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The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairman in the University Court of the University of Aberdeen. The position is rarely known by its full title and most often referred to simply as "Rector". The Rector is elected by students of the University and serves a three-year term. Although the position has existed since 1495, it was only officially made the students' representative in 1860.
Contents
- Rectors Assessor
- 2011 Election
- 2014 Election
- Rector of Kings College Aberdeen
- Rector of Marischal College Aberdeen
- Rector of the University of Aberdeen
- References
The position exists in common throughout the ancient universities of Scotland with Rectorships in existence at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews. The position is given legal standing by virtue of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 and is the third office of precedence in the university (following the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor / Principal). Rectors also appoint a Rector's Assessor, who may carry out their functions when they are absent from the University.
The 1996 election was unusual in that one of the two candidates (who lost by approximately 100 votes) had recently completed studies at the University, highlighting the fact that there is no rule preventing a member of the student body from standing for the post and that the trend for celebrity candidates might distance the office from the issues of student life.
The current Rector is Maggie Chapman.
Rector's Assessor
Each Rector appoints a Rector's Assessor to the University Court. He or she maintains a permanent seat in the University Court during the period of their duty. The Rector's Assessor furthermore acts, with the support of the president of the Students' Association, as the Rector’s representative when the Rector cannot be present, additionally they sit on the Joint Planning, Finance & Estates Committee and Student Affairs Committee in an official permanent capacity. Further roles and responsibilities include being a 'focal point' for the student body to interact with the decision making levels of university governance, and coordinating the on-campus and online presence for the Rector.
In the 2007–08 academic year, James Michael Wilson (a then first-year student at the University) was Rector's Assessor for Robin Harper. Mr Wilson was the youngest Rector's Assessor ever to be appointed to the position at the University of Aberdeen or any of its predecessor Colleges.
2011 Election
Following complaints about the campaign, the first election of mid-2011 was deemed null and void, and it was decided that nominations would re-open in October. There were 6 candidates running this time, and on 10/11/11 it was announced that Dr Maitland Mackie would be taking over the position, having received the most votes.
2014 Election
Following Maitland Mackie's death in office, an election was held in November. There were two candidates, with Maggie Chapman winning with 67% of the vote. Chapman is a socialist, a feminist, and co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party. She pledged to focus on housing issues, defending free tuition, better services for students, to create a “strong academic community” and ensure the university has a “positive impact on society”.