Email came to the polytechnic in 1991. Each department had at least one email collector, who was trained to familiarise members of staff with email and assist them with problems. The photo opposite from June 1991 is of three of the email collectors looking at the new email directory. They are, left to right: Heather Noblet from SCIT, Lisa Turner of the directorate support staff and Margaret Purcell, secretary to the deputy director.

Courtesy of David Parsons.
Also in 1991, the appraisal scheme for the academic staff was launched and the maintenance department was reorganised into four teams, one for the main campus north with Compton Park, another for the main campus south, another for Dudley and another for Walsall. Each team was supervised by a technical supervisor.
They were: Alan Stevens - Main Campus North, Keith White - Main Campus South, Chris Roberts - Dudley, and George Peach - Walsall. They were under the Clerk of Works in the Estates Department.

From May 1st, 1991 the Registry was divided into two separate units, The Academic Affairs Office, headed by Angela Cooper, and the Academic Affairs and Systems Unit, headed by Andy Reynolds.


Pearl Murray, Adil Romaya and Paul Collett in 'C-Block'. Courtesy of David Parsons.


David Parsons and Chas Marwaha. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Paul Collett, Mick Lloyd and Steve Ridd. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Adil Romaya, David Parsons, Colin Durnall and Paul Collett in 'C-Block'. Courtesy of David Parsons.


David Parsons' office in 'C-Block'. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Paul Collett, Tracy Gilmore, Gary Wedge, Chas Marwaha and Colin Durnall. In 'C-Block'. Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1992 the Polytechnic was granted university status and became the University of Wolverhampton. Walsall Campus then became Wolverhampton University's Sports and Art Campus, and School of Education. During the decade there were many changes at main site. Departments grew and for a time occupied a number of buildings in the surrounding area. The old St. Peter's School buildings were demolished and the Robert Scott library was extended.
The following is from the 1993 Staff Handbook

Faculties and Schools

The Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Studies:
The School of Art and Design
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Business, Law and European Studies:
The Wolverhampton Business School
The School of Legal Studies
The School of Languages and European Studies

The Faculty of Education:
The School of Education

The Faculty of Science and Technology:
The School of Applied Sciences
The School of Health Sciences
The School of Computing and Information Technology
The School of Construction, Engineering and Technology

There were Finance and Personnel Departments
The Estates Department
The Academic Affairs Office
The Academic Planning and Systems Unit
The Chaplaincy Centre
The Computer Centre
Library Services
Printing Services
Counselling and Guidance Service
Nursery Facilities
Public Relations Department
The Students’ Union

There were also plenty of eating places:
School of Art and Design snack bar
Main Site Refectory
Main Site Dining Room
Students’ Union coffee bar
School of Health Sciences snack bar
Staff Common Room in ‘C Block’
Compton Park Refectory
Dudley Refectory
Walsall Refectory
Walsall snack bar
Walsall Staff Common Room
 


The University produced its own staff news magazine called 'Network'. The editor was Roger Branton, assisted by Melanie Whyatt. Photographs were by Stewart Perkins, typing and circulation was in the hands of Kulvinder Chohan, design and typesetting was by Jennifer Bill and Anthony Clemson. It was printed by the print services unit. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Nursery facilities were available at the Randall Lines Hall of Residence in North Road and at Broadway Hall of Residence, Priory Road, Dudley. The Wolverhampton nursery was run by Sue Grew, who was assisted by Tracey Ayre-Massey and Rosemary Williams.


The nursery in Randall Lines Hall of Residence. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Both the Polytechnic and the University have issued long service awards produced by Ron Dutton, who for many years was Head of Sculpture in the School of Art and Design.

He is one of the most prominent medal artists in the world and is widely  acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the art medal form.

His medals have been awarded to many prominent people and organisations and Ron himself was awarded with the prestigious Grand Prix of the Federation Internationale de la Medaille d’Art. He was presented with the award at the British Museum, in London.

Ron moved to Wolverhampton in 1964 to teach art and is now an occasional tutor at the Royal College of Art. His work has been exhibited in many countries.

He is now President of the Friends of Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage.


Ron Dutton.


The Polytechnic's award for 25 years service, presented in 1991. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The reverse side of the medal. Courtesy of David Parsons.


A Wolverhampton University award for 25 years service. Awarded in 1995.


The reverse side of the medal.

In 1993-1994 there were 23,511 students and 1,700 places in the halls of residence.

In 1994 Telford Campus in the grounds of Priorslee Hall was completed and opened its doors to students from the Business School and the Faculty of Science and Engineering. In October 1995, Wolverhampton Science Park opened. It was a collaboration between the university and the local authority, formed to forge links between the university's research departments and local industry.


The first business to move into Wolverhampton Science Park in 1995 was the Escatel Group from Leicester. John White pours a glass of champagne for the group's Business Manager, Barbara Howe and the group's Managing Director, Paul Kalinauckas.

Also in 1995 the School of Nursing and Midwifery was formed at Walsall campus after the amalgamation of the United Midlands College for Nursing and Midwifery and the Sister Dora School of Nursing. Two years later the university established a virtual learning environment called WOLF, which was short for Wolverhampton Online Learning Framework. It was used by both staff and students.

Also in the 1990s the Academic Planning and Systems Unit moved to Quadrant Chambers in Princes Square and in 1996 a University job evaluation scheme was launched. It was operated by four members of the Personnel Department: Terry Page, Rob Cutler, Leigh Clarke and Denise Walters.

   
Read about people in
the news in the 1990s
   
In 1998 two new learning centres opened, one on main site and the other at the Telford campus, both consisting of a traditional library with high tech facilities.

The University occupied this building in Lichfield Street in 1994 and used it for several years. It was known as MU Block and housed the School of Computing and Information Technology which moved from main site. Courtesy of David Parsons.
It is now a row of shops with Wolverhampton Post Office in the middle and privately run student accommodation above.

The entrance to MU Block. Courtesy of David Parsons. The building was previously Midshires Building Society and the counter and windows are left-overs from Midshires.


The technicians' room in MU Block. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another part of the technicians' room in MU Block. Courtesy of David Parsons.


David Parsons' office in MU Block. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Part of the server/switch room in MU Block. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another part of the MU Block server/switch room. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The technicians' room in 'G Block'. Courtesy of David Parsons.

In the mid 1990s the old buildings that were once part of St. Peter's School were demolished to make way for the rear extension to the Robert Scott Library, beginning with the old huts. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The old St. Peter's School buildings slowly disappear. They had been used by the Geography Department. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The demolition continues. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Only one of the old school buildings still awaited demolition. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The demolition site is tidied-up in readiness for the building of the extension. Courtesy of David Parsons.

As the school buildings disappear, work on the extension to the library gets underway. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The view from 'C Block' looking towards Princes Square and Wulfruna Street. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The roof tiles are removed from the old St. Peter's School building. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another view of the old school buildings before they disappear. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The roof soon disappears. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Demolition rapidly continues. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The final school building awaits demolition. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The last remaining part of the school. Courtesy of David Parsons.

The old foundation stone from the St. Peter's School building was rescued during demolition. The building housed the school's hall, science, woodwork and metalwork rooms. Courtesy of David Parsons.


When the site had been tidied-up, work rapidly progressed on the library extension. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Yet another storey is added. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The rear extension to the Robert Scott Library takes shape. Courtesy of David Parsons.
The new learning centre, costing £3.3m was to add an extra 3,000 square metres to the existing library, including an improved reception area and issue counter, along with information points. The second floor was to house the university's ever expanding CD resources, bibliographies, refreshment facilities and a drop-in support centre. The third floor would be dedicated to the CD resources and the fourth floor was to house an air-conditioned information technology area. New computers were to be installed along with video conferencing facilities and better access for disabled students. There would be about 1,000 student places and 15 study or meeting rooms.

The builders were Sunley Turriff and the architects were the Bond Bryan Partnership from Sheffield.

The topping-out ceremony at the new library, was performed by John Hodson, Divisional Director of Sunley Turriff and Mick Harrison. Courtesy of David Parsons.


The extension nears completion. Courtesy of David Parsons.


A final view of the extension. Courtesy of David Parsons. The front of the building was later extended and the building became the Harrison Learning Centre.
By the early 1990s the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, part of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Studies was based at the Dudley Campus. It was a large site covering 24.76 acres.


The Dudley Campus. From an old postcard.

A view of part of the Dudley Campus, from Castle View. On the left is the hedge alongside the playing field. Courtesy of David Parsons.

Another view of the Dudley Campus looking towards the main entrance. The buildings were originally part of Dudley Teacher Training College, which opened in 1905, and later became Dudley College of Education. The buildings were demolished some years ago and the site is now occupied by a private housing estate. Courtesy of David Parsons.

The Health and Safety Group standing outside the main entrance at Dudley Campus. At the back on the left is Colin Farr. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another view of the Dudley Campus. Courtesy of David Parsons.


A final view of the Dudley Campus. Courtesy of David Parsons.


An advert from the 1994 Dudley Official Guide.
In 1996 the University received a £20,000 charitable grant to promote technology to young people in Telford and to contribute towards the development of a product design and research centre at the Telford Campus.

By the late 1990s the Arena Theatre was in desperate need of expansion and so with investment from the university and a National Lottery grant, a £2 million refurbishment began. After 18 months of building work, the new theatre opened in October 1999 and could then cater for 200 public performances per year.

In 1998, Mick Harrison, who had been Vice-Chancellor of Wolverhampton University since it was founded, retired at the age of 56. He was replaced by John Brooks.

In 1999, the new SC building at the Telford campus opened for the DELTA department and the Competitiveness Centre, both dealing with information and communication technologies in education. The Competitiveness Centre was aimed at local businesses.


A union strike in the late 1990s. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another view of 'B' Block.


A final photo of the old 'B' Block in 2012, before its modern conversion.

Jay's Cafe

An important service industry to staff and students alike was Jay's Cafe that stood across the road in Stafford Street. It was run by Tony and Chris Jay who offered an excellent service, excellent food and a warm welcome to all customers. It was always an enjoyable experience to go there for a cup of tea or coffee and some food. It was very popular. Daily visitors included Peter Strangman from SCIT and Vic Knowles from Geography.

The business started in 1972 in part of what later became the Hogs Head pub. When the pub expanded, the business moved further down the street to number 175. I can't sing its praises high enough. It was always a pleasure to go there, a nice break from work, somewhere to relax for a short time with colleagues. In 2012 a new shop front was added.


Tony and Chris Jay.

The business ran for about 44 years, until Tony and Chris started their well-earned retirement in 2015.


Jay's Cafe seen from the Millennium City Building in 2002.


Tony and Chris's first cafe, where the Hogs Head is today.

Mayfair Cafe in Stafford Street in the 1950s. Twenty years later it became the original Jay's Cafe when it was taken over by Tony and Chris. From a newspaper cutting from an unknown newspaper. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Another view of the old cafe.

   
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