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Charter of Incorporation

ELIZABETH THE SECOND by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

WHEREAS a Humble Petition has been presented to Us by the University College of the South West of England praying that We would be graciously pleased to constitute and found in Our City and County of the City of Exeter a University for the advancement of knowledge and the diffusion and extension of Arts, Sciences and Learning and to grant a Charter with such provisions therein in that behalf as shall seem to Us right and suitable:

AND WHEREAS WE having taken the said petition into Our Royal consideration are minded to accede thereto:

NOW, THEREFORE, KNOW YE That We by Virtue of Our Royal Prerogative and of Our Special Grace, Certain Knowledge and Mere Motion have willed and ordained and by these Presents Do for Us, Our Heirs and Successors will and ordain as follows:

1. There shall be and there is hereby constituted and founded in Our City and County of the City of Exeter a University by the name and style of "The University of Exeter" by which name the Chancellor, the Pro-Chancellors, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and all other persons who are for the time being members of the University of Exeter pursuant to this Our Charter and the Statutes of the University of Exeter shall be and are hereby constituted and incorporated into one Body Politic and Corporate with perpetual succession and a Common Seal with the power to assume Armorial Bearings which shall be duly enrolled in Our College of Arms and in that name to sue and be sued with power (without any further licence in mortmain) to take, purchase, hold and also to grant, demise or otherwise dispose of real and personal property.

2. The University of Exeter hereby incorporated is hereinafter referred to as "the University".

3. The objects of the University are:

(a) To provide to the full extent which its resources from time to time permit for research and instruction in the humanities and sciences and other spheres of learning and knowledge of a standard and thoroughness required and expected of a University of the highest standing and to secure the advancement of knowledge the diffusion and extension of Arts, Sciences and Learning and the provision of a Liberal and Professional Education.

(b) To provide and maintain halls of residence, colleges and other accommodation for students and other members of the University.

(c) To hold examinations.

(d) To grant Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates or other distinctions whether honorary, substantive or otherwise.

(e) To grant Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates or other distinctions in partnership with another institution of similar standing to the University either as a joint, double or multiple award.

(f) To act as Trustees or Managers of any property, endowment, legacy, bequest or gift for purposes of education or research or otherwise in furtherance of the work and welfare of the University which can lawfully be transferred to the University and to invest any funds representing such property, endowment, legacy, bequest or gift if not immediately required in such stocks and securities including the purchase of land as the University may think fit.

(g) To apply to Parliament if necessary for an Act to enable the University to carry out these objects or any of them and fully to implement this Our Charter.

4. The University shall not make any dividend, gift, division or bonus in money to or between any of its members except by way of prize, reward or special grant in accordance with section 13 of the Statutes.

5. Men and women shall be eligible for admission to and as students of the University and for appointment to any authority, office or employment of or under the University.

6. No religious test shall be imposed on or required of any person in order to entitle him or her to be a student or member of the University or to occupy any position in or on the staff of the University.

7. We, Our Heirs and Successors, shall be and remain the Visitor and Visitors of the University and in the exercise of the Visitorial Authority from time to time and in such manner as We or They shall think fit may inspect the University, its buildings, laboratories, and general work, equipment, and also the examination, teaching and other activities of the University by such person or persons as may be appointed in that behalf.

8. The Authorities of the University shall be the Council, the Senate, the Education Board and Postgraduate Research Board, and such other bodies as may be prescribed by Statute or Ordinance as the case may be.

9. (a) There shall be a Chancellor of the University who shall be the Officer who acts as the Ceremonial Head of the University. The first Chancellor shall be Our trusty and well beloved Mary Alice Duchess of Devonshire.

(b) There shall be such numbers of Pro-Chancellors as shall be prescribed from time to time in the Statutes any of whom shall during a vacancy in the office of Chancellor or during the absence of the Chancellor subject to the Statutes act as and exercise all the powers of the Chancellor except that of conferring degrees.

(c) Future Pro-Chancellors shall be elected as provided in the Statutes.

10. (a) There shall be a Vice-Chancellor who shall be the Principal Academic Officer of the University and ex-officio Chairman of the Senate. In the absence of the Chancellor he or she shall have power to confer degrees.

(b) Future Vice-Chancellors shall be appointed as provided in the Statutes.

(c) There shall be a Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellors who shall be appointed in accordance with the Statutes. Subject to the Statutes, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor shall act as Vice-Chancellor during a vacancy in the office of Vice-Chancellor or during the absence, inability or incapacity of the Vice-Chancellor.

11. (a) There shall be a Council of the University which subject to the Statutes shall be the supreme governing and executive body of the University and shall have the custody and use of the Common Seal of the University, the government and control of the finances of the University, the management and administration of the revenue and property of the University and the conduct of all the affairs of the University and all such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon it by Statute or Ordinance.

(b) Subject to Article 16, the Council shall have power to make such Statutes as it thinks fit.

(c) The Council shall be constituted as provided in Statutes.

12. (a) The Senate shall subject to the Ordinances of the University and the approval of the Council regulate and superintend the education and discipline of students and of the undergraduates of the University.

(b) The membership of the Senate shall be constituted in accordance with the Ordinances.

13. The Senate shall have power to deprive any person who shall have been convicted of a crime, or in its opinion shall have been guilty of dishonourable or scandalous conduct, of any degree or other distinction conferred by the University and of all privileges enjoyed by him or her in virtue of such degree or other distinction subject, however, to such right of appeal to the Council and from the decision of the Council to the Chancellor as may be provided by Statute. The Senate shall have the power to restore to any person any degree or other distinction or privilege of which he or she may have been deprived in any case where it considers it fit to do so.

14. (a) The University shall include Boards that may from time to time be prescribed by Statute or Ordinance.

(b) The Education Board and Postgraduate Research Board shall be constituted with such powers and duties as may be prescribed by Statute or Ordinance.

(c) There shall be a Dean of Taught Students and Dean of Postgraduate Research who shall be appointed in such manner and with such powers and duties as may be prescribed by Statute or Ordinance.

15. Alumni shall have the right to represent their views to the University as provided for in the Statutes and Ordinances.

The University of Exeter agrees that those who meet the following criteria be considered as alumni of the University:

 (a) Studied with the University (or the University College of the South West of England) and its component institutions (e.g., St Luke’s College) for at least one academic year, regardless of whether a degree was obtained, or studied at the University either under an exchange agreement, e.g. Erasmus, or participated in the University's Study Abroad programme.

 (b) Studied with the University and its component institutions for normally at least three months, and  completed a course which could lead to a degree, certificate, diploma or other qualification.

Honorary Graduates - Other individuals who have a recognized and legitimate affiliation with the University are welcome to request access to alumni benefits, activities and networks.  These requests will be reviewed by the Head of Alumni Relations and a decision will be made as to whether access will be granted. In most cases, those with a legitimate previous affiliation as students who also consider themselves to be alumni will be able to access alumni benefits and services.  Alumni benefits are also extended to current and former staff of the University, and to former students of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry

16. The Council and the Senate shall be competent to act notwithstanding any vacancy in their respective membership or amongst the officers of which they are composed.

17. (a) The Statutes of the University shall prescribe or regulate as the case may be the composition, constitution, powers and duties of the authorities of the University and all other matters relative to the authorities which it may be thought are proper to be so prescribed or regulated, provided always in relation to each Education Board and Postgraduate Research Board such matters may be prescribed or regulated by Statute or Ordinance.

(b) The first Statutes shall be those scheduled to these Presents.

(c) The Council may from time to time make new or additional Statutes or alter, amend or repeal existing Statutes to give effect to this Our Charter and its provisions.

(d) The power of the Council to make Statutes shall not be limited by, or with reference to, the first or any subsequent Statutes or to the several matters therein dealt with.

(e) All Statutes which are not repugnant to the provisions of this Our Charter shall be operative and have effect when allowed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors in Council or by a Committee of Our Privy Council and not before. Such allowance shall be conclusive evidence that the Statutes so allowed are authorised by the provisions of this Our Charter.

(f) In this Our Charter "Statutes" means the first Statutes set forth in the Schedule hereto, and any Statutes altering, amending, adding to or repealing the same or any of them which may hereafter be made and may be allowed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors in Council or by a Committee of Our Privy Council.

18. Subject to these Presents and to the Statutes, and from time to time, the Council may make Ordinances and the Senate may make Regulations to direct and regulate the University and its authorities and members. The power to make Ordinances and Regulations shall include the power to add to, amend, alter or repeal any ordinances and Regulations theretofore made.

19. (a) The Council may at any time alter, amend or add to these Presents provided that the decision to do so has been approved by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting and such alteration, amendment or addition shall when allowed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors in Council become effectual so that these Presents shall henceforward continue and operate as though they had been originally granted and made as so altered, amended or added to in manner aforesaid.

(b) This Article shall apply to this Our Charter as altered, amended or added to in manner aforesaid.

20. Our Royal Will and Pleasure is that these Presents shall ever be construed benevolently and in every case most favourably to the University and the promotion of the objects of this Our Charter.

IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.

WITNESS Ourself at Westminster the 21st day of December in the fourth year of Our Reign.

BY WARRANT under the Queen's Sign Manual.

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