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CAROL SCOTT LEONARD, St Antony's College
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¶ Members of Congregation are reminded that written notice of any opposition to the preambles of the following statutes, signed by at least two members of Congregation, must be given to the Registrar by noon on Monday, 21 April (see the Guide to Procedures in Congregation cited in the note at the end of `University Agenda').
In common with other parallel three/four-year courses, the new structure will offer two distinct but complementary undergraduate courses, providing a balanced programme in Geology which will cater for a range of career options. In recent years, an average of 40 per cent of Oxford Geology graduates have gone straight into non-scientific careers, in such fields as banking, insurance, business consultancy, and commerce; so there is a strong case for continuing to offer a three-year honours degree for those students who would benefit from the kind of wide-ranging scientific training which would not only stimulate and test them intellectually, but also provide them with quantitative skills which would confer extra advantages in their subsequent careers. The four-year course will prepare a student for research, or for other further career development in a science-based direction.
The proposed move to a three/four-year course structure was recently endorsed both by the assessors on the 1995 HEFCE teaching quality audit of Oxford Earth Sciences, and by the 1996 General Board committee to review the Department of Earth Sciences.
The M.Earth Sc., like the M.Eng, M.Phys., and M.Chem., will be awarded in place of the BA, and the legislation provides for those who are awarded it to become members of Convocation after the lapse of the same period of time as that after which holders of the BA are entitled to supplicate for the MA, and to enjoy all the privileges of an MA of the University.
(1) WHEREAS it is expedient to establish the
Degree of Master of Earth Sciences, NOW THE UNIVERSITY OF
OXFORD, in exercise of the powers in that behalf
conferred upon it by the Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge Act, 1923, and of all other powers enabling it,
ENACTS, clauses 1 and 2 being subject to the approval of
Her Majesty in Council, AS FOLLOWS.
1 In Tit. II, Sect. II, cl. 1, concerning the composition of Congregation (Statutes, 1995, p. 5), after `Master of Chemistry,' insert `Master of Earth Sciences,' and after `or Master of Chemistry' insert `or Master of Earth Sciences'.
2 In Tit. III, cl. 3, concerning Convocation (p. 29), after `Master of Chemistry' insert:
`Master of Earth Sciences'.
3 In Tit. XI, cl. 4, concerning degrees of the University (p. 77), after `Master of Biochemistry' insert:
`Master of Earth Sciences'.
4 Clauses 1 and 2 of this statute shall be effective from the date on which they are approved by Her Majesty in Council; clause 3 shall have immediate effect.
A. B. dec. Coll. C.'
2 Ibid., SECOND SCHEDULE, item 23 (p. 186), after `Chemistry,' insert `Earth Sciences,'.
3 Ibid., after `Chimia' insert `or Scientiis Terrenis'.
4 Ibid., THIRD SCHEDULE, item 21 (p. 188), after `Chemistry,' insert `Earth Sciences,'.
5 Ibid., after `Chimia' insert `or Scientiis Terrenis'.
6 Ibid., FOURTH SCHEDULE, item 16 (p. 190), after `Chemistry,' insert `Earth Sciences,'.
7 Ibid., after `Chimia' insert `or Scientiis Terrenis'.
8 Ibid., Sect. III, cll. 2 (a) (twice) and 16 (pp. 191 and 194, as amended by Decree (2) of 21 June 1996, Gazette, Vol. 126, p. 1282), in each case after `Chemistry,' insert `Earth Sciences,'.
9 Ibid., Sect. IV, cl. 1 (p. 194), after `Master of Chemistry' insert:
`Master of Earth Sciences'.
10 Ibid., Sect. VIII, cl. 1 (p. 197), after `Chemistry' insert `Earth Sciences or'.
11 Ibid., footnote 1, after `Chemistry' insert `or Earth Sciences'.
12 Ibid. (p. 198), after `Chemistry' insert `or Earth Sciences'.
13 In Examination Decrees, 1996, p. 19, ll. 14 and 19, in each case after `Chemistry' insert `or Earth Sciences'.
14 Ibid., p. 21, l. 8, after `CHEMISTRY' insert `OR EARTH SCIENCES'.
15 Ibid., ll. 13, 18, and 28, in each case after `Chemistry' insert `or Earth Sciences'.
16 Ibid., p. 412, after l. 18 insert new cl. 5 as follows and renumber existing cll. 5--13 (pp. 412--4) as cll. 6--14:
`5. (a) Save as provided in cl. 5 (c) below, the name of a candidate offering either Geology in the three- year course or Earth Sciences in the four-year course shall not be published in a Class List until he or she has completed Parts A and B of the respective examinations.
(b) A student who has been admitted to the Status of Senior Student may be admitted to Part A of either the three-year course or the four-year course in the term in which he or she has completed not fewer than five terms of residence.
(c) In such cases as shall be approved by the Board of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, a Senior Student may be deemed to have satisfied the Examiners in Part A of the four-year course in Earth Sciences and may be admitted to Part B of the examination in the term in which the student has completed at least six terms of residence.
(d) The Examiners in Earth Sciences for the four- year course shall be entitled to award a pass or classified honours to candidates in the Second Public Examination who have reached a standard considered adequate. The Examiners shall give due consideration to the performance in both parts of the examination. A candidate who obtains only a pass or fails to satisfy the Examiners may enter again for Part B of the examination on one, but not more than one, subsequent occasion.
(e) A candidate adjudged worthy of honours in the Second Public Examination for the four-year course in Earth Sciences may supplicate for the Degree of Master of Earth Sciences provided that he or she has fulfilled all the conditions for admission to a degree of the University as specified in Ch.I, Sect. I, § 1, cl. 1.'
17 Ibid., p. 845, l. 10, after `Chemistry' insert `or Earth Sciences'.
18 Ibid., p. 985, l. 39, delete `Physical Sciences' and substitute `Geology or Earth Sciences in the Honour School of Natural Science'.
19 Ibid., p. 1027, l. 4, after `Master of Chemistry,' insert `Master of Earth Sciences,'.
20 Ibid., p. 1059, l. 21, after `M.Chem.' insert `or the M.Earth Sc.' 21 Ibid., l. 36, after `M.Chem.' insert `or the Degree of M.Earth Sc.' 22 Clause 9 of this decree shall be effective from the date on which clause 2 of Statute (...) approved by Congregation on ... is approved by Her Majesty in Council; the remaining clauses shall have immediate effect.
Cl. 8 provides for the incorporation to the Oxford M.Earth Sc. of holders of the Cambridge M.Sci. in the appropriate subject.
Cl. 9 provides for holders of the new degree to be admitted to membership of Convocation.
Cll. 10--12 determine the academic precedence of holders of the new degree.
Cl. 13 dispenses candidates with Senior Status from the requirement to have passed the First Public Examination as a condition of supplication for the new degree.
Cll. 14 and 15 extend the present provisions governing the time and exercises required for the degree of BA so as to cover the new degree.
Cl. 16 provides for candidates attaining honours in the relevant honour school to be eligible to supplicate for the new degree.
Cl. 17 inserts a reference to the new degree into the provisions governing the award of the relevant higher doctorate.
Cl. 18 provides for the appointment of examiners for the new degree.
Cl. 19 provides for the form of class and pass lists for the new degree.
Cl. 20 provides for the issue of certificates to holders of the new degree.
Cl. 21 provides that students for the new degree shall pay university composition fees at the same rate as those working for the degree of BA.
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(2) WHEREAS it is expedient for the Committee for the Scientific Collections to be replaced with Visitors of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, THE UNIVERSITY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS.
In Tit. VIII, Sect. VI, cl. 1 (Statutes, 1995, p. 62, as amended by Statute (2) approved by Congregation on 3 December 1996, Gazette, pp. 401, 433), delete `Committee for the Scientific Collections in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History' and after `Advisory Council for Ornithology' insert:
`Visitors of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History'.
2 Ibid., Sect. LVII, cl. 1 (6), (7), concerning the Committee for the Museums and the Scientific Collections
(p. 306, as amended by the same decree), delete `Principal Curator' and substitute `Director'.
3 Ibid., Sect. LXXI, concerning the Committee for the Scientific Collections in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (p. 317, as amended by the same decree and by Decree (2) of 6 February 1997, Gazette, p. 708), delete title and substitute `Oxford University Museum of Natural History'.
4 Ibid., delete cll. 1 and 2 and substitute:
`1. The Visitors of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History shall comprise:
(1) a chairman who shall be appointed by the Vice- Chancellor;
(2) one of the Proctors or the Assessor as may be agreed between them;
(3), (4) two persons appointed by the General Board, of whom one shall be a person who is not a resident holder of a teaching, research, or administrative post in the University or in any college or other society;
(5), (6) two persons appointed by Council, of whom one shall be a person who is not a resident holder of a teaching, research, or administrative post in the University or in any college or other society;
(7) the Linacre Professor of Zoology or his or her nominee;
(8) the Professor of Zoology or his or her nominee;
(9) the Professor of Geology or his or her nominee;
(10) the Professor of the Physics and Chemistry of Minerals or his or her nominee.
The Visitors may co-opt up to three other members, who need not be members of Congregation. Members shall hold office for a period of three years, and shall be re-eligible. Any or all of the Curators of the four Collections may be invited by the Visitors to attend meetings, or parts thereof, but shall not have voting rights.
The director of the museum shall act as secretary to the Visitors provided always that the Visitors at their discretion may require the director to withdraw from part or all of any meeting.
2. The duties of the Visitors shall be
(a) to establish, maintain, and as necessary modify the general policy framework governing the museum's operations;
(b) to exercise responsibility for the care and maintenance of the collections in the museum, including the acquisition and disposal of collections and specimens;
(c) to have general oversight of the museum's finances, and to present annually to the General Board an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the ensuing financial year;
(d) to appoint staff for the museum, in particular staff to assist the curators appointed under clause 3 below in the maintenance of the collections, and, subject to the provisions of any statute, decree, or regulation of general application, to determine their duties and conditions of service;
(e) to co-ordinate activities to raise additional funds for the museum;
(f) to prepare annually for submission to Congregation a printed report of the activities of the Visitors.'
5 Ibid., delete cl. 3 (p. 318) and renumber existing cll. 4–7 (as amended by Decree (2) of 6 February 1997) as cll. 3–6.
6 Ibid., cll. 4 (7)–(9) and 5 (a) as renumbered, in each case delete `Committee for the Scientific Collections' and substitute `Visitors of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History'.
7 Ibid., cl. 5 (a), (b) (twice), (c), and (d) as renumbered, in each case delete `committee' and substitute `Visitors'.
8 Ibid., cl. 5 (a) and (b) as renumbered, in each case delete `its' and substitute `their'.
9 Ibid., cl. 5 (a) as renumbered, delete `it has' and substitute `they have'.
10 Ibid., cl. 5 (c) as renumbered, delete `it' and substitute `they'.
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The Bampton Electors consider, in consultation with the Theology Board, that it is now desirable to change the arrangements for the Bampton Lecturership to enable the lectures to be given on any day of the week, not just Sunday, and in just one term if thought appropriate, instead of having to be spread over two terms as at present. This is both to encourage greater attendance and to facilitate scholarly interchange after the lectures and also, if thought appropriate, the election of distinguished lecturers from overseas who could not attend for the duration of two terms. The opportunity is taken in addition to make other minor changes to facilitate the operation of the Bampton Lectures.
It is also now expedient to abolish the Sarum Lectures, which are considered to have become unnecessary in so far as since 1990 the Bampton Lecturership has been open to both men and women, and to suitable persons unconnected with churches within the Anglican Communion. It is proposed to utilise the moneys thus saved to further the purposes of clause 11 (c) of the existing statute (namely the making of grants for the promotion of studies in the theological subjects specified in the statute), in particular in helping to refinance the Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology, and in holding occasional special lectures to be given by eminent theologians.
The following statute, and the decree to be made
by Council if the statute is approved, provide
accordingly.
(3) WHEREAS it is expedient to change the
arrangements for the Bampton Lectures in order to
encourage greater attendance and to facilitate scholarly
interchange, and WHEREAS forty copies of the lectures are
no longer sufficient to supply all the specified
recipients, and WHEREAS it is now expedient to abolish
the Sarum Lectures and to use the money thus saved for
the promotion of the study of Theology generally, NOW THE
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, in exercise of the powers in that
behalf conferred upon it by the Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge Act, 1923, and of all other powers enabling
it, ENACTS, subject to the approval of Her Majesty in
Council, AS FOLLOWS.
1 In Tit. XV, Sect. I, heading (Statutes, 1995, p. 113), delete `and Sarum'.
2 Ibid., cl. 2, delete `Sundays in' and substitute `days in either or both of'.
3 Ibid., cl. 4, delete `forty copies ... one copy being' and substitute `sufficient copies of his or her lecture sermons for one copy to be'.
4 Ibid., cl. 5, after `he' insert `or she'.
5 Ibid., delete cll. 6–10 (pp. 113–14), and renumber existing cl. 11 as cl. 6.
6 Ibid., cl. 6 as renumbered, after `charge on the' delete `annual'.
7 Ibid., delete `or Sarum Lecturer, as the case may be,' and substitute `Lecturer'.
8 Ibid., delete `(b) towards ... Sarum Lectures;' and substitute:
`(b) towards other costs associated with the Bampton Lectures;'.
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2 Ibid., Sect. IV, § 3, cl. 9, concerning university lecturerships (p. 493), delete `Sarum Lecturer'.
3 In Ch. XI, § 3, title, concerning sermons (p. 691), delete `on Sunday mornings'.
4 Ibid., cl. 1 (p. 691), after `Bampton Lecturer' insert `(in the event that the Bampton Lectures are delivered on Sunday mornings)'.
5 Ibid., cl. 3, delete `Sundays in' and substitute `days in either or both of'.
Cll. 3–5 permit the Bampton Lectures to be delivered on a day other than Sunday, and in only one term.