View source for Visitor

{{short description|Overseer of an autonomous institution}}
{{About|the overseer of an autonomous institution|text=For the person visiting a person or place, see [[Hospitality|Guest]] or [[Tourism|Tourist]]}}
{{other uses}}
{{pp-move-dispute|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
A '''visitor''', in [[England and Wales|English and Welsh]] law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous [[church body|ecclesiastical]] or [[wikt:eleemosynary|eleemosynary]] institution, often a [[charitable organization|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. Those with such visitors are mainly [[Cathedral chapter|chapters]], chapels, schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals.

Many visitors hold their role ''[[ex officio]]'', by serving as the [[British monarch|British sovereign]], the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], the [[Lord Chancellor]], the [[Lord President of the Council]], the [[Lord Chief Justice]], or the [[bishop]] of a particular [[diocese]]. Others can be appointed in various ways, depending on the constitution of the organization in question.  Bishops are usually the visitors to their own cathedrals. The King usually delegates his visitatorial functions to the Lord Chancellor.

During the reform of the universities of [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] in the 19th century, [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] ordered visitations to the universities to make inquiries and to reform the university and college statutes.

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 institution and its members.

The right of the visitor, and not the courts, to adjudge on alleged deviations from the statutes of academic colleges was affirmed in the case of ''Philips v. Bury'', 1694, in which the [[House of Lords]] overruled a judgment of the [[Court of King's Bench (England)|Court of King's Bench]].<ref>William Blackstone (1753), Commentaries on the Laws of England, Book 1, Chapter XVIII "Of Corporations", Section 3</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxcheps.new.ox.ac.uk/new/casebook/cases/Cases%20Chapter%2013/Philips%20v%20Bury.doc |title=Opinion of John Holt (King's Bench)|format=DOC|publisher=Oxcheps.new.ox.ac.uk|access-date=2015-02-27}}</ref>

The [[Higher Education Act 2004]] transferred the jurisdiction of visitors over the grievances of students in English and Welsh universities to the [[Office of the Independent Adjudicator]].

==Outside England and Wales==
The position has also existed in universities in other countries which have followed the English and Welsh model (there being no such office in Scotland), although in many countries the visitor's role in complaints has been transferred to other bodies.

=== Ireland ===
In [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[Universities Act 1997]] redefines the appointment, function and responsibility of a visitor.<ref>{{cite ISB|year=1997|num=24|title=Universities Act 1997|section=19|stitle=Visitor|date=14 May 1997}}</ref> Where a university does not have a visitor, a visitor may be appointed by the [[Irish Government|government]] and must be either a current or retired judge of the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] or a retired judge of the [[Supreme Court (Ireland)|Supreme Court]].

=== Fiji ===
In [[Fiji]], the [[Court of Appeal of Fiji|Court of Appeal]] in ''Muma v USP''<ref>''Muma v USP'' [1995] FJLawRp 16</ref> declared that in default of appointment, the country's [[President of Fiji|president]] was the visitor of a university established by [[Monarchy of Fiji|the Queen]], since Fiji had subsequently become a republic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/fj/cases/FJLawRp/1995/16.html|title=Muma v University of the South Pacific [1995] FJLawRp 16; [1995] 41 FLR 101 (22 May 1995)|website=paclii.org}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
The [[Governor of Victoria]] is the visitor to [[Deakin University|Deakin]], [[Federation University|Federation]], [[La Trobe University|La Trobe]], [[University of Melbourne|Melbourne]], [[Monash University|Monash]], [[RMIT University|RMIT]], and [[Victoria University (Australia)|Victoria]] Universities.,<ref>{{cite web |title=University Acts (Amendment) Act 1996 |url=https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/university-acts-amendment-act-1996/001 |website=Victorian Legislation |publisher=Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel of Victoria |access-date=13 October 2025 |language=en-au}}</ref> but has only ceremonial duties.

The [[Governor of New South Wales]] is the visitor to [[Macquarie University]], [[Sydney Grammar School]], and the [[University of Sydney]] pursuant to statute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://handbook.mq.edu.au/PDFs/cal-act.pdf |title=Print Calendar main |access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/sgsa1854237/s14.html |title=SYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL ACT 1854 - SECT 14 Governor to be visitor |publisher=Austlii.edu.au |access-date=2015-02-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-79.html |title=Documenting Democracy |publisher=Foundingdocs.gov.au |access-date=2014-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sydney.edu.au/senate/senate_Visitors.shtml |title=Visitors of the University - Senate - The University of Sydney |publisher=Sydney.edu.au |access-date=2014-04-23}}</ref> The governor is also the visitor of the [[University of Wollongong]] by the University of Wollongong Act 1989.<ref>[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/uowa1989316/index.html University of Wollongong Act 1989]. Austlii.edu.au (30 March 2012). Retrieved 14 May 2012.</ref> Only ceremonial duties can be exercised by the Governor of NSW in his or her role as visitor; this is mandated under the same act.

===Canada===
[[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], as a member of the [[Monarchy of Canada#Royal family and house|Canadian royal family]], served as the visitor to [[Upper Canada College]] from 1955 to his death in 2021. Priorly, [[Edward VIII|Prince Edward, Prince of Wales]], acted as the school's visitor between 1919 and 1936.<ref name=BW>{{citation| url=https://tbaw.ca/2021/05/31/prince-philip-duke-of-edinburgh-the-passing-of-a-patron/| last=Boyle| first=Lachlan| title=Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: The Passing of a Patron| date=31 May 2021| journal=The Blue and White| publisher=Upper Canada College| accessdate=3 August 2023}}</ref>

The [[governor general of Canada]], as the King's representative, serves as the visitor to [[McGill University]].<ref>[https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=164825 News: McGill University congratulates former Principal on being named Governor-General of Canada]. Mcgill.ca (8 July 2010). Retrieved 14 May 2012.</ref> Similarly, the [[lieutenant governor of Ontario]] serves as the visitor to the [[University of Western Ontario]] in [[London, Ontario]],<ref>[http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/en/Their_Honours/Honours_and_Awards.asp?nav=1&sub=2 The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario - Honours and Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612210232/http://www.lt.gov.on.ca/en/Their_Honours/Honours_and_Awards.asp?nav=1&sub=2 |date=12 June 2011 }}. Lt.gov.on.ca (24 February 2012). Retrieved 14 May 2012.</ref> and the [[lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador]] serves as the visitor to [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]].<ref>[http://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/statutes/m07.htm#9_ RSNL1990 CHAPTER M-7 - Memorial University Act]. Assembly.nl.ca. Retrieved 14 May 2012.</ref>

The [[Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]] [[Anglican Diocese of Montreal|Bishop of Montreal]] serves as the visitor to [[Bishop's University]] in [[Lennoxville, Quebec]], and the [[Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]] [[Diocese of Huron|Bishop of Huron]] serves as the visitor to [[Renison University College]] in [[Waterloo, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stu.ca/bog/ | title=Board of Governors - St Thomas University }}</ref>

=== India ===
In India, the [[President of India]] is the visitor to 126 central government institutes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/president-visitor.htm|title=President as Visitor of Central Institutes of Higher Learning|publisher=presidentofindia.nic.in|access-date=2017-01-13}}</ref> such as the [[Indian Institutes of Technology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/commrev/committee/iii.pdf |title=IIT Review 2004 : Acknowledgement |publisher=Iitk.ac.in |access-date=2015-02-27}}</ref>

=== United States ===
In the United States, the office of visitor, from its early use at some colleges and other institutions, evolved specifically into that of a [[trustee]]. Certain colleges and universities, particularly of an earlier, often colonial founding, are governed by [[board of visitors|boards of visitors]], often chaired by a [[rector (academia)#United States|rector]] (rather than [[regent]]s or trustees, etc.). Examples include the [[College of William and Mary]] and the [[University of Virginia]].

=== Nigeria ===
In Nigeria, the visitor in publicly funded tertiary institution is the most senior member of government. This is usually the president in federally-funded universities or the governor for state-funded universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oouagoiwoye.edu.ng/the-visitor/|title=The Visitor}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ui.edu.ng/uigovernance |title=University Governance - University of Ibadan |website=ui.edu.ng}}</ref>

==In literature==
In the [[Jill Paton Walsh]] continuation of the [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] series of detective novels, ''[[The Late Scholar]]'', Lord Peter (now the Duke of Denver) is the visitor of the fictional St Severin's College in Oxford, which is central to the plot.

==See also==
*[[Apostolic visitor]]
*[[Provincial episcopal visitor]]
*[[List of college visitors of the University of Oxford]]
*[[List of college visitors of the University of Cambridge]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/work-of-the-privy-council-office/higher-education/ 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]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ecclesiastical titles]]
[[Category:English legal professionals]]
[[Category:Welsh legal professionals]]
[[Category:Ceremonial officers in England]]
[[Category:Ceremonial officers in Wales]]