The Emerging University 1970-74

Registrar becam e th e firs t Bursar . Th e Bursar y ha s responsibilit y for coordinatio n o f financia l p l ann i ng , prepara t i o n o f budge t estimates, accounting , bank i n g an d investments , r epo r t i n g o n general an d privat e funds , purchasing , payroll , superannuatio n funds, housin g an d medica l benefit s an d othe r staf f emoluments , cost an d i nven t or y control , computerize d i n f o rma t i o n systems , student bursarie s an d loan s payments , collectio n o f studen t fees , travel arrangements , etc . Fu r t he r, th e Jo i nt Universitie s Compu t e r Centre , establishe d i n 197 0 i n cooperatio n w i t h th e Un i ver s i t y o f Ho ng Ko n g , enable d the Un i ver s i t y t o mak e considerabl e progres s i n th e consolidatio n and integratio n o f administrativ e operations . Th e dat a processin g capability o f th e Centr e wa s utilize d i n a n increasin g numbe r o f functions i nvo l v i n g suc h matter s a s payroll , studen t fees , bursarie s and loans , inventorie s o f equ i pment an d supplies , spac e u t i l i za t i on , class schedules , variou s account s an d i n f o rma t i o n systems . To manag e th e large-scal e operation s relate d t o th e physica l p l ant an d sit e o f th e ne w campu s a t Shatin , th e Offic e o f Physica l Development wa s establishe d i n Septembe r 1969 . Thi s Offic e ha d campus-wide responsibilit y fo r suc h matter s a s engineering services , maintenance o f building s an d grounds , polic e an d fire protection , transportation, spac e u t i l i za t i o n an d staf f housing . Th e p r i ma r y purpose o f the Offic e wa s t o overse e th e Maste r Deve l opmen t Pla n and ensur e tha t i t proceed s accordin g t o schedul e an d w i t h i n th e budget. Af t e r accomplishin g it s p r i nc i pa l tas k o f comp l e t i n g th e first phas e o f th e majo r bu i l d i n g p r og r amme , th e Offic e wa s g r adua l ly phase d ou t b y th e en d o f th e quad r enn i um , w i t h it s duties bein g absorbe d b y th e Un i ver s i t y Building s Office , Bursar y and Secretariat . I n 197 3 th e pos t o f Secretar y o f th e Un i ver s i t y wa s created . The Secretar y serve s a s Secretar y o f th e Un i ve r s i t y Counc i l an d the Admi n i s t r a t i v e an d P l ann i n g Commi t t ee , handle s personne l admi n i s t ra t i on, pub l i c relation s an d i n f o rma t i o n services , an d student welfare , an d co-ordinate s p l ann i n g activities . Th e Offic e o f th e Registra r continue s t o serv e th e Senat e an d it s Committee s and th e Graduat e Schoo l an d t o b e responsibl e fo r function s immed i a t e ly relate d t o th e operatio n o f th e instructional programme, i nc l ud i ng secretaryshi p o f Facult y an d Subjec t Boards , admissions, examinations , an d cu r r i cu l u m p l ann i n g a t bo t h undergraduate an d postgraduat e levels . Each o f th e curren t administrativ e officers , th e Bursar , th e Secretary, an d th e Registrar , previousl y serve d i n on e o f th e constituent Colleges , an d thu s bring s t o hi s Un i ve r s i t y function s a first-hand understandin g o f Colleg e operation s an d problems . 16