Principal of the University of St Andrews

Incumbent
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone

since 17 November 2016

Member of| General Council
University Court
Senatus Academicus
Appointer| Appointed by the University Court
Constituting instrument| Universities (Scotland) Act 1858
First holder| Sir David Brewster
Website| www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/governance/key-officials/principal/

The Principal of the University of St Andrews is the chief executive and chief academic of the University. The Principal is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, known as the Senatus Academicus (Academic Senate). The Senate has the responsibility for superintending and regulating teaching in the University, including the regulations for the conferring of degrees, and the Senate also administers the property and revenues of the University (subject to the authority of the University Court.) The Principal is appointed by the University Court. The current office of Principal dates to 1858 with the passage of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858.

The Principal is, by convention, appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews by the Chancellor, and can confer degrees in the absence of the Chancellor.

As of July 2023, the Principal was Professor Sally Mapstone, who had previously served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

## History

[edit]

Until the mid 1700s the University comprised three colleges and the Provosts of St Salvator's College and Principals of St Leonard's College and St Mary's College were responsible for the oversight of their own institutions. In 1747 the Colleges of St Leonard's and St Salvator's were combined into the United College, with the University now led by two principals. The modern office of Principal dates from 1858, with the passage of the University (Scotland) Act 1858.[1] From 1858 until 1889 the senior of the two Principals (of the United College or St Mary's) undertook the responsibilities of Principal of the University, when in 1889 the Principal of the United College was made Principal of the University. The University of St Andrews Act 1952 created the Principal as a separate office, to be appointed by the Monarch of the United Kingdom.[2][3]

The power to appoint the Principal is vested in the University Court by Schedule 2 of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966. The Education (Scotland) Act 1981 transferred the power to the Court, with the previous power to appoint the Principal being vested in the Monarch of the United Kingdom.[4][5] The Principal is also a member of the University Court, as required by Ordinance 121 of the University.[3]: 83

In 2009, Professor Louise Richardson was the first woman appointed as Principal,[6] with her successor, Professor Sally Mapstone being the second woman appointed to the office.[7] Professor Mapstone had previously served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Oxford.[8]

## Vice-Chancellor

[edit]

The Principal is, by convention, appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews by the Chancellor, and can confer degrees in the absence of the Chancellor. The position of Vice-Chancellor does not confer any other powers or responsibility on the Principal.[9][1]

## List of Principals and Vice-Chancellors

[edit]

List of presidents No. | Principal  | Term of office  | Notes

|
|
|

1  |  | Sir David Brewster | 1837–1859  |
2  |  | Reverend John Tulloch | 1859–1886  |
3  |  | Sir James Donaldson | 1886–1915  |
4  |  | Sir John Herkless | 1915–1920  |
5  |  | Sir James Irvine | 1921–1952  |
6  |  | Sir Thomas Malcolm Knox | 1953–1966  | Oversaw the separation of Queen's College, Dundee from St Andrews.[10]
7  |  | John Steven Watson | 1966–1986  |
8  |  | Struther Arnott | 1986–1999  | First Principal at St Andrews to not be appointed by a monarch
9  |  | Brian Lang | 2001–2008  |
10  |  | Dame Louise Richardson | 2009–2015  | First woman to occupy the position of Principal at St Andrews as well as the first female Principal to lead an ancient university in Scotland.[6]
11  |  | Dame Sally Mapstone | 2016–  |

## See also

[edit]

* Ancient university governance in Scotland
* Governance of the University of St Andrews
* Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
* Rector of the University of St Andrews

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Universities (Scotland) Act 1858", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1858 c. 83
2. ^ "History of the Principal's Office". University of St Andrews. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
3. ^ a b "The Acts, Ordinances and Resolutions Affecting the University Of St Andrews" (PDF). www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
4. ^ "Universities (Scotland) Act 1966", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1966 c. 13
5. ^ "Education (Scotland) Act 1981", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1981 c. 58
6. ^ a b Bonner, Raymond (7 March 2009). "In Scotland, New Leadership Crumbles Old Barrier". New York Times. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
7. ^ "New Principal of St Andrews". University of St Andrews Press Office. St Andrews, UK. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
8. ^ "Blueprint (Staff magazine for the University of Oxford)" (PDF) (PDF). University of Oxford. January 2011. p. 4. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
9. ^ "University of St Andrews: The Principal and Vice-Chancellor". University of St Andrews.
10. ^ "Sir Malcolm Knox - Former Principal of St Andrews University". The Times. 17 April 1980. p. 16.

* v
* t
* e

University of St Andrews

Governance|

* Chancellor: Menzies Campbell
* Principal: Sally Mapstone
* Rector: Stella Maris

* Governance
* General Council
* University Court
* Senatus Academicus
* Master of the United College
* Quaestor

History|

* History
* Academic dress
* Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities Parliamentary Constituency
* Combined Scottish Universities Parliamentary Constituency
* Lady Literate in Arts (LLA)
* Museum of the University of St Andrews
* Privileged bodies of the United Kingdom
* University College/Queen's College, Dundee

Colleges|

* St John's College
* St Salvator's College
* St Leonard's College
* St Mary's College
* United College

Schools and institutes|

* Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence
* James Gregory Observatory
* School of Medicine
* Scottish Oceans Institute
* Sea Mammal Research Unit

Halls of Residence|

* Agnes Blackadder Hall
* Andrew Melville Hall
* Deans Court
* Hamilton Hall (former)
* John Burnet Hall
* St Regulus Hall
* St Salvator's Hall
* University Hall

Student life|

* Students' Association
* Athletic Union
* Boat Club
* Canoe Club
* Football Club
* Rugby Club
* Shinty Club
* The Scottish Varsity
* Debating Society
* The Saint
* A Cappella
* The Other Guys
* The Alleycats
* University Service Units
* University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland
* Tayforth UOTC
* East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron

Miscellaneous|

* Alumni
* Byre Theatre
* Catholic Chaplaincy
* Environmental Prize
* Gifford Lectures
* International Film Festival
* Laidlaw Scholars
* Lang Lecture
* Library
* MacTutor Archive
* St Salvator's Chapel
* Universal Short Title Catalogue

Categories|

* Clubs and Societies
* People
* Chancellors
* Rectors
* Principals
* Academics
* Alumni

* Category
* Commons
* Wikinews
* Wikisource

* v
* t
* e

Principals of the University of St Andrews

University of St Andrews|

* Sir David Brewster (1837)
* Reverend John Tulloch (1859)
* Sir James Donaldson (1886)
* Sir John Herkless (1915)
* Sir James Irvine (1921)
* Sir Thomas Malcolm Knox (1953)
* John Steven Watson (1966)
* Struther Arnott (1986)
* Brian Lang (2001)
* Dame Louise Richardson (2009)
* Dame Sally Mapstone (2016)

Excludes Principals of the prior constituent institutions of the university: St John's College, St Salvator's College, St Leonard's College, and St Mary's College

* v
* t
* e

University officials of the Ancient Universities of Scotland

Chancellors|

* Queen Camilla (Aberdeen, 2013–)
* Anne, Princess Royal (Edinburgh, 2011–)
* Dame Katherine Grainger (Glasgow, 2020–)
* Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (St Andrews, 2006–)

Principals|

* George Boyne (Aberdeen, 2018–)
* Sir Peter Mathieson (Edinburgh, 2021–)
* Sir Anton Muscatelli (Glasgow, 2009–)
* Dame Sally Mapstone (St Andrews, 2016–)

Rectors|

* Martina Chukwuma-Ezike (Aberdeen, 2022–25)
* Simon Fanshawe (Edinburgh, 2024–27)
* Ghassan Abu-Sittah (Glasgow, 2024–27)
* Stella Maris (St Andrews, 2023–26)

The rector is a three-year elected position
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