University was correct to dismiss Rector over breaches of governance

The University of St Andrews was correct to remove its Rector from University Court, its supreme governing body, after she refused to follow its governance rules, according to a legal judgment given by The Rt Hon the Lord Keen of Elie PC KC.

Ms Stella Maris had refused to accept she was bound by collective responsibility, which applies to all charity trustees and members of Court.

Ms Maris had also claimed that she alone had the authority to chair the St Andrews Court and should have absolute discretion over all aspects of its meetings.

This is contrary to the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance, and the standard operating procedures of Court, which have been observed in St Andrews since 2008.

The Rector has now reversed her position, formally accepted she is bound by collective responsibility, and has given the University a written undertaking to that effect.

She has also agreed to comply with Court’s decision that it is the Senior Lay Member, not the Rector, who chairs its substantive business.

Ms Maris had attempted to overrule standard operating procedures and take the chair at the October 2025 meeting of St Andrews’ Court. After Court voted to hold to its normal procedures, she accused her fellow members of acting unlawfully.

She then refused to accept collective responsibility and was dismissed as a Court member and charity trustee in January 2026.

Ms Maris appealed the decision to dismiss her.

In his judgment, Lord Keen found that Ms Maris’s contention that she alone had the authority to chair Court was wrong, and that the University was acting in a proper and lawful way by holding to the protocol under which the Senior Lay Member chairs the Court.

The judgment also found that the University was correct to remove the Rector from Court when she declined to be bound by the basic tenets of governance.

To resume her place on Court, Lord Keen required the Rector to give a written undertaking that, contrary to her previous position, she accepts collective responsibility.

He also required Ms Maris to confirm that she accepts and will comply with Court’s decision that it is the Senior Lay Member, and not the Rector, who chairs its substantive business meetings.

In a reversal of her previous position, Ms Maris has this week signed the undertaking which confirms she will comply with these conditions in future. As a result, she can now resume her place as a Court member.

A spokesperson for University Court said: “We are very pleased that the Court’s decision has been vindicated and that Ms Maris has given a formal undertaking that she accepts and will comply with Court’s decision and accepts collective responsibility.

“University Courts have an important duty and burden of responsibility to oversee the good governance and strategic decisions of our universities.

“That burden has never been greater given the considerable challenges facing the higher education sector just now.

“The Rector’s attempt to exercise sole authority disrupted a key meeting held to focus on St Andrews University’s finances, and these matters have been a sustained distraction to operations over several months.

“Now this issue is behind us, it is our hope that all Court members will at all times act in the best interests of the University, its students, and staff.”

Ms Maris was elected Rector at St Andrews in 2023. Her term in that role runs until October 2026.