GB 2121 University of Greenwich - University of Greenwich

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2121 University of Greenwich

Title

University of Greenwich

Date(s)

  • 1991-2002 (ongoing) (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

approximately 10 linear metres including videocassettes.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Thames Polytechnic was designated in 1970 following the merger of Hammersmith Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Surveying with Woolwich Polytechnic in 1969. Other mergers followed, Dartford College of Education in 1976, Avery Hill College of Education 1985 and Garnet College in 1987. In 1988 science teaching was transferred from Goldsmiths' (McMillan Building, Deptford) and from City Polytechnic to Thames Polytechnic to become the School of Earth Sciences. South West London College, Wandsworth was dissolved in 1991 and many staff and students transferred to Thames Polytechnic.

In 1992 Thames Polytechnic was redesignated as the University of Greenwich following the Higher and Further Education Act (1992), which created a single funding council, the Higher Education Funding Council, for England and abolished the remaining distinctions between polytechnics and universities. The transformation of the polytechnic into a university gave access to a wider range of research funding, both from government and industry. As a result the number of research projects at the university quickly rose, from 41 in 1992 to over 300 in 1995, reflecting the increase of external income from �2.5 million to over �6 million in 1995 and subsequent increase in postgraduate students. The new university had seven campuses and over 14,000 students, and various plans to reorganise the university's structure and geographical spread were considered. In 1993 the first stage of the new student village at Avery Hill was opened, and in 1994 Woolwich public swimming baths were acquired as a new Students' Union headquarters.

Discussions began in 1992 on a merger with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) based at Chatham. A settlement was reached with the NRI in 1996 and 360 NRI staff joined the University, and a campus for the School of Earth Science and School of Engineering was established at Chatham.

After a successful partnership with West Kent College at Tonbridge during the 1990s, Greenwich established partnerships with a further seven colleges in south-east London, Kent and Essex as Associated Colleges. The university and college worked closely together to develop courses and students from the colleges were able to transfer to Greenwich at the end of their courses. Looser arrangements were also put in place with several 'linked' colleges, with the development of joint courses such as the MSc course in osteopathy developed with the European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone.

In 1995 a long leasehold was secured by the University of the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital and Devonport Nurses Home at Greenwich and the University made a bid for the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. The Government accepted the University's proposals for the Royal Naval College as the preferred option and between 1998 and 2001 the University relocated five schools to make the Maritime Greenwich Campus the principal centre of the University.

In 2002 the University decided to consolidate on three campuses, Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway and the Dartford and Woolwich campuses were closed, although Woolwich continues as an administrative centre for the University.

Archival history

GB 2121 University of Greenwich 1991-2002 (ongoing) Collection (fonds) approximately 10 linear metres including videocassettes. University of Greenwich

Thames Polytechnic was designated in 1970 following the merger of Hammersmith Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Surveying with Woolwich Polytechnic in 1969. Other mergers followed, Dartford College of Education in 1976, Avery Hill College of Education 1985 and Garnet College in 1987. In 1988 science teaching was transferred from Goldsmiths' (McMillan Building, Deptford) and from City Polytechnic to Thames Polytechnic to become the School of Earth Sciences. South West London College, Wandsworth was dissolved in 1991 and many staff and students transferred to Thames Polytechnic.

In 1992 Thames Polytechnic was redesignated as the University of Greenwich following the Higher and Further Education Act (1992), which created a single funding council, the Higher Education Funding Council, for England and abolished the remaining distinctions between polytechnics and universities. The transformation of the polytechnic into a university gave access to a wider range of research funding, both from government and industry. As a result the number of research projects at the university quickly rose, from 41 in 1992 to over 300 in 1995, reflecting the increase of external income from �2.5 million to over �6 million in 1995 and subsequent increase in postgraduate students. The new university had seven campuses and over 14,000 students, and various plans to reorganise the university's structure and geographical spread were considered. In 1993 the first stage of the new student village at Avery Hill was opened, and in 1994 Woolwich public swimming baths were acquired as a new Students' Union headquarters.

Discussions began in 1992 on a merger with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) based at Chatham. A settlement was reached with the NRI in 1996 and 360 NRI staff joined the University, and a campus for the School of Earth Science and School of Engineering was established at Chatham.

After a successful partnership with West Kent College at Tonbridge during the 1990s, Greenwich established partnerships with a further seven colleges in south-east London, Kent and Essex as Associated Colleges. The university and college worked closely together to develop courses and students from the colleges were able to transfer to Greenwich at the end of their courses. Looser arrangements were also put in place with several 'linked' colleges, with the development of joint courses such as the MSc course in osteopathy developed with the European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone.

In 1995 a long leasehold was secured by the University of the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital and Devonport Nurses Home at Greenwich and the University made a bid for the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. The Government accepted the University's proposals for the Royal Naval College as the preferred option and between 1998 and 2001 the University relocated five schools to make the Maritime Greenwich Campus the principal centre of the University.

In 2002 the University decided to consolidate on three campuses, Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway and the Dartford and Woolwich campuses were closed, although Woolwich continues as an administrative centre for the University.

Created in the course of business.

Records of University of Greenwich, 1991-2002, comprising papers submitted to the Court, 1992-1999; Governing Body handbooks, 1992-1998; calendars and staff lists, 1991-1997; financial statement, 1994; Academic handbook, 1993-1994; Research and Consultancy Review, 1993-1994; research magazine of the School of Land and Construction Management, 1995; research review, 1995-1996; Experts list, 1992-1993; review of European Involvement, 1991-1993; review of International Activities, 1993-1995; prospectuses, 1993-2002; annual reports, 1993-1997; handbooks, 1993-1996; programmes of presentation ceremonies, [1992-1997]; videocassettes of awards ceremonies, 1996-2000; Greenwich View, 1992-1996; Greenwich View for Students [1992]; Sarky Cutt, Students Union magazine, 1993-1997; Greenwich Line, 1996-[2000]; Meridian, Newsletter for Teachers & Advisors of Entrants to Higher Education, 1993-[2000]; photographs used for An Illustrated History of the University of Greenwich by Thomas Hinde compiled [1995]; photographs of Vice-Chancellors of the University, 1992-1993; Chairmen of Governing Body, 1992-2000; opening of Student Village, Avery Hill, 1993; press cuttings, 1992-1994.

The collection is unsorted.

Researchers wishing to consult the archives should contact Ann Murphy, Head of Information Services, University of Greenwich

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Librarian.
English

A basic list is available at the University of Greenwich Woolwich campus.

Records of Woolwich Polytechnic, 1891-1973, and Thames Polytechnic, 1971-1992, are also held by the University of Greenwich Archive.

Sources: An Illustrated History of the University of Greenwich Thomas Hinde (University of Greenwich, 1996). Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. August 2002 Academic buildings Academic teaching personnel Avery Hill Chatham Degrees Educational administrative structure Educational associations Educational buildings Educational levels Educational management Educational organizations Educational personnel Educational qualifications Educational supervision Eltham England Europe Governing bodies Greenwich Higher education Higher education institutions Kent London Newspaper press Periodicals Photographs Press Press cuttings Publications Research Student organizations Students Teachers UK Universities University of Greenwich Visual materials Western Europe Woolwich Communications media Information sciences Personnel People by occupation People Organizations Educational institutions

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Created in the course of business.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of University of Greenwich, 1991-2002, comprising papers submitted to the Court, 1992-1999; Governing Body handbooks, 1992-1998; calendars and staff lists, 1991-1997; financial statement, 1994; Academic handbook, 1993-1994; Research and Consultancy Review, 1993-1994; research magazine of the School of Land and Construction Management, 1995; research review, 1995-1996; Experts list, 1992-1993; review of European Involvement, 1991-1993; review of International Activities, 1993-1995; prospectuses, 1993-2002; annual reports, 1993-1997; handbooks, 1993-1996; programmes of presentation ceremonies, [1992-1997]; videocassettes of awards ceremonies, 1996-2000; Greenwich View, 1992-1996; Greenwich View for Students [1992]; Sarky Cutt, Students Union magazine, 1993-1997; Greenwich Line, 1996-[2000]; Meridian, Newsletter for Teachers & Advisors of Entrants to Higher Education, 1993-[2000]; photographs used for An Illustrated History of the University of Greenwich by Thomas Hinde compiled [1995]; photographs of Vice-Chancellors of the University, 1992-1993; Chairmen of Governing Body, 1992-2000; opening of Student Village, Avery Hill, 1993; press cuttings, 1992-1994.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection is unsorted.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers wishing to consult the archives should contact Ann Murphy, Head of Information Services, University of Greenwich

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Librarian.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Records of Woolwich Polytechnic, 1891-1973, and Thames Polytechnic, 1971-1992, are also held by the University of Greenwich Archive.

Finding aids

A basic list is available at the University of Greenwich Woolwich campus.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University of Greenwich

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area