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Keele University

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Keele University
File:Keele shield3.png
MottoThanke God for All
TypePublic
Established1949 (as University College of North Staffordshire); university status granted in 1962
ChancellorProf Sir David Weatherall
Vice-ChancellorProf DameJanet Finch
VisitorThe Lord President of the Council ex officio
Academic staff
403
Students12,345[1]
Undergraduates8,950[1]
Postgraduates3,400[1]
Location
Keele, Newcastle-under-Lyme
,
Staffordshire
,
United Kingdom
CampusRural
Websitehttp://www.keele.ac.uk/
File:Keele University logo w2t.gif

Keele University is a research-intensive campus university located near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study,[2] Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain.[3] The University occupies a 617 acre (2.5 km²) rural campus close to the village of Keele and houses a Science Park[4] and a conference centre.[5] The University's School of Medicine and School of Nursing and Midwifery operate clinical courses from a separate campus at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent.

History

Keele University was established in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, at the initiative of A. D. Lindsay, then Master of Balliol College, Oxford. Lindsay was a strong advocate of working-class adult education,[6] who had first suggested a "people's university" in an address to the North Staffordshire Workers' Educational Association in 1925.[7]

On 13 March 1946, Lindsay wrote to Sir Walter Moberly, chair of the University Grants Committee (UGC), suggesting the establishment of a college “on new lines”.[8] Established practice was for new colleges to be launched without degree-awarding powers, instead taking external degrees of the University of London. Crucially, Lindsay wanted to “get rid of the London external degree”, instead forming a college with the authority from the start to set its own syllabus, perhaps acting under the sponsorship of an established university. Lindsay wrote also to the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, tentatively requesting just such sponsorship.[8]

Keele Hall, formerly the ancestral home of the Sneyd family; now part of Keele University.

An exploratory committee was established by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, chaired by Lindsay and supported by Alderman Thomas Horwood, Vicar of Etruria and leader of the Labour group on the City Council.[9] Having secured public funding from the UGC in January 1948,[10] the Committee acquired Keele Hall, a stately home on the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme, from its owner, Ralph Sneyd.[11] The Hall, ancestral residence of the Sneyd family, had previously been requisitioned by the War Office for military use during World War II, and was supplied with the bulk of the Sneyd estate and a number of prefabricated structures erected by the Army, for the sum of £31,000.[11]

Growing steadily, the University College was promoted to university status in 1962,[12] receiving a new Royal Charter in January of that year,[13] and adopting the name The University of Keele. This remains the official name, although Keele University is now the name used by the University itself. In achieving University status, Keele became the second of the New Universities (after Sussex, Royal Charter 1961).

Since then, student numbers have swelled considerably. The University estimates that there are now upwards of 5,600 full-time students at Keele; 1,300 part-time students; and around 4,000 participants on professional and short courses.[14] The University is committed to further growth,[15] with the stated objective of increasing its numbers to 10,000 full-time students.[14]

Campus

The university is located on a 617 acre (2.5 km²) estate. The campus is home to an increasing number of academic and residential buildings.

There are four halls of residence. Barnes, Lindsay (including The Oaks and Holly Cross) and Horwood are located on the main campus, while The Hawthorns is just outside the university gates in Keele village itself. Together, these halls provide accommodation for approximately 70% of the full-time students.[14] Many staff are also resident on campus.

Other campus facilities include an astronomical observatory, an art gallery, an arboretum, a chapel, an Islamic centre, and shops, cafes and places to eat and drink. Just outside the entrance to the University is Keele Golf Course and practice range.

The university has also built award-winning science and business parks and conference centres on the campus.

Recently, the university received planning permission to begin a building programme on a 70 acre portion of the campus. This will include a mixture of academic and residential buildings to accommodate the planned increase in student numbers.

The Students' Union building.

Students' Union

Main article: Keele University Students' Union

Keele University Students' Union is active in organising social activities throughout the year. The Student Union holds student social nights most nights, with the busiest being "Rewind" on a Wednesday (with a monthly "Flirt!" night) and "Reloaded" on a Friday. The Union has several bars - The Lounge, Sam's Bar, Barista and K2. Restaurants are Harveys Coffee Shop and The Kiln. The union formerly owned the Golfer's Arms, adjacent to the campus but this was finally sold to the local council at the end of 2005.

Concourse is the name of the student newspaper. It is issued twice a month.

There is also a very popular student radio station called Kube Radio, broadcast over the Internet. This station is currently the most internationally acclaimed student radio station with awards from both the New York Festivals and the European Radio Awards both for Best Online Only Radio Station.

In the early 1990s the Keele Students Union RAG committee was instrumental in the formation of the "National Association of RAGs". This wider scope of activity lead to good natured rivalry with other RAG committees, especially Warwick and Cardiff.

Keele Rev is an active branch of the charity Revelation Rock-Gospel Choirs.

Reputation and academic organisation

The University's distinctive profile[16] reflects the aims of its founders: breadth of study and community atmosphere.[17]

Breadth of study was guaranteed by the "pioneering"[18] four-year dual-honours degree programmes initially offered by Keele. The University's curriculum required every student to study two "principal" subjects to honours level, as well as further "subsidiary" subjects, with an additional requirement that students should study at least one subject from each of the subject groupings of Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences.[19] The cross-disciplinary requirement was reinforced by the Foundation Year, an innovation which meant that for the first year of the four-year programmes, all students would study a common course of interdisciplinary "foundation studies". In the words of the first UCNS Prospectus, the programme offered:

"...a broad education based upon an understanding of the heritage of civilisation, movements and conditions, and of the nature, methods and influence of the experimental sciences"[20]

Standard three-year degrees were introduced in 1973[21] and the number of students following the Foundation Year course have steadily dwindled since. The Foundation Year has never quite been formally discontinued, however, and remains an option for prospective students who qualify for entry into Higher Education, but lack subject-specific qualifications for specific degree programmes.[22] By contrast, the Dual Honours system at Keele remains distinctive and popular, with almost 90 per cent of current undergraduates reading dual honours.[23]

As an experimental community, Keele was initially founded as a "wholly residential"[17] institution. Of the initial intake of 159 students in October 1950, 149 were resident on campus,[24] and it was required of the first professors appointed that they should also be in residence.[25] With the expansion of the University, total residency has long since been abandoned, but the proportion of students and staff resident on campus remains above average: 70 per cent of full-time students[14] and "a significant proportion of staff"[26] currently live in campus residences.

The University also has a reputation for political activism, especially left-wing radicalism,[27] having been dubbed, in its early years, a "School for Socialists"[28] and "The Kremlin on the Hill".[29]

Teaching

The Good University Guide 2009
Institution Ranking: 40 of 109[30]
Best-ranked subjects: American Studies (10th)[31]

History (17th)[32]

Physics and Astrophysics (17th) [33]

Anatomy and physiology (18th)[34]

Social Policy (20th)[35]

Sunday Times University Guide 2006
Institution Ranking: 41 of 119[36]
National Student Survey 2006
Averaged satisfaction score: 4.0 (of a possible 5.0)[37]
Highest score: Biology and related Sciences (4.4)[38]
Lowest score: Computer Science (3.7)[39]

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) last conducted an institution-wide audit of Keele's teaching between 10 and 14 May 2004. The Agency reported "broad confidence" in the management of the University's teaching quality.[40]

The QAA discontinued the "graded profile" method of individual subject review in 2001,[41] At that time, the highest-graded areas of teaching at Keele were: American studies, education, philosophy, politics and international relations (scoring 24 out of a possible 24); economics and psychology (scoring 23); maths and statistics, physics and astrophysics, organismal biosciences, sociology (scoring 22); and management, nursing and midwifery, biochemistry and biomedical sciences (scoring 21).[3]

Departments at Keele are organised into three faculties:

  • The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences contains the Schools of
    • Criminology, Education, and Sociology & Social Work (Criminology, Education, Social Relations)
    • Economic & Management Studies (Economics, Health Planning and Management, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Management)
    • Humanities (American studies, English, History, Languages, Culture and Creative Arts)
    • Law (Professional Ethics, Law)
    • Politics, International Relations & Philosophy.
  • The Faculty of Natural Sciences contains the Schools of
    • Computing & Mathematics
    • Life Sciences
    • Physical & Geographical Sciences
    • Psychology
  • The Faculty of Health contains the Schools of
    • Health & Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy)
    • Medicine
    • Pharmacy
    • Nursing & Midwifery

Research

In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, the research of one department (Law) was rated 5* and that of a further six departments (English, Mathematics (Applied), History, American Studies, the School of Politics, International Relations and the Environment ("SPIRE") and the Centre for Science and Technology in Medicine ("CSTM")) was rated 5. An interdepartmental submission to the Social Policy and Administration panel was also rated 5.

Research in psychology, biology, Russian, music, business and management studies and community-based clinical subjects was also highly rated in the RAE 2001.[42]

Research activities are co-ordinated by a Graduate School and organised within seven Research Institutes:

  • Research Institute for the Humanities
  • Research Institute for Law, Politics and Justice
  • Research Institute for Life Course Studies
  • Research Institute for Public Policy and Management
  • Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics (EPSAM)
  • Research Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine
  • Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences

Since 2005, an Office of Research and Enterprise has managed Keele's "enterprise activities".

2007 Janet Finch pay rise

Early in 2007 it was announced that the Keele University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Finch, had received a pay rise of 31.7 per cent in the previous year. This took her annual salary to £212,000 which is greater than the salaries paid to the Vice-Chancellors of universities such as Cambridge and Warwick.[43]

In her nearly 13 years as Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, Professor Dame Janet Finch has seen the University expand substantially, masterminded the introduction of a new Medical School and overseen the development of a Science and Business Park, which is widely recognised as making a major contribution to the regeneration of North Staffordshire.[44]

Sport

Keele has a tradition of participation in many different sports, ranging from rugby to lacrosse, to dodgeball. Sports teams and issues raised are managed by the Athletic Union with the University having very little involvement with the on-goings of sport at the university. The Leisure Centre is one of the largest dry leisure complexes in Staffordshire.[45] The Centre boasts two national standard sports halls, a single court gymnasium, a fitness centre, dance studio and climbing wall. Outside there is an all weather floodlit Astroturf pitch, tennis courts and extensive playing fields. It is also the first University Centre in the UK to offer a full "Kinesis" gym facility.[46]

People

List of University officers

Professor Dame Janet Finch, current Vice-Chancellor of Keele.

Principals and Vice-Chancellors

Presidents and Chancellors

Notable academics

The University Chapel.
The Chapel in winter.

Notable alumni

The University's Arms, as displayed on the front of the Library

Academics

Business

Arts, Media, Entertainment, Sports

Politics

Public service

Interesting facts and trivia

The University Library.
  • In 1998 and 1999 there was some controversy over the decision by University authorities to sell the Turner Collection, a valuable collection of mathematical printed books including some which had belonged to Isaac Newton, in order to fund major improvements to the University Library. The collection also included first printed editions of Euclid in most of the major European languages. Senior University officials authorised the sale of the collection to a private buyer, with no guarantee that it would remain intact or within the UK. Although legally permissible, the sale was unpopular among the academic community and the controversy was fuelled by prolonged negative press coverage suggesting that the £1m sale price was too low and that the collection was certain to be broken up.
  • The cochlear implant was developed in the Department of Communication and Neuroscience at Keele.
  • Keele University was the subject of a 1980s BBC documentary on student debt entitled A Nightmare on Keele Hill. This name was used in 1991 to 1993 by the Students Union Entertainment Committee as the name for the Friday night disco (previously called the "Mega").
  • In the early 1980s Keele attracted the attention of the national press and television news when some students founded a 'cuddling society' and a 'mass cuddle' was filmed in the car park outside the students union.
  • Keele University is built over the mine workings of Silverdale colliery.
  • Barnes Hall has no M block (it has A-L and N-X). This coupled with the large clear area adjacent to L block and the fact that the university is built over mine shafts led to an urban legend that the block sank into the ground due to a collapse of a mine tunnel. This is only partially true - the block became unsafe due to subsidence and was demolished.
  • Keele was the first UK University to sell the rental income from its student accommodation to a private company for a limited time in order to raise short-term funds.
  • The postmodern sculpture situated outside Keele's Library was stolen by a visiting sports team only to be later retrieved and securely fitted. In 2005 the same statue was damaged in protest of the University's policy of fining regulations against its undergraduate students.
  • In 2007, Keele University students were responsible for getting Keele featured as a location on the UK 'Here and Now' version of the traditional board game Monopoly. People in the UK had an opportunity to vote for which places should make the board, and Keele was the highest "wild-card" location which made it on. It even finished higher on the board than London, and takes the place of "Fleet Street" in the game.[49]
  • In 2007, Keele students won a competition hosted by O2 via facebook called "The battle for the UK's favourite university", scoring over 172000 points by uploading photos, videos and making wall posts on the group. The prize for winning the comptetion was a party at their students union, hosted by O2.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07" (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  2. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.1
  3. ^ a b Tarleton, Alice (2006-08-01). "Keele University". A-Z Unis & Colleges. The Independent. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  4. ^ Keele University Science & Business Park
  5. ^ http://www.keele-conference.com
  6. ^ "Balliol College History". Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  7. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.8
  8. ^ a b Kolbert (2000), p.19
  9. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.22
  10. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.30
  11. ^ a b Kolbert (2000), p.37
  12. ^ "Keele University Alumni: History of Keele". Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  13. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.108
  14. ^ a b c d "About Keele University". 2006-08-09. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  15. ^ "Keele University Strategic Plan 2005-2010" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  16. ^ "Keele University Strategic Plan 2005-2010" (PDF). pp. p.4. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  17. ^ a b "Aims of the College", from the Programme for the official opening of UCNS, 17 April 1951. Reproduced in Kolbert (2000), pp.70-72
  18. ^ "Uni. finder > West Midlands > Keele University". HERO. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  19. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.48
  20. ^ UCNS Prospectus, for Session 1950-51. Quoted in Kolbert (2000), p.39
  21. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.141
  22. ^ "Foundation Years". Undergraduate Prospectus 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  23. ^ "Keele University Alumni: Keele's Heritage". Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  24. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.64
  25. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.41
  26. ^ "Keele University Strategic Plan 2005-2010" (PDF). pp. p.5. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  27. ^ Kolbert (2000), pp.142-151
  28. ^ The Sentinel, November 1946. Quoted in Kolbert (2000), p.23
  29. ^ Kolbert (2000), p.67
  30. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,102571,00.html
  31. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,13377,00.html
  32. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,13419,00.html
  33. ^ http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?AC_sub=Physics+and+Astronomy&x=20&y=8&sub=51
  34. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,13378,00.html
  35. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,13436,00.html
  36. ^ http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/stug2006.pdf
  37. ^ Average across all subject areas - http://www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/nss/data/2006/files2006/tqi0121.xls
  38. ^ NSS table for Keele University: Biology and related Sciences
  39. ^ NSS table for Keele University: Computer Science
  40. ^ "University of Keele Institutional Audit, May 2004: Summary". Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  41. ^ "Quality assessment and subject review: England and Northern Ireland". Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  42. ^ Keele University ratings in RAE2001 - from Keele website
  43. ^ McInnes, Kathie (25 February 2007). "UNIVERSITY CHIEF'S PAY RISE TOPS 30%". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2007-03-29]]. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  44. ^ Just what they did to merit a pay rise? Times Higher Education Supplement, 23rd February 2007
  45. ^ "Environment and Facilities". Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  46. ^ "Keele University Annual Review 2005" (PDF). 2006. pp. p.16. Retrieved 2007-06-14. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  47. ^ G.M. Interview - Jackson and Livngstone I presume?
  48. ^ "Ambassador has Ballykelly roots". New Ross Standard. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  49. ^ BBC News "Monopoly launches UK-wide edition" 24 September 2007
  50. ^ [1] "youtube episode 00.43"

References

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