C/1.3 Committee structure relating to teaching and learning

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1.3.1 University Teaching and Learning Committee
1.3.2 Faculty academic boards
1.3.3 Faculty and school advisory committees
Related Documents
Modification History

University Academic Board (see A/3.2.4 ) is responsible to Council for approving new courses and major changes to existing courses, and for approving academic and research policies and procedures of the University.

University Academic Board is advised by the following

• University Teaching and Learning Committee (see C/1.3.1 below) - on policy relating to teaching and learning across the University, and on course development and quality assurance matters.
• Academic Policy and Procedures Committee (see E/1.1.1 ) - considers and makes recommendations on rules, policies and procedures relating to admission, enrolment, exemption, assessment, progression and exclusion, reviews and appeals, and graduation.
• University Research and Innovation Committee (see D/2.1 ) - makes recommendations to University Academic Board on research policy, procedures and programs and to the Vice-Chancellor on the distribution of QUT's research funds. University Research and Innovation Committee has established a Research Degrees Committee (see D/5.2 ) to consider doctoral candidates, scholarships and other matters dealing with research higher degree supervision, training and research in the University.
• Faculty academic boards (see C/1.3.2 below ) - responsible for the educational policies and practices of the individual faculty. In course development, approval and quality assurance process matters, faculty academic boards are assisted by faculty and school advisory committees (see C/1.3.3 below).
• Appeals Committee (see E/1.1.2 ) - responsible for determining appeals against refusal of admission to a University course or readmission following exclusion, appeals against exclusion for unsatisfactory academic performance or failure to complete an award within time limits, and appeals arising from the imposition of penalties for academic dishonesty, research misconduct, scholarships and student entitlements.

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1.3.1 University Teaching and Learning Committee

University Teaching and Learning Committee is a Council committee established in accordance with Council Procedure 1- Committees . University Teaching and Learning Committee is accountable to University Academic Board ( A/3.2.4 ) for fulfilling the following terms of reference.

Terms of Reference

University Teaching and Learning Committee addresses two broad areas - policy relating to teaching and learning, and courses and curriculum (including issues of quality).

Teaching and learning

University Teaching and Learning Committee:

• recommends to University Academic Board policy and procedures on teaching and learning;
• advises University Academic Board on the teaching and learning components of the institutional plans;
• advises University Academic Board on trends and developments in teaching, teaching technology, learning and assessment and recommends changes to reflect best practice;
• promotes high quality and innovative teaching within the University through policy development and teaching and learning related grants and awards. In particular the Committee:
• advises University Academic Board on teaching-related aspects of staff recruitment, development and evaluation;
• maintains oversight and makes recommendations for internal and external grants to support teaching and learning in the University;
• maintains oversight and makes recommendations for QUT nominations for national teaching awards.

Courses and curriculum

University Teaching and Learning Committee reports to University Academic Board on course development. This process includes critical review of course proposals, and may include consideration to cease offering courses as well as to offer courses.

Courses to be offered off-shore are also considered by Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee.

Quality assurance

University Teaching and Learning Committee has a particular role in quality assurance in teaching, courses and curriculum. In particular, the Committee:

• monitors and advises University Academic Board on national and local quality assurance developments in relation to educational programs and teaching and learning;
• provides advice to faculties on good practice quality assurance processes in relation to courses and teaching and learning;
• considers and provides comment to University Academic Board on the Course Performance Report and faculty academic program reports.

Membership

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching Quality) ex officio as Chair
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) ex officio
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) or nominee
• Registrar or nominee
• Director, Teaching and Learning Support Services ex officio
• Dean of Research and Research Training ex officio
• Dean of Studies ex officio
• The Chair of each faculty teaching and learning committee ex officio
• Nominee of the Director, Teaching and Learning Support Services
• One member nominated by University Teaching and Learning Committee, from persons external to the University or sessional academic staff of the University
• One undergraduate student nominated by QUT Student Guild Council
• One postgraduate student nominated by QUT Postgraduate Students Association

A nominee of the Registrar is secretary.

Tenure and frequency of meeting

Terms of office are as detailed in section 3 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees .

University Teaching and Learning Committee normally meets in the cycle of meetings leading up to Council meetings.

Reporting

Following each meeting, University Teaching and Learning Committee reports to the next meeting of University Academic Board.

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1.3.2 Faculty academic boards

Faculty academic boards are Council committees established pursuant to University policy and in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees . Faculty academic boards are accountable to University Academic Board ( A/3.2.4 ) for fulfilling the following terms of reference.

Terms of reference

A faculty academic board:

• coordinates faculty strategic planning in accordance with University procedures and endorses faculty plans;
• coordinates the faculty equity plan in accordance with the University's top-level plans;
• coordinates the continuing improvement of courses and curriculum within the faculty's jurisdiction;
• recommends to University Academic Board the number and organisation of its faculty or school advisory committee/s;
• approves membership of its faculty or school advisory committee/s
• establishes criteria for good teaching and assessment practices within the faculty and in accordance with University policy;
• determines results in all units offered by the faculty, regardless of the course or courses within which such units are taught;
• considers submissions from faculty and school advisory committees for authorised new courses and major changes to existing courses and makes recommendation to University Academic Board regarding course development and approval;
• considers for approval proposals from faculty and school advisory committees for minor changes to existing courses;
• approves continuing education programs within the faculty;
• determines the credit points for units in courses under the control of the faculty in accordance with University policy;
• coordinates, in conjunction with centre directors, research degrees and faculty research plans;
• recommends to University Academic Board (or delegate) on the conferring of academic awards in accordance with University policy;
• reports annually to University Academic Board on the adequacy of relevant resources, facilities and services for courses within the faculty;
• recommends to Research Degrees Committee regarding the registration, supervision and examination of research masters and doctoral candidates;
• compiles a faculty report for the purpose of internal review, based inter alia on annual reports, reports from faculty and school advisory committees and annual strategic plans;
• considers matters referred by Council, University Academic Board, the Vice-Chancellor, the executive dean of faculty or members.

Faculty academic boards may establish, on delegated authority of Council through Council Procedure 1 - Committees , faculty committees as they deem necessary or convenient for the management and operation of their faculty, and shall determine the constitution of their committees, including membership, terms of reference, reporting requirements and communication channels.

In order to ensure the efficient conduct of business, an academic board may elect to delegate responsibility for any of its functions to the Chair of the board or to a committee appointed by the board to carry out such functions on the board's behalf.

Membership

• Executive dean of faculty ex officio as Chair
• Heads of school within the faculty ex officio
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) or nominee
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nominee
• Registrar or nominee
• Assistant deans, academic and research directors, and/or Chairs of appropriate faculty academic and research committees, nominated by the relevant faculty academic board
• Two members of the academic staff (other than the head) from each school, elected by the academic staff of the school
• One academic staff member with research experience, nominated by the board
• One member of Alumni who is not a staff member or student of the University, nominated by Alumni Board
• Chairs of faculty and school advisory committees
• One student from each school within the faculty, elected or appointed in the manner determined by the Student Guild Council

The faculty administration officer is secretary.

At its discretion the Board may appoint up to two additional members.

Tenure and frequency of meeting

Terms of office are as detailed in section 3 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees .

Faculty academic boards meet at least four times a year.

Some variations to the above provisions have been approved for the Creative Industries Faculty Academic Board and the Faculty of Information Technology Academic Board due to the differing structures of these faculties.

Reporting

Faculty academic boards report to University Academic Board as necessary.

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1.3.3 Faculty and school advisory committees

Advisory committees are established in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees and are an important mechanism for connecting the University with industry and the professional communities. They bring external members' experience and perspectives to bear as the University considers future academic program options and monitors the quality of its existing academic programs. It is acknowledged that disciplinary and structural diversity is an essential element of the University. Some schools and faculties are characterised by a narrow range of disciplines, and some by interdisciplinary or even transdisciplinary approaches. There also are differing requirements for professional accreditation, and therefore faculties and schools are encouraged to create advisory committees that best suit their particular needs.

Terms of reference

Faculty advisory committees are responsible to faculty academic boards. Each faculty academic board makes recommendation to University Academic Board ( A/3.2.4 ) concerning the number and organisation of its advisory committees.

Where a faculty is composed of several distinctive disciplinary groups/schools that offer distinctive programs, the responsibility of the faculty advisory committee may, at the discretion of the faculty academic board, be devolved to school advisory committees. In such cases the school advisory committees will report to the faculty academic board.

The principal aims of a faculty or school advisory committee include:

• Helping ensure that schools or faculties are attuned to professional and community trends by acting as a strategic scanning mechanism and assisting the school or faculty in identifying needs and opportunities in teaching and research, and making timely responses to changes in industry, the professions or the community.
• Provision of invaluable networking opportunities to benefit students and staff of the University through the establishment and maintenance of strong industry connections.
• Participation in validation of learning outcomes for graduating students, where courses are characterised by a strong focus on learning outcomes.
• Ensuring the quality of courses, and for each course or group of courses under its jurisdiction, will:
• offer early input, advice and evaluative comment on new course proposals in terms of industry relevance and professional practice with reference to the QUT Reporting guidelines for reviewing submissions for course approval ( Office of Teaching Quality website ) and report to the faculty academic board on whether development of the course should be continued
• consider the annual course reports for continuing courses and the proposed course improvements contained therein (see C/4.10.3 )
• assess major changes to a course and report to the faculty academic board on whether the changes should be supported
• consider any other matter relating to course development or operation referred to it by the faculty academic board
• consider the Faculty Academic Program Report and recommend it to the faculty academic board (see C/4.10.4 )

Membership

Membership is subject to Faculty Academic Board approval, and should be such as to facilitate achievement of the principal aims of the committee as outlined above.

A majority of committee members must be drawn from the external community. External membership should be reflective of the broad range of knowledge, skills and/or attributes represented by the faculty or school academic profile. Individual external members are not appointed as representatives of a specific constituency but for their individual contributions to an appropriate mix of perspectives across the committee.

External members of QUT Council may be external members of faculty or school advisory committees. The external academic familiar with the discipline(s) should hold a senior appointment. The Chair must be one of the external members.

Membership must therefore comprise, as a minimum:

• an external academic familiar with the discipline(s)
• an internal academic from the school or faculty concerned
• in the case of a faculty advisory committee, one head of school nominated by the faculty academic board
• in the case of a faculty advisory committee, the executive dean of faculty concerned
• in the case of a school advisory committee, the head of school concerned
• one course coordinator selected from coordinators under the committee's jurisdiction
• external members who broadly reflect the interests of potential employers of course graduates, the professional or other relevant associations, practitioners in the particular area and, where appropriate, the broader community
• a member of Alumni, as a recent graduate of the relevant program(s).

Assistant Deans / Directors of Teaching and Learning, Assistant Deans, Research, or their equivalent, and relevant course coordinators, are coopted to the faculty/school advisory committee as required. Other persons with expertise in areas relevant to the committee's work may be coopted if required.

The faculty or school administration officer is secretary as appropriate.

Tenure and frequency of meeting

Faculty or school advisory committees convene at least twice a year.

Terms of office are as detailed in section 3 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees . Membership is renewable, and staggered terms are suggested in order to ensure continuity.

The Chair serves a one year renewable term, and is appointed on the recommendation of the executive dean.

Reporting

Faculty and school advisory committees report to their faculty academic board as necessary, and forward an annual report, in accordance with Section 11.3 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees , on their operation against these terms of reference and membership provisions, to University Academic Board through the Faculty Academic Board.

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Related Documents

MOPP Appendix 3 Schedule of Authorities and Delegations

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Modification History

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