News and Events

We did it!

On Monday 21 March 2005, University College Chester received official confirmation that it had met the criteria for University status.

Also noticeable has been the huge change to our corporate image, indeed you may notice some changes between this and our 2004 Newsletter. Once the Privy Council approved our preferred title of the “University of Chester”, the huge task of changing our visual identity began, and now everything from traffic signs to University vehicles, from letter heads to websites and marketing materials now proudly announce the existence of the new University. For this purpose, our new University logo marks the transition, reflecting both the continuity of old traditions and exciting modern developments.

College staff and governors celebrated and expressed delight at the news. Messages of congratulation poured in from representatives of the City and County, and Professor Timothy Wheeler said: “This is a most exciting chapter in the hundred and sixty six-year history of the College. It recognises the achievements of staff, students and the Governing Body in pursuing the case for university status. This recognition attests to the quality of the work undertaken in all of the College’s areas of endeavour, especially the quality of its awards and the achievements of its staff and students.”

Moving forward

Planning for possible university status had been under way for some time, and now, several months on from the historic announcement and official change of title in August 2005, many changes have already taken place. Perhaps most notably, rather than a Principal, we now have a Vice Chancellor, the Governing Body has become the University Council, and the Academic Board the Senate.

A real alternative

Conference staff at the University also celebrated the news that our organisation has been formally awarded its new title. However, the team had little time to dwell on the success of the University, as we had the small matter of our busiest ever season to deal with, alongside implementing the various changes that are necessitated by the new title!

It really is an exciting and busy time, and in terms of the conference service and facilities, the University announcement goes hand-in-hand with a massive ongoing programme of investment in infrastructure at both University sites, in Chester and Warrington.

These developments mean that the University is now able to compete directly with other institutions in the region and now offers a real alternative to the normal ‘university city’ venues.

With brand new, state-of-the-art facilities on two exceptionally well placed sites, and a range of exciting ongoing projects, we promise that Chester now really is the ‘University for the future’.