Official response from KCL

Welcome comrades,

this is the blog that I am running to try and co-ordinate and publicise the horrific cuts at King's.


For my first post, after writing to the college, I have just received an official email from the college about the cuts, from the Deputy Director of the Alumni office. Here it is:

''Dear Mr Melson

Thank you for your email to Professo rs Trainor and Palmowski. As you are a former student of the College, they have asked me to reply on their behalf. Like almost every other higher education institution in the UK, King’s finds itself in the unwelcome position of having to take steps to respond to severe cuts in government funding. If we are to continue towards our goal of building an outstanding university institution, comparable in all respects with the very best in the world, we must make very difficult decisions to ensure we can weather the storm.

All of our Schools, including the School of Arts and Humanities, in which Palaeography is based, have had to identify cost reductions in order to ensure the financial and academic sustainability of the College and to enable us to invest strategically. The proposals announced last week mark the start of a detailed consultation process with our fellow academics about how best to re-focus our research and teaching to build an even stronger School of Arts and Humanities. While I do understand the issues you have raised in relation to Palaeography, it is also the case that, under the proposals, the School of Arts and Humanities would continue to offer outstanding expertise in Medieval History and Medieval Studies indeed, under the proposals we are considering bringing our strengths on the medieval period in East and West much more closely together.

Please be assured that we are fully conscious of the contributions which we have made, through the current postholder, to the field of Palaeography. I do hope you understand that I cannot comment on specific details, particularly at this time when we are in the process of consulting with colleagues.

Thank you again for your enquiry and support of King's. Best wishes in your important work.

Yours sincerel y,

Jennifer Garner
Deputy Director
Alumni and Development Office''


All very interesting. Whilst very jargony and press office like, still doesn't address the whole issue....And yes, the college was probably forced by erm 'Lord' Mandleson to cut back, other options should be looked at.

Discuss....

Craig Melson