University College Chester
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University College Chester
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Chester_Crest.png
Logo of University College Chester
Motto: Qui docet in doctrina
(he that teacheth, on teaching)
Established | 1839 |
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Chair of governors | Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster |
Principal | Prof Timothy Wheeler |
Locations | Chester and Warrington, Cheshire, UK |
Enrolment | 9,690 (8,541 undergraduate; 1,149 postgraduate) |
Faculty | 346 |
Campuses | Urban |
Homepage | www.chester.ac.uk |
Logo © University College Chester
University College Chester is a university college based in the city of Chester in the United Kingdom. It is due to be upgraded to university status and be renamed the University of Chester on August 1 2005.
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History
University College Chester was founded as Chester Diocesan Training College by a group of leading figures in the Church of England (including future Prime Ministers William Gladstone and Lord Derby) in 1839 as the UK's first purpose-built teacher training college - making it one of the oldest higher education institutions in the country. The college's original buildings were opened in 1842 just outside Chester's city walls on the Parkgate Road site the institution still occupies today.
In 1910, Chester began its association with the University of Liverpool and formally became an affiliated college of the university in 1930. Thus, Liverpool awarded Chester's qualifications and Chester's students were able to use Liverpool's facilities (as is still the case today).
The College grew steadily until the 1960s when Chester underwent its first major period of change. Women were first admitted in 1962 and the College's name was changed to Chester College of Education in 1963. In 1974, the number of courses was expanded beyond teaching to include Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. To reflect its wider remit, the institution was renamed again to Chester College of Higher Education.
Development continued and, in the early 1990s, the School of Nursing and Midwifery (now the School of Health and Social Care) was established. At the same time the College began to offer a Bachelor of Theology degree, HNDs and postgraduate courses, such as master's and PhDs, as well as well as embarking on a £10,000,000 campus improvement programme. By 1995, Chester had earned the right to call itself University College Chester. However, this name was short-lived as the government changed the requirements for university colleges in 1999 to include only those that had their own degree-awarding powers. Thus, Chester had to drop the University College tag and reverted to the title of Chester College of Higher Education.
The College expanded in 2002 by buying the higher education faculty (and campus) of the nearby Warrington Collegiate Institute. The further and adult education campuses of Warrington remained independent and are now known as Warrington Collegiate.
In 2003, Chester was granted its own degree-awarding powers, allowing it to be known as University College Chester once again.
In spring 2005, it was announced that University College Chester will become a university on August 1 2005 and will use the title the University of Chester.
Campuses
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University College Chester is a medium-sized institution with two campuses. The 120,000 m² main campus is located on Parkgate Road, just north of Chester's famous city walls. It houses most of the institution's academic and non-academic departments. The campus is a mixture of old, Victorian buildings (such as Old College, which includes a chapel) and more modern buildings (like the Binks Building, opened in 2003). The campus also features all the normal facilities, such as a fitness centre, swimming pool and various shops.
Chester has outgrown its campus a bit and some departments have moved off-site (though all to locations within walking distance of the main campus). The Department of English, for example, is located in the Grade II listed Old Vicarage, while Chester Business School is housed in what was once a hotel.
There is a substantial amount of College-owned student accommodation (primarily reserved for first year and foreign students), either in the form of halls of residence on the campus, or houses just off it.
Additionally, there is the smaller Warrington campus, located on the outskirts of Warrington town centre. There are also a number of even smaller bases (at, for example, hospitals for nursing students) dotted around Cheshire and The Wirral.
Organisation
The University College is organised into seven schools. Five of these schools are also subdivided into academic departments. The schools and departments are:
- School of Applied and Health Sciences
- Department of Biological Sciences
- Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
- Department of Mathematics
- Centre for Public Health Research
- Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences
- School of Business, Management and Law
- Department of Business and Management (Chester Business School)
- Department of Law
- Centre for Work Related Studies
- School of Creative Arts and Media
- Department of Fine Art
- Department of Graphic Design
- Department of Media
- Department of Performing Arts
- School of Education
- School of Humanities
- Department of English
- Department of History
- Department of Languages
- Department of Theology and Religoius Studies
- School of Social Sciences
- Department of Geography
- Department of Psychology
- Department of Social and Communication Studies
Students and faculty
Most of Chester's 10,000 students are from the UK, with a quarter being mature students. There are also a small number of foreign students, primarily from an active exchange policy.
The students are represented by Chester Students' Union (CSU), which also runs two bars and two shops (one on each campus).
Most of the teaching staff take part in research, often publishing through the institution's own publishing house, Chester Academic Press.
Reputation
University College Chester generally enjoys a good reputation, with its teacher training, nursing and sports science courses being particularly recognised. Its strong links with nearby businesses and involvement with external events, such as the Chester Literature Festival, means that the College is also well-regarded within its local area.
Notable alumni
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- Klaus Armstrong-Braun, environmental campaigner and politician
- Jim Bowen, Bullseye presenter (Cert Ed)
- John Carelton, international rugby union player
- Jim Clark, international rower (Cert Ed, 1968-1971)
- Lin Clark, international rower (Cert Ed, 1968-1971)
- George Courtney, international football referee
- Eddie Lever, footballer and manager (Cert Ed, 1931-1933)
- Jon Sleightholme, international rugby union player
- Peter Williams, international rugby union and rugby league player
- Sir Walter Winterbottom, footballer and first manager of the England football team (Cert Ed, 1931-1933)
- Rob Wotton, television and radio presenter (BA(Hons), 1987-1990; Union President, 1990-1991)
External links
- University College Chester (http://www.chester.ac.uk/)
- Chester Students' Union (http://www.chestersu.com/)
- University College Chester Alumni Association (http://www.chesteralumni.com/)
- Chester Academic Press (http://www.chester.ac.uk/academicpress/)