University Calendar 2015/16
Section III : The Charter


PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
 
ARCHIVE 2009/10
ARCHIVE 2010/11
ARCHIVE 2011/12
ARCHIVE 2012/13
ARCHIVE 2013/14
ARCHIVE 2014/15
ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, To all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

WHEREAS a Humble Petition has been presented to Us by the Hartley University College at Southampton praying Us to constitute and found a University within the Town and County of Southampton for the Advancement of Knowledge the Diffusion and Extension of Arts Sciences and Learning the Provision of Liberal Professional and Technological Education and the furtherance of the objects for which The Hartley University College was incorporated under a Scheme and by Order of the Board of Education dated the twentieth day of November 1902 and to grant a Charter with such provisions in that behalf as shall seem to Us right and suitable:

AND WHEREAS We have taken the said Petition into Our Royal Consideration and are minded to accede thereto:

NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE that We by virtue of Our Royal Prerogative and of Our Special Grace Certain Knowledge and Mere Motion by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors will and ordain as follows:

1. There shall be and there is hereby founded in Our said Town and County of Southampton a University by the name and style of 'The University of Southampton' with such Faculties Schools and other academic groups as may be constituted from time to time by the Statutes and Ordinances of the University.
2. The persons named in the First Schedule hereto as members of the Council and of the Senate and the members for the time being of the Council the Senate and the Faculties of the University the Graduates and the Undergraduates of the University and all others who shall pursuant to this Our Charter and the Statutes of the University for the time being be Members of the University are hereby constituted and from henceforth for ever shall be one body politic and corporate with perpetual succession and a Common Seal by the name and style of 'The University of Southampton' with full power and capacity by and in such name to sue and be sued and to take and hold land to assume armorial bearings which shall be duly enrolled in Our College of Arms and to do all other lawful acts whatsoever.
3. We Our Heirs and Successors Kings and Queens of the Kingdom and Dominions aforesaid shall be and remain the Visitor and Visitors of the University of Southampton through the President of Our Council for the time being and in exercise of the Visitorial Authority We Our Heirs and Successors shall have the right from time to time and in such manner as We or They shall think fit to direct an inspection of the University its buildings laboratories and general equipment and also an enquiry into the teaching research examinations and other work done by the University.
4. There shall be a Chancellor of the said University who shall be the Chief Officer of the University.

The first Chancellor shall be Our right trusty and right entirely beloved Gerald Duke of Wellington, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter.
5. There shall be not more than three Pro-Chancellors of the University, one of whom shall subject to the Ordinances exercise all the functions of the Chancellor in the absence of the Chancellor or during a vacancy in the office of Chancellor.

The first two Pro-Chancellors shall be Our trusty and well beloved Sir Samuel Gurney-Dixon Knight and Our trusty and well beloved Sir Henry Tizard Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
6. There shall be a Vice-Chancellor of the University who shall be the principal Academic and Administrative Officer of the University and who shall ex officio take the Chair at meetings of the Senate and who from the date of this amendment shall be the President and Vice-Chancellor.

The first Vice-Chancellor shall be Our trusty and well beloved Sir Robert Stanford Wood Knight Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
7. There shall be a Chair and a Vice-Chair of the Council and a Treasurer and other proper officers of the University.
8. There shall be Vice-Presidents and Pro Vice-Chancellors of the University. One of the Vice-Presidents shall act for the President and Vice-Chancellor pending a vacancy in the office of President and Vice-Chancellor or during the absence or inability of the President and Vice-Chancellor.
9. There shall be a Dean of each Faculty of the University.
10. There shall be a Council of the University which subject to the Statutes shall be the governing body and executive of the University and shall have the custody and use of the Common Seal the management and administration of the whole revenue and property of the University and the conduct of all the affairs of the University, and all such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon it by Statute or Ordinance.

The first Members of the Council shall be the persons named or described in Part II of the First Schedule to these Presents.
11. There shall be a Senate of the University which shall subject to the Ordinances of the University and the control and approval of the Council regulate and superintend the education and discipline of students and of undergraduates of the University. The first Members of the Senate shall be the persons named in Part III of the First Schedule to these Presents.
12. There shall be a Union of Students of the University which shall have such representatives on the Council and Senate of the University as may be provided by the Statutes and Ordinances.
13. The University shall be a teaching and an examining body and shall further the prosecution of research. Subject to this Our Charter and to the Statutes the University shall have the following powers:
  a. To award and confer under conditions laid down in its Statutes or Ordinances Degrees and other academic distinctions to and on persons who shall have pursued an approved course of study in the University and shall have passed the examinations or other tests prescribed by the University provided that Degrees representing proficiency in technical subjects shall not be awarded without proper security for testing the scientific or general knowledge underlying technical attainments and provided further that at least one external and independent examiner shall be appointed in accordance with the Ordinancesfor the examinations in each subject or group of subjects forming part of the programme of studies required for University Degrees Diplomas and Certificates excluding the examinations for matriculation in the University.
  b. To award Degrees and other academic distinctions jointly with other higher education institutions having the power to grant such qualifications, to persons who shall have passed the examinations or other tests prescribed by the University and the other parties to the joint awards.
  c. To admit graduates of other Universities to Degrees of equal or similar rank in the University.
  d. To confer Degrees of the University on any persons who hold office in the University as Professors Associate Professors Readers Senior Lecturers Lecturers or otherwise or who shall have carried on research therein under conditions laid down in its Statutes or Ordinances.
  e. To grant Diplomas Certificates or other distinctions to persons who have pursued a programme of study approved by the University under conditions laid down by the University.
  f. To confer Honorary Degrees and other distinctions on approved persons provided that all Degrees and other distinctions so conferred shall be conferred and held subject to any provisions which are or may be made in reference thereto by the Statutes Ordinances or Regulations of the University.
  g. On what the University shall deem to be good cause to deprive persons of any Degrees Diplomas Certificates or distinctions granted to or conferred upon them by the University.
  h. To provide instruction in such branches of learning as the University may think fit and to make provision for research and for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge whether through Faculties Schools or other academic groups as the University may determine.
  i. To provide such lectures and instruction for persons not members of the University as the University may determine and grant Certificates to such persons.
  j. To accept the examinations and periods of study passed by students of the University at other Universities or places of learning as equivalent to such examinations and periods of study in the University as the University may determine and to withdraw such acceptance at any time.
  k. To affiliate other institutions or branches or departments thereof or to recognise selected members of the staff thereof as teachers of the University or to admit the members thereof to any of the privileges of the University and to accept attendance at programmes of study in such institutions or branches or departments thereof in place of such part of the attendance at programmes of study in the University and upon such terms and conditions and subject to such regulations as may from time to time be determined by the University.
  l. To examine and inspect schools and other educational institutions and to co-operate by means of Joint Boards or otherwise with other University authorities for the conduct of examinations for the examination and inspection of schools and other academic institutions and for such other purposes as the University may from time to time determine.
  m. To enter into any agreement for the incorporation in the University of any other institution and for taking over its rights property and liabilities and for any other purpose not repugnant to this our Charter.
  n. To institute Professorships Associate Professorships Readerships Senior Lectureships Lectureships and any other offices required by the University and to appoint to such offices.
  o. To institute and award Fellowships Studentships Scholarships Exhibitions Bursaries and Prizes.
  p. To establish and maintain and to administer and govern institutions for the residence of the students of the University whether Colleges Halls Hostels or Houses and to licence and supervise such institutions and other places of residence whether maintained by the University or not.
  q. To make provision for research and advisory services and with these objects to enter into such arrangements with other institutions or with public bodies as may be thought desirable.
  r. To undertake and organise research, consultancy services and other activities using the expertise and facilities of the University with a view to generating revenue to be used to support and further the objects of the University.
  s. To provide for the printing and publication of research and other works which may be issued by the University.
  t. To acquire, own, maintain, manage, develop, adopt and dispose of real and personal property.
  u. To determine, levy, demand and receive fees, subscriptions and deposits, and to make investments and to borrow money on such terms as the University may think fit.
  v. To solicit, receive and administer grants, subscriptions, donations, endowments, legacies, gifts and loans of any property whatsoever real or personal whether subject to any special trust or not.
  w. To establish and abolish posts, make and terminate appointments, and to remunerate the holders thereof.
  x. To do all such other acts and things whether incidental to the powers aforesaid or not as may be requisite in order to further the objects of the University as a place of education, learning and research.
14. Statutes of the University shall prescribe or regulate as the case may be:
  a. The constitution powers and duties of the Council the appointment and continuance in office of the Members of the Council (including the continuance in office of the first Members) the filling of vacancies among the Members and all other matters relative to the Council which it may be thought are proper to be so prescribed and regulated.
  b. The constitution functions privileges and all other matters relative to the Union of Students which it may be thought are proper to be so prescribed and regulated.
  c. Such other matters as the Council may deem fit with respect to or for the governance of the University, its Members and constituent parts, or otherwise for the effective attainment, execution or promotion of the objects of this Our Charter.
  The Statutes of the University may direct that any of the matters by these Presents authorised or directed to be prescribed, governed or regulated by Statutes of the University shall be prescribed, governed or regulated by Ordinances of the University.

The Statutes set out in the Second Schedule to this Our Charter shall be the Statutes of the University and shall remain in force until revoked, amended or added to in manner hereinafter prescribed.
15. The Council may by Special Resolution revoke, amend or add to any of the provisions of this Our Charter, provided that no revocation, amendment or addition shall be made before the Senate has been consulted, and such revocation, amendment or addition shall when allowed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors in Council become effectual so that this Our Charter shall thenceforward continue and operate as so revoked, amended or added to. This provision shall apply to this Our Charter as revoked, amended or added to in manner aforesaid.
16. A 'Special Resolution' means a Resolution passed at one meeting of the Council and confirmed at a subsequent meeting held not less than one calendar month nor more than four calendar months after the former: provided that notice of each meeting shall be given to each Member of the Council not less than fourteen days before the meeting be held, and that the Resolution be passed at each meeting by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the Members present and voting.
17. The Council, on the recommendation of or after consultation with the Senate, may by Special Resolution revoke, amend or add to any of the Statutes provided that no such revocation, amendment or addition shall be repugnant to the provisions of this Our Charter or shall take effect until the same shall have been approved by the Lords of Our Most Honourable Privy Council, of which approval a Certificate under the hand of the Clerk of Our said Privy Council shall be conclusive evidence.
18. The Council, on the recommendation of or after consultation with the Senate, may make Ordinances which may add to, amend or repeal the Ordinances from time to time in force. Such Ordinances, or such addition, amendment or repeal, shall only have effect if passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of those present and voting at the meeting of the Council.
19. The Ordinances of the University shall prescribe or regulate as the case may be:
  a. The constitution powers and duties of the Senate and all other matters relative to the Senate which it may be thought are proper to be so prescribed and regulated.
  b. The constitution powers and duties of the Boards of the Faculties Schools or other such academic groups as may be constituted from time to time and all other matters relative to the Faculties Schools or other such academic groups which it may be thought proper to be so prescribed and regulated.
20. The Council, the Senate and the Boards of theFaculties Schools or other such academic groups as may be constituted from time to time respectively may from time to time make Standing Orders for governing subject to these Presents and the Statutes and Ordinances of the University the proceedings of those bodies. The power to make Standing Orders shall include the power to add to, amend, alter or repeal any such Standing Orders.
21. The University promotes equal opportunities and no discrimination that is prohibited by any legislation that is from time to time in force shall be shown against any person in determining whether such person shall be admitted as a Member of the University, or appointed to its staff, or shall hold any advantage or privilege thereof.
22. The University shall not make any dividend gift division or bonus in money unto or between any of its Members except by way of prize reward or special grant.
23. In this Our Charter 'Statutes' means the Statutes set forth in the Second Schedule hereto and any Statutes amending adding to or revoking the same or any of them which may hereafter be made and may be allowed by the Lords of Our Most Honourable Privy Council.

'Ordinances' means Acts of the Council of the University under the powers conferred by this Our Charter to which Our further sanction is not hereby or by Statute required.

'Regulations' except when otherwise required by the context means Regulations made pursuant to this Our Charter or to the Statutes or Ordinances.
24. Our Royal Will and pleasure is that these Presents shall ever be construed benevolently and in every case most favourably to the University of Southampton and the promotion of the objects of this Our Charter.

Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 22-Feb-2016
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