The Academic Senate

Contents

• Academic Senate Activities
• Terms of Reference
• Academic Senate Standing Orders
• Membership
• Quorum
• General
• Role of Chairperson
• Academic Senate Electoral Rules

 Academic Senate Activities

• List of Members
• Meeting Dates
• Meeting Agendas
• Minutes and Reports
• Meeting Summaries
• Student Elections to Academic Senate
• Academic Senate Self-Reviews

 Terms of Reference

Introduction

Academic Senate (Senate) represents the University Community in providing a forum for deliberations and decisions regarding all matters relating to scholarship and academic governance.

It is appropriate that matters relating to the academic life of the University, namely teaching, research, scholarship and related activities, should be considered by the Senate.

Senate is the peak body for advising the University Council and the Vice-Chancellor on academic matters and broad issues which affect the academic excellence of the University. Its role encompasses policies, systems, services, structures and strategies that impact upon teaching and research, students and staff. Senate is a key forum for academic staff to discuss matters of interest including those relating to the broader governmental, political or market environment. It also serves as a conduit for disseminating key information throughout the University, including information regarding the external environment affecting the university.

There are matters which have academic implications that may not need to be referred to Senate and a decision on their referral is a matter of judgment. However, issues or policies with substantial academic implications - especially those relating to intellectual freedoms and the roles and recognition of academic staff - should be referred to Senate for comment prior to consideration by Council.

Academic Senate Values

Senate is committed to the following values against which the conduct of Senate and members of Senate may be measured and the confidence of the University community encouraged and maintained:

• fairness
• independence
• respect for individuals
• diligence and efficiency
• integrity
• accountability
• transparency

These values provide:

• a behavioural reference point
• a catalyst for discussion and awareness
• an aid to accountability
• an aid to informing the awareness and expectations of those who interact with Senate and its committees

For example, Senate is committed to:

• the encouragement of full and fair debate conducted with integrity, respect and without fear of repercussion;
• transparent policies and processes;
• timely access to information and timely response to requests for information;
• active participation in setting agendas and contributing to debate;
• dissemination of information by members of Senate to those whom they represent; and
• the acceptance of decisions of Senate as decisions of the University Community.

Terms of Reference

Academic Senate has specific responsibilities assigned to it by Council or the Vice Chancellor as outlined below. It may be asked to provide comment, or a determination, on other matters from time to time.

The Academic Senate shall:

1. advise the Vice-Chancellor and Council on:
   • the academic objectives of the University and the actions to sustain and develop such objectives;
   • the University’s Strategic Plan, planning and review processes;
   • definition of the academic goals which should inform financial planning, including capital works and infrastructure programs;
   • policies relating to the allocation of University resources;
   • changes in the academic organisation;
   • the development of new academic activities and the establishment of new Faculties, Departments, Schools and Centres;
   • scholarship;
   • teaching and learning;
   • research and research training;
   • academic quality assurance;
   • policies and practices relating to the selection, development and promotion of academic staff;
   • policy on admission of students to the University and the establishment of scholarships and prizes;
   • the administration of the Policies and rules governing degrees;
   • policies and practices which relate to academic freedom.
2. consider and report on any matter referred to it by the Council or the Vice-Chancellor, exercising such functions, responsibilities or authority as may be assigned or delegated to it from time to time by Council;
3. make determinations on proposals for introduction of new or amended courses, or the deletion of existing courses;
4. make recommendations or determinations on proposals for new or amended, university-wide policies relating to research management, the student experience and administration of courses;
5. receive reports from any academic unit, Dean, Head of Department/School, or Committee Chairperson and take appropriate action within its terms of reference;
6. request a report or statement from any member of the Senior Executive or Dean on any academic matter, as appropriate;
7. refer matters for consideration and report to a Faculty or any other academic committee or unit, as appropriate;
8. report on the extent to which the academic objectives have been achieved, such reports to be made to Council at least once per year.

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 Membership

The Academic Senate consists of:

Ex Officio Members:

• the Vice-Chancellor
• the Vice-Principal (Administration)
• the Vice-Principal (Overseas Operations)
• the Deputy and Pro Vice-Chancellors
• the Deans
• the University Librarian
• the Director of CEDIR
• the Head of the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre
• the Director, Wollongong College Australia
• the Academic Registrar
• Faculty nominated ex-officio positions
  

Elected Members:

• The number of academic staff elected by and from each faculty is determined by subtracting the Dean and faculty nominated ex-officio positions for that faculty from the number of allocated positions for that faculty.
• Faculties must have at least 50% of their allocated positions available to elected members.
• The number of allocated positions for each faculty is determined as follows:

• Number of Academic Staff in Faculty	Number of representatives on Senate
  >= 100	11
  75 - 99	9
  50 - 74	7
  30 - 49	5
  <= 29	3

  
  
• two members elected by and from the Academic Services Division, which includes Woolyungah academic staff, Learning Development staff, Library staff and CEDIR educational consulting staff.
• one member elected by and from the Institute Directors.
• four students elected by and from the Undergraduate students enrolled for a degree or diploma in the University.
• two students elected by and from the Postgraduate students enrolled for a degree or diploma in the University.
  
  

Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

The Academic Senate must elect every two years a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson from among the Professors and Associate Professors of the University, normally from those who are not Heads of Academic Units or Deans.

Representation at June 2006

*Current representation is based on head count of Full-time and Part-time academic staff by Faculty as reported to DEST at 30 June 2002.
# Faculties with changed total number of allocated positions, since last assessment.

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 Quorum

The quorum for any meeting of the Academic Senate shall be 30 members.

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 General

• The Academic Senate normally shall meet approximately once every six weeks; in addition, special meetings may be called by the Vice-Chancellor, the Chairperson or one-third of its members.
• Written notice of place and agenda of meetings shall be given to members at least seven days before each such meeting of the Academic Senate; in addition, the agendas and minutes of meetings of the Academic Senate shall be available to all members of the University.
• The Vice-Chancellor shall be President of the Academic Senate in terms of Section 22 of the By-Law.
• Professors of the University who are not members of Senate may attend meetings of the Senate and shall be given the right to speak at the Senate with the leave of the Senate.
• The Vice-Chancellor shall bring to the Council or its Committees those items of business from the proceedings of Senate which require consideration by the Council or its Committees.
• The Chairperson of a Senate Committee may attend meetings of the Academic Senate with full rights of audience and debate when items within the terms of reference of that committee are discussed.
• The minutes of the meetings of Senate shall be forwarded to Council, for information.

 Role of the Chairperson

• To represent the Academic Senate, both internally to the Senior Executive and externally to other tertiary institutions and government.
• To enquire into and inform Senate on academic issues whether emanating from within the University or externally, through government and other institutions, including the Chairs of Senates and Academic Boards.
• To represent the Academic Senate on University committees.
• To chair the Academic Senate, the Senate Standing Committee and other Senate committees, as appropriate.
  

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Last reviewed: 29 April, 2008