pick one

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-29 17:36:47 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

headmaster, rector -- more alternatives... not that we need them -

gérant ou administrateur provisoire.
S'il s'agit d'une faillite on peut parler de curateur.

Meaning "chosen for the purpose". In your case, probably, "chosen for the purpose of the study".

Its not quite the same thing as "interim" which is an administrator who is appointed to act between two "permanent" administrators.

Compare with "ad hoc committee", et al.

To wit: Merriam-Webster for "ad hoc":
<...>
Etymology: Latin, for this
Date: 1659
: for the particular end or case at hand without consideration of wider application

And, as previously commented, adapt "administrator" to the field concerned.

This has specific meaning within France’s child protection legislation. It describes a person appointed by the court who undertakes to ensure that the interests of a particular child are protected in the event of conflict between the parents, where either or both of the child’s parents are unable (or unwilling?) to protect the interests of the child concerned.

“Legal guardian” comes close although the legal guardian (US and UK) in fact substitutes the parent(s) for all sorts of things regarding the child. There are rights but also duties – financial maintenance etc. I do not know whether the scope of an “administrateur ad hoc” role extends this far.

A particular note : where the guardian is appointed to represent a child’s interest during legal proceedings, he is known as a “guardian ad litem” (cf. (4) below)). This ties up with the last sentence of the definition of “administrateur ad hoc” given on the French Ministry of Justice (Home Office – UK) site.

(There is one final possibility although judging from the context you give, it probably does not apply but it is set out below, just in case : cf. (5) for a “probation officer”.)

The NSPCC in the UK is a well-established charity organisation which protects the interests of children particularly in the case of abuse and/or neglect which may be of help : http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/CH_Home.asp



1 - http://www.justice.gouv.fr/motscles/mca13.htm

Administrateur ad hoc : Personne de plus de 30 ans, digne de confiance, désignée par un magistrat pour assurer la protection des intérêts d'un mineur, en cas de conflit avec ses parents (ou l'un d'eux). L'administrateur ad hoc est désigné parmi les proches de l'enfant ou sur une liste de personnalités. Ainsi, le procureur de la République ou le juge d'instruction, saisi de faits commis volontairement contre un mineur, peut désigner un administrateur ad hoc, lorsque ses parents (ou l'un d'eux) n'assurent pas complètement la protection de ses intérêts. Cette personne peut se constituer partie civile au nom et pour le compte du mineur.

2 - http://dictionary.law.com/ (US)

guardian : n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to take care of a minor child or incompetent adult (both called "ward") personally and/or manage that person's affairs. To become a guardian of a child either the party intending to be the guardian or another family member, a close friend or a local official responsible for a minor's welfare will petition the court to appoint the guardian. In the case of a minor, the guardianship remains under court supervision until the child reaches majority at 18. …”


3 - http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=216472&secid=.-

guardian : One who looks after the interests of a child (the ward), and is entitled to exercise parental rights and duties over him or her. A guardian may be appointed by a will or by a court, either after the death of a child's parents or if the parents are unable or unwilling to fulfil their parental role. Guardianship is a legal status that gives the guardian broadly the same rights and duties as those of a natural parent: for example, financial maintenance, care and custody, and responsibility for education.

Oxford Paperback Encyclopedia, © Oxford University Press 1998


4 - http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=464215

ad litem
[[Latin]] For the suit. A guardian ad litem will be appointed by the court to protect a minor's interests in proceedings affecting his interests (such as adoption, wardship, or care proceedings). Since the Children Act 1989 came into force the role of guardians has increased and they must ensure that the options open to the court are fully investigated. …”
Dictionary of Law, Oxford University Press © Market House Books Ltd 1997
5 - http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=467539
supervision order

1. An order of the court placing a child under the supervision of a local authority or a probation officer whose duty it is to advise and assist the child. A supervisor may have wide powers, for example to ensure that the child lives as directed or attends specified activities; …”

Dictionary of Law, Oxford University Press © Market House Books Ltd 1997





--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-30 09:58:51 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Code Civil : “administrateur ad hoc”.

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/html/frame_codes1.htm


Article 389-3

(Loi n° 64-1230 du 14 décembre 1964 art. 1 Journal Officiel du 15 décembre 1964 en vigueur le 15 juin 1965)
(Loi n° 93-22 du 8 janvier 1993 art. 58 Journal Officiel du 9 janvier 1993)

L\'administrateur légal représentera le mineur dans tous les actes civils, sauf les cas dans lesquels la loi ou l\'usage autorise les mineurs à agir eux-mêmes. Quand ses intérêts sont en opposition avec ceux du mineur, il doit faire nommer un administrateur ad hoc par le juge des tutelles. A défaut de diligence de l\'administrateur légal, le juge peut procéder à cette nomination à la demande du ministère public, du mineur lui-même ou d\'office. Ne sont pas soumis à l\'administration légale, les biens qui auraient été donnés ou légués au mineur sous la condition qu\'ils seraient administrés par un tiers. Ce tiers administrateur aura les pouvoirs qui lui auront été conférés par la donation ou le testament ; à défaut, ceux d\'un administrateur légal sous contrôle judiciaire.











--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-09-02 07:31:54 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Do you have any more context on this one? Unless the term has been created, in which case \"acting/interom manager\" or \"special administrator\" may work, the most likely term as such reates to someone representing a child\'s interests as above.

Extra info. This one bugged me because it seemed so familiar. Insolvency had been one of my areas and had come to mind but for some reason I kept finding things to do with children. In fact had “mandataire ad hoc” in mind, anyway…
“Administrateurs ad hoc” are appointed by the court and stay on a list for four years. When a company is going through financial difficulties and the receiver has presented a plan to the court (in which some parts of the business can be sold off, for example), the court can appoint an “administrateur ad hoc” to represent a debtor. The receiver can apply to have the “adminitrateur ad hoc” appointed.
If you need close parallels for a UK context, the take a look at “administration order” and “administrator” from this source :

http://www.insolvency.co.uk/legal/termseng.htm#admintor

Also, for more info, see :

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/html/frame_codes1.htm
Code du Commerce

Article L621-93 : En cas de défaut de paiement du prix de cession, le tribunal peut, d'office, à la demande du commissaire à l'exécution du plan, du procureur de la République ou de tout intéressé, nommer un administrateur ad hoc dont il détermine la mission.