A/3.1 QUT Council

Policy Owner	Director, Governance and Performance
Approval Date	13/05/2022
Approval Authority	Council
Date of Next Review	01/12/2023

3.1.1 Purpose
3.1.2 Application
3.1.3 Roles and responsibilities
3.1.4 Role and composition of Council
3.1.5 Role of Chancellor
3.1.6 QUT Council Charter
3.1.7 Confidentiality of Council deliberations
3.1.8 Deligation of authority
3.1.9 Award of Doctor of the University
3.1.10 Life Fellowship of QUT
Related Documents
Modification History

3.1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to detail the composition, membership, powers and responsibilities of the University’s governing body, QUT Council.

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3.1.2 Application

This policy applies to members of QUT Council and all members of the University community.

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3.1.3 Roles and responsibilities

Position	Responsibility
QUT Council	ensures proper and effective management and operation of the University, in particular: appointing its staff managing and controlling its affairs and property managing and controlling its finances (s9, QUT Act) acts in a way most likely to promote QUT’s interests (s10, QUT Act) delegates authorities and powers to committees and University officers (s11, QUT Act)
Chancellor	chairs QUT Council assesses the performance of Council, its members and committees on a regular basis determines the Vice-Chancellor and President’s performance agreement and the process for review and assessment of their performance, on behalf of QUT Council authorises arrangements for the management of the University during periods when the position of Vice-Chancellor and President is vacant or in transition, on behalf of QUT Council

Position

Responsibility

QUT Council

ensures proper and effective management and operation of the University, in particular:
- appointing its staff
- managing and controlling its affairs and property
- managing and controlling its finances (s9, QUT Act)
acts in a way most likely to promote QUT’s interests (s10, QUT Act)
delegates authorities and powers to committees and University officers (s11, QUT Act)

Chancellor

chairs QUT Council
assesses the performance of Council, its members and committees on a regular basis
determines the Vice-Chancellor and President’s performance agreement and the process for review and assessment of their performance, on behalf of QUT Council
authorises arrangements for the management of the University during periods when the position of Vice-Chancellor and President is vacant or in transition, on behalf of QUT Council

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3.1.4 Role and composition of Council

QUT Council is the governing body of the University, ultimately responsible for ensuring its proper and effective management and operation. QUT Council is established by the Queensland University of Technology Act 1998, which sets out its composition, membership, powers and responsibilities.

Procedures for meetings, dealing with business in Council, and establishment of committees are included in Council Procedure 1 - Committees (Appendix 2). Procedures for the nomination of prospective Council members and election of a Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor are also set out in Council Procedures (Appendix 2).

QUT Council comprises senior members of the professions for which QUT prepares graduates; appointees from higher education, government, commerce and industry, and members of Alumni; elected staff and students; the University's chief executive officer; and the Chair of University Academic Board. A full list of members of QUT Council is available from the Council web page.

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3.1.5 Role of the Chancellor

The Chancellor is the formal head of the University by virtue of being the chair of the governing body. As such, the Chancellor is responsible for the efficient operation of Council and for providing leadership to ensure it carries out its responsibilities in an effective manner. This includes:

articulating and reinforcing the role of Council and its members, thus ensuring that the demarcation between Council's role and management is well understood; and
ensuring mechanisms are in place and appropriate support is provided to members to assist them in performing their role and to promote Council working as a team.

The Chancellor, on behalf of Council, is also responsible for providing advice and support to the Vice-Chancellor and President. The Chancellor, in addition to the role as chair of Council, participates in committees as determined by the membership of Council and other University committees.

The Chancellor in consultation with relevant senior officers is responsible for recommending Council members to fill positions on Council committees and panels as required.

The Chancellor has a significant ceremonial role, including graduation ceremonies and attending University or related activities as either guest of honour, presenter or University representative. Some of these activities may be delegated to the Deputy Chancellor or another member of Council.

The Chancellor also has an outreach role, which not only includes the ceremonial role outlined above, but has a broader dimension in representing the University in the wider community. In particular, the cultivation of 'friends' of the University is an important activity, whether these be individuals, companies or governments. This includes approaching and sponsoring potential Council members as required.

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3.1.6 QUT Council Charter

QUT Council is committed to the achievement of the University's aims and ambitions within an operational framework that embodies the principles of good governance and has adopted the QUT Council Charter (QUT staff access only) to guide these objectives.

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3.1.7 Confidentiality of Council deliberations

Council deliberations on any issue are confidential to Council members, although non-confidential papers and minutes of Council meetings are available for perusal upon request to the Director, Governance and Performance.

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3.1.8 Delegation of authority

Council is empowered to establish committees and to delegate power to committees or officers of the University. While Council is ultimately responsible for the management and operation of QUT, it has delegated authority to the chief executive officer, the Vice-Chancellor and President, and to various senior administrators of QUT for much of the day to day management of the University. Council has also established a number of committees (Appendix 8), some of which have been authorised to make decisions in respect of prescribed policy and procedural matters. See the Register of Authorities and Delegations (QUT staff access only) for details.

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3.1.9 Award of Doctor of the University

Council may recognise any person by conferring on that person an honorary degree. Council must be satisfied that the person has rendered distinguished service to the community, to the university or to the advancement of scholarship.

The award of Doctor of the University is made by Council on recommendation from Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Further information regarding process and the nomination form is available in the Guidelines - QUT Honorary Doctorate Awards (QUT staff access only).

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3.1.10 Life Fellowship of QUT

Council may confer the award of Life Fellow of the Queensland University of Technology on a person who, in the opinion of QUT Council, has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of QUT over a long period.

A list of Life Fellows of the University is available from the Council web page.

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Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
13.05.22	All	Director, Governance, Legal and Performance	Periodic review - minor administrative change to update 'elected Alumni'
29.04.21	A/3.1.9	Council	Administrative revisions to Honorary Doctorates section (Chancellor's Committee renamed to Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee and guidelines revised)
11.09.19	All	Director, Governance and Legal Services	Editorial revisions to modernise policy template
25.05.18	3.1.7	Director, Governance and Legal Services	Revised policy to include consequential changes from the repeal of the QUT (Awards and Courses of Study) Statute 2010. (Note revisions consistent with Honorary Doctorate Guidelines approved by Council) - effective 01.07.18
16.07.13	All	Director, Governance and Legal Services	Periodic review - minor editorial changes only
08.08.12	A/3.1.7	Council	Revised policy to remove reference to the use of the title of "Dr" in accordance with Australian Qualifications Framework Issuance Policy
19.02.09	A/3.1.1	Director, Governance Services	Policy revised and updated (minor editorial amendments only)
12.08.08	A/3.1.7	Director, Governance Services	Added reference and link to guidelines for Honorary Doctorate nominations
27.02.08	A/3.1.7	Council	Honorary Doctorates Committee disestablished; recommendations for award of Doctor of the University now made by Chancellor's Committee
27.02.08	A/3.1.2	Council	Revised policy relating to transition arrangements
08.06.07	All	Director, Governance Services	Updated (minor editorial amendments only)
10.05.05	A/3.1.7, A/3.1.8	Secretariat	Editorial (relocated and re-numbered sections relating to honorary doctorate awards - formerly C/11.3)
29.10.04	All	Secretariat	Editorial (renumbered to include new sections on role of Chancellor and QUT Council Charter; list of QUT Council members relocated to Council web page; QUT Corporate Governance Guidelines relocated to A/1.2 - formerly A/3.1.3)
27.10.04	A/3.1.3	Council	Approved QUT Council Charter
02.06.04	A/3.1.8	Council	Revised terms of reference and membership provisions of Honorary Doctorates Committee, in accordance with recommendations of Council Panel of the 2003/2004 Committees Review
04.06.03	A/3.1.2	Council	Approved statement on the role of the Chancellor (endorsed by Chancellor's Committee 21.05.03)
01.12.01	A/3.1	Secretariat Manager	New Council composition (effective 1.12.01)
17.02.99	A/3.1	Council	Approved Council Procedure 1 (replaces former Statute 2 - Council, and Statute 3 - Committees)
10.02.99	A/3.1.7	Honorary Doctorates Committee	Approved use of the title 'Dr' by recipients of QUT honorary doctorate awards
25.11.98	A/3.1	Secretariat Manager	New Council composition (effective 21.11.98)
28.05.98	A/3.1.8	Council	Revised membership of Honorary Doctorates Committee

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