Janet Finch
Encyclopedia
Dame Janet Valerie Finch DBE
, DL
, AcSS
(born 13 February 1946) is a British
sociologist
and academic administrator
. She was Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Social Relations at Keele University
, and has held a number of other public appointments in the UK. She currently holds an honorary position at the Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life, based in the School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester
.
relationships, her research interests focusing especially on inter-generational family relationships.
In September 1995, Finch was appointed Vice-Chancellor at Keele University, having previously been a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Lancaster University
. At Keele, she has overseen substantial alterations of the University and the increasing development of a private Science and Business Park.
She attracted controversy in February 2007, when it was announced that she would receive a pay rise of 31.7 per cent: the largest such rise of any Vice-Chancellor in England that year. In a statement given to the THES, the University responded that the salary awarded would be frozen for a three-year term, and was awarded following comparisons with other institutions, and taking into account Finch's "outstanding performance during a period of cultural and procedural change and development". She retired from her position in 2010, having served fifteen years as Keele's Vice-Chancellor. She returned the following year to be made a Doctor of Letters
.
Finch is one of four main panel chairs in the Research Excellence Framework
, independent co-chair of the Council for Science and Technology
, a non-executive director of the Identity and Passport Service
and the chair of the Council of Ombudsman Service Ltd.
In 2011 the government selected Finch to be the chair of the UK Statistics Authority
, but during a pre-appointment hearing with MP
s on the Public Administration Select Committee
differences became apparent on how the independence of the chair should be exercised, and Finch decided to withdraw from the application process.
in the 1999 New Year's Honours List for services to social science
, and a DBE
in the 2008 Birthday Honours List
, for services to social science and higher education
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, AcSS
Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences
The Academy of Social Sciences is a research body in the UK. , the Academy was composed of over 450 Academicians and 32 Learned Societies. Academicians are distinguished scholars and practitioners from academia and the public and private sectors...
(born 13 February 1946) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and academic administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
. She was Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Social Relations at Keele University
Keele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
, and has held a number of other public appointments in the UK. She currently holds an honorary position at the Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life, based in the School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
Biography
Finch has published extensively on familyFamily
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
relationships, her research interests focusing especially on inter-generational family relationships.
In September 1995, Finch was appointed Vice-Chancellor at Keele University, having previously been a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
. At Keele, she has overseen substantial alterations of the University and the increasing development of a private Science and Business Park.
She attracted controversy in February 2007, when it was announced that she would receive a pay rise of 31.7 per cent: the largest such rise of any Vice-Chancellor in England that year. In a statement given to the THES, the University responded that the salary awarded would be frozen for a three-year term, and was awarded following comparisons with other institutions, and taking into account Finch's "outstanding performance during a period of cultural and procedural change and development". She retired from her position in 2010, having served fifteen years as Keele's Vice-Chancellor. She returned the following year to be made a Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
.
Finch is one of four main panel chairs in the Research Excellence Framework
Research Excellence Framework
The Research Excellence Framework is the successor to the Research Assessment Exercise, a method of assessing the research of British higher education institutions...
, independent co-chair of the Council for Science and Technology
Council for Science and Technology
The Council for Science and Technology is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government. Its role is to give advice on issues that cut across government departments to the Prime Minister, the First Minister of Scotland and the First Minister for Wales. It was...
, a non-executive director of the Identity and Passport Service
Identity and Passport Service
The Identity & Passport Service is an executive agency of the Home Office in the United Kingdom and became operational on 1 April 2006, succeeding the UK Passport Agency, after the passing of the Identity Cards Act 2006...
and the chair of the Council of Ombudsman Service Ltd.
In 2011 the government selected Finch to be the chair of the UK Statistics Authority
UK Statistics Authority
The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm's length from Government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to Parliament...
, but during a pre-appointment hearing with MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
s on the Public Administration Select Committee
Public Administration Select Committee
The Public Administration Select Committee is a Select Committee appointed by the British House of Commons to examine the reports of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and to consider matters relating to the quality and standards of administration provided by civil service departments,...
differences became apparent on how the independence of the chair should be exercised, and Finch decided to withdraw from the application process.
Honours
Janet Finch was named a CBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 1999 New Year's Honours List for services to social science
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, and a DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2008 Birthday Honours List
Birthday Honours 2008
The Birthday Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced in June 2008, to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2008.The recipients of honours are displayed or referred to here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged firstly by the country whose ministers advised the Queen...
, for services to social science and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
Selected works
- Married to the Job: Wives' Incorporation in Men's Work (Allen and Unwin, 1983)
- Education as Social Policy (Longman, 1984)
- Research and Policy: the Uses of Qualitative Methods in Social and Educational Research (Falmer Press, 1986)
- Family Obligations and Social Change (Polity Press, 1989)
- Negotiating Family Responsibilities (with J Mason; Routledge, 1993)
- Wills, Inheritance and Families (with L Hayes, J Mason and L Wallis; Polity Press, 1996)
- Passing On: Kinship and Inheritance in England (with J Mason; Routledge, 2000)