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University Research Standing Committee (URSC)

Terms of Reference

1. General

The University Research Standing Committee (URSC) is responsible for the implementation of University Research Committee (URC) policy in relation to research and research students. This includes allocation of research funds (within the guidelines, policies and formulae approved by the URC) to research units, individuals and research students (including scholarships). The URSC is also responsible for the auditing of performance and outcomes resulting from URC funding. The allocations will comprise funds that are awarded on the basis of submissions as well as funds allocated on the basis of past performance.

The URSC will collaborate closely with the Research Student Centre (RSC) in the development of policies in relation to research students and in monitoring the whole research student experience.

Determinations made by the URSC are final and will be referred to the URC for information only, not review.

2. Membership

The URSC has the following membership:

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Chair)
• Deputy Chair (Resources) of URC
• Deputy Chair (Postgraduate) of URC
• The Chairs of each Faculty Research and Postgraduate Committee

The DVC(R) will appoint members to the URSC for a term of two years.

Executive Secretary, Research Grants Manager

Minutes Secretary, Research Grants Officer

3. Quorum

All URC Committees have a quorum which is equal to one half or, where one half is not a whole number, the whole number next higher than one half, of the total number of members for the time being of the Committee.

4. Meetings

The Committee shall meet every six weeks, with additional meetings as necessary. View meeting dates.

5. Role of the Deputy Chairs

The DVC(R) will appoint a Deputy Chair (Resources) and Deputy Chair (Postgraduate) of the URC for a term of two years. Either may act as Chair of the URC or URSC in the absence of the DVC(R). In addition, they have the following responsibilities.

Deputy Chair (Resources) will:

• Assist the URC and URSC in the development of policies and guidelines for the allocation of URC funds.
• Have responsibility for making funding recommendations to the URSC on applications to URC funding schemes where allocations may be made at any time throughout the year (including, but not limited to for example, New Researcher Support, and New Partnership Grants).
• Assist the Research Grants Manager in the preparation of agendas and minutes for the URSC.

Deputy Chair (Postgraduate) will:

• Act as Chair of the Postgraduate Research Policy Committee and therefore will assist the URC and URSC in the development of policies for higher degree research students.
• Have responsibility for approval of suspension of APA, UPA and IPRS scholarships for periods beyond 12 months.
• Have responsibility for approval of fast-tracked APA/UPA scholarship offer list.

6. Functions of the Committee

The URSC shall:

• Assist the URC in the development of policies and guidelines for the allocation of URC funds.
• Collaborate closely with the Postgraduate Research Student Policy Committee (PRPC) in the development of policies in relation to research students and in monitoring the whole research student experience.
• Allocate research grants and research-related funds (including, but not limited to, competitive URC grant schemes, ARC funds devolved to the University for competitive allocation, equipment funds and annual block allocations to research units) within the context of policies and procedures determined by the URC.
• Allocate funds to support postgraduate students within the context of policies and procedures determined by the URC and URSC (including, but not limited to the research student maintenance fund and scholarships)
• Perform audits of URC funding allocations (including, but not limited to, review of annual reports of research units and of progress/final reports for competitive URC schemes, devolved ARC schemes and equipment funds).
• Review, on a triennial basis, submissions for formation and/or continuation of research units and make recommendations to the URC on the base funding to, and status of, all URC-funded research units.
• Reviews outcomes of URC funding schemes and performance-based allocations to research units and consequently to provide recommendations to the URC when a need for substantial changes in policy or procedures is indicated.

7. Appeals

Individuals have the right to appeal the outcomes of URSC decisions on the basis of failure to follow due process. Should any individual wish to appeal the outcome of any URSC decision they must notify the Manager of the Research Services Office in writing of their intention to appeal within 14 days of the receipt of the advice of the decision.

The Manager of the Research Services Office will refer the matter to the Chair, Academic Senate for consideration. If the Chair, Academic Senate determines there is grounds for appeal then he/she will convene a meeting of a URC Appeals Committee.

A URC Appeals Committee will comprise:

• Chair, Academic Senate
• The Dean of the relevant Faculty
• A senior academic who is a member of Senate but not a member of the relevant Faculty, nominated by the Chair of Senate.

Any individual who has concerns about the academic merit of an adverse decision of the URSC should discuss the matter with the Chair of the relevant Faculty Research and Postgraduate Committee in the first instance.