St Andrews rector questions lack of inquiry into alleged breaches of protocol

The rector of St Andrews University has said it is “deeply troubling” that a month after the decision to dismiss her from the university’s governing body was overturned, no investigation into potential breaches of protocol has been launched.

Stella Maris was removed from her role as president of the university’s court in January, after what had been deemed a refusal to follow its governance rules.

However, the decision was overturned under appeal by Lord Keen KC, after Ms Maris volunteered to make a sworn declaration that she would comply with an earlier decision of the court while maintaining a right to disagree. She was reinstated to the role in March.

It was the second time Ms Maris’ legal team had successfully challenged a bid to dismiss her – she was previously ousted from the role in 2024 after making comments about the situation in Gaza, before being reinstated last year.

Ms Maris was elected university rector in 2023, and her term in the role runs until October 2026.

After her latest reinstatement, Ms Maris’ lawyers suggested members of the university court may have breached its code of conduct in their efforts to dismiss her. They pointed to the imposition of an “accelerated timetable” for her dismissal, which she said did not take account of her disabilities and prevented her from obtaining legal advice.

Stella Maris was elected rector of St Andrews University in 2023. PA Media

Her legal team suggested a member of the court failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest around the decision to dismiss her, and they failed to notify other court members this could render her removal unlawful.

They also disputed a claim by members of the court, during the meeting to dismiss her, that she had refused mediation or the opportunity to submit her own proposals for governance reforms.

They also said she had offered to meet with a member of court but they refused this meeting.

It is understood these concerns were raised in a letter to members of the court on March 11, and that Ms Maris’s legal team also sent an email to court members with an “exhortation to investigate” the alleged breaches.

Ms Maris said: “It has now been over a month since these very serious concerns about potential breaches of the court’s code of conduct were first raised, yet, to my knowledge, no investigation has been initiated.

“That is deeply troubling. The issues identified go to the heart of good governance, transparency, and fairness within the university.

“It is my counsel’s view that certain members of court may have failed to disclose conflicts of interest and imposed an accelerated timetable for my removal which did not account for my disabilities and prevented me from obtaining legal advice.

“These matters cannot simply be ignored. They require urgent, independent scrutiny.

“I continue to believe that these actions must be properly investigated, not least to restore confidence in the university’s governing body.

“If, as my counsel believes, members of court have breached the principles of selflessness, openness, and honesty set out in the code of conduct, they must be held accountable.

“The longer these concerns remain unaddressed, the greater the damage to trust in the institution.”

A spokesperson for St Andrews University said: “Ms Maris has an extensive history of making allegations against current and former staff and students, and court members, at St Andrews.

“Several people have had to take legal advice on defamatory statements she has made about them and she has not responded to a series of legal letters in connection with these.

“When Ms Maris has made complaints, both in her role as rector and as a student, these have been fully investigated.

“The university can confirm that it is due to consider the findings of an independent external investigation into serious allegations about the rector’s conduct and behaviour towards others. Ms Maris chose to take no part in the investigation, which concluded earlier this year.

“Ms Maris has recently made another series of allegations about a range of university staff and office holders as a response to the investigation. She has not responded to the investigation’s findings about her own behaviour, but is welcome to do so.

“Lord Keen’s ruling on the rector’s dismissal is a matter of public record. It found that the university was correct to dismiss her and followed all its procedures appropriately.”