The Council of Knox College & Salmond Hall Inc.

<typohead type="3">1.Membership of the Council</typohead>

1.1 Since the last General Assembly, membership of Council has remained static save for the retirement in 2004 of Emeritus Professor W. Hew McLeod, who had faithfully served as a member of Council since 1973.

<typohead type="3">2. University of Otago</typohead>

2.1 Towards the end of 2003, the Council was delighted to be advised that two of its members had been appointed to senior positions within the . Professor David Skegg, a non-resident Fellow of Knox College and a longstanding member of the Council, has been appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University, a post he will take up in August 2004. Mr Bruce Aitken, Master of Knox College since 1995 and a member of the Council since 1979, was elected Pro-Chancellor, a post he began on January 1st 2004.

2.2 Prestigious awards made to members of the College and Hall community during the year include the University of Otago Distinguished Research medal to Professor David Skegg in recognition of his outstanding research record, and the Rutherford Medal, New Zealand's top science and technology award, presented to Emeritus Professor George Petersen at a Royal Society of New Zealand function at the University.

<typohead type="3">3.Student Accommodation</typohead>

3.1 In the report to the 2002 Assembly, it was predicted that both Salmond Hall and would experience full occupancy for 2002. The Council was very glad when this situation eventuated. In all, the two institutions have offered accommodation to 378 students in 2002, 397 in 2003 and 393 in 2004.

<typohead type="3">4. Knox College</typohead>

4.1 During 2002, the College was home for 198 residents, of whom nine were Resident Fellows and 187 undergraduates. This number has increased slightly in both 2003 and 2004. A very satisfying rate of return of residents is still enjoyed by the College, resulting in 2004 in more than half of the residents being in either their second or subsequent year in College. The high returning rate assists in maintaining a stable and supportive community.

4.2 Places in College are hotly contested as Knox is recognised as a most desirable college in which to obtain a place. At the end of last year 436 applications, citing Knox as their first choice of College, were received, i.e. 4.5 applications for each available place.

4.3 For the undergraduate members of the community, the years since the last Assembly have been a period of many successes, academically, culturally and in sport. Of the 1,282 papers examined in 2004, 32.3% of them received a grade of A- or better, 41.1% B-grades or better and 18.6% C-grades or better. At the end of the year twenty Knox students gained entry to second year Medical classes and the same number to second year Law classes. Accordingly, students make up a significant proportion of students who have gained entry to the Medical and respectively. College tutorials, made possible through the assistance of the College Tutorial Fund and which are currently offered in over 20 papers, play a large part in assisting residents from and Salmond Hall with their studies.

4.4 The Knox College Students´ Club continues to be well administered by its elected President and Executive members as they encourage members to be fully involved in the College´s strong sporting and cultural traditions. The annual 13-code sporting competition for the Cameron Shield is one of the highpoints each year. Knox sports teams play regularly throughout the winter terms. The College has its own debating club, theatre sports troupe, drama company, Dead Poets Society, chess club, film club, two choirs, an orchestra, a jazz group and a rock band. Each year Knox students perform the 'Knox Farce' as part of the University's annual Capping Show, as well as being involved in even more light-hearted events such as the annual Capping Procession of floats.

4.5 The College was very fortunate indeed to receive a most generous sum from Dr Hugh Fleming, a former resident of the College, who, in the 1940s, served as both President of the Students´ Club and then as Assistant Master. Dr Fleming´s gift, which is first a token of his appreciation of all that the College has given him, particularly during his student years, and secondly in memory of his late father-in-law, Emeritus Professor Victor Galway, now funds both an organ fellowship and an organ scholarship at the College, which have been established to encourage music within Knox College and to assist students studying organ performance at the University. They complement well the choral scholarships. Mr Kemp English, recitalist and member of the University's performance staff, was appointed at the beginning of the year as the inaugural Fleming Galway Organ Fellow.

4.6 Chapel Services, which are conducted by the Master and usually held on Sunday afternoons, play a large part in the life of the College. During 2003, the College was extremely fortunate to have the Rev. Matthew Jack, Minister of St George´s Church, Takapuna, as part-time Chaplain in Residence. Mr Jack preached at most of the Chapel services while at the same time working towards the completion of his doctorate. A University Series of three guest speakers was held, with addresses being centred on "The Sermon on the Mount: a Modern Quest for its Meaning". Speakers were The Very Rev. David Cappel Rice (University Human Ethics Committee, Dean of St Paul´s Cathedral), Associate Professor Barbara Brookes (Department of History) and Dr. Ivor Davidson (Department of Theology and Religious Studies). Music, expertly performed by the ten College Choral Scholars, Mr Kemp English (Fleming Galway Organ Fellow) and Mr James Aitken (Choirmaster), play a significant role in the Chapel´s liturgies. Numbers attending Chapel services improved during 2003, due, in great part, to the presence of Mr Jack as a resident of the College as well as the involvement of so many as readers and singers.

4.7 The College was greatly saddened at the end of 2002 by the death of The Very Reverend Emeritus Professor G.A.F. Knight. A plaque in his memory was unveiled and dedicated during the 2003 Founders´ Day Service.

<typohead type="3">5.Salmond Hall</typohead>

5.1 2002 marked a return of roll to 180 residents, a much more manageable level for staff and residents alike, following the relinquishing of leased flats. The Students´ Association held an extensive range of activities, planning and executing these with great skill and maturity. Generally these events were well attended and enjoyed.

5.2 The year was marred by the death of one of the residents of meningococcal septicaemia on Easter Day. His family arrived from soon after, and the funeral service was held in the Waddell Chapel two days later. This proved to be a very difficult period for the staff and residents alike, and yet it also became an enriching experience in many ways.

5.3 Salmond Hall residents competed with St Margaret's College and Studholme Hall for the Southgate Trophy for sport, and the Iona Trophy for cultural events with an extremely high level of participation and enjoyment. Academically, the year was also a success.

5.4 In the middle of the year, the staff was pleased to receive an offer of support from the Rev. Helen Harray, who volunteered to take on the role of Hall Chaplain. Ms Harray´s weekly visits have been much appreciated, and the Hall was pleased that she extended her role through 2003 and 2004.

5.5 The year 2003 was one of the most successful in the life of Salmond Hall, and the sense of pride in belonging to the "Salmond Hall family" was very evident and satisfying.

5.6 The year was an academic success as well for the residents. Several gained entry to specialised courses as a result of high levels of performance during the year, and overall marks were very pleasing. These performances were aided by the comprehensive range of tutorials made available to residents throughout the year.

5.7 The most significant event of the year was the building of a post-graduate wing as an addition to the facilities at Salmond Hall. The new building, housing 10 post-graduate students, a computer suite and Senior Common Room, has been named the Macalister Wing, after Emeritus Professor A.D. (Sandy) Macalister, the Chairman of the Knox College Council from 1965 to 1975, who was the leading advocate for the building of Salmond Hall.

<typohead type="3">6.The Council´s Financial Situation and Property</typohead>

6.1 The maintenance of the buildings on the Knox/Salmond campus places a continuing demand on the Council´s resources. During the last two years, significant expenditure was planned to implement necessary summer work at both Knox and Salmond.

6.2 The ongoing programme of room refurbishment at continued over both summer breaks. At Salmond Hall the continuing programme of refurbishment resulted in several floors being renovated and fitted with new furniture.

6.3 The Council´s funds are handled carefully, under the close supervision of the Council´s Finance Committee, which meets monthly. The continued 100% occupancy rate has helped to ensure a strong financial position for the Council.

6.4 Much of the Council´s financial reserves have been realised in order to build the Macalister Wing at Salmond Hall. While this was undoubtedly a sound decision, the following few years will necessitate a definite programme of financial prudence.

6.5 Fees for both and Salmond Hall have been increased at the end of each year. The necessary increases indicate the ongoing financial strain under which the Council continues to exist.

<typohead type="3">7.The Hewitson Library</typohead>

7.1 Collection development has suffered from poor funding and the absence of a Librarian. During the year, however, the Library received a large number of donations from retired ministers and deceased ministers´ estates. Many of these volumes have been added to the collection as replacements for worn or missing copies or as duplicates or as new acquisitions.

7.2 The committee established to oversee the fundraising for the Library met during 2003 and 2004. This project will be ready for presentation at this Assembly.

7.3 After several years of attempting to obtain the services of a permanent Librarian for the Hewitson, success has been achieved. With the help of the , the Council has engaged Mrs Veronica Cordes to work part time for one year, in the first instance. Mrs Cordes, who is Orders Librarian in the Collection Management Department, has a BA(Hons) degree in German and the Diploma of the NZ Library School (the professional qualification prior to the establishment of the MLIS course at Victoria University). She has been a member of the permanent staff of the University Library since the beginning of 1989 and worked part time before that from 1974-1980 and 1981-88.

7.4 Library statistics for 2003 are as follows:

	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
Books Issued	3,461	3,363	4,705	5,565	7,463
Periodicals Issued	656	844	715	875	1,371
Interloans – outward	43	63	72	72	81
Items Catalogued	223	299	357	324	601

<typohead type="4">8.General</typohead>

8.1 The Council is always conscious of its responsibility to provide at both and Salmond Hall the best accommodation that is possible for students undertaking tertiary educational studies in , as well as offering a secure and friendly home conducive to study and growth. The Council gratefully acknowledges the efforts of the two Masters and all members of staff, without whom (including the and the Hewitson Library) and Salmond Hall would not be the thriving communities that they are. The Council's enterprise is a large one with each part of the campus community being of great importance and relying on each of the others to make up the whole. Both institutions are very fortunate indeed to enjoy the results of the competence displayed by their staff in all of these areas.

G B Petersen
Chairman

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Council of Knox College & Salmond Hall Inc.