Oxford accused of ‘stitch-up’ after changing rules of chancellor election
Traditional system ditched in favour of committee charged to consider equality and diversity
OXFORD University has been accused of a “stitch-up” after changing rules for the election of a new chancellor.
Dons and alumni have criticised the university over its new rules for the election of a successor to Lord Patten of Barnes, the former Conservative Party chairman, who will retire at the end of this academic year.
The chancellor is the largely ceremonial head of the university, who is usually an eminent public figure elected for life.
Previous chancellors have included Harold Macmillan, the former prime minister, and Edward Wood, the 1st Earl of Halifax, who was Viceroy of India.
At the time of the last election in 2003, anyone could stand if they were nominated by 50 members of Convocation, which includes all Oxford graduates and academics.
However, in the latest Oxford University Gazette, it has been announced that under new rules for the election, a small committee of academics and university administrators, including the vice-chancellor, will be able to choose who will go forward for election.
The committee will consider “the principles of equality and diversity and the approved role specification”, before deciding “which candidates are eligible to progress to the next stage of the process,” according to the Gazette.
Neil O’Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, and an alumnus of Christ Church College, Oxford, branded the changes a “stitch-up”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said that “with no public discussion the University has decided to move away from democracy when
‘Incredibly petty and illustrates control freak tendencies of modern academic managers’
choosing its next chancellor”.
A serving don, who did not want to be named, told The Sunday Telegraph that the university was adopting an “undemocratic, Politburo-style election approach”.
“There’s been a lot of shock and surprise and outrage,” he said.
He added that he expected dons to force a vote on the policy at Congregation, the governing body of the university, which consists of all academic staff.
Dr Yuan Zi Zhu, a politics lecturer at Oxford, said the new rules were “incredibly petty and illustrates the control freak tendencies of modern academic managers”.
Writing on X, the Reverend Marcus Walker, an Oxford alumnus, said: “One of the joys of the university is that anyone with enough nominations can stand, and anyone qualified can vote. This is appalling.”
A spokesman for the university said: “The University of Oxford’s next chancellor will be elected by Convocation – the body of University members and alumni – using an online platform. Eligibility will first be checked by the Chancellor’s election committee against criteria agreed by Council.
The committee will be made up of representatives from across the collegiate University and its Council. Announcements about applications will be made in due course.”