Following the decision of Lord Wilson of Tillyorn to retire from the Chancellorship of the University of Aberdeen, notice is hereby given of a vacancy in the office of Chancellor with effect from 1 January 2013.
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University, and has the function of conferring degrees and is President of the General Council. The office may be held for life.
Nominations for the position must be made by a proposer and seconder, both being members of the General Council of the University of Aberdeen, and be accompanied by a statement signed by the candidate intimating their consent to the nomination.
Nomination forms are available from Jennifer Sewel, Registrar & Clerk to the General Council, University Office, King’s College, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX(01224 272016 jennifer.sewel@abdn.ac.uk).
The closing date for nominations is 4pm on Monday 4 February 2013.
The Role of Chancellor
The role of Chancellor is primarily ceremonial, at graduation ceremonies, and to act externally as an ambassador for the University.
The most public role is in conferring degrees at University ceremonies. Degree ceremonies are held twice a year, in July and November. The Chancellor is also entitled to preside at the two statutory meetings a year of the General Council and is an ex officio member of the University of Aberdeen Development Trust. The Chancellor appoints a Vice-Chancellor, a position which by convention, is held by the same person who is the University Principal. The Chancellor also appoints a Chancellor’s Assessor to represent him or her on the University Court.
Nomination and Election
Nominees do not need to be members of the General Council.
Proposers and seconders, however, must be members of the General Council. For the purposes of this election, members of the General Council are any individuals who, as at 31 December 2012, are registered by the University under one of the following categories:
- all graduates of the University;
- all present and past professors and members of the University Court;
- readers and lecturers who have been in office for more than one year;
- former readers and lecturers who were members of the Council during their tenure of office and who continued in the employment of the University until retirement.
Individuals who wish to confirm that they are registered as a member of the General Council or to advise of any change in address should contact: h.veitch@abdn.ac.uk, 01224 273234