Roehampton University is a campus university situated on three major sites at Roehampton in south-west London, in the United Kingdom. The listed buildings stand in grounds close to Richmond Park and Putney, with central London a few miles away.

Origins

Roehampton Institute of Higher Education (often known by the acronym "RIHE") was created in 1975. It was formed by the federation of four teacher training colleges with nineteenth-century origins. The colleges, in order of foundation, were:

• Whitelands College ? an Anglican foundation
• Southlands College ? a Methodist foundation
• Digby Stuart College ? named after two pioneers in Catholic education
• Froebel College ? established to promote the progressive educational philosophy of Friedrich Froebel

For the first ten years, the Institute's degrees were validated by the University of London. Students at RIHE also had access to the University of London's facilities.

Link to Surrey

After the 1983/84 academic year, Roehampton Institute broke its links with the University of London. Instead it formed a connection with the University of Surrey and its graduates were awarded Surrey degrees.

The links with Surrey were strengthened considerably from 1 January 2000, when Roehampton Institute became an equal partner in the Federal University of Surrey, and changed its name to University of Surrey Roehampton. The other partner was the original University of Surrey ("UniS") based in Guildford.

Whilst working closely together, Roehampton and the University of Surrey functioned as independent, self-regulating universities. Both registered students independently, and Roehampton students continued to be taught on a Roehampton campus. As each institution controlled its own property, employed its own staff and registered its own students, applications were made to each institution separately. Applicants used distinct UCAS codes for both Roehampton and Surrey.

University status

In late 2003, the University of Surrey Roehampton announced that it would submit an application for independent university title to the Department for Education and Skills, and the application was submitted on 18 March 2004. The name chosen was "Roehampton University". The application was considered by the Privy Council, and on 23 June 2004 it was announced that independent university status was to be granted.

On 1 August 2004, the University of Surrey Roehampton became Roehampton University. Therefore the Federal University of Surrey was dissolved on this date.

John Simpson became the first Chancellor of Roehampton University in 2005.

Paul O'Prey is the current Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor, supported by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Jane Broadbent and Pro Vice-Chancellors Chris Cobb and Andy Masheter. Reggie Blennerhassett is Director of Finance. Sir David Bell is Chair of Council.

The university has recently published a new Strategic Plan, incorporating an ambitious "campus strategy" and a review of the university's portfolio, designed to focus the subject range available there in specific and distinctive areas of core strength.

On 7 January 2008, an on-campus gym was opened within the Froebel grounds. During the latter part of 2007 a competition was ran to name the gym. Current first year Child Care and Nursing student Paul Green suggested "RoeActive". After coming up with this name Andrew Bell was awarded a year's free membership to the gym that his mate named.

References

External links

• Roehampton University ? official website
• Roehampton University Students' Union

no:Roehampton University

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