Board of Studies in Divinity

The Public Instruction and University (Amendment) Act was passed in mid 1936 and in August the Senate adopted By-laws for the granting of degrees in Divinity. The courses commenced in March 1937., supervised by a Board of Studies appointed by the Senate.From University Calendar 1937 By laws chapter Xa.2 , pp. 129 & 130:"For the purposes of the degrees in Divinity there shall be a Board of Studies which shall consist of the Vice Chancellor, the dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Professor of Greek, the Professor of Latin, the Professor of Anthropology, such of the Heads of the six colleges within the University as are willing to act, together with such members if any, but not more than five, as the before-mentioned members may, with the approval of the Senate, co-opt. The Vice Chancellor shall be the Chairman of the Board. The co-opted members shall hold office for three years, but may again be co-opted.3.The Board may consider and report to the professorial Board upon all matters relating to the studies, lectures, examinations and degrees in Divinity.4. The Board shall (a) recommend to the Senate through the Professorial Board, the persons to be recognised as teachers for the purposes of the degrees in Divinity (b) supervise the teaching in the subjects with which the Board is concerned (c) be responsible with the assistance of such Examiners as the Professorial Board may on the report of the Board or of the Vice Chancellor, from time to time, appoint for the conduct of examinations in these subjects (d) take cognisance of and encourage scholarship and research in these subjects (e) consider and report upon all matters referred to it by the Senate, or by the Vice Chancellor or by the Professorial Board (f) have such other duties and powers as may from time to time be assigned to it by the Senate "The Board endorsed the proposal that new candidates be taken into the degree of Bachelor of Divinity after the 1991 admissions, and that the degree be phased out subject to the full development of the School of Studies in Religion and the Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Religion and Theology. (Minutes of the Board of Studies in Divinity 13 March 1991)Following a report by the Faculty of Arts Policy and Review Committee from 16 October 1990 the Vice-Chancellor recommended in his report to Senate on 5 August 1991 that the recommendations be accepted. There were a number of recommendations. these included the establishment of a School of Studies in Religion, and the disbanding of the Board of Studies in Divinity.  The recommendations had the support of the Board of Divinity. Senate resolved as recommended. [Senate Minutes 5 Aug 1991, pp. 1349-1350] On 2 December 1991 Senate adopted the report of the Academic Board meeting 18 November 1991 regarding the Faculty of Education, which formalised the disestablishment of the Board of Divinity.The School of Divinity and the Department of Religious Study merged to form the School of Studies in Religion which was inaugurated in September 1991 at a ceremony at MacLaurin Hall. A/P Jim Tulip formerly Chair of the Board of Studies in Divinity, was appointed Head of the School. [Annual Report 1991, p.22]