UCAS Chief Executive appointed Chair of Council

03 July 2007

The University of Gloucestershire has elected Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of UCAS, the Cheltenham-based higher education admissions body as Chair of Council from September 2007.

The University Council is the governing body responsible for the University's educational character and mission, approving income and expenditure, appointing senior staff and ensuring adherence to the Articles of Government that set out the formal governance arrangements of the University.

"It is a huge honour to represent the University in this way. I look forward to working with other Council members to advance the strategic aims and further raise the profile of the University locally, nationally and internationally. I served on Council during the crucial period when university status was won [in 2001] and I look forward to working with old friends and new, and supporting the Vice-Chancellor in her ambitious plans for the future," said Anthony.

"It is a particular honour to succeed David Setchell, who has chaired the Council with great distinction."

Professor Patricia Broadfoot, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire said: "We are delighted that Anthony has agreed to become Chair of the University Council from September. His experience of, and commitment to, higher education is well known and the University is very excited about his election as we finalise an ambitious strategic development plan."

Notes for Editors

Anthony McClaran, joined UCAS in 1995 to lead the then Academic Services and Development department. He was appointed Deputy Chief Executive a year later. He became Acting Chief Executive in January 2003 and was appointed Chief Executive in December of that year.

Anthony has steered UCAS through some of the biggest operational challenges the organisation has faced. The application process has been revolutionised to join the digital age, including moving from a paper based system to a point where 99% of applications are made online.

Anthony has responded to the growing commercial opportunities for UCAS by establishing a Business Development department and expanding the commercial subsidiary UCAS Media. All commercial surpluses are re-invested in UCAS' services.

A graduate in English and American Literature from the University of Kent, Anthony began his career at the University of Warwick where, among other posts, he was Admissions Officer, providing him with a 'coalface' knowledge of university admissions.

In 1992 he moved to the University of Hull to take up the post of Academic Registrar, with responsibility for an office which included recruitment, admissions, student records, international affairs and the internal allocation of resources. By 1995 he was appointed Acting Registrar and Secretary.

Anthony sat on the Council of the University of Gloucestershire from 1997 until 2005 and has just been re-appointed to the Council as its Chair. He served on Professor Schwartz's Admissions to HE Steering Group, the HE Group for the Tomlinson Review of 14-19 Qualifications, the SHA Commission on Post-qualification Application (PQA) and Sir Alan Wilson's Consultation Group on Improving the HE Applications Process.

He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of University Administrators from 2003 to 2006 and is governor of the National Star College and two local schools. Anthony is also a member of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Widening Participation Strategic Committee and the Aim Higher Partnership National Steering Group.

The University of Gloucestershire has three campuses in Cheltenham, one in nearby Gloucester and the Urban Learning Foundation in East London. The institution was given University status in 2001 but it has a long history, with predecessor colleges dating back to 1834. The University has around 9,500 students, around of third of which study part-time. The main subject areas are business, management, Law, IT, media, art and communication, humanities, environment, teacher education, leisure and tourism, social sciences and sport. See www.glos.ac.uk for more information.

Professor Patricia Broadfoot CBE joined the University as Vice-Chancellor in September 2006.

For further information please contact:

Rachel Jones, Press and Public Relations Officer, University of Gloucestershire
Tel: 01242 714516 Email: rjones@glos.ac.uk

Chris Dry, Head of Communications, UCAS
Tel: 01242 544677 Email: C.Dry@ucas.ac.uk