Editing London Metropolitan University (section)

===Student numbers controversy===
[[File:London Met Demo 28Jan09.jpg|thumb|A demonstration against job cuts in Jan 2009]]
In July 2008, it was reported that a financial crisis was looming for the university. London Met had allegedly been misreporting data on student [[Dropping out|drop-outs]] for several years and, consequently, the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] (HEFCE) was proposing to reclaim at least £15&nbsp;million for the overpayment in 2008–9.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Attwood |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=402684&sectioncode=26 |title=Hefce clawback means cuts loom |magazine=Times Higher Education |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref> In February 2009 the overpayment figure was revised to £56&nbsp;million by [[HEFCE]], who were seeking to recover the money.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/feb/03/brian-roper| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=Balancing the books| date=3 February 2009| access-date=11 May 2010| first=Maureen| last=Paton}}</ref>

On 19 March 2009, in response to the crisis, vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Brian Roper]] resigned his position with immediate effect but continued to receive his salary until December 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/mar/19/brian-roper-resignation-london-met| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=Vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan quits| first=Polly| last=Curtis| date=19 March 2009| access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> In May 2009, [[Alfred Morris (academic)|Alfred Morris]], former vice-chancellor of the [[University of the West of England]] and [[University of Wales, Lampeter]], was appointed interim vice-chancellor.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=406616&c=1| title=Governors have explored the legal scenarios if London Met goes bust| magazine=Times Higher Education| date=21 May 2009| access-date=21 May 2009|authorlink= Melanie Newman}}</ref>

The government announced in May 2009 that there would be an independent inquiry, exploring the possibility that HEFCE had colluded with London Met by failing to query implausibly low drop-out rates.<ref>[[Melanie Newman]], [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=406649&c=2 "Government announces inquiry into London Met crisis"], ''Times Higher Education'', 21 May 2009.</ref> The inquiry concluded in November 2009 and was reported to attribute responsibility to vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Brian Roper]], along with other senior administrators and the Board of Governors. Following completion of the report, the chair of [[HEFCE]] called on "senior staff" and the entire Board of Governors to resign, noting that HEFCE was not convinced that the university's management could effectively safeguard public funds.<ref>Lucy Hodges and Richard Garner, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/university-accused--of-16336m-student-scam-1825909.html "University accused of £36m student scam"], ''The Independent'', 22 November 2009.</ref> After the deadline indicated by HEFCE chief executive Alan Langlands had expired, rumours circulated among staff and government ministers that HEFCE could withdraw funding, effectively forcing the university to close.<ref>Lucy Hodges and Richard Garner, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/london-met-warned-that-it-could-be-closed-1835511.html "London Met warned that it could be closed"], ''The Independent'', 7 December 2009.</ref>

A report commissioned by the university, published in November 2009, found that vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Roper]] bore "the major responsibility and culpability" for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive had been aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student drop-outs – rather than the funding council's – since 2003, but had taken no action. The university's [[board of governors]] and [[audit committee]] had an oversight role, which made them ultimately "accountable for a financial failure of this magnitude" and this meant that they "must take overall responsibility".<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Rebecca|last=Attwood|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=409180&c=2|title=Roper is to blame for fiasco, but London Met's board bears responsibility|journal=[[Times Higher Education]]|date=20 November 2009}}</ref>