Universities (Scotland) Act 1889

Powers of Commissioners U.K.

14 Powers of Commissioners. U.K.

The Commissioners shall have power to call before them the principals, professors, University lecturers, assistants, recognised teachers, students, and examiners, or any other person employed in teaching or examining, or bearing office in or otherwise connected with the Universities or colleges thereof existing at the passing of this Act, and such other persons as they may think proper, and to examine them as to all rules and ordinances now in force in the Universities or colleges, and to require the production of all documents and accounts relating thereto, and after making due inquiry to make ordinances for all or any of the following purposes, as shall to them seem expedient:—

(1) To regulate the foundations, mortifications, gifts, endowments and bursaries, held by any of the Universities or colleges thereof existing at the passing of this Act, or by any person in trust for or on behalf of the same, or for the benefit of any professors, students, or others therein, which have taken effect for more than twenty-five years previously to the passing of this Act, or if given within less than twenty-five years, are wholly or partially inoperative or dormant, or which they may be asked to revise and regulate by the Senatus Academicus and the founder of the trust conjointly, with the approval of the University Court, and in particular—

(a) To alter the conditions or directions affecting the same, if it shall appear to the Commissioners that the interests of learning and the main design of the donor, so far as is consistent with the promotion of such interests, may be better advanced by such alteration;

(b) To combine or divide bursaries, and to establish bursary funds;

(c) Where it shall seem requisite to frame regulations under which the patronage of existing bursaries vested in private individuals, or corporate or other bodies, shall be exercised;

(d) To transfer the patronage of professorships now vested in private individuals or corporate or other bodies, other than the Curators of the University of Edinburgh, to the University Court:

Provided always, that where a professorship, the patronage of which is so transferred, shall have been maintained, or partially maintained, by funds provided annually or periodically by any corporate or other body, in which, or in the governing body of which, such patronage shall, in consideration of such annual or other periodical payment, have been vested, it shall upon such transfer be in the option of such corporate or other body to cease making such annual or other periodical payments.

Provided also, that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any bursary or endowment granted by any incorporation or society whose funds, capital, or revenue have been and are contributed and paid by the members of such incorporation or society by way of entry moneys or other fixed or stated contributions.

Provided also, that in all cases where competition for bursaries and other endowments is at present restricted to the holders of certain degrees, the Commissioners shall have power to extend it to the holders of such other degrees as they may consider to constitute, in the circumstances, an equivalent standard of merit.

Provided also, that in framing such regulations or making such alterations the Commissioners shall take care not to diminish the advantages provided for poor students by such foundations, mortifications, gifts, endowments, or bursaries aforesaid;

(e) To prepare a scheme by which a detailed and reasoned report on the qualifications of candidates for chairs may be submitted to the patrons, including the Crown, so as to assist them in the discharge of their patronage:

(2) Subject to the provisions of the M1 Universities (Scotland) Act 1858, as amended by this Act, to regulate the powers, duties, jurisdictions, and privileges of chancellors, rectors, assessors, . . . F1

(3) . . . F2

(4) To regulate the time, place, and manner of presenting and electing University officers, with power to ordain that in the election of the rectors of the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen the election shall be determined by the majority of the votes of all the students voting whenever the votes of the nations shall be equally divided:

(5)—(11) . . . F3

(12) To lay down regulations for the constitution and functions of a students representative council in each University, and to frame regulations under which that council shall be entitled to make representations to the University Court:

(13), (14) . . . F4

(15) To fix the limits of time within which appeals may be lodged and representations may be made under section six, sub-sections two and three hereof:

(16) . . . F5

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed by Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 13), Sch. 7 Pt. I

F2 S. 14 para. (3) repealed by Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 13), Sch. 7 Pt. I

F3 S. 14 paras. (5)–(11) repealed by Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 13), Sch. 7 Pt. I

F4 S. 14 paras. (13) (14) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49) and Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 13), Sch. 7 Pt. I

F5 S. 14 para. (16) repealed by Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (c. 13), Sch. 7 Pt. I

Marginal Citations

M1 1858 c. 83.