awarding powers.

2.             The current Ordinances require that the only degrees which a College may award while remaining a College of the University are those of the University of London.  Thus, if a College has the power to award its own degrees, it cannot exercise those powers while remaining a College of the University.  Heads of Colleges have discussed the question of degree-awarding powers for Colleges on two occasions since the December meeting of Council.  They are unanimous that there should be a relaxation of the provision in the current Ordinances regarding the use of a College’s degree-awarding powers and are agreed that the following principles should underlie a new University policy on this matter:

(i) There should be no requirement on a College to seek degree-awarding powers of its own.

(ii) Colleges that wish to continue to award the University of London degree should be able to do so.

(iii) Any College which has its own degree-awarding powers should normally be required to use them in the following circumstances:

For honorary degrees; for validation; for franchising; and for joint degrees with other institutions in the UK or overseas (although it should be open to a College to make a case to the University for using the University of London degree, eg for a joint degree with another institution, where this would be particularly helpful).

(iv) There should be a presumption that a College with degree-awarding powers which it wished to use for its students would use them across the board and would not normally offer some of its degrees as College awards and others as University of London awards, but it should be open to a College to make a case to the University for exemption in particular cases – eg where a joint programme is offered with another College of the University which does not have its own degree-awarding powers; or for medical, dental and veterinary qualifications if legal and possibly other considerations require or argue for different treatment.

3.             The Governance Committee, at its meeting on 25 February 2003, recommended to the Council that amendments be made to Ordinance 21, in accordance with Statute 27, and subject to the comments of the Senate.

4.             In order to give effect to this change in policy it will be necessary to amend Ordinance 21. The following draft amendments are put forward for consideration (for ease of reference amendments have been highlighted with strikethrough and underline as appropriate):

Undertakings

6.             Each College shall abide by the Statutes, Ordinances (including this Ordinance) and Regulations of the University of London and in particular shall:

(1)            award degrees only by the exercise of the powers conferred on it by resolution of the Council and in accordance with the Ordinances;

7.        A College which holds, or acquires, the power to award its own degrees shall inform the Council accordingly.

8.        A College with the power to award its own degrees shall comply with such protocols as may, from time to time, be agreed by the Council, in deciding the extent, if any, to which the College will exercise the authority given to all Colleges under Ordinance 13 and Ordinance 24 to award degrees of the University of London; and shall inform the Council of its decision.

(2)9.      A College shall     confer the title of Professor or Reader only in accordance with the Ordinances.

7.10.                The Council may from time to time seek written assurances on such other matters as the Council considers necessary and may prescribe conditions on which a College continues to hold College status.

5.             At its meeting on 4 March 2003, the Senate considered and discussed this matter in detail (see also item 15, Document C519).  The proposal was put to a vote and the Senate resolved nem com to advise the Council to amend Ordinance 21 as set out in paragraph 4 above.

6.             Having already canvassed the views of the Heads of Colleges, the Governance Committee and the Senate on this matter, it is proposed that the required amendments to Ordinance 21 be dealt with in accordance with paragraph 4(4) of Ordinance 1 attached at Appendix C511A, and be circulated not less than one calendar month before the next meeting of the Council, on 2 July 2003, for its formal approval.

The Council is asked to agree, in principle, the relaxation of the provision in Ordinance 21 to permit Colleges to award their own degrees in accordance with the principles set out in paragraph 2 above.