Abertay University in Dundee has been plunged into further crisis after three members of its university court including Tayside Police Chief Constable Justine Curran resigned.
The shock resignations follow the suspensions of university principal Professor Bernard King in March and vice-principal Professor Nicholas Terry in January.
Professor Terry has since been reinstated as acting principal while Professor King is taking his case to an employment tribunal, claiming the university has broken a pledge to extend his contract.
The university has not released any information on the reason for either of the suspensions. Bernadette Malone, chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council, and Sylvia Halkerston, from food company Macphie, have also resigned from the university court.
Neither they nor Ms Curran would explain why they resigned during a meeting of the court on Saturday, with Ms Curran and Ms Malone merely confirming their respective positions.
The university could not confirm that an email from a group calling itself the Bernard King Support Group might have been connected to the resignations.
The email, addressed to the chair of the university court from a woman named Lauren De Vries, and also sent to The Courier, said the “BK Support Group write to inform you of our vote of no confidence in you as chairman of court of Abertay and our vote of no confidence in the senior management team you have installed.”
The email also called for the immediate resignation of court chairman Nigel Hawkins, although it did not name him, and the entire senior management team, along with the immediate reinstatement of Professor King as principal. It made reference to “secret meetings” held by members of the senior management team.
The court, which is responsible for the university’s finances and administration, is made up of 25 staff and lay members.
Lay members are recruited to the court from industry and commerce, while others are included for their experience in the community.
An Abertay University spokesman said, “I can confirm that three members of the university court have intimated their intention to resign from court, although the university has not yet received confirmation in writing.
“Internal procedures to resolve the current situation are continuing and we will not comment further until those procedures have been completed.”Unknown nameOf the email, the spokesman said that while he could confirm a paper copy arrived on Monday morning addressed to the chair of court, the university has no knowledge of the group it mentions other than what is contained within the email. He added, “There is no one on the staff with the name that’s at the foot of the email. We have no comment to make on the contents of the email.”
A Tayside Police spokesman said, “Chief Constable Curran has resigned from the university court with immediate effect.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman said, “Bernadette Malone is no longer a member of the University of Abertay court.”
Sylvia Halkerston said, “I can confirm that, as of Saturday, I have decided that I am no longer a member of the court.”