Statutes, Ordinances and Governance

Legal documents relating to the College
View of the Dome through trees

Statutes

The College Statutes were approved by Her Majesty the Queen on 16 February 2022 at Windsor Castle, under the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Act 1923; and came into effect on 1 March 2022.

Under Statute XXXVII, the Council (after consultation with the Governing Body) created the Fellowship Ordinances which make provisions with regard to the President and Fellows, other than Fellows Emeritae and Honorary Fellows; Statute XIX.7 refers to these two categories.

Ordinances

Find our Ordinances here.

Governance

Incorporation

Murray Edwards College is a chartered corporation. Originally incorporated in 1954 as a company limited by guarantee, in June 1972 the College was granted a Royal Charter in the style "The President and Fellows of New Hall in the University of Cambridge". The Charter set out the College’s objects, the principal of which were and remain:

  • learning, education and research; and
  • the maintenance of a College for members of the University studying for degrees and carrying post-graduate or special studies.

A Supplemental Charter was granted in June 2011, which changed the name to "The President and Fellows of Murray Edwards College, founded as New Hall, in the University of Cambridge". The new name recognised the founder, Dame Rosemary Murray, the donation of the Edwards Family and the former name, New Hall, with which the College was first incorporated.

Governance

The College is governed according to its Statutes, which provide for the constitution and government of the College, including:

  • the membership and responsibilities of the Governing Body and College Council;
  • the duties and terms of appointment of the President, Fellows and College Officers;
  • the conduct, discipline, grievances and dismissal or removal of academic staff, the duties of College Members, the discipline of students;
  • and financial management and the annual auditing of accounts.

The ultimate governing authority in the College is the Governing Body which comprises Official, Supernumerary, Professorial and Research Fellows.

The Council administers the College’s affairs. It makes decisions and promulgates policies that govern the College’s activities. The Statutes grant the Council the power to issue Ordinances, which provide for the good governance of the College and establish procedures, rights and obligations for members. Special Ordinances have also been made by Council which are available on application to the Bursar.

Trustees

The Council members are the Trustees of the College.  The current Trustees are:

  • Ms Dorothy Byrne (President)
  • Professor Stephen Morris (Vice-President)
  • Mr Rob Hopwood (Bursar)
  • Dr Andrew Rudd (Senior Tutor)
  • Ms Atmika Patnaik (MCR President)
  • Ms Scarlet Summers (JCR President)
  • Dr Dora Alexopoulou
  • Dr Michele Gemelos
  • Dr Miranda Griffin
  • Dr Lydia Hamlett
  • Professor Michael Herzog
  • Dr Rachel Leow
  • Dr Mohamed Moussa
  • Dr Kate Peters
  • Dr Julia Turner

Annual Report & Financial Statements

The College’s financial operations are reflected in its annual report and financial statements for each year ending 30 June. 
Recent years are presented here: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.  Previous years are available on application to the Bursar.