Role Warden of the Senate (1867 - 1923)

From
1867
To
1923
Summary

'The Act of Parliament constituting the University provided that a 'Senate' should be elected as soon as the number of graduates who attained degrees above the rank of bachelor reached one hundred. The required number was reached in 1867, though for a time a majority of these were graduates of other universities who had been admitted to higher degrees at Melbourne ad eundem. It was not until 1881 that the University of Melbourne could claim one hundred full alumni.

The Senate had the right to elect members to Council and to reject or accept legislation framed by it, but not to frame statutes. Its role was not to duplicate the executive and administrative functions of Council but to act as a body of review. This was a somewhat 'unwieldy bi-cameral structure' and the Senate could and did, under certain conditions, exert considerable influence over the governance of the University. It was also important in maintaining an intimate connection between the graduates and the University thus enhancing its capacity to draw on their support as they progressed through their careers.' (University of Melbourne Archives, Key 15)

Related Administrative Units

Related People

Published Resources

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: Key 15: Senate 1867, https://archives.unimelb.edu.au/resources/keys-to-the-past/keys/key-15.

Created: 20 August 2018, Last modified: 13 November 2018