University of Cumbria
Encyclopedia
The University of Cumbria is a university
in Cumbria
, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle
. and other major campuses are at Lancaster
, Ambleside
and Penrith
. It was established in 2007, with roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and Charlotte Mason teacher training College in the 1890s. The university is based upon the idea of a "distributed learning network", so that teaching takes place both at the university's main campuses, and at colleges of further education
around Cumbria, a rural county that includes the Lake District
. The university also has further education provision at its Penrith and Carlisle campuses.
, Lancaster, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts
(CIA) and the Cumbria
n 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
.
around the county
. This will solve problems of access for remote areas that did not previously have direct access to higher education
.
The headquarters of the University are in Carlisle. Its other major campuses are at Ambleside
, Lancaster
(formerly St Martin's College) and Energus in Lilyhall. The University also has sites in London
and Penrith
(formerly University of Central Lancashire in Cumbria).
On 1 December 2009, it was announced that the Ambleside
Campus would be 'mothballed' at the end of July 2010, and will no longer take new undergraduate students. The action by the University of Cumbria ended over 175 years of heritage and a protest was held on the 1 December 2009 by the student body. The closure was 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. The timing of the closure had led many to believe that the decision was made 'a long time ago'
, was appointed.
The University has debts totalling £30,000,000 and in March 2010, the University received a cash advance from HEFCE to enable it to pay staff. In May 2010, Peter McCaffery left his position as Vice-Chancellor by mutual agreement with the Board of Governors.
, the university has a faculty of Arts, Business and Science which, as well as the subjects in its title, incorporates a full range of courses including law
, computing
, and police
studies. Sciences include Forestry, Land Management, Forensic Science and Environment. The University also provides Further Education provision at its Penrith and Carlisle campuses.
University of Cumbria is notable for being one of only a handful of chosen universities in the country to be accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists
.
As well as the usual sports, at the Newton Rigg campus in Penrith, there are a number of outdoor activity societies using a wide range of equipment on site, including a climbing wall.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
. and other major campuses are at Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
and Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
. It was established in 2007, with roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and Charlotte Mason teacher training College in the 1890s. The university is based upon the idea of a "distributed learning network", so that teaching takes place both at the university's main campuses, and at colleges of further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
around Cumbria, a rural county that includes the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. The university also has further education provision at its Penrith and Carlisle campuses.
History
The University of Cumbria was formed by the merger of St Martin's CollegeSt Martin's College
St Martin's College was a British Higher Education College with campuses in Lancaster, Ambleside and Carlisle, as well as sites in Whitehaven, Barrow and London. It provided undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the arts, humanities, business studies, teacher training, health and social care...
, Lancaster, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts
Cumbria Institute of the Arts
The Cumbria Institute of the Arts was a further and higher education institution in Carlisle, Cumbria, England.-History:Founded as the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in 1822, it proceeded as the Carlisle College of Art, from 1950, and switched to Cumbria Institute of the Arts from...
(CIA) and the Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
n campuses of the University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
. These institutions formerly ran degree programmes accredited by Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
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
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
.
Campuses
The University is based upon the findings of a report by Sir Martin Harris. This plan envisaged a university based upon a "distributed learning network". This network is based upon the idea that teaching will take place both at the University's main campuses, and at colleges of further educationFurther education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
around the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. This will solve problems of access for remote areas that did not previously have direct access to higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
The headquarters of the University are in Carlisle. Its other major campuses are at Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
, Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
(formerly St Martin's College) and Energus in Lilyhall. The University also has sites in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
(formerly University of Central Lancashire in Cumbria).
On 1 December 2009, it was announced that the Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
Campus would be 'mothballed' at the end of July 2010, and will no longer take new undergraduate students. The action by the University of Cumbria ended over 175 years of heritage and a protest was held on the 1 December 2009 by the student body. The closure was 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. The timing of the closure had led many to believe that the decision was made 'a long time ago'
Organisation and structure
On 21 May 2010 a new interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham UptonGraham Upton
Graham Upton is acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Cumbria. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, from September 1997 to August 2007....
, was appointed.
The University has debts totalling £30,000,000 and in March 2010, the University received a cash advance from HEFCE to enable it to pay staff. In May 2010, Peter McCaffery left his position as Vice-Chancellor by mutual agreement with the Board of Governors.
Academic profile
As well as its work in the areas of the arts, health and teacher trainingTeacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
, the university has a faculty of Arts, Business and Science which, as well as the subjects in its title, incorporates a full range of courses including law
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
studies. Sciences include Forestry, Land Management, Forensic Science and Environment. The University also provides Further Education provision at its Penrith and Carlisle campuses.
University of Cumbria is notable for being one of only a handful of chosen universities in the country to be accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists
National Council for the Training of Journalists
The National Council for the Training of Journalists was founded in 1951 as an organisation to oversee the training of journalists for the newspaper industry in the United Kingdom and is now playing a role in the wider media.-Purpose:...
.
Sports
The majority of University of Cumbria campuses have sports teams which represent them in the BUCS leagues. Teams include: Netball, Football, Hockey, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Badminton. All teams play their home games on Wednesdays afternoons at various University's sport venues.As well as the usual sports, at the Newton Rigg campus in Penrith, there are a number of outdoor activity societies using a wide range of equipment on site, including a climbing wall.