Oxford's newly elected Junior Proctor



Dr Elizabeth Gemmill has been elected to the post of Junior Proctor for the Proctorial year 2016-17.

Large organisations, be they cities or countries, are governed in part by statutes: formal written enactments of legislative authority which provide the constitutional framework that allows the organisation to govern its affairs.

Universities are no exception in being governed by statutes; and Oxford's proctors are senior academic officers elected by the colleges who ensure that the University operates according to them. These officers are the Senior Proctor, the Junior Proctor. The Assessor is the third officer, who is responsible for student welfare and finance.

Dr Elizabeth Gemmill, Associate Professor in Local History and Director of the Department's Weekly Class Programme, has just been elected Junior Proctor. She joins Dr Mark Whittow (Corpus Christi College) who will be Senior Proctor, and Luke Pitcher (Somerville) who will be the Assessor.

She is the first Proctor to be elected by Kellogg College, which was founded here in the Department twenty five years ago. Professor Tom Buchanan was Kellogg's first Assessor, and served in 2003-04.

What does a Proctor do?

Their duties are very wide ranging - but essentially, Proctors:

  • ensure fair and proper conduct of University examinations
  • enforce disciplinary regulations
  • investigate complaints by University members;
  • serve on a wide range of key University committees and boards
  • take part in the University's ceremonial occasions, including graduation

It's not all about enforcing rules on behalf of the University: students may consult the Proctors in confidence for help, information or advice about University matters or any other matters outside the sphere of their course tutor or college adviser. Proctors will also weigh in on matters such as special conditions required by students for taking exams.

The two Proctors and the Assessor are elected annually. Each of Oxford's 38 colleges and halls takes part in a rota to elect one of their own Fellows to serve for twelve months. This ensures that each college is represented in the role and that each takes its share of the duties.

On being elected Proctor, Dr Gemmill said, 'One of Oxford's distinctive strengths is that its academic staff play a crucial part in decision-making and in upholding the University's structures and procedures. The role of the Proctors embodies that principle and I am delighted to have been elected as Kellogg's first Proctor. I look forward to taking on my duties next March.'

Senior and Junior

Though the titles sound hierarchical, the two Proctors' roles have equal authority and status. The appellation 'Senior' in this case refers to the nominee who has held their MA degree the longer.

By convention, the Senior Proctor has special responsibilities in research degrees and the Junior Proctor for taught degrees. The Assessor is typically involved with student health and welfare matters.

The office of Proctor dates from medieval times; and Dr Gemmill's area of expertise also relates to medieval times. She is a medieval historian, and her research interests include ecclesiastical patronage rights and the character of the diocesan clergy, prices of consumables, and valuations in medieval inquisitions.

For more information

Published 26 May 2015