Heads of Colleges - Further Details

Heads of Colleges

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Further Details

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Contents

Heads of Colleges advertisementThe Role of a Head of CollegePerson SpecificationGrey CollegeUstinov CollegeSt Cuthbert’s SocietyDurham UniversityOutline Terms of EmploymentHow to Apply

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Heads of Colleges Applicant Briefing

Master of Grey College (founded 1959)Principal of Ustinov College (postgraduate only: founded 1965) Principal of St Cuthbert’s Society (founded 1888).

Salary will be by negotiation and includes a residence for the Head of College

Durham is a Collegiate University. Our sixteen residentialColleges are distinctive educational communities with a significant residential component, enabling staff andstudents from different backgrounds, disciplines andexperience to support each other in their academic and non-academic lives at University.

We are seeking talented academic leaders who have thevision and experience to lead one of Durham University’ssixteen Colleges. Heads of College are normally resident withintheir College and a house is provided. The posts requireintellectual as well as organisational leadership and theiracademic discipline should ensure effective engagement with research in one of our academic Departments.

The posts offer an excellent opportunity to combine theleadership and management of an educational community(50%) with teaching and research (50%).

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The Role of a Head of College

Heads of Colleges will normally be appointed to a substantive Professorship within theUniversity, and will be appointed Head of College for five years in the first instance,renewable for subsequent periods as appropriate on the recommendation of theDeputy Warden and a decision by the Vice-Chancellor and Warden as Chair of Senate.

The Head of College is a 50% appointment with the remainder of the individual’s timespent on academic (normally research) activities. Annual staff reviews and renewal ofappointment will require appropriate levels of performance in both parts of the role,involving the Head of the relevant Department.

Durham University expects all its Colleges to be diverse and distinctive educationalcommunities, with a significant residential component, enabling staff and studentsfrom different backgrounds, disciplines and experience to support each other in theirlives at the University. We expect the Head of College to ensure his/her College,individually and collectively, delivers University strategy, particularly policies in the areas of Education and Research, through:

Leading the implementation of the University strategy within the college, working inpartnership with academic departments and professional services, endeavouring to ensure:

• academic-related activities (seminars; debates etc.) to promote interdisciplinarythinking and awareness of societal, environmental and other major issues amongsttheir students, enhancing the intellectual life and employability of students;

• support for the research mission and agenda of the University;• a pleasant and conducive environment for an educational community, well

maintained and supporting student activities such as sport, culture and the arts,and volunteering;

• engagement and support to visiting and University staff, positively engaging themajority of university academic and senior support staff in College activities;providing residential accommodation for staff and visitors, and ensuring thatCollege facilities are used for meetings, conferences and dining/social events.

Leadership of a cohesive and distinctive educational community, comprising the JCR,MCR, SCR, staff, and alumni association, endeavouring to ensure:

• the best possible pastoral care and support, accessible and available to all students;• an effective mentoring (non-academic tutorial) system which students recognise,

value and use;• diversity and inclusivity in the student body, including students from different

backgrounds and levels of study;

Heads of Colleges are senior University leaders. Heads of Colleges (forthe University’s maintained Colleges) report to and are line-managed bythe Deputy Warden, who is budget holder for the Colleges Division anda member of the University Executive Committee (UEC).

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• excellence in non-academic activitiesfor students with a focus on sport,culture and volunteering/outreach;

• support for personal development,employability and skills developmentof our students;

• effective student discipline and theresponsibilities incumbent on beingpart of a community;

• strong Junior and Middle CommonRooms, working closely with Collegestaff to enhance student life andopportunities;

• a thriving Senior Common Room witha healthy mix of university staff andexternal members;

• eating together as a means of creatingcommunity, as appropriate for theindividual College.

Active participation in fundraising,stewardship and the green development of the college premises and facilities,endeavouring to ensure:

• partnership working with otherColleges and professional services to ensure that collectively the CollegesDivision delivers maximum value for students and the University as a whole rather than Collegesindividually;

• residential accommodation which isvaried, attractive to students, fullyoccupied and with underlyingoperations clearly perceived as valuefor money;

• communal facilities which foster aself-supportive educationalcommunity of staff and students;

• thriving alumni associations linkingstudents to their College and theUniversity community after they havegraduated;

• successful fundraising for the College;• effective use of College facilities,

when not required for Universityactivities, for external incomegeneration to support our researchand educational mission.

More specifically, all Heads of Collegeshave the following responsibilities:

1. To play a wider leadership role as a senior member of the University,ensuring that their College is aneffective and integral part of theUniversity and plays its role indeveloping and implementingUniversity strategy in education and research.

2. To show leadership in creating anddeveloping a vibrant and distinctiveeducational community in whichstudents can grow and develop inconfidence, academically, sociallyand culturally.

3. To be an integral and visible part ofthe College community, and whereaccommodation is available withinthe College, to be a resident of thatcommunity.

4. To lead short and long-term planningand budgeting for the College, aspart of the Colleges Division, withresponsibility as budget holder forthe College (as delegated by theDeputy Warden), working closely andeffectively with the College Council.

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5. To lead, with support from theDevelopment and Alumni RelationsOffice fundraising and thedevelopment of a strong CollegeAlumnus community which continuessupport for the College/University,and where appropriate to ensurethrough their stewardship thatCollege Trusts act in accordance withthe University’s Financial policies forthe benefit of the College community.

6. To take on specific tasks on behalfof the Colleges Division or Universityas a whole as requested by theDeputy Warden or Warden.

7. To take responsibility for all aspectsof leading their College and its seniormanagement team, and workingeffectively with professional supportstaff in the College, the CollegesDivision and elsewhere in theUniversity, ensuring quality supportand value for money for students.

8. To take responsibility for ensuringthat College decisions on theallocation of students are inaccordance with University policies,and to exercise discipline overstudents in accordance with theregulations prescribed by theUniversity Council, Senate, and the College.

9. To communicate effectively with theCollege student body, listening andresponding to their issues.

10. To work with the College studentbody, the Division, and theProfessional Support Services toenhance the environmentalsustainability of the College in thecontext of University “green”policies.

11. To be an effective member of theColleges Board, developing plansand policies for the CollegesDivision, working with other CollegePrincipals, and understanding andeffectively communicating College,Divisional and University policy tothe students in their College.

12. To encourage all University staff toengage and participate in College life.

13. To seek to ensure students living outof College are integral members ofthe College educational community.

14. To support the research mission and agenda of the Universitythrough making available facilities,activities and hosting visitingresearchers.

15. To develop and sustain effectiveSCR, JCR and MCR communities,which, together with staff living andworking in the College, contributefully to the life of the College as aneducational community.

16. To be responsible and accountableto the Deputy Warden for HRmatters in the College, including the

recruitment and development ofCollege staff. To monitor andmanage the performance of all staffbased in, or otherwise working in,the College so that they are able tocontribute fully to the life and workof the College.

17. To promote the interests of theCollege and University,internationally, nationally and locally.

18. To work with Professional Services to bring in academic and commercial activities to theUniversity, ensuring that as far as practicable the Durham Collegescollectively are effectively utilisedwhen not required for College/University academic activities.

19. To implement the University's health and safety managementsystems within the College to ensure effective and appropriatehealth and safety arrangementswith regard to employees, studentsand other individuals whilst onCollege premises.

20. To maintain an appropriate researchprofile and produce research/educational outputs of a quality and quantity commensurate withexpectations of Durham University.

21. To be an effective ex officio memberof University Senate.

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Person Specification

Candidates must have a record of successful performance in a senioracademic role as well as an internationalreputation in University research and teaching

To enable a Head of a College to continue to develop his/her academic interests it is expected that he/she will play a significant role in an appropriate Universitydepartment, with time shared equally between departmentand the College. They are normally expected to undertakeresearch at an appropriately high level (RAE/REF equivalentof 3* and 4* outputs).

The qualities, experience and skills for the post need to bedemonstrated in the context of the background and roledescription above.

The academic leadership ability to meet the challenges and expectations of the role is particularly important.

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Skills and Experience (E = Essential D = Desirable)

• A first-class record of achievement in research. Candidates may comefrom any discipline and must have an appropriate research record forappointment at Professorial level at Durham. (E)

• Proven qualities of leadership withinan academic environment. (E)

• Ability to think imaginatively andstrategically. Enthusiasm for seekinginnovative solutions and a track recordof implementing them. (E)

• Sound and independent judgementand experience of working as a teamwith other senior colleagues. (E)

• Excellent communication andinterpersonal skills. The ability torelate to current and former studentsand staff at all levels. (E)

• A demonstrable ability to buildsuccessful internal and externalrelationships, and to motivate andcommand the respect of academiccommunities, students and otherstakeholders. (E)

• Experience of fundraising anddevelopment. (D)

Personal Characteristics• Strong leadership skills: the ability to

motivate others and develop trust andrespect. (E)

• Strong intellectual resources, high levelanalytical skills and the ability to takethe broad view. (E)

• A team player, able to operate in bothleadership and supporting roles asappropriate. (E)

• The ability and willingness to maintainfocus, take decisions, and to deliver. (E)

• Sound judgement and practicalproblem solving skills. (E)

• Strong managerial and influencingskills. (E)

• High levels of personal motivation andresilience. Diplomacy and tact. (E)

• An assured, persuasive and confidentcommunicator with the presence andcredibility for leading the College andplaying an effective corporate role. (E)

• A commitment to the University’svalues, aims and objectives and anenthusiasm for all that it is seeking to achieve. (E)

• A commitment to the development ofthe Durham model of collegiate lifeand its academic ethos. (E)

• An awareness of the importance andthe effect of value for money forstudents in the life of the College. (D)

It is expected that:(a) In keeping with a Head of a College's

ex-officio membership of Senate,he/she will engage in academic work in an academic Department or school of the University in amanner satisfactory to the Head of Department concerned and to an extent to be agreed in advanceof the appointment and reflected inthe apportionment of salary costs.

(b) The Head of a College will reside in the designated Collegeaccommodation, where available,which is provided free of rent. TheHead of the College will however be responsible for Council Tax andthe full costs of heating, lighting and power, telephone, internaldecoration, internal fittings andfurnishings, cleaning and any otherservices provided by the College.

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It is one of the most popular Colleges with applicants to the University and admitsboth men and women studying all disciplines on offer at Durham University.Situated on a pleasant wooded hillside, with fine views of the historic centre ofDurham, the College is close to the Science Laboratories and the UniversityLibrary, within short walking distance of the Botanic Gardens and surroundingcountryside. Grey currently has a membership of 789 undergraduate and 53graduate students, from the UK and countries around the world, as well as Tutors,Fellows, Honorary Fellows and visiting Academics. In the Michaelmas Term 2010,the College admitted 260 students.

At Durham, teaching is provided by academic Departments, whilst Colleges provideacademic and pastoral care and provide a wide range of opportunities as part ofthe College community for personal development, gaining leadership,entrepreneurial and other skills through excellence in activities such as sport, the arts and volunteering. The Grey College Website may be visited at:www.durham.ac.uk/GreyCollege.

Grey College places a very high value on the ideals of academic commitment andexcellence; and encourages all members of its community of scholars to developtheir full personal potential. Grey is noted for: the creativity and breadth ofinterests of its members; their tolerance and friendliness; and their desire tocontribute to the wider life of the College, the University and beyond. Last year theCollege took third place in the Degree League Tables and was Second in the SportsLeague Tables. Grey is a pleasant mix of the formal and informal (with a traditionof formal dinners, gowns and Latin graces) but is recognised across the Universityfor the co-operation and friendliness of all sections of its community.

A distinctive feature of the College is the contribution that it makes to theUniversity research Agenda, through: its Fellowships programme (see:www.durham.ac.uk/grey.college/fellowships and also www.greyscr.co.uk/grey-college-former-fellows); its encouragement of Graduate Students; and through the use of its facilities for seminars, meetings and Conferences.

Two of the University’s Research Institutes (the Biophysical Science and FundamentalParticle Phenomenology Institutes) sprang from informal meetings held at Grey. Thecontinuing expansion of its Fellowships programme, with funds raised through theTrust, represents one of the longer-term objectives of the College. The College hasjust celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. As a result of the Jubilee Appeal, the CollegeTrust has raised sufficient funds to begin work on the extension of the CollegeLibrary and the Junior Common Room. Plans are now being prepared for thesecond phase of the Jubilee project, which will involve refurbishment and

Grey College

The CollegeGrey College was founded in 1959 and named after the Second EarlGrey who was Prime Minister in 1832 when the University of Durhamwas founded.

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extension of Fountains Hall, to providea new Arts Centre, and the re-development of a small quadrangle, toprovide four flats for visiting Fellows atResearch Institutes and a re-designedstudent services complex.

Structure and ManagementThe College is led and managed by asmall team, consisting of: the Master(Head of the College), the Senior Tutor,Assistant Senior Tutor and the Bursar.The Master takes overall responsibility forthe life of the College as an educationalcommunity, reporting to the DeputyWarden and other University Officers asnecessary. The College Council whichincludes internal and external membersas well as student representatives,provides advice to the Master on planningand strategy, to review the activities ofGrey within the wider context of theColleges Division and the University.

College members belong to the SeniorCommon Room (SCR), Middle CommonRoom (MCR) and the Junior CommonRoom (JCR). Every undergraduate iseligible to be a member of the JCR,which offers a wide range of studentfacilities and runs in association with the College a highly successful Bar,managed by an elected Bar Steward.The JCR has a Sabbatical President andother elected Officers, all of whom meetthe College Officers regularly. The MCRhas a growing membership and offers apleasant environment for graduatestudents to socialise and network. TheSCR includes the College Officers, theCollege Tutors, and a large number ofUniversity staff and members of the localcommunity. The SCR provides a range of talks, lectures and visits and alsowelcomes visiting Fellows and others at dinners, lunches and social events.

Finances, Buildings and FacilitiesThe financial affairs of the College arethe responsibility of the Master, workingto the budget holder for the Colleges

Division, the Deputy Warden. TheBursar takes a day-to-day charge offinance and operations. The Collegebudget for the year 2009-2010 was£2.6m of income budget, £1m ofexpenditure budget and £0.8m non staffcosts. The College is a major centre foracademic related conferences, both dayconferences in term time and residentialconferences in vacations.

Academic SupportAs a community the College aims toprovide a supportive and stimulatinglearning environment. In practice, this is delivered by the Senior Tutor and the Assistant Senior Tutor, together with College Tutors. Some Tutors areUniversity staff and all play an importantrole, both individually and as a body.Every new member of the College isassigned a College Tutor who provideswelfare support, academic monitoringand personal encouragement.

College Officers, Tutors, The Chaplainand College staff work closely withUniversity Departments in pastoral carefor individual members of the College.There is a well-stocked library run by a part-time librarian with studentassistance. The library will, it is planned,be doubled in size at the end of the2010/11 session with funds raised bythe College Trust. The College has threecomputer rooms with PCs connected with the University IT network and open24 hours. All student rooms in Collegeare networked to the University computersystem. The College administers HardshipFunds on behalf of the University, withthe Chaplain as the appointed HardshipOfficer, and also has its own resources(through the Trust) to alleviate studenthardship and support student specialprojects and travel. The College offersseveral Fellowships each year, details of which may be found at:www.durham.ac.uk/grey.college/fellowships

As a community the College aims toprovide a supportiveand stimulatinglearningenvironment.

Every new member is assigned a CollegeTutor who provideswelfare support,academic monitoringand personalencouragement.

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Student AdmissionsApplicants to Durham may state apreference of College in their applicationforms and Grey is one of the mostpopular colleges. Durham no longer(normally) interviews applicants but,nevertheless, welcomes many potentialstudents on University open days. Thesevisits are important in helping thecandidates to make informed choices,and in practice, few candidates, otherthan those from overseas, come toDurham without having stayed in theCollege and met students and CollegeOfficers. Probably as a consequence,dropout is one of the lowest of any UK University.

The Grey College AssociationThere are some 6,000 former Greystudents, most of whom belong to the Grey College Association. TheAssociation meets at least twice a year,once at the Annual Reunion at theCollege (usually in March/April) and oncein London (usually in September). TheAssociation takes an active interest, andis fully involved in the life of the Collegesupporting it with fund raising andfinancial awards. The Association hasalso started an important initiative, theBusiness Angels Scheme, that assistsstudents in deciding which career toenter after graduation, and how best topresent themselves to potentialemployers.

Friends of Grey CollegeThe Friends of Grey College works in association with the Grey CollegeAssociation and is an independentcharity set up to support all aspects of College life.More details may befound at:www.durham.ac.uk/grey.college/friends

The Grey College TrustThe Grey College Trust is a charityfounded to support the College. As wellas granting awards (for student hardshipand self-development activities), andfunding some aspects of College needs

(e.g. provision of sports equipment), italso has a major, permanent collection ofart, which is hung and displayed aroundthe College. The Trust has recentlyraised well over £200,000 for the firstphase of the Jubilee DevelopmentProject. The Trust has a coherentBusiness Plan for future fundraising,capital works and the expansion of theFellowships programme.

Fountains Hall & ChapelFountains Hall is the College Hall usedfor a variety of purposes. The Collegedrama group ‘Fountains’ TheatreCompany’ put on productions at leastonce a term. The Chapel is situated inFountains Hall and is open for prayer,meditation and reflection every day. The College has a Chaplain, and is alicensed place of Anglican Worship (the current Master is the Ordinary of the Chapel), but is open to all members of the College, irrespective of faithtradition (or of none). Services are heldin the Chapel every week during Termand the Chaplain is available forconsultation and counselling. TheChapel also contains a grand pianoavailable for practice and concerts. The Chapel also contains a number of important works of art.

The Arts in Grey CollegeThe College has a thriving arts scene.The permanent Art Collection (owned bythe Trust) includes work by John Piper,Cecil Collins, Sir Robin Darwin,Theodore Major, Margaret Shaw, ThetisBlacker, Terence Bennett, Karen Kulykand many others. The collection is onpublic display and for the benefit of all members of College and visitors. It may also be viewed by the public by appointment.

In addition, there are normally three ArtExhibitions each year, often featuringyoung artists. There is an active StudentArts Committee, organising a variety ofevents, including an Arts Week with anannual graphic art competition.

The Junior Common RoomThe Junior Common Room (JCR) is boththe name of the undergraduate studentbody within the College and thecommunal recreational area. The JCR is a self-governing body with an electedExecutive Committee, headed by aSabbatical President. Everyundergraduate is eligible for membershipto the JCR. The executive body ensuresthat key services and facilities aremaintained and provided to all itsmembers; including social events,welfare support, a highly popular bar,gym, successful sports clubs and thrivingsocieties. The depth of social events is shown through fortnightly FormalDinners, regular bops, two main balls,plays, recitals and many other eventsthroughout the year. There is also a large amount of interaction with theSenior Common Room and MiddleCommon Room to ensure a fantasticcollege atmosphere.The Grey CollegeJCR Website may be visited at:www.durham.ac.uk/grey.jcr

Sporting LifeThe College offers many sportingactivities and facilities, including rugby,football, hockey and netball. There isalso a boathouse, tennis courts andmulti-gym. The College has a high levelof participation in sport, with teamsenjoying considerable success, bothamongst men and women.

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For the next forty years the Graduate Society provided non-academic, academic-relatedand pastoral support for its largely international membership from its home on Old Elvet,and managed a range of accommodation in houses around the city and its environs.

The Graduate Society was renamed Ustinov College in 2003 in honour of Sir PeterUstinov then Chancellor of the University, who was able to attend the officialrenaming of the College. In 2005/06 the hitherto scattered student accommodation,social space and College administration were consolidated on one main site with589 single rooms, at Howlands Farm to the south of the city, with a further 48 singlerooms and 70 family flats in two new buildings leased by the University from ThreeRivers Housing Group on Dryburn Road, near the University Hospital.

The College will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation as the GraduateSociety in 2015 (and its tenth anniversary as a College in 2013). A History of theGraduate Society to 2003, written by a former Graduate Society Principal with anafterword by the current Principal on the developments of the College over the past sixyears, is virtually complete and is planned to be published in the summer of 2011.

Ustinov is a self-catered college, with 589 single units of accommodation atHowlands, much of it ensuite, grouped in flats of five or six rooms with a sharedkitchen. All student rooms are networked to the University computer system.Because of the year-round nature of postgraduate studies the College has no regularconference trade although it does accommodate visiting postgraduates and otherson an ad-hoc basis. Its annual turnover is in the order of £3.4 million. About one-third of the total student body lives in College accommodation, with the remainingtwo-thirds in private accommodation in Durham and the surrounding villages.

College LifeUstinov’s main college building, Fisher House, contains a striking wi-fi enabled socialarea that includes bar, café, pool/games room, and GCR room and office as well asthe College offices. The College shares further facilities with Josephine Butler College– an events hall, meetings rooms, gym, and laundry located in the adjacent HowlandsBuilding, which also contains a small shop.

College dinners for up to 250 (Tutor dinners, GCR Formals) are held in the HowlandsBuilding three to four times a term: at the moment these are provided by an externalcaterer but plans are being pursued to source them from within the University.

Ustinov College

The CollegeUstinov College was founded in 1965 as the Graduate Society,Durham’s forward-thinking response to the growing perception in theUK of the need for increased support for postgraduate students (StCross College in Oxford and University College, later Wolfson, inCambridge were founded in the same year).

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With around 1800 postgraduatemembers from more than 90 differentcountries, Ustinov is probably the largestcollegiate postgraduate community of its kind in the UK and has developed a distinctive character in the Durhamlandscape, providing uniquely tailoredcollege support for over half of theUniversity’s full-time postgraduatepopulation and more than two-thirds ofits international postgraduate population.Diversity, internationalisation andinterdisciplinarity are for the College notso much strategic aims as facts of life,reflected in a rich culture of social,cultural and academic events and moreinformal interactions, as well as in theCollege motto adopted in 2006,Diversitate Valemus.

The Ustinov Intercultural Forum (UIF)holds events throughout the year topromote cultural awareness andinteraction. Interdisciplinary academicexchange and discussion amongpostgraduate researchers are furthered bythe highly successful Saturday morningUstinov Seminar series, which maintainsclose links with Durham’s Institute ofAdvanced Study and celebrates its fifthanniversary in March 2011 (an archive ofall past seminar programmes is atwww.durham.ac.uk/ustinov.college/college life/seminars), and by a suite ofregular evening ‘café' discussion eventssuch as Cafés Scientifique and

Politique. The College’s policy has been one of active encouragement of student-organised initiatives, harnessing theenergies which spring directly from the interests, the expertise and thepassions of students brought together -in this case from all over the world - at this crucial stage in their career, and providing a base on which they canbuild for the personal, presentational,organisational and networking challengesof their future careers. Arts and literaryactivities flourish, and the College hasone of the few un-auditioned Collegechoirs in Durham. Since manypostgraduates are in Durham for just oneyear, the College is continually refreshed,and alongside key college initiativeswhich are now embedded as permanentfeatures of college life there are others ofshorter duration. The College Officersand staff provide continuity and supportto a fast changing membership inmaintaining the quality and momentumof the Ustinov postgraduate experience.

Because of its critical mass within theDurham postgraduate community Ustinovsees it as an important part of its functionto be a resource for all Durhampostgraduate students, and virtually all ofits activities – e.g. the Ustinov Seminar,café activities, GCR events, and thepostgraduate welcome event run inconjunction with the International Office -

are actively promoted as being open to all.Ustinov’s function as a postgraduateCollegeThe mission of Ustinov College is tosupport Durham University and itspostgraduate students through theprovision of high quality studentservices, student support, andaccommodation, and to foster the social and intellectual opportunitiesappropriate for an academically andculturally diverse collegiate postgraduatecommunity. Key to the success of thismission are the following objectives:• to provide an excellent standard of

services, including accommodationservices, to its members throughoutthe 52-week postgraduate year

• to facilitate entry to, pursuit andcompletion of the postgraduatecourses followed in Durham Universityby its members through an efficientand proactive student support systemwhich builds upon a high level ofexpertise in postgraduate issues

• within the context of a common coreof collegiate support functions, to becognisant of the diverse needs e.g. ofPGT, PGR, part-time and internationalstudents, and students with families

• to work with the College’s Divisionand central University offices (e.g. the Admissions Office and theInternational Office) to enhanceDurham’s postgraduate provision and the postgraduate experienceacross the board

• to deploy accommodation bursariesas appropriate to enable academicallyexcellent students to pursue theirpostgraduate studies at Durham, andto secure a significant contributionfrom award-holders to the life anddevelopment of the College

• working closely with an effective GCR,to develop in a way appropriate to itsdiverse membership a strong sense ofCollege identity and community inorder to promote a sense of ownershipand involvement, and to provide afocus for social, sporting, cultural and

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intellectual activities • building on the excellent academic

reputation of Durham Universitydepartments, to help to raise theprofile of Durham nationally andinternationally as a vibrant andsupportive place to pursuepostgraduate studies

• to build up and maintain strong linkswith Graduate Society and UstinovCollege alumni, both locally andinternationally

• to develop the facilities offered to its members and other postgraduatesand researchers in Durham throughactive participation alongside theDevelopment and Alumni Office in fund-raising activities.

Structure and ManagementThe College is led and managed by asmall team consisting of the Principal,the Vice-Principal and Senior Tutor, theBursar, and the Assistant Senior Tutor.The Principal has overall responsibility forthe life of the College as an educationalcommunity, reporting to the DeputyWarden and other University Officers as necessary.

The College Council, which includesinternal and external members as well as student representatives, providesadvice to the Principal on planning and strategy within the broader context of the University Strategy. The College has a close-knit and committed team of just over thirty staff including alladministrative, portering and

housekeeping personnel. The College Officers work closely overmatters of postgraduate policy andpractice with the Dean of the GraduateSchool and with the International Officeas well as with other central administrativeoffices. The Vice-Principal and SeniorTutor is currently a member of theUniversity Admissions Sub-Committeewith a key role in the development ofpostgraduate admissions, and thePrincipal of Ustinov representspostgraduate issues from the Colleges’perspective as an ex officio member ofthe University’s Education Committee.

Student SupportPastoral and administrative support for students is delivered by the Vice-Principal & Senior Tutor and theAssistant Senior Tutor, together with a Student Support Officer and anadmissions and accommodationmembership office. A College mentorsystem which students may elect to join provides additional orientation andpersonal development support, withindividual meetings supplemented byregular and very well-attended ‘Tutordinners’ (currently, two to four per term).

The student support team provideexpert advice and guidance to students on the issues common to a large, diverse postgraduate andinternational study body, and contributeto developing good practice in this area within Durham and more widely,through attendance and presentations

at workshops and conferences.Although the College is not directlyinvolved in external recruitmentactivities it plays a very important role in the highly competitive arena ofpostgraduate admissions in encouragingthe conversion of postgraduate offers toactual registrations, and has developeda suite of excellent pre-entry publicitymaterials for this purpose. It is currentlytaking a lead in the co-ordination ofpostgraduate publicity and allocationprocesses across all Colleges.

Graduate Common RoomAll student members of the College areeligible to be members of the GraduateCommon Room (GCR) which organisesan impressive range of social events inthe College, from formal dinners andthe summer highlights of the Ball andthe GCR Barbecue to regular quiznights or open mic nights in the bar.

The GCR is run by an electedcommittee: because of the nature ofpostgraduate studies there are nosabbatical officers. The College Officersmeet regularly with the GCR Presidentand other members of the committee.

Senior Common RoomThere is an SCR, still in the process ofdevelopment, which includes a growingnumber of members of University staffas well as local alumni and othermembers of the local community aswell as College mentors. The aim of the SCR is to provide dedicated social,

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cultural and intellectual activities for its members together with a range ofopportunities to engage with Ustinov’sdiverse and international postgraduatemembership.

Alumni and DevelopmentOver the past few years all thosegraduating from the College have been encouraged to become membersof the Ustinov Association, and thedevelopment of alumni relations is akey priority. (There are about 15000‘active’ Ustinov and Graduate Societyalumni on the University’s alumnidatabase). An alumni newsletter,Associate, is produced once a year. The College’s fund-raising committee is now working actively in conjunctionwith the University’s Development andAlumni Relations Office, and a CollegeTrust is likely to be established over thenext few months.

Communications and PublicityAn excellent sense of the College’sactivities, as well as the interests of itsmembers, can be gained from its well-established magazine, The Ustinovian,of which current and past issues areavailable atwww.durham.ac.uk/ustinov.college/theustinovian.

There is also a ‘virtual tour’ from a few years ago but still vividlycapturing what students have seen as the College’s essence atwww.dur.ac.uk/tour/colleges/ustinov.

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As a college of Durham University, St Cuthbert's Society offers an unrivalledstudent experience steeped in history and tradition but very much forwardlooking. In 1888, following University approval, St Cuthbert's Society was set up as a non-residential college, and in order to distinguish itself from residentialcolleges it was given the title "Society". A member of University staff wasappointed to oversee the running of the Society, referred to as a Censor, and thestudents were mature and traditionally from the local area who tended to havefamily responsibilities. The Society, effectively a Junior Common Room for non-resident students, lasted until 1941, when it was disbanded due to the War.

In 1946, the St Cuthbert's Society was "re-founded" and the University appointedits first college Principal, a member of academic staff, to lead and manage St Cuthbert’s Society. In 1951, St Cuthbert's Society acquired residentialaccommodation in line with developments across the Durham colleges.

After a period of time housing students in various rented and Universityproperties spread throughout the City, the college took possession of the Parsons Field site, formerly part of the Graduate Society, that offered self-catered accommodation blocks.

This coincided with the opening of a new property on the site in 2006, BrooksHouse, which offers modern, en-suite study bedrooms with self-catering kitchenfacilities, a bar and other common rooms serving the whole Parson’s Field site.

Structure and managementThe Principal, who reports to the Deputy Warden, provides leadership andmanagement of the college with the assistance of the College officers; Senior Tutorand Bursar. The College community consists of the student body, SCR and staff.The wider community includes former students through our Alumni Associationand a community of Fellows under the auspices of the SCR. There is a CollegeCouncil which has an advisory role to the Principal on the strategic direction of thecollege. The council is normally chaired by a member of the University Council.The college officers form the Senior Management Team. The college officers workclosely with the JCR President and SCR President.

Buildings and facilitiesToday, the College’s full-time student population is around 1250 and 12% of thoseare postgraduate. Every first-year undergraduate lives in, with the exception of arelatively small number of local students who wish to live at home. Second and finalyear undergraduates are encouraged to return to live in residence, and there are alimited number of residential places reserved for postgraduate students.

St Cuthbert’s Society

The CollegeSt Cuthbert’s Society is a scholarly community. Our values are aboutfairness and equality of opportunity.

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St Cuthbert’s Society is unique withinthe University in terms of the flexibility itcan provide in its catering provision.

This allows students to opt for a self-catered, fully-catered or part-cateredpackage. The college’s communalfacilities are split across both sites butthe main facilities, including its dininghall and the administrative centre of theCollege are just inside the old city walls,on South Bailey.

The main bar and library are also there,and are added to by a boathouse, gym, a Junior Common Room and Café-bar all linked to the newer residences atParsons Field. St Cuthbert’s has asubstantial sporting tradition, and is also committed to music and the arts,offering a diverse and growing range of clubs and societies.

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Student OrganisationAs with all colleges, St Cuthbert’s has a Junior Common Room, arepresentative body for itsundergraduate and, in St Cuthbert’scase, also its postgraduate students.

The JCR, and its Executive, representstudent views at all levels of the college(including sitting as ex-officio memberson the College Council), support andfund student clubs and societies and organise social events within the college.

Senior Common Room The Senior Common Room takes itsmembership from the University staffand notable members of the localcommunity. The SCR will have regularsocial events in College, helping toprovide maturity and diversity within thecollege community. SCR members willoften act as College mentors (aka collegetutors in other colleges) to first yearundergraduate students and, in mostColleges, can engage in fund-raisingactivities to help support particularstudents and/or initiatives which wouldnot be possible otherwise.

In addition to the SCR, St Cuthbert’s has a group of Fellows, to whosemembership distinguished supporters of the college are invited. The Fellowshave social events and the college canoffer accommodation to one visitingfellow of the University annually.

AlumniThere is an Alumni Association whichmeets annually at St Cuthbert’s Society.The Alumni Association also holdcollege related events in London.

FinancesThe budget holder is the DeputyWarden the delegated budget holder is the Principal. The income andexpenditure for the College during the

financial year 2009/10 was £2.2m and£1.5m respectively with expenditurebeing split into £895K staffing costand £588K non-staffing.

Delegation of AuthorityThe Principal delegates authority forcertain aspects of running the college tohis fellow College Officers. The SeniorTutor has delegated responsibility foradmissions, student welfare, disciplineand deputising for the Principal withthe Bursar responsible for facilities,finance, catering, housekeeping andhealth and safety.

Student AdmissionsIt is anticipated that all those applyingto St Cuthbert’s Society will wish towork hard in their academic studies aspart of a scholarly community. Giventhe traditions of St Cuthbert’s Societyhaving been set up as a society bythose not wishing to be part of the then existing Durham Colleges incombination with the re-founding of St Cuthbert’s Society by war veteransthere remains an emphasis on meetingthe needs of those from a range ofbackgrounds.

In particular we tend to have moremature and local students at thecollege. We particularly welcomeapplications from those from sociallydisadvantaged backgrounds and have a strong commitment to supportingthose entering Durham Universitythrough the foundation programmeroute. We have a vibrant postgraduatecommunity which we are still building.

College supportSupport is provided through the Collegeofficers and mentors. The JCR play anactive role in the welcoming of newstudents, representing the student bodyand the organisation of events. All atthe College are committed to giving ourstudents the very best that we can.

For more detail on the college please see the college website:www.durham.ac.uk/st-cuthberts.society

Today, the College’sfull-time studentpopulation is around1250 and 12% of those arepostgraduate.

Most first-yearundergraduates livein. Second and finalyear undergraduatesare encouraged tolive in residence and there are a limited number of places reservedfor postgraduatestudents.

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Much of this is achieved through our distinctive residential College communities.

The University is organised into three academic faculties: Arts and Humanities, SocialSciences and Health, and Science; with 24 departments or schools split over a twinsite campus. We have an unrivalled setting for our community, with our historic estatein the heart of Durham’s cathedral city, where we share the world heritage site, andthe modern purpose-built Queen’s Campus at Stockton in the Tees Valley.

The Queen’s Campus opened in 1992 in purpose-built accommodation of very highquality as a key component in the region’s economic development strategy, and withthe aim of making the resources of Durham University more widely available.

With over 16,000 students, of whom 4,500 are postgraduates and 2,500international, more than 3000 staff and a turnover of £190m, Durham is aUniversity of considerable standing. Competition for undergraduate entry is keen,with up to 20 applicants per place in some subjects and entry standards are high(average 28 A-level points). Durham has one of the highest student completionrates in the UK at 95.1%.

Durham University is distinctive - a Collegiate University with ancient traditions andmodern values. We seek to achieve the highest distinction in research and scholarshipwhich make a real difference to societies world-wide. We are equally committed toexcellence in all aspects of learning, education and the transmission of knowledge.

CollegesOur 16 Colleges, in conjunction with the excellent teaching and learning providedby academic departments, ensure Durham offers a rich and distinctive studentexperience. Colleges are residential communities of undergraduates, postgraduatesand staff and are responsible for the general welfare and progress of studentsthrough an excellent system of pastoral support. Each college is a vibrantcommunity and offers a range of development opportunities from sport to dramaand community volunteering. The University’s oldest College, Durham castle, datesfrom 1072 and its newest College, Josephine Butler was completed in 2006.

The student experience at Durham is enriched by our distinctive College system,which complements the academic programmes of our departments and greatlycontributes to the personal development of our students. The colleges are much morethan simply residential accommodation. They create a cohesive community for ourstudents, with opportunities to mix with peers from across subject disciplines and to

Durham University

The UniversityEstablished in 1832, Durham is England’s third oldest University,with an international reputation for research and scholarship of thehighest distinction but, additionally, providing a truly excellent androunded undergraduate education.

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participate in a range of activities,including sport, music, theatre, andcommunity service.

AchievementsResearch, creativity and scholarshipare at the heart of Durham University.We have been a centre of scholarshipfor over 1000 years where generationsof the world’s finest minds havepursued ideas and knowledge that havemade a profound and lasting impact onthe world. Research leads the contentand development of our teaching atundergraduate and postgraduate levels,and creates new cross-disciplinaryprogrammes through our centres andinstitutes. We are:

• A world top 100 University, ranking85th in the 2010 THE WorldRanking and 92nd in the 2010 QS World Ranking

• In the top 25 globally for GraduateEmployability (QS world ranking 2010)

• 4th in the 2010-11 CompleteUniversity Guide including:- Top five subjects in: archaeology;

chemistry, classics and ancienthistory; English; French; generalengineering; German; history;Iberian languages; medicine;Middle Eastern and Africanstudies; physics and astronomy;philosophy; Russian and EastEuropean languages; sociology;sports science; and theology andreligious studies.

- Top ten subjects in: anthropology;biological sciences; economics;education; geography; geology(earth sciences); Italian; law;mathematics; music; politics; and psychology.

• 6th in the 2010-11 Times GoodUniversity Guide- Top five subjects in: archaeology;

chemistry; classics and ancienthistory; education; English; French;general engineering; geography;German; history; Iberian languages;

Italian; Middle Eastern and Africanstudies; physics and astronomy;Russian; sports science; andtheology and religious studies.

- Top ten subjects in: anthropology;civil engineering; economics,geology (earth sciences); law;mathematics; philosophy;psychology; and sociology.

• In the 2008 Research AssessmentExercise (RAE) 90% of all researchgraded 2* or above, 59% graded 3* or above, making Durham themost research intensive institution of the 1994 Group of Universities.

• 6th in the 2009/10 BUSAchampionship - confirming Durham as a centre of sporting excellence. We also had 25 students representingtheir country at Under 20 Level andbeyond and this figure rises on anannual basis.

ResearchDurham University research ranks amongthe best in the United Kingdom. In thelast national review of research qualityacross all subjects – the ResearchAssessment Exercise (RAE) - six of ourdepartments achieved the highestpossible grade of 5** – AppliedMathematics, Chemistry, English,Geography, History and Law.

The University is building upon thisstrong research foundation. We aim forRAE quality profiles which demonstratesignificant international researchexcellence in all academic subject areas.

EducationWe are constantly working to improvethe quality of the educationalexperience for our students. The 2009institutional audit undertaken by theQAA was very successful andcommended the procedures Durhamhas in place for quality assurance of theeducation we provide, especially “theUniversity’s comprehensive approach todefining and developing research-led

teaching’’ and “the deliberate co-ordination of academic and pastoralsupport for students’’ and the work ofthe Teaching and Learning Committeeas an engine of change in promoting aproactive and reflective culture in itswork. The University’s approach in thisarea is underpinned by an EducationStrategy 2010 to 2015 which wasendorsed by Senate in 2010. Thestrategy identifies four key themes fordevelopment: research-led education,student experience, employability andskills and internationalisation. Thestrategy is being delivered through theimplementation of the comprehensiveaction plan which supports the strategy.Further details can be found at:www.durham.ac.uk/learningandteaching.handbook/7

We aim to recruit students from allbackgrounds who demonstrate the highacademic ability to flourish in theDurham environment. As part of theprogramme we are actively working toraise the aspirations of bright andtalented pupils who come frombackgrounds with little or no tradition of university attendance.

The Durham Grant Scheme (DGS) is one of the most generous bursaryschemes for undergraduate students in the sector. Durham’s FoundationProgramme, based at Queen’s Campus,provides an opportunity for people ofall backgrounds to gain degree entry.

International LinksThe University population has morethan 2000 international students from120 countries, with China, the UnitedStates, Taiwan and India particularlywell represented. Overseas studentsnow constitute 15% of the totalstudent population by 2010. OurInternational Office works withacademic departments to implementour international strategy. It is a toppriority to monitor and improve the

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international student experience toensure we build on this success. We were rated number 1 in the UK by international students in the latestbarometer for our welcome forinternational students.

The University has teaching andresearch links throughout the world,and has taken significant steps towardsstrengthening its internationalengagement through the developmentof working relationships with a numberof leading overseas Universities.

Examples include:• Duke University and the University

of California in the United States• Princess Samaya University in Jordan• Fudan University and Renmin

University in China• Tokyo University in Japan• The University of Qatar• Project Sri Lanka

We plan to forge and maintaininstitutional partnerships with othertop research-led Universities aroundthe world to foster researchcollaboration, build our reputation, and leverage funding. In particular we aim to build purposeful globalsubject networks around our worldleading research groups.

Durham’s VisionCreating the future throughinternationally recognised research,scholarship and learning within adistinctive Collegiate environment.Durham’s vision is to be internationallyrecognised as a world class researchUniversity with the highest standardsof scholarship and learning. We aim to provide a distinctive studentexperience for all our students, within a diverse student body.

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Outline Terms of Employment

Position: Head of College

Location: Durham (primary location). If appropriate, an academic department at our Queen’s Campus, Stockton, may be designated a secondary location.

Term of appointment: Full-time appointment for an initial period of up to five years, renewable for subsequent periods as appropriate on the recommendation of the Deputy Warden and a decision by the Vice-Chancellor and Warden as Chair of Senate.

Salary: • Competitive salary.• University residence provided.• A relocation package to contribute to the

costs of relocating to Durham will be provided

Reporting to: The Deputy-Warden of the Durham Colleges

Other Terms: • Salary subject to review by RemunerationCommittee through Vice-Chancellor’s PayRewards Scheme.

• 30 days annual leave plus statutory holidays.

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We prefer to receive applications on-line. If you wish to apply for this post, pleaserespond by submitting a CV and covering letter plus any other supporting material.Within your covering letter please outline your thoughts and vision of leading aneducational community within the context of the University strategy.

To apply online, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/jobs

We can post a vacancy details pack (including application form) to you, if you telephone our answering service on 0191 3346499 or [email protected]

Please note that it is absolutely essential that in your application you give evidenceor examples of your proven experience in most of the appointment criteria listed inthe Person Specification (earlier in this document).

When you apply online you will be offered the opportunity to complete an equalopportunities monitoring form. This will help us to follow the recommendations of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equalitythat employers should monitor selection decisions to assess whether equality ofopportunity is being achieved. The information on the form will be treated asconfidential and used for statistical purposes. The form will not be treated as part of your application.

In your application you should give names, positions, organisations and telephonecontact numbers of three referees, one of who should ideally be your current/mostrecent employer. If you specifically do not wish referees to be approached withoutyour prior permission, then you should clearly indicate this fact. We also ask foryou to make clear in your application which college(s) you wish to be consideredfor. There is the potential that a number of Principal positions will be available over the coming months and applications from this recruitment process will be considered.

Finally, please ensure that you have included both work and home telephonecontact numbers along with email address where appropriate, as well as any dates when you will not be available.

How to Apply

Contacts for informal enquiries:

Professor Chris Higgins Professor Graham TowlVice-Chancellor and Warden of Deputy Warden and the Durham Colleges Professor of Psychology+44 (0)191 3346212 +44 (0)191 3340113/[email protected] [email protected]

Closing Date for application:11 April 2011

Formal interviewsw/c 16 May 2011

Further details of the posts and the Colleges are available on ourwebsite (www.durham.ac.uk/jobs) or Tel: 0191 334 6499; fax: 0191 334 6504

Produced by Durham University with Drummond Central

www.durham.ac.ukwww.drummondcentral.co.uk

Documents

Heads of Colleges - Further Details