Cuth’s to become a college
—but we’re keeping the name
By Roy Boyne, Principal (2003-08)
- A College in all but name
The University review of St. Cuthbert’s Society made clear what had actually been the case since at least the 1994 Education Act (which formally required the separation of student union-type bodies and their universities), that St. Cuthbert’s is without doubt a college of the University of Durham. However, it will continue to enjoy the formal and active title of St. Cuthbert’s Society.
For the first time in its 120-year history, St. Cuthbert’s Society was subjected, toward the end of 2007, to a full review by a team of internal and external peers. They concluded that, whilst incredibly valuable and absolutely worthy of respect, the history of the Society is not a viable model for the core identity of a Durham College today.
They were clear in their support of the students, thinking that their commendable loyalty, commitment, concern and enthusiasm needed to be channelled into forward movement. They also perceived that the staff of St.Cuthbert’s were aware that it is mindsets rather than questions of legal status that matter, and that without change in the former, new students may become disadvantaged by pressure to look backwards and inwards rather more than is desirable, especially in terms of constricting economic opportunity. The Principal and Senior Tutor will be key figures at the front end of developments.
The team of reviewers commended the excellent communications across the college. They thought that St. Cuthbert’s was a self-critical institution. They were enthusiastic about the student welfare provision in all its aspects: tutors, pastoral support, accommodation allocation processes and the JCR welfare role, all inflected by clear guidance from the Senior Tutor.
Controversially, the Review team recommended that the university consider changing our name to St Cuthbert’s College. When their report, with this headline suggestion, was circulated to 7000 current and former students with an invitation to comment, around 300 people did so. A list of arguments for and against name change was compiled, and this also was circulated.
Discussion took place through meetings, by email and on Facebook. Those prepared to support a name change did so with some reluctance. Powerful voices against a formal name change came from many sides: a substantial number of alumni, the majority of current students who participated in the discussion and St. Cuthbert’s Society Council.
What became clear was that the arguments for and against had the same structure. Since St. Cuthbert’s Society has been for quite a few years, as far as the education sector widely defined is concerned, a college of the University of Durham, the name itself is less important than the joint coherence of its internal organisation and external representation. Both those for and those against name change made this point to support their views, saying the name is not at the heart of this. So why change it…or why keep it?
It is possible to retain the name St. Cuthbert’s Society and be clear in University statutes and all related St. Cuthbert’s communications that St. Cuthbert’s Society is a college of the University, with its own history, character and distinctive attributes. It shares a mission with the other Durham Colleges to provide an excellent collegiate experience for its students . The University review, therefore, was responded to with a determination, supported by the Council of St. Cuthbert’s, that St. Cuthbert’s should remain St. Cuthbert’s Society.
What does this mean? The name ‘Society’ will stay as an invaluable part of the University’s recognition and wider honouring of the proud history of St. Cuthbert’s. Nevertheless, in practice, the Society is a college and must be governed according to the statutes of the University. Like all Durham Colleges, St. Cuthbert’s has its own traditions and ethos which make it unique. We are not going to lose that history; nor are we going to use it to hold back developments for the student body as a whole.
While recognising that University, Society and JCR information and publicity – prospectus, websites, handbooks, information packs and the like – must be in line with each other, St. Cuthbert’s should retain, enhance and market its traditional position as the natural home for mature and non-resident students; and for school-leavers wanting the advantages of a plural residential community in which non-residential students play a full part, and in which all help to reproduce St. Cuthbert’s as a beacon of diversity.