Bedford College , Board
Bedford College , Members
Bedford College , Governors

Bedford College , Board
Bedford College , Members
Bedford College , Governors

The early management structure of Bedford College was decided upon in 1849 by several provisional committees set up for the purpose, and comprised a Board, a Council with executive powers, a Ladies Committee and a Professors Committee.

The Board's powers were those of a court of appeal and a body concerned with questions of constitutional change. The name was not generally used after the first few years, with the full body of members being termed the 'General Meeting'. The Board consisted of the three Trustees, the members of the Ladies Committee, three 'other gentlemen', twelve Professors and the Lady Visitors. The Board elected one lady and one gentleman of their number to sit on the Council at the Midsummer meeting, and electing new members to itself. The draft Constitution framed in 1849 had been adhered to, but never formally ratified by the Board, leaving Bedford College without a legal charter.

Following the dismissal of the Council and a period of control by a Committee of Management in 1868-1869, a Constitution was framed which was accepted by the Board and came into force in 1869. The College was incorporated as an Association under the Board of Trade, with a Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Board was replaced by a body of Members termed 'The College', the membership of which was not to exceed one hundred, of which at least a third should be women. A new Council was to be created of nine elected Members and the Honorary Secretary. No Staff members were eligible to sit on either body. Changes in the Constitution remained the affair of the Members of the College, as did appeals from the Staff concerning dismissal. Membership of the College was increased to two hundred at two Extraordinary Meetings in 1891.

Following the incorporation of Bedford College by Royal Charter in 1909, the body of the Members of the College became known as the Governors, though there was little change in the powers accorded them. The Governors numbered two hundred in total, with the constitution stating that one-fifth should have attended Bedford College in the past. In 1965 the Charter was altered to allow for up to three hundred Governors.

General Meetings were held annually until 1869, three times a year from 1870-1896, and annually after 1897, with elections being held at the autumn meeting. In 1949 these meetings became known as Governors' Meetings. Special General Meetings were held from 1941-1951 to deal with wartime and post-war problems. From 1909 onwards, all Annual General Meetings were presided over by the Visitor, who was appointed by the Governors for a term of three years. New Governors were appointed in General Meeting following nomination by the Visitor or by any two present Governors. To the Governors also fell the task of deciding the strength and composition of the Council, and, at the Annual General Meeting, choosing several of their number to sit on that body. They were also responsible for the annual appointment of a professional auditor to oversee and report on the finances of Bedford College. In 1973, the Governors were empowered to change the Charter at Annual General Meetings.

The Fellows Sub-Committee was set up to recommend three eminent personages with connections to Bedford College as Fellows. The three became ex officio Governors. Nominations were invited annually from members of the College and submitted to the Committee through the Secretary of the Council. The Fellows Committee comprised two Governors (not Councillors), three Councillors (one of whom was a Staff member), the Deans of the Faculties and the ex officio Committee members (Chairman of Council, Vice-Chairman, Principal, Vice-Principal, and Honorary Treasurer).