Editing University of Bath (section)

== History ==
[[File:UniversityofBathFall.jpg|thumb|University of Bath campus in autumn]]

The University of Bath can trace its roots to the Merchant Venturers' Technical College (whose alumni include the physicists [[Paul Dirac]] and [[Peter Higgs]]), an institution founded as a school in 1595<ref>{{cite web|title=Education|url=http://merchantventurers.com/charitable-activities/education/|publisher=Merchant Venturers|access-date=18 January 2014}}</ref> and a [[technical school]] established in [[Bristol]] in 1856 which became part of the [[Society of Merchant Venturers]] in 1885. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring city of Bath, a [[Pharmacy|pharmaceutical]] school, the Bath School of Pharmacy, was founded in 1907. This became part of the Technical College in 1929.

The college came under the control of the Bristol Education Authority in 1949; it was renamed then the Bristol College of Technology, and in 1960 the Bristol College of Science and Technology, when it became one of ten technical colleges under the umbrella of the [[Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Education]]. The college was mainly housed in the former [[New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol|Muller's Orphanage]] at [[Ashley, Bristol|Ashley Down]] in Bristol, which still houses part of the [[City of Bristol College]] whilst the remainder has been converted into residential housing.

===University status===
In 1963, the [[Robbins Report|Robbins Committee report]] paved the way for the college (along with a [[Plate glass university|number of other institutions]]) to assume university status as ''Bath University of Technology''.

Although the grounds of [[Kings Weston House]], in Bristol, were briefly considered&nbsp;— which then, and until 1969, accommodated the college's School of Architecture and Building Engineering&nbsp;— the City of Bristol was unable to offer the expanding college an appropriately sized single site. Following discussions between the College Principal and the Director of Education in Bath, an agreement was reached to provide the college with a new home in [[Claverton Down]], Bath, on a [[greenfield land|greenfield site]], purchased through a compulsory purchase order from the Candy family of Norwood Farm, overlooking the city.

Construction of the purpose-built campus began in 1964, with the first building, now known as 4 South, completed in 1965, to the deign of [[RMJM]] and Partners architectural practice.<ref>https://www.bath.ac.uk/library/cabinet-of-curiosities/media/james_byers_Concrete_Bath.pdf page9</ref> The [[royal charter]] was granted on 25 October 1966.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charter of the University of Bath | url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/publications/charter-of-the-university-of-bath/attachments/charter-of-the-university-of-bath.pdf}}</ref> In November 1966, the first degree ceremony took place at the [[Bath Assembly Rooms|Assembly Rooms in Bath]]. Over the subsequent decade, new buildings were added as the campus took shape.

In the mid-19th century, there were plans to build a college on the site.<ref>{{cite web |title=The story of the University |url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/the-story-of-the-university/ |publisher=University of Bath |access-date=5 August 2018}}</ref>

The university logo features the so-called [[Gorgon]]'s head which is taken, via the university's [[coat of arms]], from a Roman sculpture found within the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://education.annotatedstudios.com/bath/?SID=4k1boq2qdkf2omk62alibn6dm1|title=Official Graduation Rings for Alumni|website=education.annotatedstudios.com}}</ref> The university pays a [[peppercorn (law)|peppercorn]] a year to the city for rent of a {{convert|140|acre|adj=on|abbr=off}} parcel of land.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cameron-bath |first1=Amanda |title=University pays peppercorn rent on SECOND piece of Bath land |url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/university-bath-paying-peppercorn-rent-1166973 |website=bathchronicle |date=6 February 2018}}</ref>

Until 30 October 2012, it was also a member of the [[1994 Group]].

A report by the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] into governance at the university was published on 20 November 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hefce.ac.uk/reg/staffpay/bath/|title=The report of a HEFCE enquiry into governance surrounding senior pay at the University of Bath was published on 20 November 2017.|website=HEFCE}}</ref>

===Glynis Breakwell remuneration===
In November 2017, frustration with the governance of the university grew, especially concerning the Vice Chancellor, [[Glynis Breakwell]]'s remuneration.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/university-bath-given-13-recommendations-806017|title=University of Bath given 13 recommendations after investigation|last=Brown|first=Alexander|date=20 November 2017|work=bathchronicle|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> The [[Higher Education Funding Council for England|HEFCE]] carried out an enquiry and recommended 13 changes to the governance of the university.<ref name=":0" /> In November 2017, Breakwell's salary rose by 3.9% (£17,589) to over £468,000 and she was reported as the highest paid Vice Chancellor in the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/another-pay-rise-countrys-highest-799402|title=Another pay rise for highest-earning university boss|last=Petherick|first=Sam|date=19 November 2017|work=bathchronicle|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/university-bath-vice-chancellor-pay-695907|title=Bath vice-chancellor pay row timeline|first=Sam|last=Petherick-bath|date=29 October 2017|website=bathchronicle}}</ref>
The university and College Union had an "emergency meeting" of all staff to discuss the issue<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/nov/21/bath-university-staff-plan-urgent-meeting-over-vice-chancellor-pay|title=Bath University staff plan urgent meeting over vice-chancellor's pay|date=21 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and the students' union organised a vote of no confidence involving all undergraduate and postgraduate students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesubath.com/elections/referenda/|title=Referendum|website=www.thesubath.com|language=en-GB|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref>

By August 2017, four MPs had resigned from the advisory board at the University of Bath in protest against the vice-chancellor's pay package.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/aug/22/two-more-mps-quit-bath-university-roles-over-vice-chancellors-pay|title=Fourth MP quits Bath University role over vice-chancellor's pay|last=Khomami|first=Nadia|date=22 August 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 November 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In November 2017 Breakwell agreed to retire, taking a sabbatical on full pay from September 2018 until retirement in February 2019 when a £31,000 car loan to her would be written off.<ref name=guardian-20171128>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/nov/28/bath-university-vice-chancellor-quits-after-outcry-over-468k-pay |title=Bath University vice-chancellor quits after outcry over £468k pay |last=Adams |first=Richard |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 November 2017 |access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref> In January 2018 the University Court voted for her immediate departure and demanding the chair the governing council and remuneration committee should step down, though this decision could not override the existing contractual agreement with Breakwell.<ref name=bbc-20180116>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-42708001 |title=University of Bath vice-chancellor voted out in pay row |work=BBC News |date=16 January 2018 |access-date=18 November 2019}}</ref>

On 5 March 2018, at 13:30, a group of 10 Bath students supporting the [[University and College Union|UCU]] strike action occupied the vice chancellor's suite in protest of the university's support for [[2018 UK higher education strike|UUK's proposed pension reforms]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thesubath.com/404/?url=/campaigns/ucustrike/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923062301/https://www.thesubath.com/404/?url=/campaigns/ucustrike/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/bath-news/live-student-occupation-university-bath-1301627|title=Students occupation outside Bath vice-chancellor suite enters fourth day|first=Sam|last=Petherick-bath|date=9 March 2018|website=bathchronicle}}</ref> The occupation was endorsed by Bath MP [[Wera Hobhouse]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Wera_Hobhouse/status/971808117087440897|title=Thanks to @Bath_Students for hosting me at their occupation in support of @UCUBath. I first got involved in direct action politics at university, and it brings about change. The more young people involved in this the better. #UCUstrikepic.twitter.com/CVWBHqkYj3|first=Wera|last=Hobhouse 🔶|date=8 March 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=social media|date=December 2021}} The university was criticised for its initial response to the protesters, blocking the entrance to the only freely accessible toilets in the occupied area for the first 21 hours of the occupation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/news/students-pass-48-hour-mark-1310887|title=Occupation of Bath university into THIRD day|first=Sam|last=Ferguson|date=7 March 2018|website=bathchronicle}}</ref> The university's response was criticised by local councillor Joe Rayment, alumnus [[Marcus Sedgwick]], NUS Black Students' officer, and prompted the resignation of an external examiner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/joerayment91/status/970687972055150592|title=They are being allowed to use the toilet IF they end their involvement in the protest. Truly sickening behaviour from a university.|first=Joe|last=Rayment 🌏 🌹 🚩|date=5 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/marcussedgwick/status/975067979602890753|title=I'm ashamed of my alma mater|first=Marcus|last=Sedgwick|date=17 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ilyas_nagdee/status/970768662151008258|title=Absolute shame and disgust at @UniofBath for not allowing students to use a bathroom whilst in occupation. They're campaigning for a better Uni, your reminding us why we need to demand it.|first=Ilyas|last=Nagdee|date=5 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/megjobson/status/974976659857211393|title=I've just resigned as external examiner at the University of Bath. Thanks to @DrJoGrady and @ianpacemain for raising awareness of inhumane treatment of Bath students during their occupation of the VC's suite. @UM_UCU @UCUBath @ucu #ucustrikes #USSstrike|first=Megan|last=Jobson|date=17 March 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=social media|date=December 2021}}

In September 2018, it was announced that [[Ian H. White]] would take over from Glynis Breakwell as Vice-Chancellor in April 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Bath appoints new Vice-Chancellor |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/university-of-bath-appoints-new-vice-chancellor/ |website=University of Bath |access-date=3 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=University of Bath replaces 'highest paid' vice-chancellor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-45406697 |work=BBC News|access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>