Election of Professor of Poetry

Election of Professor of Poetry

Plans to elect a new Professor of Poetry at Oxford University have now been drawn up, with the successful candidate scheduled to be in post for the new academic year in autumn 2010.

The election will identify a successor to Professor Sir Christopher Ricks, whose highly-acclaimed five-year term ended last year.

Voting is by members of Convocation.

Convocation consists of all the former student members of the University who have been admitted to a degree (other than an honorary degree) of the University, and of any other persons who are members of Congregation or who have retired having been members of Congregation on the date of their retirement.Its functions are set out in the University Statutes.

Whereas at present, voting is only possible in person in Oxford on a single day, for the forthcoming election, the voting system will be updated, subject to approval by Congregation.

Under the proposed arrangements, online voting will be introduced and voting by ballot box will be available over a period of time, rather than on one day. It is envisaged that the ballot servicing arm of the Electoral Reform Society will provide the voter registration and balloting services for the election.

Candidates for election have to be nominated by at least 12 members of Convocation and to accept their nomination in writing. An opening date for nominations will be announced once the new voting arrangements have been approved. They are due to be considered early in the new year.

Further information about election procedures may be found in Council Regulations 8 of 2002.