University to appoint interim principal in wake of resignation

EDUCATION: Top job to be advertised as search continues to find replacement

An interim principal will take over at Dundee University as the search for Professor Andrew Atherton’s successor gets under way.

The top post at the university became vacant when Prof Atherton left amid allegations of unpaid rent at an apartment in University House.

The university has confirmed it will begin the replacement process “soon”.

A Dundee University spokesman said they hope to announce who will take on the interim principal role before the end of the month.

The university executive group took over responsibility for management when Prof Atherton was suspended and will remain so until the temporary principal is announced.

A university spokesman said: “The university court agreed that an interim principal and vice-chancellor will be appointed to lead us through the next few months.

“We hope to be making an appointment imminently. We will be advertising the permanent position of principal and vice-chancellor soon.”

The Courier revealed late last year Prof Atherton had been suspended in September as a probe was conducted into the allegations.

He resigned a week later, having been suspended for eight weeks up until that point.

The investigation ended without coming to a conclusion when Prof Atherton quit his post, which prompted calls for transparency into how the situation had arisen.

Prof Atherton has been allowed to remain in the property until the end of February.

The former principal, who was on a salary of £300,000, was just 10 months into the Dundee University job when he was suspended.

Prof Atherton had also picked up a £40,000 “distribution allowance” to help him move to Dundee from Lancaster University in January last year. He was named as successor to Professor Sir Pete Downes in July 2018.

Before joining Lancaster University in 2013, Prof Atherton was senior deputy vice-chancellor at Lincoln University.

Dundee University spent more than £72,000 refurbishing the University House apartment before Mr Atherton moved in.

We hope to make an appointment imminently. We will advertise the permanent position of principal and vicechancellor soon. UNIVERSITY SPOKESMAN

Kim Cessford. Picture: Prof Andrew Atherton left his post amid allegations of unpaid rent at a university apartment.