Rebel dons....
The university Vice Chancellor is heading for a new showdown with dons over crucial reforms, after last-minute concessions failed to placate them. John Hood is under renewed fire from academics over his controversial changes to the way the University is run. A group of ‘pro-democracy’ dons circulated a stinging criticism of the proposed changes last Thursday, just hours after the working party on governance, which Hood chairs, set out its vision for reform.
Nicholas Bamforth, one of Hood’s most vocal critics and signatory to the alternative paper, told The Oxford Student, ‘’This is without a doubt an attempt to increase the Vice Chancellor’s personal influence. It’s perfectly clear that this will give a huge amount of power to the council. The external members will be very busy people and they won’t have time to read all the papers �" they will become the rubber stamp to the Vice Chancellor.
The alternative paper, entitled A Democratic Approach to Oxford’s Future, claims, “the reforms will stipulate irreversible changes to the University’s governance”. It continues, “Much-needed reform can be accomplished by adjusting the existing structures rather than creating entirely new institutions of corporate governance.
Dons are especially angry at the determination of Hood, the only non-Oxford academic to be Vice Chancellor in the University’s 800 years, to hand control of University policy to external members of the corporate world. Bamforth said, “There is widespread opposition to these reforms. I wouldn’t like to predict how it will turn out.” Bamforth is today standing in a congregational election as the ‘pro-democracy’ candidate, against Dr Jane Shaw, a strong supporter of Hood.
Bamforth suggests that the result of the election will act as an indication of whether the governance reforms will be accepted by congregation. The report of the working party on governance was noticably more tentative than previous documents. External members will now have a majority of just one on the new University council, and a number of checks and balances will ensure that congregation retains some influence in how the University is run.
Control of nominations of the council will be given to dons, with an independent nomination committee suggesting names to be ratified by congregation. Hood has made major sacrifices to keep academics on-side with his reforms. If they are accepted, the process by which dons take votes of no-confidence against the Vice Chancellor and council will be made easier. The fiercely guarded autonomy of colleges will not be affected by the proposals.
Oxford University Vice Chancellor John Hood said, ‘’Putting the right governance arrangements in place is vital if we are to maintain the academic pre-eminence and global reputation of Oxford University. These sensible and progressive recommendations, which have been developed with great care and attention, can do much to help us to meet that challenge.
They should give new confidence to people inside and outside the University about Oxford’s commitment to remain a centre of learning, teaching, and research to stand comparison with any in the world.’’ A spokeswoman from Oxford University denied that the reforms represent an attack on University autonomy by John Hood. She said, “Claims that the proposals would strengthen the VC role are wrong. The White Paper weakens the role, removing the VC’s position as Chair of Council.
“The Working Party’s proposals have never in any way suggested an alteration of the University’s democratic structure, whereby Congregation is the supreme power to whom Council reports. In fact, the proposals strengthen Congregation’s power by suggesting a simplification of the system for moving a vote of no confidence in Council.” Congregation will vote whether to accept the white paper’s proposals in Michaelmas.
8th Jun 2006