Alcuin College, York

{{Short description|College of the University of York, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox residential college |name = Alcuin College |university = University of York |image = File:Alcuin Quad.jpg |caption = Quad with accommodation blocks, Alcuin College |scarf = {{Scarf|{{cells|4|#aa0000ff}}{{cell|white}}{{cell3|black}}{{cells|4|#aa0000ff}}{{cell3|black}}{{cell|white}}{{cells|4|#aa0000ff}}}} |location = Siward's Howe, Heslington West, York |motto = {{langx|la|Panto Nos Postulo}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nouse.co.uk/2015/01/20/constantine-and-derwent-launch-motto-competitions/|title=Constantine and Derwent launch motto competitions|work=Nouse|date=20 January 2015|accessdate=27 May 2018}}</ref> |motto_English = "All we need" |established = 1967<ref name="alcuin history"/> |named_for = Alcuin of York |vice_head_label = Deputy College Manager |vice_head = Esther Smyth<ref name="Contact and support">{{Cite web |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/alcuin/contact-and-support/ |title=Alcuin College - Contact and support |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=University of York}}</ref> |undergraduates = 1,585 (2022/2023) |postgraduates = 375 (2022/2023) |mascot = Owlcuin |shield2 = Alcuin College logo.png |website = [https://alcuincollege.com/ Alcuin College] |student_association = Alcuin College Student Association }}

'''Alcuin College''' is a college of the University of York located on Siward's Howe, York, England. It is one of eleven colleges of the university, being the nearest to the library on the Heslington West campus.

==History== Alcuin was one of the University of York's first colleges, established in 1967<ref name="alcuin history">{{cite web|url=http://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/alcuin/about/history/ |title=History of Alcuin |publisher=Alcuin College |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122001326/http://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/alcuin/about/history/ |archivedate=22 January 2015 }}</ref> alongside Vanbrugh College. It was officially opened in 1969 by Kenneth Clark, the chancellor of the university.<ref name="alcuin history"/>

It is located on Siward's Howe, making it the highest elevated college in the university. It is also believed to be the burial site of Eric Bloodaxe,<ref name="alcuin history"/> who was King of Northumbria and of Norway.

===Separatist movement=== From the early days of the college an uproar for secession of the college from the remainder of the university has been present.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/40thanniversary/dottedline.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050426041020/http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/40thanniversary/dottedline.htm|url-status=dead|title=Alcuin Separatist article|archivedate=26 April 2005}}</ref>

==Buildings and services== For many years, Alcuin was the only college physically separated from the others except for a bridge from the library, a narrow bridge from Langwith (demolished over Easter 2008) and a walkway to the chemistry department. Overlooking University Road was Alcuin's bar. In 1995 this was transformed from a traditional British pub-style bar to a 1950s American theme bar – the only themed college bar on campus. The bar was decorated in American 1950s paraphernalia such as busts of Marilyn Monroe and a full-size pink cadillac that appeared to be crashing through the wall.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}} In the 21st century, the bar was renamed "B Henry's", after Brian Henry, a college porter of many years who had recently retired. In 2008, a move by commercial services to close B Henry's triggered a large campaign to save the bar.<ref>{{cite web |title=YUSU pledges full support to 'Save B-Henry's' campaign |url=https://nouse.co.uk/2008/11/08/yusu-pledges-full-support-to-%E2%80%98save-b-henry%E2%80%99s%E2%80%99-campaign/ |website=nouse.co.uk |access-date=6 July 2021 |date=8 November 2008}}</ref> The campaign was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nouse.co.uk/2010/02/23/b-henry%e2%80%99s-faces-an-uphill-struggle/|title=B Henry's faces an uphill struggle|last=Teh|first=Grace|date=23 February 2010|website=Nouse|access-date=16 March 2017}}</ref>

thumb|The Seebohm Rowntree Building In 2013, the student union took over the running of the outlet and named it "The Kitchen at Alcuin".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yusu.org/food-drink/the-kitchen-at-alcuin|title=The Kitchen at Alcuin @ University of York Students' Union|website=www.yusu.org|access-date=16 March 2017}}</ref> Events such as YUSU's Keep Cool at exam time campaign, the Alcuin 50th anniversary and Envirocuin have seen the Kitchen at Alcuin being used as a more general venue for activities outside of normal opening hours.

Alcuin is perhaps best known for the ensuite bathrooms that come as standard with every room and the general quality of the rooms, most of which were recently built.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.york.ac.uk/study/accommodation/rooms-prices/alcuin/|title=Alcuin - Accommodation, University of York|last=York|first=University of|website=www.york.ac.uk|access-date=16 March 2017}}</ref> It currently does not possess a bar, but has two food venues, the Alcuin Bistro and the Kitchen at Alcuin café. The college accommodation is divided into blocks; E, F1, F2, G, H, J1, J2, K, L, M, N, P and Q. There are also several teaching blocks (East Wing and the Seebohm Rowntree building) and is home of several departments including economics and chemistry, as well as the university library.

A new JCR building was opened in May 2006. The Seebohm Rowntree Building was added in 2002, and contains teaching facilities.<ref name=SB>{{cite press release|url=http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/srbopening.htm |publisher=University of York | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006095515/http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/presspr/pressreleases/srbopening.htm |archivedate=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead|date= 26 June 2002|title=Seebohm Rowntree building opened at University of York|accessdate=2 September 2011}}</ref>

==Student life== Like the other York colleges, Alcuin has its own student association known as the College Student Association Committee (CSAC). The association takes on the responsibility of the day-to-day running of the college activities and is responsible for supporting students, providing social, sporting and cultural activities and developing the college community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/alcuin/life/representation/|title=Student representation - Alcuin College, The University of York|website=www.york.ac.uk|accessdate=16 March 2017}}</ref>

The CSAC hosts regular pub quizzes at The Courtyard, the local campus bar. Alcuin has introduced Alcuin Live Lounge where current and ex-students of the college attend the Kitchen at Alcuin for a chilled night of live music given by students and members of the community. Alcuin hosts a yearly winter ball, which is the most heavily attended college event of the year.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

Furthermore, Alcuin is notable for its wellbeing events such as "Exam Refuge" in which the CSAC provide free food and a relaxed environment to Alcuinites during the exam period. Alcuin is also known for hosting the "Nuzzlets" where a variety of animals are brought in for students to pet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alcuincollege.com/events.html|title=Events|website=ALCUIN COLLEGE|access-date=19 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320143856/http://www.alcuincollege.com/events.html|archive-date=20 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people== {{More citations needed section|date=February 2026}} Notable alumni include:<ref name="yorkspace alumni"/> * Peter Hitchens, author and journalist (Philosophy and Politics, 1973)<ref name="yorkspace alumni">{{cite web |url = http://www.yorkspace.net/page.aspx?pi| title = Notable Alumni |publisher=YorkSpace |accessdate=23 January 2015}}</ref> * Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former President and Prime Minister of Portugal (Doctorate in Economics, 1973)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clubmadrid.org/cmadrid/index.php?id=153 |title=Aníbal Cavaco Silva |accessdate=20 January 2015 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071014222852/http://www.clubmadrid.org/cmadrid/index.php?id=153 |archivedate = 14 October 2007}}</ref> * John Witherow, newspaper editor (History, 1975) * Steve Richards, television presenter and journalist: (History, 1981) * Bryan Elsley, television writer (English and history, 1982) * Duncan Stubbs, musician (Music, 1982) * Paul Mealor, composer (Music, 1997) * Hector Janse van Rensburg, artist * Mark Laity, NATO spokesman and former BBC correspondent

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.alcuincollege.com Alcuin CSAC] *[http://www.york.ac.uk/univ/coll/alcuin/ Alcuin College - University pages]

Category:Colleges of the University of York Category:1967 establishments in England Category:Educational institutions established in 1967