A/3.7 Faculty academic boards charter
Policy Owner | Director, Governance and Performance |
Approval Date | 28/04/2023 |
Approval Authority | Council |
Date of Next Review | 30/04/2028 |
3.7.1 Purpose
3.7.2 Accountability
3.7.3 Responsibilities
3.7.4 Delegations
3.7.5 Membership
3.7.6 Meeting frequency
3.7.7 Reporting and communication
3.7.8 Procedures
3.7.9 Secretariat
Modification History
3.7.1 Purpose
Faculty academic boards are responsible for strategic academic matters specific to their faculty, including oversight of academic standards and risks, teaching, research and engagement.
3.7.2 Accountability
Faculty academic boards are academic committees accountable to University Academic Board.
3.7.3 Responsibilities
Faculty academic boards are responsible for the following:
Strategy, performance, quality and risk
- endorses the faculty strategic plan consistent with the University's strategic planning framework and monitors performance on academic matters against the endorsed plan
- monitors academic risks impacting on the faculty's learning and teaching and research activities
- ensures principles of diversity and inclusion are embedded within academic frameworks consistent with the faculty strategic plan.
Academic standards
- reviews and endorses grades in all units owned by the faculty, regardless of the course or courses within which such units are taught (C/5.2 QUT grading)
- excludes students from a course for unsatisfactory academic performance or failure to complete an award within time limits (E/6.7.3 Academic progress)
- recommends to University Academic Board (or delegate) the conferring of academic awards in accordance with University policy.
Courses and curriculum
- approves curriculum developments and discontinuations in accordance with policy for curriculum development and approval (C/4.1.3 Curriculum design, approval and accreditation)
- endorses course accreditation/re-accreditation proposals for submission to Curriculum Standards Committee (C/4.1.3 Curriculum design, approval and accreditation)
- approves non-award study within its faculty (C/3.3 Non-award study).
Learning and teaching
- oversees the learning and teaching activities of the faculty, including the quality assurance of matters related to teaching within the faculty's jurisdiction (E/4.1 Student admission)
- assures good learning and teaching and assessment practices within the faculty, in accordance with University policy
- monitors academic integrity issues relevant to disciplines within the faculty.
Research and research training
- oversees the research activities of the faculty, including the quality assurance of matters related to research within the faculty's jurisdiction
- makes recommendations to Research Degrees Committee on matters regarding the admission, supervision and examination of research higher degree students (D/5.2).
International and engagement
- oversees the engagement and the international activities of the faculty consistent with the faculty strategic plan
- identifies strategies and formal mechanisms for engagement with students of the faculty and with the professional communities and industries which the faculty serves, and receives reports on those engagement activities.
Other matters
- establishes, on delegated authority of Council through Council Procedure 1 - Committees, faculty committees as it deems necessary or convenient to fulfil its responsibilities, and determines the constitution of such committees, including membership, terms of reference, reporting requirements and communication channels
- considers matters referred to it by Council, University Academic Board, the Vice-Chancellor and President, the Executive Dean of the faculty, Executive Director, QUT College, or members.
3.7.4 Delegations
A faculty academic board may delegate responsibilities relating to individual student matters to the Chair of the board or to a committee appointed by the board.
Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (C030, C098, C099, VC200, C104, C153, C131, C136) (QUT staff access only).
3.7.5 Membership
- Executive Dean of faculty ex officio as Chair
- Deputy Dean of faculty, ex officio
- Associate deans of faculty, ex officio
- Heads of school or equivalent within the faculty ex officio
- One member of the academic staff (other than the head of school/portfolio director) from each school/portfolio, elected by the academic staff of the school/portfolio
- Two students (one undergraduate and one postgraduate) nominated by the Chair following an expression of interest process conducted by the faculty
- At least one sessional academic staff member.
At its discretion the faculty academic board may appoint up to two additional members (for example, a member of Alumni who is not a staff member or student of the University, or an external member drawn from the professions).
Where a faculty has a need for more than two additional members, (for example, due to requirements for depth of discipline expertise and representation), a special case may be made to the Provost/Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Any such special membership provisions will be reviewed as part of the self-assessment review (A/3.7.8).
For QUT College the Chair is the Executive Director, QUT College ex officio.
3.7.6 Meeting frequency
Faculty academic boards meet at least four times a year.
3.7.7 Reporting and communication
Faculty academic boards report to University Academic Board on approved curriculum developments (C/4.1) and on learning and teaching, research, and research training as determined by University Academic Board.
3.7.8 Procedures
Faculty academic boards operate in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees. This includes two year terms of membership, aligned with university committees, and self-assessment review before the conclusion of the two year term.
3.7.9 Secretariat
The secretary is nominated by the Executive Dean/Executive Director, QUT College and will usually be the Faculty Operations Manager, Executive Officer or other suitably experienced staff member.
Modification History
Date |
Sections |
Source |
Details |
| 04.05.22 | A/3.7.3, A/3.7.5, A/3.7.9 |
Director, Governance, Legal and Performance | Revised charter to include Executive Director, QUT College |
| 29.04.21 | A/3.7.5, A/3.7.9 | Council | Revised charter and membership provisions |
| 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 |
| 25.11.19 | A/3.7.5 | Council | Revised membership provisions to include new position title Deputy Dean |
| 17.04.19 | A/3.7.5 | Council | Revised membership provisions to remove the representative from the Division of Resources |
| 25.02.19 | A/3.7.5 | Council | Membership revised to reflect organisational changes and in accordance with self-assessment review |
| 09.01.19 | All | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Policy revised to include approved position title change from assistant dean/s to associate dean/s |
| 16.11.18 | A/3.7.3 | Governance and Legal Services | Revised responsibilities to align with revised academic progress policy |
| 06.12.17 | All | Council | Revised terms of reference redrafted to committee charter |
| 19.01.17 | All | University Academic Board | Editorial amendment to clarify accreditation/reaccreditation consistent with C/4.1 Curriculum development, approval and accreditation |
| 09.12.16 | All | Enhancing the Student Experience REAL Difference Change Manager | Revised policy to include REAL Difference initiative, approved name change for division, Division of Technology, Information and Learning Support to Division of Technology, Information and Library Services and position title, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Library Services) - effective 03.01.17 |
| 25.11.16 | All | University Academic Board | Editorial amendment to clarify approval/endorsement of grades in units offered by the faculty |
19.10.11 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference regarding the upholding of student appeals |
01.07.09 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference and membership of faculty academic boards |
24.10.08 |
All |
Governance Services |
Renumbered and relocated to A/3.7 (formerly C/1.3.2) |
05.09.07 |
All |
Council |
Approved minor variation for Faculty of Information Technology Academic Board, consistent with revised faculty structure (effective from 01.01.08) |
18.07.07 |
All |
Council |
Removed reference to QUT Carseldine’s Humanities and Human Services Academic Board (School of Humanities and Human Services closed from 31.12.07) |
17.11.06 |
All |
University Academic Board |
Amended terms of reference for faculty academic boards (re faculty plans) |
09.06.06 |
All |
Secretariat |
Updated consistent with current policy and delegations relating to approval of courses and conferral of awards |
14.12.05 |
All |
Council |
Revised terms of reference of faculty academic boards to devolve authority for approval of membership of faculty and school advisory committees to faculty academic boards; revised terms of reference and membership provisions for faculty / school advisory committees (endorsed by University Academic Board 18.11.05) |
15.06.05 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership provisions, in accordance with Final Report on Implementation Plan for 2003/2004 Council Committees Review |
16.11.04 |
All |
Secretariat |
Editorial (renumbered - formerly C/2.3, C/2.3.1, C/2.3.2, C/2.3.3) |
02.09.04 |
All |
Secretariat |
Editorial (consistent with revised terms of reference of committees as per recommendations of the 2003/2004 Committees Review) |
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 |
16.04.03 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership provisions (endorsed by University Academic Board 01.04.03) |
28.05.99 |
All |
Secretary, University Academic Board |
Revised in accordance with restructure of QUT research activities (University Academic Board, 3.7.98) |
28.05.98 |
C/1.3.2 |
Council |
Change to membership |