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The University of Cumbria is a university in Cumbria, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle and other major campuses are at Lancaster, Ambleside, Penrith and London. It was established on 1 August 2007, following the merger of St Martin’s College, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. Its roots extend back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and Charlotte Mason teacher training college in the 1890s.

In 2011, the university revealed that it had turned a profit for the first time since its inception in 2007.

History
The University of Cumbria was established on 1 August 2007, following the merger of St Martin's College, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts (CIA) and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. These institutions formerly ran degree programmes accredited by Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire. In order to facilitate the change, St Martin's College applied for independent degree awarding powers in March 2005 and was successful in July 2006 after nine months of scrutiny by the Quality Assurance Agency. In January 2007 official university status was granted by the Privy Council.

The university is based upon the findings of a report by Sir Martin Harris, which envisaged a university based upon a "distributed learning network". This network was based upon the idea that teaching will take place both at the university's main campuses and at colleges of further education around the county. This would solve problems of access for remote areas that did not previously have direct access to higher education.

Through the history of its legacy institutions, the university can trace its roots back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and Charlotte Mason teacher training college in the 1890s.

Campuses
The university has campuses in Carlisle, Lancaster, Ambleside, Workington and London, and runs courses in Penrith. The headquarters are in Fusehill Street, Carlisle.

Ambleside
The Ambleside campus is located on Rydal Road, Ambleside. It was formerly a teacher training college founded by British educator Charlotte Mason in 1891.

On 1 December 2009, it was announced that the Ambleside campus would be 'mothballed' at the end of July 2010. Teacher training was moved to Carlisle and Lancaster, ending over 175 years of heritage[3]. A protest was held on the 1 December 2009 by the student body. The changes were in the face of fierce opposition from the Ambleside students, the townspeople of Ambleside, and in spite of the support that Tim Farron MP who pledged support to the campus and students.

In July 2011, University announced plans to increase student numbers at the Ambleside campus from 2014.

Lancaster
The Lancaster campus is located on Bowerham Road in Lancaster. The site was an army barracks for the King's Own Royal Regiment. In 1962, it became a teaching college.

Carlisle
The university has two campuses in Carlisle: Brampton Road and Fusehill Street.

The Fusehill Street campus serves as the university’s headquarters. The site started its life as The Carlisle Union Workhouse in 1863. The buildings were used as a military hospital during World War I from October 1917 to June 1919 during which time nearly 10,000 soldiers were treated. In 1938, it was converted into a municipal hospital. After another stint as a military hospital during World War II, it became City General Hospital until it closed in 1999.

The Brampton Road campus was formerly the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, founded in October 1822 as the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, later Carlisle Art College and College of Art and Design.

London
The Tower Hamlets site is located on English Street in Tower Hamlets, London. It is used exclusively for teacher training.

Penrith
The Penrith campus is located in Newton Rigg, Penrith.

In March 2011, the University transferred its further education courses and assets to the Newton Rigg campus of Askham Bryan College. It continues to run higher education courses there for three years including the National School of Forestry.

Workington
The university has a campus at the ENERGUS facility in Lillyhall Business Park, Workington. The facility opened in June 2009 and was the university’s first presence in West Cumbria.

Organisation and administration
The current Vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria is Professor Peter Strike. He was installed on 22 November 2011 at a ceremony in Carlisle. He took over from interim vice chancellor Professor Graham Upton on 1 August 2011.

Faculties
University of Cumbria is split into three faculties which cover seven major subject areas:

Arts, Business and Science

 * Arts and Humanities
 * Business and Computing
 * Law, Criminology and Social Sciences
 * Science, Natural Resources and Outdoors

Health and Wellbeing

 * Health
 * Sport

Finances
By the end of the 2010/11 financial year, the university made a profit of £9.4mil for the first time since its inception in 2007.

The University ran into financial trouble early on, amassing a debt of £13 million within the first three years. Peter Ballard, University chairman at the time, attributed the financial troubles to the “economic downturn” which “meant that funds promised when the university opened in 2007 had not appeared.” In an effort to recover from financial deficit, the university underwent major staff and campus restructuring.

On 1 December 2009, the university announced that the Ambleside campus would be 'mothballed' at the end of July 2010 and would no longer take new teacher training students, ending over 175 years of heritage. A protest was held on the 1 December 2009 by the student body. The University faced fierce opposition from the Ambleside students, the townspeople of Ambleside, and Tim Farron MP.

In March 2010, it was revealed that the University had received a cash advance from HEFCE to enable it to pay staff. An independent review reported inadequacies in the running of the university and suggested that the institution take on members with more financial expertise. In May 2010, after implementing a financial recovery plan for the university, Peter McCaffery left his position as Vice chancellor by mutual agreement with the Board of Governors. The chairman of the university board and six board members also stepped down in July.

On 21 May 2010 a new interim Vice chancellor, Professor Graham Upton, was appointed. He held the post for 14 months before passing the reins over to Professor Peter Strike on 1 August 2011.

In March 2011, the university transferred its further education provision, land and assets in Penrith to Askham Bryan College, improving its finances by £5.6mil.