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Principles of Academic Employee Contactability and Availability Procedure

Procedure overview

1 Purpose

PLEASE NOTE: All human resource management policy instruments are currently under review to ensure alignment with the new Enterprise Agreement. Contact the People Portfolio for more information.

To outline responsibilities of academic Employees in relation to teaching, research, scholarship and service, and the facilities and support the University will provide to facilitate these requirements.

2 Scope

This Procedure applies to all academic Employees.

3 Procedure Overview

This Procedure details the principles of academic Employee contactability and availability at the University.

This Procedure aligns with:

  • Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021: Standard 3.2 Staffing

4 Procedures

4.1 Designated workplace

It is reasonable to expect that academic Employees will be contactable and/or available to ensure that the needs of the University community, including the requirement for ready access to academics by internal and external Students, are effectively met.

The University can expect academic Employees to be available for consultation and meetings concerned with teaching, research and organisation.

While travel and off-campus work are normal expectations for many academic Employees, the University itself will remain the focal point of each academic Employee's professional life.

4.2 Absence from designated workplace

The University also recognises that academic Employees require periods away from their designated workplace for many reasons including research, online teaching, marking, attendance at conferences, and consultation with government, industry, commerce and community.

It is the academic Employee's obligation to regularly advise their Supervisor of their on-campus and off-campus work program and activities. An academic Employee must also advise their Supervisor of any leave arrangements and must submit an absence request for approval.

4.3 Student consultation

An academic Employee must ensure that they are reasonably available for consultation with Students. Consultation may include, as appropriate, face to face meetings and the efficient and timely use of communication technology.

The academic Employee's availability for Student consultation is to be advised to the Employee's Supervisor and Students, and adhered to.

5 Delegated Responsibilities

Approver

Level of Delegation

Category 4 Delegate or above

Ensure on-campus availability of academic Employees

6 References

Nil.

7 Schedules

This procedure must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.

8 Procedure Information

Accountable Officer

Chief People Officer

Responsible Officer

Chief People Officer

Policy Type

University Procedure

Policy Suite

Working Hours and Arrangements Policy

Subordinate Schedules

Approved Date

12/12/2018

Effective Date

3/4/2019

Review Date

3/4/2024

Relevant Legislation

Enterprise Agreement

Policy Exceptions

Policy Exceptions Register

Related Policies

Related Procedures

Related forms, publications and websites

Definitions

Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary

Delegate (noun)

Delegate (noun) means the officer, Employee or committee of the University to whom, or to which, a delegation of authority has been made under this Policy....moreDelegate (noun) means the officer, Employee or committee of the University to whom, or to which, a delegation of authority has been made under this Policy.

Employee

A person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University....moreA person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University.

Procedure

An operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy....moreAn operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy.

Student

A person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled....moreA person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled.

University

The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland.

Enterprise Agreement

University of Southern Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026....moreUniversity of Southern Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026.

Definitions that relate to this procedure only

Supervisor

Any person responsible for leading the activities of others. In the context of this Procedure, a Supervisor includes Employees at any classification level or title who have responsibilities for leading, managing or supervising work teams and/or individual Employees.

Keywords

Designated workplace, facilities, availability, Student consultation

Record No

13/401PL

Complying with the law and observing Policy and Procedure is a condition of working and/or studying at the University.

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