A/3.6 University Academic Board charter
Policy Owner | Director, Governance and Performance |
Approval Date | 09/11/2022 |
Approval Authority | Council |
Date of Next Review | 01/12/2023 |
3.6.1 Purpose
3.6.2 Accountability
3.6.3 Responsibilities
3.6.4 Delegations
3.6.5 Membership
3.6.6 Meeting frequency
3.6.7 Reporting and communication
3.6.8 Procedures
3.6.9 Secretariat
Modification History
3.6.1 Purpose
University Academic Board is responsible for oversight of academic governance at the University, in particular, for ensuring the effective development, implementation and review of academic programs and policies and the maintenance of academic standards.
3.6.2 Accountability
University Academic Board is the University’s academic governance committee accountable to Council.
3.6.3 Responsibilities
University Academic Board undertakes the following responsibilities:- advises Council and recommends where appropriate on the academic strategic directions and plans of the University as they relate to education and research
- approves, accredits and re-accredits, on delegated authority of Council, all new course developments and significant changes to existing courses
- monitors academic integrity and academic standards, and oversees the quality assurance arrangements for all academic activities, and reports to Council on these matters at least annually
- approves, on delegated authority of Council, academic and research policy and procedures
- confers academic awards, on delegated authority of Council.
3.6.4 Delegations
The University Academic Board has delegated responsibility from Council to approve academic and research policy, matters relating to courses and course requirements, determining graduation and the conferral of awards and the University research code of conduct. The Register of Authorities and Delegations details these delegations.The Board may delegate any of its functions, other than those delegated to it by Council, to its standing committees , particularly matters of an operational nature.
3.6.5 Membership
- Member of the professoriate appointed by Council as Chair*
- Vice-Chancellor and President ex officio
- Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research) ex officio
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) ex officio
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Australians) ex officio
- Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar ex officio
- Executive deans of faculty ex officio
- Executive Director, QUT College ex officio
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) ex officio
- Pro Vice Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) ex officio
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship) ex officio
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Programs) ex officio
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Research Integrity) ex officio
- Director, Curriculum Quality and Academic Integrity ex officio
- University Librarian ex officio
- Chair, Appeals Committee ex officio
- One Head of School, Business and Law nominated by the Executive Dean of faculty
- One Head of School, Health nominated by the Executive Dean of faculty
- One Head of School, Science nominated by the Executive Dean of faculty
- One Head of School, Engineering nominated by the Executive Dean of faculty
- One Head of School, Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice nominated by the Executive Dean of faculty
- Chancellor or Council member nominated by Chancellor
- One Council member nominated by Council
- Two academic staff members from the professoriate of each faculty (Level D and E), elected by and from academic staff of each faculty
- One academic staff member from the non-professoriate of each faculty (Level A – C), elected by and from academic staff of each faculty
- One early career academic (<5 years post PhD) staff member from the non-professoriate of each Faculty (Level A – C), elected by and from academic staff of each faculty
- Five faculty academic staff members elected by and from academic staff of the faculties, with no more than two elected from any one faculty
- Two professional staff engaged in learning and teaching, research activities, elected by and from professional staff across all Divisions and Faculties
- One Indigenous Australian academic staff member elected by Indigenous Australian academic staff members
- Two postgraduate students, nominated by the Head of Research Portfolio following consultation with executive deans
- Three undergraduate students, nominated by QUT Student Guild Council
- Three undergraduate students, including at least one international student, nominated by the Chair after receiving expressions of interest.
* Chair
The Chair is appointed via the process outlined in Council Procedure 5 – Procedures for appointment of the Chair of University Academic Board. The term of office for the Chair is four years.
Deputy Chair
The Deputy Chair will be elected from current elected faculty academic staff who are members of both the professoriate and the University Academic Board. The Deputy Chair is elected in accordance with Council Procedure 7 – Conduct of Elections. The term of office for the Deputy Chair is up to three years.
Other members
Elected members term of office is determined by Council Procedures 1 – Committees, section 6.2.
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.
Consistent with Council Procedure 1 – Committees (section 6.18), heads of school nominated by executive deans must take account of the expertise of particular members, gender balance, and diversity of the membership of the committee. Executive deans are required to collectively discuss the proposed nominations with the Provost/Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Student members, including those nominated by the QUT Student Guild, must also take account of the expertise, gender balance, and diversity of the membership of the committee.
Advisory Group
The University Academic Board Advisory Group provides oversight and strategic advice regarding agenda items and the annual work plan of the Committee and assists by providing support to the Chair as required with other functions.
3.6.6 Meeting Frequency
University Academic Board meets at least five times per year, in each committee meeting cycle leading up to QUT Council.
3.6.7 Reporting and communication
Following each meeting, University Academic Board reports to the next meeting of Council.Faculty academic boards (A/3.7) report to University Academic Board, which also has standing committees addressing appeals, learning and teaching, curriculum, and research.
3.6.8 Procedures
University Academic Board is established in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees.
3.6.8 Secretariat
A nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar is secretary.Modification History
|
Date |
Sections |
Source |
Details |
| 12.10.23 | A/3.6.5 | Council | Revised membership provisions to "elect" the Deputy Chair and include an advisory group |
| 09.11.22 | All | Director, Governance, Legal and Performance | Revised membership and modernised charter following the External Review of QUT Academic Board, approved QUT Council 13.10.2022 |
| 28.04.22 | All | Council | Revised charter - term of office for nominated members clarified and date of next review updated in accordance with self-assessment review |
| 03.02.22 | All | Director, Governance, Legal and Performance | Revised membership resulting from "Repositioning QUT for a post-COVID world" reorganisation (effective 31.01.21) - removed disestablished position 'Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate Research and Development)' |
| 22.09.20 | All | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Date of Next Review extended to accommodate the committee review and self-assessment process deferred to 2021 |
| 25.02.19 | All | Council | Membership revised to reflect organisational changes and in accordance with self-assessment review |
| 11.12.18 | All | Governance and Legal Services | Revised membership resulting from changes to position titles/organisational structure (Vice-President (Technology) and Chief Information Officer disestablished) |
| 05.05.17 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised membership to remove disestablished position Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Programs and Partnerships) - effective 31.12.16 |
| 27.02.17 | All | Council | Revised membership in accordance with committee self-assessment review |
| 09.12.16 | All | Enhancing the Student Experience REAL Difference Change Manager | Revised policy to include REAL Difference initiative, approved name change for position title, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) to Vice-President (Technology) and Chief Information Officer - effective 03.01.17 |
| 07.12.16 | All | Council | Revised membership to amend student representation (effective 01.01.17) |
| 03.12.14 | All | Council | Revised membership to clarify academic staff representation in accordance with committee self-assessment review (effective for committee term of office commencing 2017) |
| 03.12.14 | All | Council | Revised membership in accordance with committee self-assessment review (effective 01.01.15) |
| 06.02.13 | All | Council | Periodic review - no change required |
| 08.08.12 | All | Council | Revised terms of reference to ensure QUT is compliant with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011(TEQSA) |
| 13.06.12 | All | Council | Revised membership provisions to include Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Programs and Partnerships) |
07.12.11 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Revised membership provisions - changed Manager, Oodgeroo Unit to Director, Oodgeroo Unit (effective 01.01.12) |
24.08.11 |
All |
University Academic Board |
Revised membership provisions to include Manager, Oodgeroo Unit |
19.02.11 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Revised membership to reflect approved position title change for Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching Quality) to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) |
17.12.10 |
All |
University Academic Board |
Periodic review - no change required |
16.07.09 |
All |
Governance Services |
Editorial amendment to remove references to approval of collaborative centres (consistent with policy D/4.2 and delegation C048) and approval of structure of faculty advisory committees (consistent with policy A/3.8 and delegation C028) |
24.10.08 |
All |
Governance Services |
Renumbered and relocated to A/3.6 (formerly A/3.2.4) |
27.02.08 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership provisions of University Academic Board (Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)) to chair; new position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching Quality) added) |
15.12.07 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Revised membership provisions of University Academic Board and Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee to remove position of Executive Director, Northern Campuses (position disestablished from 31.12.07) |
14.12.05 |
All |
Council |
Amended terms of reference of University Academic Board relating to course approval for new or significantly changed courses (endorsed by University Academic Board 17.10.05 and Teaching and Learning Committee 01.11.05), and to devolve authority for approval of membership of faculty and school advisory committees to faculty academic boards (endorsed by University Academic Board 18.11.05) |
30.08.05 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Revised membership provisions of University Academic Board to include Dean of Graduate Studies |
02.06.04 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference and membership provisions, in accordance with recommendations of Council Panel of the 2003/2004 Committees Review |
28.03.01 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership provisions (effective from 01.12.01) |
28.03.01 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership to include Director, QUT Carseldine ex officio in accordance with faculty restructure (effective 1.7.01) |
28.03.01 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference (to take effect 01.04.01) |
06.11.00 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Replaced position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) with Vice-President (Resources) and Chief Financial Officer due to restructure of Planning and Resources Department |
18.10.00 |
All |
Council |
Extended appointment of Vice-Chancellor as Chairperson to end of 2003 |
08.12.99 |
All |
Council |
Extended appointment of Vice-Chancellor as Chairperson to end of 2000 |
17.08.99 |
All |
MOPP Officer |
Editorial |
02.12.98 |
All |
Council |
Approved continuation of Vice-Chancellor as Chairperson for 1999 |
02.12.98 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference |
28.05.98 |
All |
Council |
Approved appointment of Vice-Chancellor as Chairperson to end of 1998 |