1 Role

The Academic Board shall be responsible for making recommendations to Council on academic policy and regulations pertaining to the operation of the University and shall monitor the implementation of approved policy. The University of Southern Queensland Act 1998, Part 4, Division 3, section 39, clause (3) states that the Academic Board must –

1. advise the Council about teaching, scholarship and research matters concerning the University; and

2. formulate proposals for the academic policies of the University; and

3. monitor the academic activities of the University’s faculties; and

4. promote and encourage scholarship and research at the University.

2 Functions

The functions of the Academic Board shall be to:-

1. consider and recommend to Council on policy relating to all aspects of development and accreditation or re-accreditation of programs, admission of students, teaching, assessment, requirements for graduation, scholarships, and research planning and management;

2. consider and recommend on any matter referred to the Academic Board, by Council, Faculty Assembly, Faculty Board or the Vice-Chancellor;

3. delegate implementation matters, including formulation of advice to Council, to designated executives assisted by such standing committees as it may from time to time establish;

4. carry out periodic reviews of the implementation of academic policy and recommend such changes as it may deem desirable;

5. monitor reports from its standing committees to ensure that their delegated responsibilities are discharged.

3 Meetings

3.1 Frequency of Meetings

The Academic Board shall normally meet every eight weeks.

3.2 Standing Committees of the Academic Board

The Academic Board shall be assisted in its operation by the following standing committees, each of which may co-opt members of the University to their membership for such terms as they may decide. The gender balance of all committees of the Board shall meet the “Enterprise Bargaining” agreed gender balance of 30%. If either gender is not represented on any committee of the Board, then that committee must invite a member of the non-represented gender from the USQ academic community, subject to endorsement by Academic Board, to become a member of that committee with full voting rights.

1. Executive Committee

2. International and Educational Partnership Committee

3. Learning and Teaching Committee

4. Program and Policy Review Committee

5. Research Committee

3.3 Quorum

1. At any meeting of the Academic Board, a quorum shall be 50% of the current membership. If a quorum is not present after the expiration of 15 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall lapse.

2. Where a scheduled or special meeting of the Academic Board lapses for want of a quorum, the business that was to be considered at that meeting may be considered by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Academic Board. Any recommendations arising from the Executive Committee in these circumstances shall require ratification by the Academic Board by flying minute.

3.4 Regulations for the Conduct Of Meetings

1. The Chair may exercise right of precedence over other members in speaking during a meeting.

2. When a motion or amendment is before the Chair, no member other than the proposer may speak until it has been seconded. A motion or amendment lapsing for want of a seconder shall not be recorded in the minutes of a meeting.

3. A motion or amendment before the Chair may be re-worded or withdrawn subject to the leave of the meeting.

4. When two or more members indicate intention to speak, the Chair shall call upon the member who, in the Chair's opinion, first declared such intention.

5. When an amendment is before the Chair, discussion shall be confined to that amendment.

6. If two consecutive speakers have both argued either for or against a motion or amendment and no member wishes to argue the opposite view, or to move or foreshadow an amendment, the question shall be put to the meeting without further debate.

7. Right of reply shall be allowed only to a member who has proposed a substantive motion.

8. A question shall be decided by a show of hands of voting members present unless a ballot is requested by a majority of members present at the meeting.

9. The Chair shall have a deliberative vote and, in the case of equality of votes, a second or casting vote. The Chair shall generally exercise a casting vote against the motion.

10. If a resolution of the Board would be contrary to a previous resolution, the most recent resolution shall take precedence unless an absolute majority of all members vote to initiate rescission proceedings.

11. Should the Board wish to institute rescission proceedings at the same meeting, a motion to rescind a resolution of the Board must be carried by a two-thirds majority of all members of the Board.

12. In circumstances where the Board disagrees with a recommendation from one of its sub-committees, the Chair of that sub-committee may be asked to withdraw the recommendation and take it back to the sub-committee for further deliberation.

3.5 Special Meetings

The Chair may, or any seven members may, by notice in writing given to the Secretary, call a special meeting, for a purpose specified in the notice, to be held on such a date within the period of fourteen days after the notice is given as the Secretary shall determine.

4 Membership

4.1 Membership Structure

The membership of the Academic Board shall be:

1. Vice-Chancellor (ex officio);

2. Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (ex officio);

3. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Services) (ex officio)

4. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) (ex officio)

5. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students and Communities) (ex officio)

6. Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning, Teaching and Quality) (ex officio)

7. Provost, USQ Fraser Coast (ex officio);

8. Director, USQ Springfield (ex officio)

9. Deans of Faculties (ex officio);

10. Director, Learning and Teaching Support (ex officio);

11. Executive Director, Library Services (ex officio);

12. Six Professors, to include representation by both genders, who do not qualify under categories 4.1 to 4.11 elected by and from academic staff;

13. Four male academic staff members, who do not qualify under categories 4.1 to 4.11 elected by and from academic staff;

14. Four female academic staff members, who do not qualify under categories 4.1 to 4.11 elected by and from the academic staff ;

15. Five female members of Faculties, one to be elected by and from the academic staff of each Faculty;

16. Five male members of Faculties, one to be elected by and from the academic staff of each Faculty;

17. President of the Student Guild or nominee;

18. An undergraduate student appointed by a meeting of the Board of the Student Guild;

19. A postgraduate student appointed by a meeting of the Board of the Student Guild;

20. One Indigenous* academic staff member elected by the academic staff members of the University.

The Registrar (Chief Operating Officer) shall have rights of audience and debate at meetings of the Academic Board.

*As identified on the Human Resources database as at 4:00pm on the day on which nominations for that election close

4.2 Gender Representation

Neither gender shall comprise more than 70% of the membership of the Board at any one time.**

Where a Faculty cannot provide representation from both genders, the person of the under-represented gender next in line on the most recent Academic Board ballot shall be invited on to the Academic Board.

Should either gender not comprise at least 30% of the membership of the Board, the person or persons of the under-represented gender next in line on the most recent Academic Board ballot shall be invited on to the Academic Board.

Where future nominations in category 3.11 (elected professors) fail to include nominations by both genders, expressions of interest shall be sought from persons of the under-represented gender and the Academic Board Executive Committee shall act to invite a professor of the under-represented gender on to the Academic Board.

Should either gender not be represented in this category, the person or persons of the under-represented gender next in line on the most recent Academic Board ballot shall be invited on to the Academic Board.

** 70% of 42 members - not greater than 30 or less than 12 of either gender.

4.3 Elections

Elections for the Board shall be conducted in accordance with Statute 5 of the University. In the event of failure to nominate the required number of persons to a category of membership, a by-election shall be held to fill the vacancy.

4.4 Chair And Deputy Chair

The Chair and Deputy Chair shall be elected by and from the members of the Academic Board. The Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Deans shall not be candidates for the office of Chair or Deputy Chair.

It is expected that a member of Academic Board will have served on Board committees prior to election as Deputy Chair of the Board.

It is expected that a member of Academic Board will have served first as Deputy Chair of the Board before being elected Chair of the Board. The practice of Deputy Chair succeeding as Chair will be encouraged.

4.5 Terms Of Office

Ex officio members remain members for their term of office. Members elected by staff shall serve for a three year term and shall be eligible for re-election. There shall be no restriction on the number of renewable terms. The Chair and Deputy Chair shall serve for a three year term and shall be eligible for re-election. The Chair and Deputy Chair may not serve for more than two terms consecutively.

4.6 Absences

1. Ex officio members of the Academic Board may nominate a duly appointed acting person to represent them when necessary.

2. An elected member who is absent from two or more consecutive meetings without having been granted leave of absence shall be deemed to have vacated the elected position, resulting in a casual vacancy.

3. An elected member who anticipates being absent with the approval of the University, from two or more consecutive meetings of the Academic Board, shall make a prior written application to the Board for leave of absence. During such absence, his/her place shall be filled by invitation to the candidate scoring the next highest number of votes at the most recent election. If no such candidate exists, then the Chair of the Board, on the advice of the Board, may invite a person from the relevant membership category to serve in his/her place.

4.7 Casual Vacancies

1. Where a casual vacancy occurs in the first twelve months of the term of the Board the vacancy will be filled by the candidate with the next highest number of votes in the previous election.

2. Where a casual vacancy occurs in a term with more than twelve months but not less than six months before completion, the Secretary shall conduct an election to fill the vacancy. If a casual vacancy is not filled at any election, the Academic Board may, after taking such advice as it sees fit, appoint an appropriate person in the same category of membership to fill the vacancy.

3. Where a casual vacancy occurs in a term with less than six months before completion the Academic Board may, after taking such advice as it sees fit, appoint an appropriate person in the same category of membership to fill the vacancy.

5 Other Policy Information