The Record 2006 - Keble College - University of Oxford

The Life of the College
much needed graduate scholarships, Robin Geffen for his
support for College rowing and Richard Thornton for his
support of the College Chapel. We are very conscious of
the loyalty and generosity of so many people who help the
College to do what it would not otherwise be able to do.
The Keble Association now takes a higher profile in funding
students for travel and hardship grants, and this support
is also extremely welcome. Not least, we are grateful to all
the donors of the splendid new benches which have been
installed in the quads, and which allow so many people to
enjoy the gardens.
The early summer of 2005 was not comfortable time in the
University, with the rejection by Congregation of plans for
reform put forward by the central administration. Revised
plans will be put to Congregation in Michaelmas Term
2006, after extensive consultation, but it is clear that some
resistance remains. It is not always fully realized that at least
some of the proposals are driven by the need to ensure that
rigorous procedures are in place for the operation of what is
nowadays effectively a very large business. Balancing these
requirements, and the much more challenging environment
of corporate regulation with the aspirations of the
University and its exciting research and teaching activities,
not to mention the preservation of college independence,
is our current challenge. Some of you will know about the
difficult employment tribunal in which the College was
involved last summer. We are not alone in facing a fastchanging
legislative environment, but I am glad to say
that with the appointment of Marie Ruffle as full-time HR
Manager the College’s systems and policies are undergoing
a thorough overhaul and as a result we can feel confident
about the future. One of Marie’s first actions was to initiate
an HR network for the significant and growing number of
other colleges who are undergoing similar transitions.
Felstead House, now known as 23 Banbury Road, has
been fully converted and provides Fellows’ and graduates’
housing as well as bookable facilities for small meetings
and conferences. The main Acland Hospital site has also
been converted and is currently home to eighty graduate
students. During the year, we had a rigorous architects’
competition for the planned development of the Acland
site and after three rounds of shortlisting, Rick Mather
Associates was chosen. We are in the process of close and
detailed discussions to ensure that we plan a building
of architectural significance which will provide first‐rate