Governance/Governing body management, Glasgow Polytechnic

Glasgow Polytechnic formerly Glasgow College formerly Glasgow College of Technology

Governance

Governing body management

Governing Council  1971-1975

College Council 1976-1985

Governing Body 1985-1993

Glasgow College of Technology was established by Glasgow Corporation in 1971 but the corporation did not play any direct role in its government. Instead, the college was governed by a governing council with responsibility for the general direction of the college, resource allocation and overall staffing distribution. The council promoted the college's functions and development within the framework of general policy agreed between the council, the education committee and the Scottish Education Department. Subject to the responsibilities and financial resources of the education committee and to the approval of the secretary of state for Scotland, the council was also responsible for the courses offered by the college. It was felt that membership of the council should be as widely representative of the major academic interests of the college as possible and so the first members were from the Glasgow Education Committee, the education authorities of Lanarkshire, Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Trade Union Congress and the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde. The functions and responsibilities of the council were defined in an instrument and articles of government. The first meeting took place on 28 January 1971.

In 1975, Strathclyde Regional Council was formed and replaced the Corporation of Glasgow as the college's funding body. This resulted in some changes in the role of the governing council, in particular a lessening of autonomy, and its name was changed to college council. The college council held its inaugural meeting on 21 April 1976. A new constitution replaced the previous instrument and articles of government.

In 1985, the college became a Scottish Central Institution and the college council was renamed governing body. The first meeting was held on 24 June 1985.

In January 1989, changes were made to the composition of the governing body. This was as a result of the Central Institutions (Scotland) Regulation 1988 the aim of which was to extend greater independence to the higher education institutions funded directly by the Scottish Education Department and to strengthen their links with the various communities they served. Thirteen governors with experience in industrial, commercial or employment matters or the practice of a profession were appointed. There were also representatives from the academic board, the full-time academic staff and the full-time non-academic staff. The principal, the vice-principal and the president of the student's association were ex officio governors. The first meeting of the new governing body took place on 31 January 1989. Committees responsible to the newly constituted governing body were health and safety, joint policy, finance, audit, staff affairs and buildings and works.

Minutes and papers of governing council 1971-1975, college council 1976-1985 and governing body 1985-1993 1971-1993 Ref: GB 1847 GP GOV 1/1
 

Title of function/activity taken from Elizabeth Parker's Function Activity Model (report compiled for JISC). Function and activity description compiled according to GASHE's Standard for Creating Function and Activity Descriptions.