News

University is committed to the collegiate system

(12 August 2004)

The building of a 16th college for the University of Durham shows a clear commitment to the collegiate system and the policy aim of creating more purpose-built student accommodation within a college environment.

This was the message from Professor Tim Burt, Dean of Colleges and Student Support Services, when he officially cut the first sod to mark the start of work on the University's biggest-ever building project to provide 1,000 new students rooms by 2006.

Professor Burt acknowledged that there has been some criticism about the number of students living out in the inner city area of Durham City.

He said that the £35.5m development would provide an entirely new college at the Howlands site off South Road, Durham, as well as new postgraduate student housing for the adjacent Ustinov College and new residential facilities for St. Cuthbert's Society with the replacement of three existing blocks at Parson's Field.

Professor Burt told an invited audience, including representatives of Durham City Council, that the colleges' accommodation project was good news for the University and the City of Durham. "We recognise the advantages of getting more students into collegiate facilities," he said.

He thanked the Project Steering Group and paid tribute to the drive of Peter Robinson, Director of Estates and Buildings, in bringing the scheme to fruition. He also thanked Project Manger Ian Lambert and acknowledged the input from the Durham Students' Union which has been very involved particularly in the design aspects of the accommodation. He also thanked the City Council for its very positive approach to the project.

Mr Mike Stoney, Managing Director of main contractors Laing O'Rourke (Northern), said that the company were delighted to be back working for the University of Durham especially on such a prestigious project.

He presented Professor Burt with an engraved trowel to mark the occasion. Work on the 400-bed-self catering college and the two extensions is due for completion in 2006, with the first 200 units ready at Howlands by next September.

Media enquiries to : Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Officer, University of Durham. Tel 0191 334 6078 or e-mail at t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk

Notes to Editors :

1. The University has expanded student numbers over the past 15 years in line with the policies of successive governments, and although it has already built about 1,000 extra rooms during the same period, the number of students who live out of college in rented housing has increased. The new building programme will ensure that the majority of Durham students will reside in University accommodation.

2. Durham is a collegiate University. All Durham students join one of the 15 colleges and societies. Unlike Oxbridge colleges, Durham colleges are not teaching bodies and neither, unlike halls of residence, are they purely residential. The Durham college system ensures that students belong, from day one, to a small, tightly knit community; have the opportunity to live alongside a wide cross-section of people including undergraduates, postgraduates and staff; have access to many societies and opportunities to get involved ; have a college tutor who will take a personal interest in a student's academic progress and welfare.

3. The last college to be founded in Durham City was Collingwood in 1972. Two colleges (George Stephenson and John Snow) were created at the University's Queen's Campus, Stockton, in 2001.