The establishment of Parks College was formally approved by a vote by members of Congregation at a meeting in the Sheldonian Theatre on 7 May 2019.
Congregation is part of the University of Oxford's governance structure. It is a sovereign body of over 5,000 members of the University, and acts as its ‘parliament’. The members include academic staff; heads and other members of governing bodies of colleges; and senior research, computing, library and administrative staff.
With the approval of Congregation, Parks College was entered into the University's statutes and regulations as a graduate society (similar to Kellogg College and St Cross College).
