Key figures at a prestigious Sydney University college at the centre of a sexism scandal have retired, The New Daily can reveal.

St Paul’s College warden Dr Ivan Head has given notice to retire and will finish in his role at the end of the year, a letter sent to residents on Tuesday said.

“Ivan has made an outstanding contribution to the life of St Paul’s College and, while there will be many opportunities to pay tribute to him before the end of the year, the council expresses its deep appreciation for his dedication, wisdom and care of the college community over the past 22 years,” the letter said.

Dr Head has been warden since December 1994. A replacement will be appointed by the college council.

Dr Head last week warned residents of the mens-only college not to make misogynistic comments on social media because it could harm their job prospects. He made the statement on the public St Paul’s College Facebook page.

He warned “incautious and disrespectful” comments on social media could damage employability.

“Some things may resurface just when you need your best CV to work for you,” Dr Head said in the post.

Dr Ivan Head, warden of St Paul’s College at Sydney University, has given notice to retire

“But the primary message driving this has to be ‘respect for women: now-always’,” Dr Head said.

His post was then deleted and replaced with another.

“St Paul’s College does not tolerate unacceptable or offensive behaviour against women and takes these matters very seriously,” the later statement, again signed off by Dr Head, said.

He was responding to reports a resident described sex with larger women as “harpooning a whale”. The resident also advised students on how to “get rid of some chick” after “a root” in a Facebook post in March, it was revealed last week.

In his replacement statement, Dr Head said the student’s attitudes were “grossly offensive” and contrary to the college’s values.

When asked why his initial statement was replaced, Dr Head last week told The New Daily: “It’s just a little sharper now.”

St Paul’s then conceded to joining the university-wide review into college culture by Sex Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. St Paul’s was the only college to initially reject engaging in the review.

Council chairman Angelo Hatsatouris has also retired after entering the role in 2013. Reverend Andrew Sempell, who signed off on the letter circulated on Tuesday, will be acting chairman until a replacement is appointed.

The acting chairman said the council will review “the governance of the college”.

“Recognising the need for strategic reform, the council is commencing a process to review the governance of the college with a view to bringing it more broadly into line with modern standards, the current needs of the college and its responsibilities to the university and wider community,” the letter said.

“It is acknowledged, for example, that the size and composition of the council, and the means by which appointments to council are made, require reform.”

The council proposed to work with the university, Anglican Church, college community and NSW government to institute change.

The resident’s Facebook post, which received about 100 ‘likes’ from fellow college residents, caused “great concern” in the council.

“[The council] acknowledges that it needs to address the aspect of unacceptable culture it indicates among the college’s student body,” the letter said.

A Facebook post by the St Paul’s College, signed off by warden Dr Ivan Head last week

“The council takes responsibility to do such things that will create a safer, more respectful, and equitable environment for all. Some things are not negotiable, and attitudes about the treatment of people both within and beyond the college need to be exemplary.”

Students have expressed “their dismay at the Facebook post, apologise unreservedly” and recognise it was a betrayal of the values of the college, the letter said.

“To help address this, the council is engaging with the university to seek the opportunity for the college to participate in the review of colleges at the University of Sydney being undertaken by Elizabeth Broderick & Co.”

The student’s Facebook post comparing sex with women as “harpooning a whale” was deleted within 24 hours. He was formally cautioned and suspended.

Women have repeatedly complained about cultural issues at Sydney University over recent years.

In 2009, St Paul’s College students made a Facebook group called “Define Statutory: Pro-rape, anti-consent”. The same year, a woman complained graffiti at a college bar said: “They can’t say no with a c**k in their mouth”.

Sydney University Students’ Representatives Council co-Women’s officer Imogen Grant told The New Daily these early “retirements” should not be confused as a sufficient response to “the college’s failure to address institutionalised sexism”.

“One can only assume that they’re stepping down after St Paul’s culture of entrenched misogyny and sexual violence was exposed, once more, in the media” Ms Grant said.

“But … a reform of college culture requires intervention at every level, including policy reform and education.

“St Paul’s and its culture of male entitlement are remnants of an archaic time when only wealthy men were able to attend university. We need to ask ourselves whether these institutions have a place within today’s educational communities.”

A spokesperson for Sydney University and college vice-warden Geoff Lovell declined to comment.

The post a resident posted in the St Paul’s College private Facebook group