1975-1993
The College celebrated its centenary in 1975 and as part of that changed its name to the Queen's College, Glasgow. It was to be a period of radical change for the College. Geoffrey Richardson became the first male Principal of the College and embarked upon a major review. The workplace was changing at a fast pace and the College had to ensure that its courses moved with the times. A greater emphasis was paid to delivering higher education degrees and developing areas of research. The College also expanded its health and social science offerings with its first Social Work courses and training for Allied Health professionals.
In 1975-1976, courses of training for social work were offered. The aspect of social work was always underlying in the College’s agenda but now it offered formal training. Two new courses were developed, the three year course for mature entrants with family commitments and a postgraduate diploma for graduates with relevant degrees. Both courses were accredited by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW).
The degree course in Dietetics continued to evolve and by 1987 had developed into the BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics and by the time of the merger, a BSc and BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition with options in Dietetics, Food Science and Community Nutrition.
GCU continues to offer the BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics, now the longest running Dietetics programme in Scotland.
The first degree the College ran on its own was the BA Home Economics offered in 1982. The course brought the old concept of domestic science firmly into the modern 20th century incorporating studies in Social Studies, Food Studies, Resource Management, Textile Studies and Inter-disciplinary Studies. By 1989 the course had evolved to become the BA Consumer and Management Studies.
The 3 Schools of Physiotherapy in Glasgow were the first to be amalgamated into the College. In 1978-79 the prospectus offered the Physiotherapy Certificate awarded by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). The following year it had been upgraded to a Diploma and in 1982 the CNAA approved the BSc Physiotherapy degree course.
'Students follow a programme of academic studies which is undertaken in College and in clinical placements. Lectures, tutorials and seminars prepare the students for clinical studies which are undertaken in a number of local hospitals under the guidance and supervision of senior physiotherapists.'
The School of Orthoptics and School of Radiography were transferred into the College in the 1980s. The Diploma in Orthoptics offered in 1984 developed to become the BSc Orthoptics in 1991, the first of its kind in the UK. Similarly the Diploma in Radiography offered in 1989 developed into the BSc Radiography offered in 1992.
The Glasgow Schools of Chiropody and Occupational Therapy followed in 1990. In 1992 the BSc Podiatry replaced the diploma course and the BSc Occupational Therapy was approved the same year.
In order to accommodate all of these new courses the College acquired vacant buildings in the grounds of Jordanhill College of Education. This came to be known as the College's Southbrae Campus. All the allied health professions courses moved into the Crawfurd Building in 1991, which was opened by HRH the Princess of Wales on 13 December 1991. Dietetics and nutrition laboratories were housed in the Smith Building.
Professor John C Philips became Principal in 1991 and led the College through to its merger with Glasgow Polytechnic in 1993. At the time of the merger the College prospectus had changed beyond all recognition of the early days of its incorporation, to offer a full complement of degree courses.
Many of these courses still continue to be offered by Glasgow Caledonian University today. The work of offering support and help for the needy and underprivileged, which began with the University's predecessors, continues under its ethos as the 'University of the common good'.