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Showing posts tagged Readings
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Oxford University: History
Oxford is the oldest University in the english-speaking world founded approximately on 1096. From the latin form Universitas Oxonensis, the university is commonly named as Oxon or Oxf, their students are called Oxonians of Fellows and Dons is the name used to refer to a scholar professor. Its motto is Dominus illumination Mea –the Lord is my Light-.
The University grew incredibly fast in 1167 as a result of Henry II banning the English students to attend the University of Paris. In 1209 was stopped the activity due to the murder of two students previously accused of rape and was restarted on 1231.
Oxford had achieved eminence above every other seat of learning, and won the praises of popes, kings and sages by virtue of its antiquity, curriculum, doctrine and privileges. In 1355, Edward III paid tribute to the University for its invaluable contribution to learning; he also commented on the services rendered to the state by distinguished Oxford graduates.
From its early days, Oxford was a centre for lively controversy, with scholars involved in religious and political disputes. John Wyclif, a 14th-century Master of Balliol, campaigned for a bible in the vernacular, against the wishes of the papacy. In 1530, Henry VIII forced the University to accept his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and during the Reformation in the 16th century, the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in Oxford.
The University was Royalist in the Civil War, and Charles I held a counter-Parliament in Convocation House, and in the late 17th century, the Oxford philosopher John Locke, suspected of treason, was forced to flee the country.
The 18th century, when Oxford was said to have forsaken port for politics, was also an era of scientific discovery and religious revival. Edmund Halley, Professor of Geometry, predicted the return of the comet that bears his name; John and Charles Wesley’s prayer meetings laid the foundations of the Methodist Society.
The University assumed a leading role in the Victorian era, especially in religious controversy. From 1833 onwards The Oxford Movement sought to revitalise the Catholic aspects of the Anglican Church. One of its leaders, John Henry Newman, became a Roman Catholic in 1845 and was later made a Cardinal. In 1860 the new University Museum was the scene of a famous debate between Thomas Huxley, champion of evolution, and Bishop Wilberforce.
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Oxford University and Women
Women were not admitted to membership of the University until 1920, although they had been allowed to sit some University examinations and attend lectures for over forty years by that date. It was thanks to individual initiatives, and the pioneering work of the Association for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (AEW) that women’s colleges came to be established in Oxford.
Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville opened in 1879, followed by St Hugh’s in 1886 and St Hilda’s in 1893. St Anne’s, which in 1952 was the last of the women’s colleges to be incorporated by Royal Charter, originated as the Society of Oxford Home Students, catering for women students who lived with private families in Oxford while attending courses organised by the AEW. The five women’s societies were granted full collegiate status in 1959.
Five all-male colleges - Brasenose, Jesus, Wadham, Hertford and St Catherine’s - first admitted women in 1974.
The first woman to be appointed to a full professorship were Agnes Headlam-Morley and Ida Mann. Both women were Fellows of St Hugh’s College.
Oxford currently has nine female Heads of House: the Rector of Exeter; the Wardens of Keble, Merton and St Antony’s; the Principals of Lady Margaret Hall, Mansfield, St Hilda’s, and Somerville; and the President of Wolfson. In 1993 Professor Marilyn Butler, former Rector of Exeter, became the first female head of a former all-male college at either Oxford or Cambridge.
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The structure of the University
Oxford is an independent and self-governing institution, consisting of the central University and the 38 Colleges.
Vice-Chancellor
· The Vice-Chancellor holds office for up to seven years and is the senior officer of the University.
Pro-Vice-Chancellors (5)
· Pro-Vice-Chancellors have specific responsibility for Development and External Affairs: Education, Academic Services and University Collections; Personnel and Equality; Planning and Resources; and Research.
Chancellor
· The Chancellor is usually an eminent public figure elected for life and serves as the titular head of the University, presiding over all major ceremonies.
University Council
· The Council of the University is responsible for the academic policy and strategic direction of the University. It operates through five major committees: Education; General Purposes; Personnel; Planning and Resource Allocation; and Research.
Congregation
· Final responsibility for legislative matters rests with Congregation, which comprises over 4,500 members of the academic, senior research, library, museum and administrative staff.
Academic Divisions (4)
· Day-to-day decision-making in matters such as finance and planning is devolved to the University’s four Academic Divisions - Humanities; Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. Each division has a full-time divisional head and an elected divisional board.
Colleges (38)
· though independent and self-governing, form a core element of the University, to which they are related in a federal system, not unlike the United States.
Permanent Private Halls (6)
· founded by different Christian denominations, and still retain their religious character today.
