THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Australian National University Act 1991
ACADEMIC BOARD AND COMMITTEES STATUTE 2014
The Council of The Australian National University makes this Statute under section 50 of the Australian National University Act 1991.
Dated: 3 October 2014.
Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC FASSA
CHANCELLOR
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Statute
1.1 This is the Academic Board and Committees Statute 2014.
2 Commencement
2.1 This Statute commences on 1 January 2015.
3 Definitions
3.1 In this Statute, unless the contrary intention appears:
academic staff means employees of the University each of whom holds a full-time or part-time standard or fixed term academic staff position, or a person who holds an academic appointment in a particular College who is nominated as an academic staff member for the purposes of this Statute by the Dean of that College;
Board means Academic Board established under section 4;
College Executive Committee has the same meaning as it has in the ANU College Governance Rules;
Rules means Rules made under this Statute.
4 Establishment of Board
4.1 There is to be an Academic Board established for the University with the powers and functions mentioned in this Statute and the Rules.
5 Chair and Deputy Chair of Board
5.1 The Council, on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor, is to appoint a person to Chair the Academic Board.
5.2 The Board is to appoint one of its members to be the Deputy Chair of the Board.
5.3 The term of appointment of the Chair of the Board is to be 2 years, but may be renewed for 1 further term of 2 years.
5.4 The Chair may, where necessary, undertake executive action on behalf of the Board between meetings and must report any such action back to the Board as soon as practicable.
6 Constitution of Board
6.1 The Academic Board consists of the following members:
(a) the Chair appointed under section 5;
(b) the Deputy Vice-Chancellors;
(c) the Pro Vice-Chancellors;
(d) the Registrars;
(e) the Dean of each ANU College;
(f) the Dean of Medicine and Health Sciences;
(g) the Dean of Students;
(h) the University Librarian;
(i) 4 members of the academic staff elected from among the membership of the College Executive Committees of the ANU Colleges, not being the Dean of a College, as mentioned in an Order made by the Vice-Chancellor for the purpose;
(j) 3 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences;
(k) 3 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific;
(l) 3 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Business and Economics;
(m) 2 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science;
(n) 2 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Law;
(o) 3 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment;
(p) 3 academic staff elected from among their number in the ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences;
(q) 2 members of the general staff elected from among their number;
(r) 1 postgraduate student appointed by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with the President of the Postgraduate and Research Students' Association Inc.;
(s) 1 undergraduate student appointed by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with the President of the Australian National University Students' Association Inc.;
(t) if there is no indigenous person holding a position on the Board, the Vice Chancellor, after consulting with the Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre is to nominate 1 member of the academic staff who is an indigenous person to be a member of the Board.
6.2 The Chair of the Board with the agreement of the Board may appoint up to 5 additional members to provide a diversity of views if the Chair believes the current membership of the Board does not reflect the academic and cultural diversity of the University.
6.3 Subject to subsection 6.4, the term of appointment of each elected or appointed member of the Board is to be 2 years, but may be renewed.
6.4 The term of appointment of each appointed member of the Board mentioned in paragraph 6.1(r) and (s) is to be 1 year, but may be renewed.
7 Functions and powers of Board
7.1 For section 4, the functions of the Academic Board include:
(a) operating with the assistance of specialist committees;
(b) accrediting and reaccrediting programs and changes to existing programs;
(c) ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards in teaching, scholarship and research within the University;
(d) approving Degrees and other awards;
(e) discussing and developing policy recommendations in relation to the University’s academic matters;
(f) maintaining an effective overview of the academic activities of the University and advising and assisting in their coordination;
(g) advising on the academic aspects and content of the University’s strategic plan;
(h) providing a forum to facilitate information flow and debate within the University and between the senior executive officers of the University and the wider academic community;
(i) reporting to the University Council at intervals, and in the manner specified by the University Council, on the performance of its functions.
7.2 The Board may perform such other functions, undertake such other responsibilities or exercise such other powers as the Vice-Chancellor from time to time directs or as are set out in the Rules.
7.3 The Board may appoint committees in accordance with the Rules to assist it in carrying out its functions.
7.4 In giving advice to the Council or the Vice-Chancellor, the Board may consult with University policy committees, committees of the Board or other University bodies or members.
7.5 The Chair of the Board is to provide the Council with such reports relating to the operations of the Board as the Council requests.
Returning Officer
8.1 An election to which paragraphs 6.1(i) and 6.1(q) apply must be conducted by the Vice-Chancellor, or his or her nominee, who is to be the Returning Officer for the election.
8.2 The Vice-Chancellor may appoint a Deputy Returning Officer for the election to assist the Returning Officer in the carrying out of his or her functions.
8.3 An election for an academic staff position elected by an individual College to which paragraphs 6.1(j) to 6.1(p) apply must be conducted by the College Dean, or his or her nominee, who is to be the Returning Officer for the election.
8.4 The College Dean may appoint a Deputy Returning Officer for the election to assist the Returning Officer in the carrying out of his or her functions.
9 Transitional
9.1 A person holding office under paragraph 6.1(i) immediately before the commencement of this rule is to be regarded on and from the commencement of this rule as being a member elected from the College Executive Committees for the balance of their original term.
10 Repeal
10.1 The Australian National University Academic Board Statute 2013 as amended and in force immediately before the commencement of this Statute, is repealed.
11 Rules and Orders
11.1 The Council or the Vice-Chancellor may make Rules not inconsistent with this Statute, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Statute to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Statute and, in particular, may make Rules about the following matters:
(a) setting out powers and functions of the Board;
(b) providing for the organisation and operations of the Board;
(c) establishing and regulating the operations of University committees and subcommittees established under the Rules or by the Board;
(d) providing for the election of members of the Board.
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