Editing Unseen University (section)

== Staff ==
The staff usually come in a group in the books in which they appear, though [[Rincewind]] initially followed his own storyline, only being a part of the group in the ''Science of Discworld'' books and ''[[Unseen Academicals]]'', and the [[The Librarian (Discworld)|Librarian]] makes solo appearances in several books. [[Ridcully]] and Ponder also appeared in ''[[Going Postal]]'' and ''[[Night Watch (Discworld)|Night Watch]]''. Ridcully alone appears in ''[[Thud!]]''. The wizards are referred to by their offices (e.g. "ancient runes"), rather than names. There is a slight reference to this in ''[[The Last Continent]]'', when the wizards notice that they not only don't know the Librarian's name, but they also don't know the names of one another. In ''Unseen Academicals'', Ridcully has difficulty remembering the Dean's name, despite having started at UU around the same time.

===Archchancellor===
{{unsourced section|date=April 2024}}
[[Image:Mustrum Ridcully.JPG|thumb|200 px|Mustrum Ridcully illustrated by Paul Kidby]]
The head of Unseen University is the [[archchancellor]], considered an important figure and holds a seat on the Ankh-Morpork council, in which he acts as a magical advisor to the [[Havelock Vetinari|Patrician of Ankh-Morpork]].

The archchancellor of UU is considered the leader of all wizards on the Disc (by those at the UU), the [[Primus inter pares|first among equals]]. Unseen University has existed for thousands of years, and the average Archchancellor remains in office for about eleven months.

As of the final novel, the archchancellor is '''[[List_of_Discworld_characters#The Archchancellor|Mustrum Ridcully]]''' who assumed the post in ''[[Moving Pictures (novel)|Moving Pictures]]'' and held it for the rest of the novels.

At the time he became archchancellor, Ridcully had not been seen at the [[university]] for forty years, having left the university to look after his family's land.

Ridcully has shown the occasional flash of magical skill. For example, in ''[[Moving Pictures (novel)|Moving Pictures]]'', the Bursar is surprised to discover Ridcully's adeptness at using a magic mirror, which, like most Discworld [[scrying]] devices, is hard to steer. In ''[[Soul Music (novel)|Soul Music]]'' Ridcully improvises, at short notice and with minimal assistance, a slimmed-down version of the rite of AshkEnte for summoning Death. It is also implied that he has some degree of practical magic knowledge (''[[The Last Continent]]'').

''[[Lords and Ladies (novel)|Lords and Ladies]]'' reveals that he and a young [[Granny Weatherwax|Esme Weatherwax]] were in a relationship some fifty years before Ridcully became Archchancellor. He is deeply affected by her death (''[[The Shepherd's Crown]]'').

In the [[Cosgrove Hall]] animation of ''[[Soul Music (TV series)|Soul Music]]'' he was voiced by [[Graham Crowden]].<ref name="Soul Music cast">{{cite web |title=Soul Music (1997) Cast |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159914/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |website=IMDB |access-date=27 April 2024 |ref=IMDBmusic}}</ref>
In 2006's two-part adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather|Hogfather]]'' he was played by [[Joss Ackland]],<ref name="Hogfather (2006)">{{cite web |title=Hogfather (2006) Cast |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765458/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |website=IMDB |access-date=27 April 2024 |ref=IMDBhogcast}}</ref> 
and in the 2010 adaptation of ''[[Terry Pratchett's Going Postal|Going Postal]]'' he was portrayed by [[Timothy West]].<ref name="Going Postal cast">{{cite web |title=Going Postal (2010) Cast |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219817/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |website=IMDB |access-date=27 April 2024 |ref=IMDBpostal}}</ref>

===Bursar===
'''Professor A.A. Dinwiddie'''. The Bursar is a quiet, reserved person. He took over the job from the previous Bursar, Spelter, after the latter was killed trying to save the library from destruction in ''[[Sourcery]]''.

Dinwiddie reacts to the stress of the events in the series by becoming less and less tethered to reality. By the events of ''[[Reaper Man]]'', Dr. Dinwiddie is almost completely insensible. The Bursar's insanity has become a [[byword (saying)|byword]] in [[Ankh-Morpork]]: "to go Bursar" is "to go crazy"{{cn|date=April 2024}}.

===Dean===
'''The Dean of Pentacles/Archchancellor Henry of Brazeneck College'''. An obese man (''[[Moving Pictures (novel)|Moving Pictures]]'') who is generally found in his study reading a [[grimoire]] or in the great hall. He attends some of the functions that are held by guilds or clubs around the city on behalf of the university.

According to Ponder Stibbons, he is "normally never nice".{{cn|date=April 2024}} He is often susceptible to any occult or semi-magical occurrence happening in the university, as well as any fads or trends &ndash; most notably in ''[[Soul Music (novel)|Soul Music]]''. When roused into action he can be very enthusiastic and violent, and is a part-time Watch Special Constable – on the proviso that he not use magic in the course of his duties.

He and Archchancellor Ridcully have been friends since their first days at the university. Their friendship is tested in ''[[Unseen Academicals]]'', when the Dean leaves to become Archchancellor of the rival Brazeneck College. The Dean became the first person to voluntarily resign from the university – something previously considered unthinkable (as people usually left "in disgrace, in a box or, in a few cases, in bits"{{cn|date=April 2024}}).

===Librarian===
[[Image:Librarian (Discworld).jpg|thumb|The Librarian]]
The '''Librarian''' appeared in the second novel of the series, ''[[The Light Fantastic]]'', where he was transformed into an [[orang-utan]].<ref name="'Librarian' in 'Discworld A - Z', Turtle Recall">{{cite book |last1=Briggs |first1=Stephen |last2=Pratchett |first2=Terry |title=Turtle Recall: The Discworld Companion... So Far |date=2012 |publisher=Gollancz |isbn=978-0575091214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mVczAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Dr.+Worblehat%22&pg=PT246 |access-date=30 April 2024 |ref=Librarianname}}</ref>
This had certain advantages for a librarian, such as being able to use his hands and feet for re-shelving books.<ref name="OUP">{{cite web |last1=French |first1=Emma |title=Best librarian characters in fantasy fiction |url=https://blog.oup.com/2017/04/librarians-fantasy-fiction-characters/ |website=OUPblog |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=April 30, 2017 |date=April 27, 2017}}</ref> The other wizards have gradually become used to the situation, to the extent that, from ''[[Night Watch (Discworld)|Night Watch]]'': "if someone ever reported that there was an orang-utan in the Library, the wizards would probably go and ask the Librarian if he'd seen it."<ref name="'Night Watch' e-Book">{{cite book |last1=Pratchett |first1=Terry |title=Night Watch |date=2002 |publisher=Penguin Random House UK |pages=61, 484 |ref=NWBook}}</ref>

He is known for his violent reaction to most people calling him a "[[monkey]]", as he is technically an [[ape]]. He primarily uses the word ''Ook'', inflected for simple affirmations and negations, though he occasionally uses ''Eeek'' in moments of panic or rage.

As with other members of the UU faculty, the Librarian is referred to by his office and not by a name. There are rumours that, pre-transformation, he was named Dr. Horace Worblehat, though no one speaks about it.<ref name="'Librarian' in 'Discworld A - Z', Turtle Recall" />

The Librarian is a member of the Librarians of Time And Space, a group who have the knowledge and ability to travel through L-Space, an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|extradimensional]] space that connects all libraries and other large accumulations of books.<ref name="OUP"/>

The Librarian appears in orangutan form in the video games [[Discworld (video game)|''Discworld'']] and ''[[Discworld II]]''. In [[Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic|the 2008 TV adaptation]] of ''The Colour of Magic'' and ''The Light Fantastic'' by [[Sky One]], he appears in both human and orang-utan form. His human form is played by Nicolas Tennant,<ref name="Color Of Magic cast">{{cite web |title=The Color Of Magic (TV Mini-Series) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1079959/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm |website=IMDB |access-date=30 April 2024 |ref=IMDBmagic}}</ref> who had previously played [[Nobby Nobbs|Corporal Nobbs]] in ''[[Terry Pratchett's Hogfather]]''.<ref name="Hogfather (2006)" />

===Ponder Stibbons===
Professor Stibbons is, among other things, Head of Inadvisably Applied Magic, Praelector and Reader in Invisible Writings, the Master of Traditions, the [[Camerlengo]] of Unseen University, the keeper of [[Hex (Discworld)|Hex]] (the university's computer), and the right-hand man of Archchancellor Ridcully.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

His entry in ''The New Discworld Companion'' states:
:originally rather lazy by nature, he seems to have blossomed to become the youngest and most depressingly keen member of the faculty ... as one of the few wizards at the University with his head screwed on in any fashion, he appears, quite against his will, to be in the front line.<ref name="The New Discworld Companion (2003)">{{cite book |last1=Pratchett |first1=Terry |title=The New Discworld Companion |date=2003 |publisher=London, Gollancz |isbn=9780575074675 |page=129 |ref=Companion}}</ref>

In the film version of ''Hogfather'' he is portrayed by [[Ed Coleman (actor)|Ed Coleman]].<ref name="Hogfather (2006)" />

Stibbons also appears in the video game ''[[Discworld II]]'', in the High Energy Facility. He is characterized differently than in the books, evidenced by his erratic speech patterns and verbal tics, as well as his denials that he is being adversely affected by working on [[Hex (Discworld)|Hex]].

===Rincewind===
{{Main|Rincewind}}
Rincewind holds the Chair of Experimental Serendipity, the Chair for the Public Misunderstanding of Magic, and the positions of Professor of Virtual Anthropology, Egregious Professor of Cruel and Unusual Geography, Reader in Slood Dynamics, Fretwork Teacher, Lecturer in Approximate Accuracy, and Health and Safety Officer. These apparently unwanted positions were awarded to Rincewind provided that he does not receive any salary. Prior to receiving these titles, Rincewind held the post of Assistant Librarian, but it is unclear whether or not he retains the office. Rincewind is often concerned with his life, as many people all across Discworld have attempted to take it.

In the film version of ''The Colour of Magic'' he is portrayed by [[David Jason]].<ref name="Color Of Magic cast" />

===Doctor Hix===
''' Dr. John Hix''' – 'Hicks with an X' in ''[[Unseen Academicals]]'', after changing his name from Hicks because it didn't suit his position. Dr Hix is a [[necromancy|necromancer]]. Since necromancy is officially banned in Ankh-Morpork, he is instead the Head of the Department of Postmortem Communications (although he acknowledges this is just a fancy way of saying necromancy). Hix has one member of staff, a reanimated skeleton called Charlie. He previously had another member of staff, the late Professor Flead, but Hix bound him to a club at the end of ''[[Making Money]]''.{{cn |date=May 2024}}

Hix frequently misbehaves, performs evil deeds and makes comments in bad taste as he is required to under university statute, a fact which the other members of UU grudgingly accept. He uses the phrase "Skull ring, remember?" as an excuse for his misbehavior, much like the [[Havelock Vetinari|Patrician's]] use of the phrase, "Tyrant, remember?".

Hix may be a parody of [[Peter Higgs]].

===Hex===
{{Main|Hex (Discworld)}}

'''Hex''' is the UU's first mainframe computer, though instead of RAM, it is powered by a waterwheel inside a ram skull, and its mouse is an actual mouse. Its "brain" consists of a series of glass tubes filled with ants, which form its processor, and a beehive in a back room, which constitutes its hard drive. It bears a sticker up front saying that there is an anthill inside (a parody of the advertising slogan "[[Intel Inside]]"). Initially just a computer, it has gradually developed more of a personality over the course of the series. Ponder Stibbons has by default become the person in charge of developing and operating Hex, though he admits that Hex largely develops itself.

=== Past archchancellors ===

* [[Albert (Discworld)|Alberto Malich]], the first archchancellor and founder of UU. He went to the land of [[Death (Discworld)|Death]] when he performed the [[Rite of AshkEnte]] backwards, and remained in [[Death's Domain]] as Death's assistant and butler. He also appeared in ''[[Mort]]'', ''[[Soul Music (novel)|Soul Music]]'', and in ''[[Hogfather]]'' where he appeared as Pixie Albert to Death's Hogfather. In the film version of ''Hogfather'' he is portrayed by [[David Jason]].
* Chancellor Galder Weatherwax, a distant cousin of [[Granny Weatherwax]], is chancellor for the first half of ''[[The Light Fantastic]]''. He is the 304th Chancellor of the university. In the film version of ''The Colour of Magic'' he is portrayed by [[James Cosmo]].
* Archchancellor Ymper Trymon is archchancellor for the second half of ''The Light Fantastic''. In the film version of ''The Colour of Magic'' he is portrayed by [[Tim Curry]].
* Coin the Sourcerer is the archchancellor during ''[[Sourcery]]''.

Others include Cutangle (''[[Equal Rites]]''), Virrid Wayzygoose (''[[Sourcery]]''), Ezrolith Churn (''[[Eric (novel)|Eric]]''), Sloman, who discovered the Special Theory of [[Slood]], and Preserved Bigger (''[[Unseen Academicals]]'').

=== Past students ===
* '''Eskarina Smith''', known as Esk, is the main character in ''[[Equal Rites]]'', and was the Unseen University's first and only known female graduate. She did not appear again in the series until ''[[I Shall Wear Midnight]]'', in which she was described as being both old and young due to her mastery of [[time travel]]. She becomes a close friend of the adult [[Tiffany Aching]]. Esk is mentioned briefly again in ''[[The Shepherd's Crown]]'' with an (unnamed) son.
* [[Victor Tugelbend]] (in ''[[Moving Pictures (novel)|Moving Pictures]]'')
* '''Adrian Turnipseed''' (appears in ''[[Soul Music (novel)|Soul Music]]'', ''[[The Last Continent]]'', ''[[Hogfather]]'' and others). In ''[[Unseen Academicals]]'', Adrian Turnipseed was working for Braseneck College.
* Mr. Sideney, a member of [[Ankh-Morpork Assassins' Guild#Mr Teatime|Teatime's]] gang. In the film adaptation of ''[[Hogfather]]'', the character is portrayed by [[Nigel Planer]].{{cn|date=April 2024}}

===Past wizards===

* '''Drum Billet''', a wizard appearing in ''[[Equal Rites]]'', later reincarnated as an ant living under Unseen University.
* '''Windle Poons''', a very old wizard, first appearing in ''Moving Pictures''. He died at the age of 130, before returning briefly as a zombie.