Everything about Visitor totally explained
» For the Catholic equivalent, see Canonical visitation, and for other uses, see Visitor (disambiguation)
A
Visitor, in
United Kingdom law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous
ecclesiastical or
eleemosynary institution (for example, a
charitable institution set up for the perpetual distribution of the founder's alms and bounty), who can intervene in the internal affairs of that institution. These institutions usually comprise
cathedrals,
chapels,
colleges,
universities and
hospitals.
The
British sovereign, the
Lord Chancellor, the
Lord President of the Council, the
Archbishop of Canterbury,
peers, diocesan
bishops, etc. are the most common Visitors, though any person or office-holder can be nominated. The Queen usually delegates her visitatorial functions to the Lord Chancellor. During the reform of the universities of
Oxford and
Cambridge in the 19th century,
Parliament ordered Visitations to the universities to make inquiries and to reform the university and college statutes. Bishops are usually the Visitors to their own cathedrals.
There is a ceremonial element to the role and the Visitor may also be called upon to give advice where an institution expresses doubt as to its powers under its charter and statutes. However, the most important function of the Visitor was within academic institutions, where the Visitor had to determine disputes arising between the academic institution and its members. Traditionally the courts have been exempted from any jurisdiction over student complaints. As a result there had been much speculation that this contravened the
Human Rights Act 1998. However in 2004 the Higher Education Act transferred the jurisdiction of the Visitor over student complaints in UK universities to the
Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
Outside the United Kingdom
The position has also existed in universities in other countries which have followed the British model, although in many countries the Visitor's role in complaints has been transferred to other bodies.
In the
Republic of Ireland the
Universities Act, 1997
redefines the appointment, function and responsibility of a Visitor. A Visitor may be appointed by the
Government and must be either a current Judge of the
High Court or a retired Judge of the High Court or
Supreme Court.
The
Governor of
Victoria is the Visitor to all Victorian universities, but has only ceremonial duties.
The
Governor of
New South Wales is the Visitor to
Sydney Grammar School pursuant to statute. The Governor is also the Visitor of the University of Wollongong by the
University of Wollongong Act 1989. The Governor of NSW can exercise ceremonial duties only in their role as Visitor; this is mandated under the same Act.
In Canada,
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a member of the
Canadian Royal Family, has served as Visitor to
Upper Canada College, in
Toronto,
Ontario, since
1959.
Further Information
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