Editing Rector (academia) (section)

====Scotland====
=====Ancient universities=====
{{Main|Ancient university governance in Scotland}}
In Scotland, the position of rector exists in the four [[Ancient universities of Scotland|ancient universities]] ([[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]], [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow]], [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]] and [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]]) as well as at [[University of Dundee|Dundee]], which took its governance systems from its early connections to the University of St Andrews.<ref name="Rector intro 2007">{{cite web |url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/documents/scottish-university-rector.pdf |title=The Scottish University Rector. Introduction to the role of University Rector in Scotland |date=2007 |access-date=13 December 2015}}</ref>

The current office of Rector, sometimes termed ''Lord Rector'', was instituted by the [[Universities (Scotland) Act 1858]], passed by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]].<ref name="act_1858">{{Cite legislation UK|type=act|year=1858|chapter=83|act=Universities (Scotland) Act 1858}}</ref> With the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 requiring an election for the Rector every 3 years in the [[ancient universities of Scotland|ancient universities]].<ref>{{Cite legislation UK|type=act|year=1889|chapter=55|act=Universities (Scotland) Act 1889}}</ref> The rector is the third-ranking official of university governance and is elected every three years by [[matriculation|matriculated]] students at Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and St Andrews, and by both the students and the staff at Edinburgh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/governance-strategic-planning/governance/university-court/standing-orders|title=Standing Orders of the University Court {{!}} The University of Edinburgh|website=www.ed.ac.uk|language=en|date=12 May 2014|publisher=University of Edinburgh|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/court_rector_role.pdf |title='The University Rector' |access-date=2010-09-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813193010/http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/court_rector_role.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="scottish_rector">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/documents/scottish-university-rector.pdf|title=The Scottish University Rector - Introduction to the role of University Rector in Scotland|date=2007|website=www.abdn.ac.uk|publisher=Scottish Rectors' Group|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref> Until the [[Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Act 2016]] came into force the rector chaired meetings of the [[university court]], the governing body of the university, but since 2016 the rector only opens and closes court meetings with the Senior Lay Member chairing the business of the meeting.<ref name=standrews-20240415>{{cite web |url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/assets/university/about/documents/governance/court/independent-investigation-29-July-2024.pdf |title=Independent Investigation |last=Ross |first=Morag |website=University of St Andrews |date=15 April 2024 |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

The [[titular ruler|titular head]] of an ancient university in Scotland is the [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]], who appoints a Vice-Chancellor to deputise in the awarding of [[academic degree|degrees]]. The [[University Principal|Principal]] of each university is, by [[Convention (norm)|convention]], appointed as Vice-Chancellor, however the position of Vice-Chancellor does not confer any other powers or responsibility on the Principal. The authority to serve as chief executive of each university is vested in the office of Principal, who holds both offices referred to as ''Principal and Vice-Chancellor''.<ref name="Principal and VC">{{cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/governance/key-officials/principal/|title=University of St Andrews: The Principal and Vice-Chancellor|publisher=University of St Andrews}}</ref><ref name="act_1858"/>

The role of the rector is considered by many students{{By whom|Which students think this?=|date=May 2017}} to be integral to their ability to shape the universities' agenda, and one of the main functions of the rector is to represent the interests of the student body. To some extent the office of rector has evolved into more of a figurehead role, with a significant number of celebrities and personalities elected as rectors, such as [[Stephen Fry]] and [[Lorraine Kelly]] at [[Rector of the University of Dundee|Dundee]], [[Clarissa Dickson Wright]] at [[Rector of the University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]], and [[John Cleese]] and [[Frank Muir]] at [[Rector of the University of St Andrews|St. Andrews]], and political figures, such as [[Mordechai Vanunu]] at [[Rector of the University of Glasgow|Glasgow]]. In many cases, particularly with high-profile rectors, attendance at the university court in person is rare;{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}} the Rector nominates an individual (normally a member of the student body) with the title of ''Rector's Assessor'', who sits as a voting member of the University Court.<ref name="assessor">{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourunion.net/voice/rectorelection/assessor/|title=Rector's Assessor|website=www.yourunion.net|publisher=University of St Andrews Students' Association|access-date=30 April 2017}}</ref>

The [[Rt. Hon.]] [[Gordon Brown]], the former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], was [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]] while a student there, but since then most universities have amended their procedures to disqualify currently matriculated students from standing for election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk/index.php/Election_of_Gordon_Brown_as_Rector,_1972|title=Election of Gordon Brown as Rector, 1972 - Our History|website=ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk|publisher=University of Edinburgh|language=en|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref>

{{As of|April 2025}}, the [[rector of the University of Aberdeen]] is [[Iona Fyfe]], a Scottish folk singer. The [[rector of the University of Dundee]] is arts consultant [[Keith Harris (artist manager)|Keith Harris]]. The [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh|rector]] of [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]] is [[Simon Fanshawe]]. The [[rector of the University of Glasgow]] is [[Ghassan Abu-Sittah]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-39346656 |title=Aamer Anwar elected as new Glasgow University rector |work=BBC News |date=21 March 2017}}</ref> Elected in November 2020, the [[rector of the University of St Andrews]] is Stella Maris.

=====High schools=====
Some Scottish high school/[[secondary school]] have a [[head teacher]] whose official title is ''Rector'', an example being [[Bell Baxter High School]] in [[Cupar]], [[Fife]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbhs-online.co.uk/schoolcontacts.html|title=Contacts {{!}} Bell-Baxter High School|website=www.bbhs-online.co.uk|publisher=Bell-Baxter High School|language=en|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref>