Message from the Chairman of Governors
To all staff and students of the University of Glamorgan Group and to Board members of the University and its Colleges
Dear Colleagues
I am writing to let you know that the Vice Chancellor has indicated his intention to retire on 31 July 2010.
David Halton, over the last five years since he took up this appointment in January 2005, has had an extremely busy, very productive and particularly effective time at the University. The developments that have taken place during his tenure: ATRiuM; Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Merthyr Tydfil College; Glyntaff; Tyn-y-Wern; Students Union; RAE2008; QAA Institutional Review; St David’s Day Group, major international links, and the University of the Heads of the Valleys’ Institute have been immense. The standing of the University within and without Wales has been hugely enhanced under his stewardship. We, the Governors, staff and students of the University owe him an enormous amount. While it will take time fully to appreciate the entirety of David’s very significant contribution to Glamorgan we will have an opportunity to take stock and to thank him in the forthcoming months.
I want to record that it is my belief and that of the Governors that the University could not have had a better Vice Chancellor over the last five years. We will be extremely sorry to lose David but equally we are very conscious that he leaves the University much stronger and better placed than when he arrived and we wish him the very best for the future.
I know that the University is very close to David’s heart and he wanted to write a short note to be included in this message which I have included here:
“Colleagues, friends and students
It is with great reluctance that I write to you now having spent some considerable time worrying and thinking this decision through with my family and with the Chairman.
Being Vice Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan is the best job in the world and I have enjoyed it more than I can easily convey. Deciding this summer, when I reach 60, to retire in 2010 and knowing that this will be my last year here, has been the most difficult decision I have made in my professional life.
It is the right decision for me personally because at some point I must put my family first. They have always been supportive but I cannot give any job (and particularly this job) less than the 24/7 commitment that goes with being Vice Chancellor. It is also the right decision for the University; the worldwide economic conditions means that this will be a turbulent next five years for the University and Glamorgan itself is poised on the next stage of its development with key strategic and financial decisions to be made in the next few years. I cannot commit to being here in five years time and it is therefore right that I announce now my decision to retire in 2010 and let a new Vice Chancellor (the person who will lead the University over the next five years) oversee those decisions that will be so important to their tenure.
Until my replacement takes up post I can assure you that I will continue to give my all to the University and drive forward the many initiatives currently underway. I intend to ensure that my successor has the best possible position from which to take the University forward and my Directorate colleagues and I are determined that it will be ‘business as usual’ and that there will be no ‘planning blight’ during the transitional period.
Finally, although my actual departure is still some way off I would like to take this opportunity to record my thanks to the Chairman and the Board of the University for giving me their trust and support; to my Directorate colleagues for their huge efforts over the past 5 years and of course to the staff and students across the Glamorgan Group who have worked so hard together to help us realise our ambitions.
Once again, thank you all.
Professor David Halton
Vice Chancellor“
I know that as well as wishing to thank David for all his efforts on behalf of the University you will also want to know how we will be approaching the appointment of his successor.
The Board of Governors were informed of David’s decision to retire at their meeting last night and have agreed to set up a Search Committee and have delegated to it responsibility for taking forward the processes bringing to the Board, if possible in the autumn, a recommendation for its approval.
The Search Committee will include four Governors: myself as Chairman of the Board; Mrs Elisabeth Elias (Deputy Chairman of the Board); Mr John McDowell CBE (Chairman, Health and Safety & Employment Policy Committee); Mr David Mason (Chairman, Merthyr Tydfil College Board). David Mason has himself considerable experience of the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities facing the Head of a large educational institution. The Clerk to the Governors will act as Secretary to the Committee, with advice as necessary from the Director of Human Resources. The Search Committee will be advised by two external assessors, Professor Noel Lloyd, Vice Chancellor, University of Aberystwyth and Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice Chancellor, University of Plymouth.
Over the next few weeks the Search Committee will agree a job description and person specification, consulting where possible with governors, staff and students. An advertisement will be published towards the end of July and governors, staff and students will be invited to propose names of potential candidates. The Search Committee will agree a shortlist of preferred candidates (perhaps after a preliminary stage, depending on the strength and size of the field) who will be interviewed in November. It is hoped that there will be wider staff, student and governor representation on a panel observing presentations by the candidates within the interview process. The panel will then report back to the Search Committee. The Search Committee will hopefully agree its recommendation for the Board’s consideration in autumn 2009.
If you have any questions or queries please let me know, through the Clerk, William Callaway (wcallawa@glam.ac.uk x4171).
Thank you very much / Diolch yn fawr iawn
Professor John Andrews CBE
Chairman of the Board of Governors
Merthyr Tydfil College/University of Glamorgan
Ynysfach, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1AR
© University of Glamorgan
