Who is the rector? This question is usually asked by young people who are going to enter a higher educational institution. If you are interested in the lexical meaning of the word "rector", then we strongly recommend that you read this article to the end. Only in this way you will receive a complete and detailed answer to your question!
Original value
This information may surprise you, but the word "rector" has nothing to do with the Russian language. It contains Latin roots (rector) and in translation means "leader", "ruler". The word existed even in the Renaissance, then the so-called head of schools and main teachers.
Meaning of the word rector in the explanatory dictionary
A rector is a person who is responsible for managing a higher education institution or a seminary. Examples: rector of the institute, rector of the Theological Academy.
History
As we said earlier, the rector is the head of a higher educational institution. On the territory of the Russian Federation, this post was resumed in 1939, and before this time period, universities were led by directors. Until the seventies of the last century, the post of rector was only at universities, at the head of other higher educational institutions were still directors.
How to become a rector?
You already know about the work of the rector, now we would like to share with you information on how to get this position.
To take this position, the candidate must meet the following requirements:
- to have a scientific rank and a scientific degree;
- have a higher professional education;
- the experience of scientific or scientific-pedagogical work should be at least five years;
- the presence of a second education in the fields of management, economics, municipal and state leadership, project management and personnel.
In discussing this topic, one cannot fail to mention age restrictions. The rector must be under sixty-five years old. In some cases, it is possible to increase the age level to seventy years, but in such a situation, the presentation of the scientific council is necessary. The term of the employment contract with the rector is five years. After it ends, the election procedure follows, in the process of which the possibility of self-promotion to this position is given.
In the United States and Commonwealth countries, heads of higher education institutions are called chancellors. Like the word "rector" it has Latin roots (cancellarius) and in translation means "secretary".
After answering the question of who the rector is, it is also worth a few words to talk about the position of vice-rector. According to the Dictionary of Foreign Words Included in the Russian Language, which was compiled by A. N. Chudinov, the word vice-rector has two meanings:
- assistant rector in a higher educational institution;
- the person who takes the place of the rector.
The prefix "pro" in this word is translated from Latin as "instead of".
What other words should every freshman know?
In addition to who the rector is, every freshman should also know the following terms:
- Student is a student of a higher educational institution.
- A classmate is a student who studies in the same group as you. As a rule, this is a person with whom you are engaged in the same specialty, but there are cases when people with an adjacent profile of education are united in one group.
- A fellow student is a student with whom you are studying in the same course. You can get to know him in joint lectures, when one subject is read simultaneously to several groups.
- The headman is a student who formally is the head of the group. The elder has his own privileges, but also many responsibilities.
- Dean - the head of the faculty, is responsible for academic, educational and scientific work.
- The head of the department is the head of the department at the faculty.
- Laboratory Assistant - a scientific and technical employee who reports to the head of the department. He is engaged in the preparation of drugs, devices, equipment, materials for laboratory work, seminars or for conducting visual experiments.
- Methodologist - a specialist responsible for compiling curricula and maintaining training documentation. He, for example, is engaged in scheduling.
- Assistant - the initial teaching position at universities, institutes, etc. It is usually held by graduate students. The responsibilities of assistants include seminars, workshops, assistance in taking the test or exam.
- Lecturer - a position for which teachers are appointed at the university. For this, it is not necessary to have a degree, but you need to have work experience.
- Associate Professor - academic title of university lecturers.
- PhD - first degree degree. This title is given, indicating specialization (for example, a candidate of medical sciences).
- Doctor of Sciences - a second degree degree, which follows immediately after a candidate of science. This title is given, indicating specialization (for example, a candidate of medical sciences).
- Professor - academic title of a university employee.
- Academician - the highest academic rank of full member of the Academy of Sciences.

Synonyms
Who is the rector? What is his position like? When did she appear? We think we were able to answer all these questions. In the end, we would like to share with you synonyms for this word. There are not so many of them, but, nevertheless, they still should be paid attention.
Synonyms for the word rector:
- Chief;
- supervisor;
- chapter.
We think you can put an end to this, because now you know the meaning of the word "rector". We hope that the facts presented in the publication were interesting to you and you learned a lot of interesting information!