The Rector
The role of the Rector is to preside at meetings of the University Court — the highest governing body of the University. The Court exists to oversee the management of the University, with special emphasis on strategic leadership and accountability.
The Principal leads the actual management of the University, but he or she is also accountable to the Court, which comprises senior staff and a majority of unpaid, external, independent 'lay' members, meeting about four times a year. Court is the place where many University issues are decided — budget allocations, financial policies, academic policies, estate development and capital projects, staff and student provisions.
Since 1858, the Rector has been elected by the students. In addition to being president of the University Court, the Rector also plays an informal, pastoral role for students. The Rector can open doors and help to release log-jams where the formal mechanisms for resolving issues appear to fail. A Rector with the time, sincerity and commitment to get to know the student body and engage with their issues, and the skills to influence effectively, can make a valuable contribution to the student experience, as well as to the life and reputation of the whole University.
More information on the history of the role of Rector can be found on the Students' Association website.
Stella Maris
The current Rector is Stella Maris. She was appointed Rector in November 2023 for an initial three-year term. Ms Maris is a former student of the University, having joined as an undergraduate student of English and Philosophy in 2017. Since then, she has been actively involved in student representation, serving as a Senior Student in St Salvator’s and Gannochy Hall, the Deputy Accommodations Officer for Halls, and the EDI Representative for the School of English and the Department of Philosophy. Most notably, she has spent the past three years serving as the Rector’s Assessor under Dr Leyla Hussein.
- Email:
- rector@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2005
The Rector's assessor
The Rector's assessor is a voluntary position, with the main role being to act as the link between the Rector and the student body, to aid and advise the Rector, and to sit on the University Court as a full member.
The assessor meets regularly with the Rector to advise on policy issues, discuss upcoming events and campaigns and ensure the Rector has a coordinated media and web presence in St Andrews.
You can find out more about the Rector's assessor and the Rector's committee on the Students' Association website.