Visitor

Visitor

:"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 (i.e., 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 [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997_24.html 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. [Sydney Grammar School Act 1854 (NSW), [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/sgsa1854237/s14.html section 14] .] The Governor is also the Visitor of the University of Wollongong by the [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/uowa1989316/index.html 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.

ee also

*Apostolic visitor
*Provincial episcopal visitor

External links

* [http://www.privy-council.org.uk/output/Page48.asp Privy Council - visitatorial powers]
* [http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/lcoffice/index.htm#part9 Reforming the Office of Lord Chancellor - visitatorial powers]
* [http://management.njit.edu/about/board.php An Example University School Board of Visitors at NJIT SOM]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • visitor — visitor, visitant, guest, caller mean one who visits another or comes to pay a visit. Visitor is the general word applicable to anyone who comes under this description {there are visitors in the drawing room} {summer visitors} but it is… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Visitor — Géographie Altitude 2 211 m Massif Alpes dinariques Longueur 12&# …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Visitor Q — Données clés Titre original Bizita Q Réalisation Takashi Miike Scénario Itaru Era Acteurs principaux Kenichi Endo Shungicu Uchida Kazushi Watanabe Pays d’origine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Visitor — Шаблон Visitor(также известный как Посетитель) – Шаблон проектирования Поведенческий шаблон (Behavioral). Описывает операцию, которая выполняется над объектами других классов. При изменении Visitor нет необходимости изменять обслуживаемые классы …   Википедия

  • visitor — [viz′it ər] n. [ME visitour < Anglo Fr < MFr visiteur] a person making a visit SYN. VISITOR is the general term for one who comes to see a person or spend some time in a place, whether for social, business, or professional reasons, or for… …   English World dictionary

  • Visitor — Vis it*or [Cf. F. visiteur.] [Written also {visiter}.] 1. One who visits; one who comes or goes to see another, as in civility or friendship. This great flood of visitors. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A superior, or a person lawfully appointed for the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • visitor — a person seeking entry to the UK as a visitor will be admitted if he satisfies the immigration officer that: (1) he is genuinely seeking entry for the period of the visit stated by him; (2) for that period he will maintain and accommodate himself …   Law dictionary

  • visitor — early 15c., from VISIT (Cf. visit) + OR (Cf. or). Sports sense is from 1900 …   Etymology dictionary

  • visitor — is spelt or, not er …   Modern English usage

  • visitor — [n] person temporarily in a foreign location caller, company, foreigner, guest, habitué, inspector, invitee, out of towner, transient, visitant; concept 423 Ant. host …   New thesaurus

  • visitor — ► NOUN 1) a person visiting a person or place. 2) a migratory bird present in a locality for only part of the year …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”