“ACADEMIC HEAD”

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 168, 13 April 1926, Page 9

“ACADEMIC HEAD”

ONLY ONE UNIVERSITY RECTOR IN N.Z. It was recently published that steps would be taken to appoint an academic head of Victoria University College. To do this will no doubt require legislation. According to inquiries made in certain quarters, the only clear example in New Zealand of a university college under an academic head seems to be Canterbury. Dr. Chilton, a professor on the staff of the Canterbury College, is Rector and is ex officio chairman of the Professorial Board and a member of the College Board of Governors. He, therefore, commands the academic side, and shares in the general administrative control. For Canterbury College an enabling Act was passed in 1922. At Victoria College a professor is chairman of the Professorial Board, but there is no Rector or Principal. In Auckland Mr. Fowlds is head of the general administrative control and is called President of the University, but there is no academic head in the correct sense. Otago pre-existed the New Zealand University, and is to some extent in a niche of its own. Before the New Zealand University arose, Otago had power to grant degrees of its own. Then Otago surrendered that power, but retained in certain respects its old status, and tho head is called Chancellor. The present Chancellor is Mr. T. K. Sidey.