Congregation members vote against governance changes

28 November 2006

Proposals to change governance arrangements for the University of Oxford were opposed today at a meeting of Congregation, the University’s parliament of dons.

A total of 28 speakers took part in a debate lasting almost three hours before voting on whether to pass or reject an amended legislative proposal to introduce governance reforms. 730 members voted against the proposal, and 456 in favour of it.

The University’s regulations allow for a postal vote of all members of Congregation, almost 4,000 in total, which could be held in December.

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr John Hood, said: ‘We are engaged in a lengthy and complex democratic process which has clearly reached an important stage. That process permits a postal vote and a decision about that will have to be taken in the next few days. It is for Council or 50 members of Congregation to take that decision which is entirely in keeping with the University’s democratic process.’

The governance white paper, which was published in June 2006 after an extensive internal consultation lasting around 18 months, proposed a number of changes to Oxford’s existing governance arrangements. These included changes to the size and composition of the University Council (membership would be reduced from 25 to 15, with seven internal and seven external members and Lord Patten in the Chair for the first five years); the creation of a Nominations Committee to put forward the names of external members for approval by Congregation; and the establishment of an Academic Board to oversee the University’s academic activity.

Picture: Members of Congregation head for the Sheldonian to vote on governance changes. Credit: Geoff Pugh.