Council Report

Meeting held 18 June 2007

Council Report
By Mr David Gonski AO
Chancellor

Council met on 13 August and 8 October 2007. The focused discussions were: Blueprint to Beyond 2010 (B2B), the UNSW Strategic Intent, presented by the Vice-Chancellor as the foundation of the development of a detailed strategic plan for the University over the next five years; the UNSW budget overview; an overview of the UNSW 2008 Budget; and the review of UNSW controlled entities.

The nomination of Mr Warwick Negus, to fill the casual vacancy was approved by the Minister, and Council was pleased to welcomed Mr Negus to its membership. Mr Negus has an extensive financial background and will also undertake the role of Presiding Member of the Finance Committee.

Faculty Strategic Presentations

Professor Peter Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor Alec Cameron, Dean of the Australian School of Business made presentations to Council. The Deans presented an overview of their respective Faculties and highlighted issues including program quality and demand, research strength, performance and growth, staff, key initiatives and challenges, and future opportunities. Council commended the value of the information provided and congratulated the Deans on the achievements of their Faculties.

Report of the Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor reported on the success of UNSW in the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund, ARC/NHMRC results, and other research achievements including: the Federally funded establishment of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW; the award of $3.75m funding to Professor Philip Hogg and the UNSW Cancer Research Centre; recognition of UNSW’s accounting research by the journal Accounting and Finance. Council also noted the development and implementation of the Student Communication Plan, analysis of CEG responses, the qualitative findings from undergraduate student market research, and on campus public events including the Jack Beale Memorial Lecture.

Report of the President of the Academic Board

Council approved: the introduction of postgraduate coursework programs in Indigenous Studies, Information Technology, Teaching, Public Health and Health Management, Architecture, and undergraduate programs in Science (Advanced Science) in Mathematics and Finance, Architecture Studies and Architectural Computing, and a Diploma in Science, Engineering and Technology. It also approved the disestablishment of the combined Bachelor of Architecture, Arts, Social Sciences and Laws degrees.

Other Business

Other matters approved by Council included: changes to the UNSW Sports Association Constitution; the new UNSW Naming Rights Policy; and amendments to the Animal Care and Ethics Committee terms of reference. Council also approved recommendations for Honorary Awards, which will be announced in due course.

Council Minutes

Council minutes and other information can be accessed by all members of the University via the Secretariat Services website.

For further information on matters relating to Council or its Committees, please contact Rhona Fraser, rhona.fraser@unsw.edu.au, 9385 3068, or Helen Parks, h.parks@unsw.edu.au, 9385 3072.

The Chancellor is the chair of Council.

Academic Board Report

Meeting held 4 September   

Professor Dooley welcomed Professor Peter Lovibond and Professor Chris Adam to membership of the Academic Board. These colleagues were appointed to casual vacancies in Professorial Electorate D and Professorial Electorate B, respectively, for the term to 30 June 2008.

Academic Policy and Proposals

The Academic Board discussed matters relating to the implementation of the new Academic Calendar from 2008. It was highlighted that all courses are to operate within the date parameters of the defined teaching periods. However, staff could seek permission to be exempted from this principle provided compelling pedagogical arguments were presented to Professor Henry. Teaching staff need to be mindful that students are to receive assessment feedback prior to the course discontinuation deadline.

The Academic Board noted the standard terminology for key components of the new Academic Calendar (including Semester, Summer Term, Teaching Period, Week Zero 0), and other administrative arrangements. The Academic Board adopted the Add Deadline and Discontinuation Deadline dates.

The following principle in relation to course offering periods was approved by the Academic Board: all courses, including flexible delivery courses, must be offered within the date parameters of one of the defined teaching periods. The offering duration of a course is measured from the commencement of structured learning and teaching activities (eg classroom, online activities, residential) to the last date of student assessment. The offering period must include an allowance for “reflective learning” to comply with the census date provision for the relevant teaching period. The Academic Board agenda papers, including the proposal relating to this aspect of the Academic Calendar reforms, can be attained from the Secretariat website.

The Academic Board approved the revision to the: Bachelor of Technology (Aviation) (4437), Bachelor of Aviation (Flying) (3980), Bachelor of Aviation (Management) (3981) and Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Education (4055). A Defence Studies plan within the Master of Arts (8175) and a Climate Change Management and Policy plan within the Master of Management Studies (8398) received Academic Board approval. A Climate Science major to be offered in the BSc (Adv), BSc (Adv) BA, and BSc (Adv) BSocSc was approved by the Academic Board.

Professor Janet Chan and Associate Professor Stephen Fortescue were elected to the Policy Advisory Committee, Professor Nasser Khalili and Associate Professor Vincent Murray were elected to the Postgraduate Coursework Committee and Associate Professor Stephen Fortescue was elected to the Undergraduate Studies Committee.

It was recommended that Council approve the introduction of a Master of Architecture (8143), Bachelor of Architectural Studies (3261) and Bachelor of Architectural Computing (3267).

Discussion Items

The Academic Board held a broad ranging discussion on the role of the Academic Board based on the following documents: ‘Academic Board Evaluation Survey Results’, ‘Hot Topics and Their Outcomes’, and ‘The Role of Academic Boards in University Governance’. A number of comments were raised, including that: members of the Academic Board had an important role to play in promulgating policy changes within their respective domains; the Postgraduate Coursework, Undergraduate Studies and Academic Services committees were narrow in scope and functioned well, while other Academic Board Standing committees were broader in scope; an induction program should be established for new Academic Board members; ‘Hot Topics’ were identified as an important forum for idea generation that also allowed for a frank exchange of views with senior management; and more data/expertise should be attained to support debate at the Academic Board. The President undertook to reflect on the discussion.

The Academic Board received a presentation on the OneUNSW initiatives presented by Mr Stephen Rees. The projects aimed to save the University in the order of $A60 Million and covered a variety of areas including: Procurement, IT Services, Finance, the Property Portfolio, Research Services, International Recruitment, and the academic program rule simplification project. The projects supported the strategic direction of the organisation and would help redirect funds to support research and free academics' time. Further information could be attained from the OneUNSW website accessible through MyUNSW.

The minutes of this Academic Board meeting are available on the Secretariat Services website at http://www.secretariat.unsw.edu.au/acboard/minutes/minute.htm

If there are issues you would like me or Academic Board or its Committees to consider, or if you would like to attend a meeting, please let me know via a.dooley@unsw.edu.au or 9385-2393

Tony Dooley
President, Academic Board