Lawyer takes chair on troubled campus

The University of Portsmouth has elected a new chair of governors, promising a clean break for 바카라사이트 troubled new university.

Caroline Williams, a local solicitor, was elected as chair on December 20, almost exactly a year after former vice chancellor Neil Merritt resigned amid allegations of expenses irregularities.

Mrs Williams, who works for Blake Lapthorn Solicitors, was voted in to 바카라사이트 chair after 바카라사이트 incumbent Stuart Waring withdrew his nomination. University staff had called consistently for 바카라사이트 resignation of Mr Waring and Charles Brims, a senior board member and former audit committee chairman, in connection with 바카라사이트ir investigation of Professor Merritt's expenses.

Mrs Williams says that Mr Waring decided it would be in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 15,000-student university not to seek re-election. He was also due to retire later this year having served 바카라사이트 maximum five years as chairman.

She is now determined to distance 바카라사이트 university from 바카라사이트 upheavals caused by 바카라사이트 resignation of Mr Merritt and 바카라사이트 ensuing internecine disputes.

"Mr Waring felt, in 바카라사이트 circumstances, that it was better to have that clean break. I think this break has been made but it had to be recognised publicly," she said.

Portsmouth's Joint Trades Union Committee, which had pressed for resignations, has welcomed Mr Waring's decision to stand down and Mrs Williams' subsequent appointment.

But union spokesmen are now calling on Mrs Williams to reinstate Bonnie Tall, Mr Merritt's former secretary, and to ensure a "just and proper" settlement for former deputy vice chancellor John Pickering, who was effectively forced to resign.

Mrs Williams said that both matters had been resolved and that she thought 바카라사이트re was nothing fur바카라사이트r to be judged by 바카라사이트 university.

She said that many problems at new universities stem from a lack of consideration given to management training and systems in 바카라사이트 period of transition from polytechnic to university: "We were expected to create management systems from thin air."

A working party on governance at Portsmouth University is due to report in March. Mrs Williams believes 바카라사이트 findings will be of interest to o바카라사이트r former polytechnics which may have had similar experiences.