Source: www.glos.ac.uk. All Rights Reserved. 2024 University of Gloucestershire
Last updated: 14 January 2021
| Agenda Item | C.13.35 |
| Paper Number | C/21/13 |
| Title | The Anglican Identity of the University |
| Author | Stephen Marston Vice-Chancellor |
| Status (Open, Confidential, Reserved) Starred(for approval/for note) or Unstarred | • To endorse the attached paper as a statement on the Anglican identity of the University • To approve the 6 proposed actions recommended in paragraphs 12 – 17 • Specifically, to endorse the formation of a new Standing Committee to bring together members of Council, the Foundation, staff, students and Chaplaincy with a remit to keep these issues under review (see paragraph 12 of the paper) |
| Matter previously considered by: | A working group convened by the Chaplain, including some Council and Foundation members |
The University has been reviewing the current meaning of our Anglican identity, how it is manifested in our current practices, and what action should be taken to develop it further. There was an external prompt in the form of a current review being undertaken by Stephen Heap for the Church of England Board of Education on “The Anglican Identity of Church of
England Higher Education Institutions”. But we wanted in any case to pursue the discussion internally as part of our wider work on the University’s culture.
The discussion has included members of Council (Michael Perham, Pamela Taylor and Karen Morgan), the President of the Foundation (Malcolm Herbert), members of the University Executive, staff and the Chaplaincy. Views were also invited from staff and students at large.
The attached paper is the result of that work. It summarises how the University’s Anglican identity currently expresses itself, and proposes 6 actions for further work. The Council is invited to endorse the paper and the actions set out in paragraphs 12 to 17. If Council endorses the paper, it will be published on the website as a statement of University position.
One of the recommendations for further action (in paragraph 12) is that we should establish a Standing Committee of Council with the draft terms of reference attached at Annex A. If Council is content to endorse those terms of reference, we will put them to Governance and Nominations Committee to consider membership.
One issue arising in the discussions on which there was not full consensus concerned the recruitment of staff. It would be an option to ask candidates at interview specific questions about their awareness of the University’s Anglican foundation and whether that raised any issues for them. The view of the Executive, however, is that we should not do that, because it
could risk causing some candidates to infer that they were being implicitly invited to express some faith commitment. Rather we should limit interview questions to the University’s values, and not make explicit reference to Anglican identity.
1. The University of Gloucestershire has an historic and continuing affiliation with the Christian
Church. This reflects particularly the Evangelical Anglican Christian foundation of two of the
institutions which were subsequently merged with others to form the University.
2. Like every other university in England, the University of Gloucestershire has been undergoing rapid change, which will continue for the foreseeable future. We now operate in a pluralist society, seeking to serve students of all faiths and none, and employing staff of all faiths and none. So we felt it was timely to review how that Anglican faith identity is, and should be,
reflected in the University’s current constitution and activities.
3. The purpose of this paper is to summarise the conclusions reached about how that identity is expressed, and to set out some additional ways in which it could be developed.
4. The paper has been developed through a series of discussions across the University, including two special meetings convened by the University Chaplain, an open meeting chaired by the Bishop of Gloucester (who is also Vice-Chair of Council), a meeting of the Fellows of the University Foundation, and through references in the Vice-Chancellor’s newsletter and briefings for all staff. The paper was discussed and endorsed by the University’s Council at their meeting on 12 April 2013.
5. The University of Gloucestershire was designated as a University in 2001. But its origins date back to the 19th century. One major strand was the municipal and local authority development, from the 1840s onwards, of vocational and professional further and higher education. The other
major strand was the formation in 1847 of the Cheltenham Training College with an explicit Evangelical Anglican Christian mission for the education of teachers, and the subsequent establishment of the Colleges of St Paul and St Mary.
6. The original faith basis of the Training College was sustained through several organisational changes. When the University was formed in 2001, its Articles of Association carried forward that legacy. The Articles, as last revised in 2011, continue to provide that:
7. Associated with the University is an Anglican Foundation of some 200 Fellows, half clergy and half laity. The Fellows are Christians committed to the values of the University’s Anglican origin, and who support the University’s work and mission. Originally, the Foundation acted as an
electoral college, appointing a number of members to the University’s Council. That role was removed in 2011.
8. As a University, our goal is to provide an environment which is respectful of faith; a place where debate is fostered and in which people of all faiths and none feel comfortable in expressing their convictions within the law, without fear of discrimination or ridicule; a place which provides opportunities for individuals who so wish to explore, deepen and express their faith; and which promotes awareness of the historical, intellectual and cultural significance of faith (particularly the Christian Faith) for the University and our society. As a University, we are, and should always be, a place that values open and honest debate about fundamental issues, and
that sustains the pursuit of knowledge, insight and truth – including in relation to faith and religion.
9. It is not a corporate objective of the University as an organisation to seek to proselytise, although the Foundation and the Chaplaincy do uphold and promote the Christian faith. As a University, we do not want our Anglican identity to be a cause of division or exclusion but want it to be a source of strength, and a distinctive characteristic and asset for the University.
10. Our Anglican identity and heritage expresses itself in many ways, including through the following:
11. Arguably, this set of activities already represents a broad-ranging and appropriate expression of the University’s Anglican identity and Christian foundation. In many respects, our Anglican identity will best be expressed through being integrated within our daily activities. For example, by making a reality of the commitments within our People and Culture strategy, we will work towards a culture which is respectful of people, which values diversity, which supports personal growth, and which combats bullying. We have, however, considered whether there are specific
actions it would be useful to take, in order to strengthen the positive aspects of our Anglican identity. We have identified six proposed actions.
12. First, we propose to form a standing group of members drawn from the University Council, the Foundation, staff and students, with a remit to keep these issues under review. The group would have the status of a Standing Committee of the Council. It would be composed of three members each from the Council and the Executive of the Foundation, with interested members of the University staff and students. Following the 2011 revision of the University Articles and the removal of appointment rights from the Foundation, there are now no Foundation Fellows on the Council. We think there should be a close, ongoing link between the Foundation and the
Council, to oversee this aspect of the University’s mission and objects. The group should prepare an annual report to the Council reviewing progress in relation to the issues covered in this paper, linked to an annual report by the Chaplain.
13. Second, we should affirm the role of the Foundation. Since the removal of its function as an electoral college for University Council members in 2011, the Foundation has reviewed its role. It has drawn up a statement on its future operation and functions, which the University endorses. Rather than seeking further to define a corporate role for the Foundation as a
collective entity, it may be more useful to identify how individual Foundation Fellows can support the University in different ways, depending on each person’s interests and time availability. Those ways include:
14. Third, we should review how the University’s Anglican identity is expressed in our recruitment of students and staff, and particularly the recruitment of international students. At present, students and staff applying to the University may well be unaware of the University’s Anglican
origins and how they are reflected in our current operations. For many students and staff that is not an issue, and we would not want to change our recruitment practice or literature in any way that made people of other faiths and none feel they would be unwelcome or excluded. But particularly for international recruitment, it is possible that some applicants would be attracted to a University which was explicit about its Anglican identity and its commitment to providing an environment respectful of faiths. We should research the options, and the approaches adopted by comparable Universities.
15. Fourth, we should make it easier to find relevant information about our Anglican identity on the University website, for staff, students, applicants and those wishing to know more about us. It should be part of the story we tell about ourselves, in terms of our history and our present purposes. This paper should be made available on the website, with weblinks to the activities listed in paragraph 10.
16. Fifth, we should introduce a structured programme of “public square” opportunities for students to consider and debate issues of faith and meaning. This would complement the University’s wider mission to enable students to reach a deeper understanding of themselves, their lives, and
the world around them. It could be done in various ways, and we need to research models used elsewhere. For example, it could be a seminar series. Or it could be an additional taught module, available to all students who wish to take it, with academic credit awarded for successful completion. Or it could be analogous to a Degreeplus internship or volunteering opportunity, which does not offer academic credit, but can be recorded within the Higher Education Achievement Record. Some Universities set aside a designated time each week to enable students to participate in such programmes.
17. Sixth, we should review how we might develop our links with the Diocese of Gloucester, including better links with the Board of Education and its work with schools in the county. The distinctive Evangelical Christian foundation of the original Cheltenham Training College meant
that historically our links with the Diocese have been less close than some other Universities whose original foundation was prompted directly by the Diocese.
University of Gloucestershire
March 2013
18. To provide a close and ongoing link between the Foundation and the Council to oversee those aspects of the University’s mission and objects relating to its Anglican identity.
19. To ensure that the University continues to work towards the following goal:
“As a University, our goal is to provide an environment which is respectful of faith; a place where debate is fostered and in which people of all faiths and none feel comfortable in expressing their convictions within the law, without fear of discrimination or ridicule; a place which provides opportunities for individuals who so wish to explore, deepen and express their faith; and which promotes awareness of the historical, intellectual and cultural significance of faith (particularly the Christian Faith) for the University and our society. As a University, we are, and should always be, a place that values open and honest debate about fundamental issues, and that sustains the pursuit of knowledge, insight and truth – including in relation to faith and religion.
It is not a corporate objective of the University as an organisation to seek to proselytise, although the Foundation and the Chaplaincy do uphold and promote the Christian faith. As a University, we do not want our Anglican identity to be a cause of division or exclusion but want it to be a source of strength, and a distinctive characteristic and asset for the University.”
20. To identify ways for the Foundation Fellows to support the University in achieving its goal as outlined in point 2.
21. To review work undertaken and to suggest other areas of activity to maintain the Anglican identity of the University.
22. To ensure actions and decisions are consistent with the University’s Articles of Association.
23. To report annually to Council on the work of the Group.
Specific Policy Responsibilities
No specific policy responsibilities
Specific Responsibility for Review of University Area of Activity
To ensure the continued Anglican identity of the University and to maintain the link between Council and the Foundation.
Mode of Operation
Chair: Member of Council
Vice Chair: President of the Foundation
Officer: Academic Registrar and University Secretary
Quorum: See after membership
Frequency of Meetings
Twice per year
Reporting Line
University Council
Current Sub-Committees
None
Submission /Availability of Minutes
Minutes are held by the Academic Registrar and University Secretary, and
published on the University website.
| Membership | Appointment Dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 members of Council (to include the Vice-Chancellor) | ||
| 2 | 3 representatives from the Foundation including the President (usually drawn from the Fellows’ Standing Committee) | ||
| 3 | 3 staff representatives (to include representation from University Executive and Theology) | ||
| 4 | 3 student representatives (usually to include representation from the Christian Union) | ||
| 5 | Chaplaincy representative (usually the University Chaplain) |
The Committee shall be quorate when at least one member from each of the four categories indicated plus either the Chair or Vice-Chair are present.
Where the Committee is, or becomes during the meeting, inquorate, Council will be informed of these circumstances at its next meeting. The Committee Chair shall decide whether:
; ?> "Visit the homepage"){kind=logo}
