User:H2g2bob/Open Letters

This page lists public emails which have been sent to all members of the University of Exeter. In order for there to be a public record of actions by the university and others, I'm listing these emails here

From the Vice Chancellor
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:57:00 +0100 From: Vice-Chancellor  To: all-students@..... cc: sag@..... Subject: A MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

SENT ON BEHALF OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

Dear Student

I am writing to let you know about a feasibility study the University has commissioned to look at the options for the future in relation to the St Luke's Campus.

As I am sure you know the Campus is occupied by three very successful academic schools, namely the Exeter part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (a joint venture with Plymouth University), Sport and Health Sciences and Education and Lifelong Learning.

Our problem is one of success, that is if these three Schools achieve their planned expansion over the next ten years (and experience shows they grow faster than expected), then we will simply run out of space at St Luke's and thus damage their prospects.

We are therefore about to commission a feasibility study from a firm of consultants to advise on the options available to us since we need to be planning and thinking about this now rather than wait until it is too late.

The options include moving one or more Schools from St Luke's to the Streatham Campus and selling all or part of the site to raise capital to fund the moves but I wish to emphasise that no decisions have been made and we have an open mind pending receipt of the feasibility study, which should be available around Christmas time. We will then embark upon a lengthy period of discussion and consultation before reaching decisions hopefully by the end of the current academic year.

My purpose in writing is simply, as a matter of courtesy, to inform you of the feasibility study and to let you know that we will, probably via our website, wish to take the views of staff and students fully into account before coming to a decision.

I also wish to emphasise that there is no question of the University ceasing the activities on the St Luke's Campus; the debate is about how we provide the facilities and academic synergies they will need as they grow and develop.

The University is currently in the highest position it has ever been in the league tables and we are acutely conscious that we owe a duty to our staff and future graduates to make your University as good as it can be. I am equally aware of the strong emotional commitment that "Lukies" have to the St Luke's Campus, which is why I wanted to write to you about the feasibility study rather than have you learn about it from other, possibly inaccurate, sources.

I will be in touch with you again once the feasibility study is to hand. In the meantime please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns.

With best wishes.

Steve Smith Vice-Chancellor

Hilda Monaghan Vice-Chancellor's Office University of Exeter Northcote House The Queen's Drive Exeter UK EX4 4QJ T: +44 (0) 1392 263000 F: +44 (0) 1392 263008 W: www.ex.ac.uk