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We would reissue a degree certificate following a change of sex, as long as the graduate provided us with the necessary documentation confirming their new name and returned their original certificate. -- Rowena Northern Graduation Office Whiteknights House University of Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH T: 0118 9318117 E: [log in to unmask] > > -----Original Message----- > From: Admin-student [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > Dennis Barrington-Light > Sent: 06 August 2002 10:23 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Degree Certificates > > > I have been asked by the DfES for some information on the issue of Degree > Certificates following the ruling of the European Court on Human Rights > relating to Christine Goodwin. > > I enclose he email I have responded to him on the position at Cambridge. I > am > aware that there was some correspondence about the reissue of degree > certificates some time ago but could I ask you to respond to me directly > ([log in to unmask]) with answers to the following questions: > > 1. Do you reissue certificates in a new name following a change of sex? > > 2. How do you record this on your student records system (i.e. do you > change > the gender code or retain the original)? > > 3. If legislation were passed to enable transsexual people to legally > assume > their new identity would this ease the problems or make it more difficult? > > If you wish to answer the DfES questions feel free to do so but quick > responses to the above would be very helpful. > > Dennis > > > Dennis Barrington-Light > Head of Student Records and Statistics > University of Cambridge, > 10 Peas Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PN, UK > Tel: +44(0)1223 332303 Fax: +44(0)1223 331200 > E-mail: [log in to unmask] > > ---------------------- Forwarded by Dennis > Barrington-Light/ACD/Central-Admin > on 06/08/2002 10:14 --------------------------- > > > [log in to unmask] on 24/07/2002 13:49:35 > > To: Dennis Barrington-Light/ACD/Central-Admin@Central-Admin > cc: > > Subject: Degree Certificates > > > > > > Mr Barrington Light > > I am contacting you for some urgent advice in your SROC role. We are > contributing to some work here in the Department on the issues facing > transsexual people - our specific concern is the arrangements HEIs make for > issuing certificates (initially, or reissuing them) to graduates who have > 'undergone gender reassignment' during study or after graduating. Can you > give us some overview of current practice, via your role on SROC, or point > us to a source of information? > > This work has been given added urgency by a recent ruling within the > European Court of Human Rights (case of Christine Goodwin and "I" under > Articles 8 (right to respect for private life) and 12 (right to marry) of > the Convention) which puts the UK Government under an obligation, in > effect, to change the law to give full legal recognition to the acquired > gender of, at least, those transsexual people who have undergone gender > reassignment surgery > > As well as the general enquiry, therefore, we have been asked to answer the > following questions about the area of certification > > Q1. To what extent is this area governed by: > > a) primary legislation? Please list the legislation that applies. > b) secondary legislation? Please list. > c) case law? Please list. > d) policy and practice? Please explain. > > > Q2. In the light of the Goodwin and I judgments, what adjustments have > been made, or are planned, to address the problems faced by transsexual > people, without the need for legislation? > > > Q3. What further adjustments, that will require legislation, are: > > a) necessary, in the light of the Goodwin and I judgments? > b) desirable (eg because the status quo would be vulnerable to a > further legal challenge based on the Convention)? > > > Q4. If legislation were passed to provide full legal identity to > transsexual people and a mechanism for their official recognition in their > acquired identity > > a) which of the problems listed under 3 (a) and (b) above > would fall away? > > b) which problems would persist or be created? > > > Would you be in a position to help us at all with any of the above? We > would welcome any information you can give us about current practices and > conventions and if the insertion of names and gender on certificates is > subject to any legislation. > > Unfortunately we have to respond by the end of this month. > > > > Thanks. > > > John Luckett > Quality and Employability Division > Higher Education Group > Department for Education and Skills > > 0114 259 3817 > >