New release of historic SOAS Committee Papers
In continuation of the SOAS Centenary celebrations, the catalogued minutes and papers of SOAS Boards and Committees are being published in phases on the SOAS Archive Catalogue. In this second blog, the Corporate Records Manager and Archivist, David Ogden, outlines the history and functions of the Academic Board.
The precursor to the Academic Board was the Academic Organisation Committee, which applied for the School’s admission to the University of London. A significant step in the establishment of SOS (School of Oriental Studies) involved the transfer of Oriental departments and the loan of Oriental book collections from University College and King’s College. The Memorandum of the Governing Body to the University of London outlining the agreement can be seen below. The Academic Organisation Committee ceased to exist after 25 June 1917 and the Academic Board had its first meeting on the 2 October 1917. The Academic Board was constituted in the initial Charter of Incorporation of the School of Oriental Studies.
Academic Board Minutes 1916-18 Vol 1, Reference: SOAS/COM/02/01/01/01 © SOAS
Memorandum regarding transfer of staff to SOS, including Alice Werner from King’s College. SOAS/COM/02/01/01/01. © SOAS
– Detail from page 2 of the Memorandum to the Senate, showing point 9 on application for admission of SOS to the University. SOAS/COM/02/01/01/01. © SOAS
The current remit of SOAS’s Academic Board is to advise SOAS’s Governing Body on proposals relating to the academic scope and academic structure of the School, and also to make the Governing Body aware of matters which may affect the practice or standard of teaching and research in the School. The principal activities of the Board are to decide on academic strategy and report strategies to the Governing Body, oversee quality assurance and quality assessment in teaching and research at SOAS, and award degrees and School qualifications. The Board is furnished by prescribed office holders at SOAS, and this formula is set out in the School’s Standing Orders.
A number of subsidiary committees have reported into the Academic Board over time. The main committees for which there are open papers include the Heads of Department Committee, Research and Publications Committee, and Library Committee. The minutes and papers of these subordinate committees have been released concurrently with the Academic Board papers.
Readers should be aware that in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998), minutes and papers are closed for a period of 30 years from the date of creation. Papers between 30 and 80 years old may be accessed subject to the completion of a Data Protection Declaration by the reader, whilst papers over 80 years old are open. In accordance with the University Publication Scheme, open minutes of the Academic Board since November 2003 are available on the SOAS website.
Where SOAS Minutes and Papers are open, they can be consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room, SOAS Library. Please see guidance on requesting material.