CHANCELLOR of an university, is he who seals the diplomas, or letters of degrees, provision, &c. given in the university.
The chancellor of Oxford is usually one of the prime nobility, chosen by the students themselves in convocation. He is their chief magistrate; his office is, durante vita, to govern the university, preserve and defend its rights and privileges, convocate assemblies, and do justice among the members under his jurisdiction.
Under the chancellor is the vice-chancellor, who is chosen annually, being nominated by the chancellor, and elected by the university in convocation: He is always the head of some college, and in holy orders. His proper office is to execute the chancellor's power, to govern the university according to her statutes, to see that officers and students do their duty, that courts be duly called, &c. When he enters upon his office, he chuses four pro-vice-chancellors out of the heads of the colleges, to execute his power in his absence.
The chancellor of Cambridge is also usually one of the prime nobility, and in most respects the same as that in Oxford; only he does not hold his office durante vita, but may be elected every three years. Under the chancellor there is a commissary, who holds a court of record for all privileged persons and scholars under the degree of master of arts, where all causes are tried and determined by the civil and statute law, and by the custom of the university.
The vice-chancellor of Cambridge is chosen annually, by the senate, out of two persons nominated by the heads of the several colleges and halls.