‘College master’ to become ‘college magister’

Rice University News & Media

Rice will replace the title “college master” with “college magister” at the beginning of academic year 2017-18.
President David Leebron and Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson announced the change in an email to faculty and staff April 6. Hutchinson also emailed students.
“‘Magister’ is a classical Latin word meaning ‘teacher’ and has been used historically as an academic title for a scholar,” Leebron and Hutchinson wrote. “It conveys the traditional role and duties of the people holding this position, without the negative historical connotation of the word ‘master.’ We believe that ‘college magister’ preserves our cultural history while eliminating the concerns and confusion about the previous title. The term clearly connotes the academic role of the college magisters, including providing the prestige deserved by those who serve in this vital role in the university. The uniqueness of the title also helps convey the unique aspects, and success, of the Rice college system.”
Leebron and Hutchinson noted that the possible change has been under discussion for more than a year. In late 2015, the Committee of Masters initiated the discussion and considered both the appropriateness of the “master” title and the negative historical connotation that can be associated with the term.
“That connotation has sometimes created a serious issue in explaining the usage of the term ‘master’ at Rice to those who are not part of our campus community, including family members of current students and staff as well as prospective students and faculty recruits,” Leebron and Hutchinson said.
As part of the residential college system at Rice, each college has a faculty member who has been appointed “college master” and lives in a house adjacent to the college. The masters help cultivate a variety of cultural and intellectual interests among the students and support an effective system of self-government.
In early 2016 the Committee of Masters submitted a recommendation that the title be ...

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