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University Equity Committee Charter

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Section 1 - Purpose

(1) The University Equity Committee promotes the achievement of fair and equitable outcomes for diverse QUT student and staff communities, so that they can flourish and achieve their potential. This is done through providing advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President, and awareness raising and advocacy at all levels of the University.

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Section 2 - Accountability

(2) University Equity Committee is a management committee accountable to the Vice-Chancellor and President.

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Section 3 - Responsibilities

(3) University Equity Committee undertakes the following responsibilities:

  1. Advisory:
    1. provides advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President on all social justice matters;
    2. reviews state, national and international trends in higher education, State and Federal legislation, and public policy, which have the potential to impact on the social justice framework and/or equity related objectives of the University;
    3. recommends policy initiatives in the equity area;
    4. advises on the equity implications of University policies;
    5. advises on the development of institutional responses to policy initiatives taken by government and other external agencies;
    6. consults with and advises appropriate committees and officers of the university on equity matters.
  2. Coordination and Awareness:
    1. through equity committees in each faculty and division, consults, collaborates, and coordinates social justice efforts across the university through information sharing, strategy development, and promotion of priority programs;
    2. coordinates and supports working parties of University Equity Committee as established from time to time.
  3. Monitoring:
    1. monitors the implementation of equity policy and programs within the university.
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Section 4 - Membership

(4) Membership categories:

  1. Nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar as Chair;
  2. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Australians) or nominee;
  3. Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) or nominee;
  4. Chair of each division/faculty equity committee ex officio;
  5. One undergraduate student nominated by the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar;
  6. One postgraduate student nominated by the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar.

(5) The Director, Equity attends meetings as executive officer of University Equity Committee.

(6) Nominated members of the Committee serve a term of office of up to two years. The length of a nominated member’s term of office is recommended to the nominator by the Chair, on advice from the Secretariat.

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Section 5 - Meeting Frequency

(7) University Equity Committee meets at least four times a year.

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Section 6 - Reporting and communication

(8) University Equity Committee reports to the Vice-Chancellor and President, as needed.

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Section 7 - Procedures

(9) University Equity Committee operates in accordance with the University Committee Governance Policy and Council Procedure 1 - Committee Operations.

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Section 8 - Secretariat

(10) A nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar is secretary, on recommendation of the Director, Equity.